Basketball uses and defies gravity.
Gravity appears in many contexts. Mediocrity has gravity. It takes considerable effort and time to achieve "escape velocity" when taking over a losing program.
Plyometric training overcomes gravity. Jumping rope is one of many exercises that tame gravity. Weighted vests help build strength leading to increased vertical without redistributing center of gravity.
Great players have gravity on the court, attracting defensive attention.
Great players have gravity in team building. Stars seek other stars in the 'superteam' space.
Some coaches have the gravity to attract players. "In a recent anonymous survey conducted by The Athletic, 25.3 percent of 95 players chose Popovich as the coach players would like to play for apart from their own." Tom Thibodeau was the coach players least wanted to play for.
The ball has gravity as defense loads to the ball (above) and 'shrinks space'.
Ideally offenses defeat gravity with spacing, ball movement (above) to create long closeouts for open shots or basket attack.
Of course, the greatest gravitational grab has emerged, attracting players from everywhere, NIL, legitimizing player payments.
Lagniappe. How are you impacting winning?
PLAYERS: If you want to have a GREAT TEAM, you need to figure out how you can positively impact your team! This isn't just when you're playing, but when you're on the bench, in the locker room, in training sessions, on road trips, in the weight room, or in the classroom.
— Jamy Bechler (@CoachBechler) March 29, 2024
Lagniappe 2. Speak of the devil. Attacking the closeout.
Pre catch reads are essential to attack long closeouts.
— Joey Burton (@JoeyBurton) March 29, 2024
I teach players to stampede the pass if it forces them to relocate and have a defender in a long closeout.
Davis gives a great example of it here. pic.twitter.com/RJJXrF20bO
Lagniappe 3. Meyerisms.
If you’re a young coach and you are not familiar with Don Meyer, do yourself a huge favor and take a deep dive. https://t.co/HoDJArgqvO
— Steve Fitzgerald (@crusaderball23) March 29, 2024
