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Sunday, October 20, 2024

The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly

“The difference between good and bad writers is that good writers know when they’re bad.” - Dan Brown (author, The DaVinci Code)

Good coaches communicate well. 

  • Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was interviewed in The Boston Globe. "It’s the character of the guys,” he said. “They like to compete. They like to play. I still think we have a lot to get better at. The guys bring it every day. They want to get better. They want to play hard. That doesn’t mean that we won’t have stretches of the season where we’re (not) perfect but there’s been some moments of greatness."
  • The best coaches put players and teams in positions to succeed. That might include more preparation, more film work, or less intense practices or even a day off. One size doesn't fit all.
  • Top coaches simplify with symmetry. 

Bad basketball is far too common. 

  • Poor shot selection yields poor shooting percentage/EFG%.
  • When it looks as though there's no plan, there's no plan. 
  • "You just slip out the back, Jack
    Make a new plan, Stan
    You don't need to be coy, Roy
    Just get yourself free." - Paul Simon, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
  • If you can't defend the half court OR transition, you cannot succeed. 
"Beauty is skin deep; ugly goes all the way through." 
  • Turnovers are zero percent possessions. "Turnovers kill dreams."
  • Good teams find ways to win. Ugly teams give games away. 
  • Undisciplined fouling allows too many easy shots. 
Lagniappe. "Be here now." Focus. "Next play." 

Lagniappe 2. "Get to." 






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