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Wednesday, September 17, 2025

Favorite Basketball Defensive Drills

As a middle school coach, I prioritized offensive development because I thought that was the quickest way to develop varsity players. Two are still playing in D1, Cecilia Kay at St. Joseph's and Samantha Dewey in Richmond. In reality, defensive drills help develop defenders and offensive players.

Here are five activities that develop both: 

1) Two-on-two. Learn the "two man game" defending two. Start with a variety of geometries - two on the perimeter (e.g. slot to slot), top and elbow, top and wing. This creates classic defensive challenges:

  • Pick-and-roll including slipping the screen
  • Give-and-go
  • Back door cutting 

2) Manmaker (via Shaka Smart). Full court three-on-three with constraints of "staying in your lane" and being restricted to one dribble after each touch. Defenders are always in full denial. 

3) Three-on-three inside the split. Scrimmage with confined areas. With two coaches, 3 on 3 work allows supervision at both ends without too much interrruption. 

It also facilitates teaching a variety of offensive initiators. 

4) Rollouts teach closeouts and more. 


"Rollouts" before games are another way to get into 3 on 3 action. It prioritizes closeouts, defensive communication, player and ball movement. Add constraints like time, number of dribbles, and defenders not allowed to cover the player in front of them.

5) Scrimmaging. Scrimmaging assembles all the pieces. Add constraints such as full court defense, full denial defense, and/or no dribbling offense. Offense learns to pass and cut and defense to communicate, deny cutters, and help and recover. 

6) Live "shell drill." With so many offenses playing out of spread spacing, "live shell" teaches players to shrink space and more. 


1. Perimeter passing (position check)
2. Pass and cut through (looking for give and go offense and defense)
3. Pass and screen away
4. Pass corner with drive and defensive rotation

Lagniappe. Bring and share energy. Coaches and point guards must supply energy all the time. 


Lagniappe 2. Repost (finally found this). 


Golden State at their peak thrived with high points/possession via cutting and transition scoring. We know statistically that ball reversal and paint touches help break down defenses. (Not sure of graphic source)

Lagniappe 3. Develop PnR players and defenders. 

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Tuesday, September 16, 2025

Basketball - Learn Across Domains and Sports


Excellence crosses sports and domains. Apply it widely. 

There’s value in watching a world-class player like Jiri Popelka break down volleyball. Excellence isn’t limited to one court or one discipline. The same habits that shape a great athlete echo across music, business, and life. Here are eleven ways to pursue excellence, drawn from Popelka’s approach and enhanced by lessons from other fields.

1. Study great teams and players

Excellence leaves fingerprints. Watch how elite athletes carry themselves, how they handle adversity, and how they celebrate success. The same applies in business—studying Amazon, Disney, or the San Antonio Spurs offers a blueprint for culture and performance.

2. Use video as a classroom

YouTube is a gold mine. Volleyball highlights, clinics, and tutorials offer insights you might not see elsewhere. A guitarist might slow down Clapton’s riffs; a point guard might replay "Professor Pick-and-Roll" Chris Paul’s choices. The domain differs, but the principle remains the same.

3. Take something from everyone

Every opponent and teammate teaches you something. Maybe it’s resilience, maybe it’s technique, maybe it’s poise. Borrow what works, discard what doesn’t. Bruce Lee said, “Absorb what is useful, reject what is useless, add what is specifically your own.”

Abraham Lincoln said, "I learn from everyone; usually what not to do."

4. Draw and write it down

There’s power in sketching a play or jotting a note. Writing forces clarity. Coaches fill whiteboards; musicians draft notation; doctors scribble case notes. Writing helps learning stick.

5. Learn from better, more experienced players

Humility accelerates growth. Playing with or against stronger athletes exposes gaps in your game—and shows what’s possible. In medicine, apprentices shadow experienced clinicians. In sport, raise the competition. "Iron sharpens iron."

6. Read deeply in your field

Excellence isn’t only built on sweat—it’s also built on thought. Books and articles on volleyball strategy, psychology, and training add depth. A team that understands the history of the game plays with context. Leaders in every domain read widely; coaches and players should too.

7. Individual training matters

Team practices set the foundation, but greatness grows in the hours alone—extra reps, focused skill work, conditioning. Kobe Bryant’s “blackout workouts” built the base for his public brilliance. Volleyball players who spend time refining footwork and ball control away from the team elevate their ceiling.

8. Evaluate yourself honestly

Excellence requires reflection. After a match, ask: What did I do well? Where did I break down? How did I respond under stress? Journaling or video review makes improvement concrete. The same cycle drives progress in music rehearsals, surgical training, and corporate strategy.

These four questions from "The Leadership Moment" deserve attention:

  • What went well?
  • What went poorly?
  • What can we do differently next time?
  • What are the enduring lessons? 

9. Study your opponents

Knowledge reduces surprise. Scouting hitters, tendencies, and rotations prepares you for what’s coming. Warren Buffett studies competitors before investing. A chess master learns an opponent’s favorite openings. Preparation narrows the margin for error.

10. Communicate—because you can’t win alone

Volleyball is a six-person game. Without constant talk, trust, and connection, cracks appear. Businesses collapse when departments become silos. Families falter when silence grows. Excellence demands collaboration and communication.

11. Stay motivated

Excellence is not a sprint but a marathon. Motivation wanes; find ways to rekindle it: a new drill, a fresh book, an inspiring mentor, or simply asking why you started. Great teams refresh their purpose every season; so do individuals.

Excellence doesn’t care whether you’re on a volleyball court, writing code, or running a company. The principles cross domains. Coach Popelka’s advice isn’t only for volleyball—it’s for anyone who wants to raise their game and compete at a higher level.

Lagniappe. The base drill is good, although not random. Consider modifying it. Make two in a row and relocate (right or left) on your partner's command. Or you might constrain "catch-and-shoot" to alternate with sidestep dribble and shoot. 


 

 

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Monday, September 15, 2025

Basketball Gold and More

Scarcity adds value. Basketball 'gold' has value. Theory says gold has value because a limited amount is available for discovery, mining, and extraction.

    1) Win a gold medal. When Coach Mike Krzyzewski coached the US Men's National team, he asked players, before they stood before the gold medal game, to think about the one person most responsible for them being there. Weighty stuff. 

   2) "The ball is gold." Value the ball. Long before analytics arrived on the scene, Coach preached taking care of the basketball, shot selection and limiting turnovers. That's part of how I earned a role, inbounding the basketball. 

   3) "We're golden." That phrase lives in locker rooms. It’s shorthand for confidence, synergy, trust. When a team feels golden, it’s not about flawless execution—it’s about belief that together, they’ll find a way.

   4) The Golden Rule. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you." The coaching version asks, "How does it feel to be coached by me?" As a player, how you treat teammates speaks as to how you want them to treat you. 


    5) The NBA Cup. The NBA in-season tournament trophy reflects the premium on gold. 

    6) The Golden Era. Dominant teams like Auerbach's Celtics, Wooden's UCLA Bruins, the Jordan-era Bulls, and Auriemma's UCONN women all earned that respect. 

    7) The Golden Touch. We live in an era where Steph Curry's shooting prowess earned him titles and respect. 

    8) Fool's Gold. As Shakespeare wrote, "All that glisters is not gold." Shiny objects aren't always the real thing. Flashy highlights, empty stats, or teams chasing shortcuts. draw attention but not championships.

Lagniappe. Chris Oliver shows 'Spain' versus a zone. 

Lagniappe 2. Coach Hacks shares a high volume shooting drill.  

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Sunday, September 14, 2025

What Basketball Coaching (Wisdom) Makes a Difference?

Wisdom is in the eye of the beholder. One coach says, "Aha" while another says "Meh." Judge for yourself.

    1. Everyone benefits from coaching, even coaches. "Mentoring is the only shortcut to excellence." The classic example was surgeon Atul Gawande hiring a senior colleague to oversee his technique. Bill Belichick had a colleague Ernie Adams, a colleague since high school. Some called him "Belichick's Belichick." 

    2. "Winners are trackers." - Darren Hardy  Measure progress in skills, physical development, and focus. 

    3. "Whether you think you can or you can't, you're right." - Henry Ford   Expending energy developing players' skills and their confidence pays dividends. 

    4. "Don't extrapolate analytics from professionals" to less experienced players. In the NBA it's free throws, layups, and three-point shooting. High school teams can and do win with three-point shooting. Most will not. 

    5. "Four Factors" extend common sense. Differentials of:

  • Effective field goal percentage
  • Turnovers 
  • Rebounding
  • Attacking the basket (free throws)
determine many games. ChatGPT Plus assist:

Short version: shooting drives wins the most, and it compounds with ball security. Here’s a practical way to think about the best pairs of Oliver’s Four Factors.

The four (quick refresher)

  • eFG% (shot quality/shot making, 3s worth 1.5×)

  • TOV% (ball security)

  • ORB% (extra shots)

  • FT Rate (free points & foul pressure)

Most productive two-factor combinations (offense)

  1. High eFG% + Low TOV% → “Clean, accurate offense.”

    • You shoot it well and rarely give it away. Every trip ends in a good shot instead of a live-ball mistake.

