Recently Celtics' analyst Brian Scalabrine discussed simplifying the game. Young players have a limited knowledge of the game. Simplify their assignments to what they handle. Excellent coaches simplify the game for players, taxing their 'working memory' less. Everything should teach players how to impact winning whether theory or practice.
Be specific. Give players details. Repeat them.
1. "Get more and better shots than opponents." - Pete Newell
Explain how you intend to do that. Teach the Four Factors. Every player must know them.
- Win more possessions.
- Take quality shots (in range, open, balanced)
- Reduced turnovers allow more shots. Are our turnovers more often decision-based or poor execution?
- Control the boards.
- Win the 'fouling' battle.
Be "feedback-rich, performance-focused" from The Heart of Coaching
Remember a famous Presidential quote, "trust but verify."
3. Constantly drill fundamentals.
Skill is perishable.
"Do well what you do a lot."
"Technique beats tactics." - Gregg Popovich
"Don't major in the minors." - Prem Watsa Don't overinvest time in what seldom arises.
4. Excel in the half-court
You must be able to win offense and defense in the half-court. If we lack the skill to execute, tactics don't matter. "We can't run what we can't run."
5. "Play harder for longer."- Dave Smart
Excellent teams sustain focus and effort longer. They execute under adversity playing from either ahead or behind.
6. Win special situations.
Have offensive and defensive plans for 'close and late' BOB, SLOB, ATO, winning plays against man and zone defense. Running the same plays from different formations or different actions from the same formation both have merit.
7. Train for pressure.
Excellent teams perform under pressure. Advantage-disadvantage drills (e.g. 5 vs 7) help, as well as drills with constraints requiring a certain number of makes per time allowed add pressure.
Lagniappe. Dribble well and with purpose.
Post by @kpstrengthView on Threads
Lagniappe 2. Stick to the Fourth Agreement. If you just do your best, there is no way you can judge yourself. And if you don’t judge yourself there is no way you are going to suffer from guilt, blame, and self-punishment.
Lagniappe 3. Great stuff from Radius Athletics, a 4 by 4 card.
We call this a "4x4 Card" and it is used to simplify and define our style of play.
— Radius Athletics (@RadiusAthletics) January 20, 2024
Four bullet points for each of the four phases of the game; that's the constraint and it's non-negotiable.
We then use it to evaluate team performances in film review. pic.twitter.com/ki1mPupkAT
