"There is nothing cheaper than free advice."
Filter the firehouse of information into practical pieces. Coaches share advice in communications, clinics, podcasts, interviews, books. Ask whether it makes sense and can be taught.
1. "Every day is player development day." - Dave Smart
Take advantage of every opportunity for growth. You can't have too much skill. Have a daily plan for improvement whether it's film study, practice, physical training, reading.
Applications: Scrimmage with consequences for reserves to move up. Competition drives performance. There's no 'one size fits all'. Work:
- Jab series
- Back to basket pivots (e.g. box drills)
- Off the bounce - float dribble, negative step, hesi-cross-combos
2. Everything has to impact results. - Dr. Fergus Connolly
At higher levels of play, winning matters. Make practice matter. As Prem Watsa says, "don't major in the minors." Don't spend a lot of time on less important stuff.
Application: Focus on what changes games - skill, scoring and defending in the half court, executing and stopping transition, and handling the pick-and-roll.
3. "It's not rocket science." - Brad Stevens
Don Meyer emphasized "mature simplicity." Especially with young players, simplify everything. "Fall in love with easy."
Application: the simple play is often the best one, e.g. spread offense or Iverson actions
4. "Respect is only determined by results." - Mikel Arteta (Arsenal manager)
In the development world, results show up first as individual achievement. Brad Beal and Jayson Tatum improve through their effort and the training of Coach Drew Hanlen. LeBron James pays a million dollars a season for total training.
Application: If we want more, then do more.
5. "The ball is gold." - Coach Sonny Lane
Turnovers are literally zero percent possessions.
Application: Analyze turnovers by decision-making or execution. Train to reduce by category such as passivity, poor passing, traveling, etc. Against the Warriors, the Celtics often failed to get into their offense until 11-12 seconds left on the clock. That forced rushing and bail out actions leading to turnovers in my opinion.
6. All defense begins with containing the ball.
Poor ball containment means help and rotation. When it doesn't work, layups ensue, or during 'draw 2' the drive and dish, often for open threes.
Application: drills to improve quickness may help, but training one-on-one tests both the ball handler and defender.
7. "Top teams play harder for longer." - Dave Smart
Good teams have an executable plan how they intend to win.
Application: You should sub a player out when you see a player not going full-speed or playing selfish basketball. - Dean Smith
8. The fastest way to improve is taking better shots.
Track shots by player and location. Higher level play allows tracking by defender proximity as well.
Application: when we reviewed team shooting percentage, we found better shooting as we held players accountable. Share Jay Bilas's quote, "it's not your shot it's our shot."
9. "Sacrifice."
Coach taught us shared vision, shared sacrifice, shared results.
Application: Prioritize value as making teammates better. Coach Bob Knight reminded some players, "just because I want you on the floor doesn't mean I want you to shoot." Have one band, one sound.
10.Manage tempo well in both practice and games.
Time is valuable and limited. Set efficiency as expectation. Maximize efficiency. No cutting corners.
Applications: Name drills. Sprint from drill to drill. During games, change tempo to shorten the game when leading and up the pace to lengthen the game when trailing.
11.Find or make possession enders.
Positive possession enders:
- Score
- Rebound
- Assist
- Get defensive stops
- Steal
- Force turnovers
- Take charges
Application: It comes full circle back to player development. Finishers get attention.
Lagniappe. From Pete Carril, "The Smart Take from the Strong."
Can He Pass?
"The first thing I look for in a high school player is, can he pass? If he can, he's the same guy who can cut, and can defend. He's the guy who sees everything, the man he is passing to, the players around him, the opportunities for creativity."
Lagniappe 2. Underrated activities that change games -
- Review court boundaries, conditions, and lighting before the game. Players should never catch the ball out of bounds through ignorance on boundaries. I've seen five catches out of bounds by one team in a game where boundaries were asymmetric with the stands.
- Use timeouts well for momentum change, substitution, strategy changes, and rest.
- Invest time in "close and late" situations including BOBs, SLOBs, ATOs, and offensive and defensive delay games.
