Basketball: Lying Eyes?

“Who are you going to believe, your beloved husband or your lying eyes?” - Richard Pryor

We discount truths we prefer not to believe. 

• We avoid opinions contrary to our beliefs (confirmation bias). 
• People judge others based on ‘character’ and ourselves based on ‘circumstances’ (fundamental attribution error).

Our kid doesn’t make the team or get our desired role. It’s the lousy coach or some half-witted conspiracy. He passes up a three-pointer and we’re thinking “shoot” even though Johnny’s 1 for 15 from the arc on the season. We see with our heart not with our eyes. 

How can we overcome some of these 'cognitive biases' and use productive 'mental models'? Focus on reality. 

• Study video, "the truth machine." 
• Be a tracker. Shot charts, turnovers, and fouls trend. 
• Be aware of "sample size" to see whether we have 'enough' observations.
• Expand our "circle of competence" by studying other coaches, attending or watching clinics. 
• Find a mentor or ally (coach) to provide non-judgmental feedback. 

Lagniappe. Zoomish. Downscreen into DHO into backdoor action via Chris Oliver. 

Great backdoor concept...make it seem like you are running another action like a zoom, but use it to create some deception to mask the backdoor.

Check out more backdoor plays that we love here https://t.co/645mfnHerL pic.twitter.com/KQDC3ivKmQ

— Chris Oliver (@Chris__Oliver) April 1, 2024

Lagniappe 2. Creating uncertainty for defenses. 

Here's a slip out of this same action: https://t.co/eHiptE3FoO pic.twitter.com/pj1ZJsvbLs

— CoachTHoops (@Tristan_Wink) April 1, 2024

Lagniappe 3. What are our values? 

Steve Kerr on what he learned from Pete Carroll on culture building, “If you come in here with genuine, real values and then you make them come alive, that’s when the culture starts to form.”

• The culture is a living conscience for the team.
• Everyone contributes to it. pic.twitter.com/kFneIEKyVM

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) March 30, 2024