    • Best for skill-heavy teams with confident creators and spacing.

  2. High eFG% + High ORB% → “Misses become passes.”

    • Great when you create quality looks and also re-own your misses.

    • Suits teams with a stretch-plus-crash mix; stresses defenses that help on drives.

  3. Low TOV% + High ORB% → “Possession machine.”

    • Even if you’re average shooting, you manufacture a net shot advantage: few empty trips + extra boards.

    • Blue-collar identity; travels well on the road.

  4. High eFG% + High FT Rate → “Efficient pressure.”

    • Make shots and draw fouls. Defenses must choose: contest hard (risk fouls) or concede quality looks.

    • Works with downhill guards and shooters who punish help.

  5. High ORB% + High FT Rate → “Smash & crash.”

    • Punishes switches and small lineups. Even with middling shooting, you win on whistles and put-backs.

    • Watch foul trouble on your end and transition D.

Most productive two-factor combinations (defense)

  1. Suppress opp eFG% + Control your D-REB%

    • One-and-done on tough shots. That’s the defensive gold standard.

  2. Suppress opp eFG% + Force TOV%

    • Pressure plus contests—limits both shot quality and volume.

  3. Force TOV% + Finish with D-REB%

    • If you gamble to create mistakes, you must end possessions when they shoot.

  4. Suppress opp eFG% + Low opp FT Rate

    • Contest without fouling; keeps their efficiency capped when shots aren’t falling.

How to choose your pair (game-planning)

  • If you expect to be out-shot (opponent has elite shot-makers): target Low TOV% + High ORB% to win the possession margin.

  • If you have a shooting edge: double down with High eFG% + Low TOV%; don’t give back value with sloppy giveaways.

  • If their rim protection is great: lean High eFG% (via 3s) + Low TOV% (skip tough paint attempts) or High FT Rate + ORB% (pressure the rim and live on the line/boards).

  • If they switch a lot: punish with ORB% (seal mismatches) paired with your better of eFG% or FT Rate.

Benchmarks (use as targets)

  • Offense: eFG% ≥ 55%, TOV% ≤ 12%, ORB% ≥ 32%, FT Rate ≥ 0.30

  • Defense: Opp eFG% ≤ 49%, Force TOV% ≥ 17%, Allow ORB% ≤ 25%, Opp FT Rate ≤ 0.20

Simple in-game levers

  • Slipping below your eFG% target? Protect the ball and crash to offset.

  • Turnover spike? Throttle back risk (fewer live-ball passes), hunt fouls to stabilize efficiency.

  • Opponent hot from 3? Switch or top-lock, then own the D-glass; don’t let makes turn into momentum runs.

    6. Excellent teams don't give games away. Winning close and late means avoiding bad offensive (bad shots, turnovers) and defensive (missed assignments, fouling, second shots) possessions, having strong special situations (e.g. BOB, SLOB, ATOs), and making free throws. High ambition teams are strong closers with offensive and defensive delay games, too. 

    7. Learn to apply and to defeat pressure. Strong teams can survive deficits and comeback attempts by maintaining or stealing possessions. Especially with young players, acclimate them to close and late situations in each practice. 

    8. "Every day is player development day." - Dave Smart  Investing in player development via study or outsourcing pays big dividends on the back end. 

Find something worth adding to your proven approaches. 

Lagniappe. "Hope is not a strategy." 

Lagniappe 2. Invest in finishing.  

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Saturday, September 13, 2025

Basketball - "Prove It"

Coaches, players, and defendants share a strange common ground. In court, the presumption is “innocent until proven guilty.” Defense attorneys argue from what’s called the “Hypothesis of Innocence.”

Sport flips that on its head. Every athlete walks onto the court, field, or ice as “guilty until proven innocent.” They compete in constant prove-it mode.

That pressure is what makes competition so compelling. It’s like chefs presenting their signature dish. The cooking metaphor fits—because in both kitchens and arenas, success comes down to “time and temperature.” Training, like seasoning, demands the right balance of intensity, seasoning, and patience.

Great athletes have the will to take risks and the skill to back them up. 

UCLA basketball coach John Wooden was a literal farm boy from Indiana. He decorates the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield as both a player and as a coach. His UCLA Bruins won ten NCAA basketball titles, including nine in ten years. 

He didn't win a championship at UCLA until his sixteenth season. Winning is hard. As former Alabama football coach Nick Saban tells his players, "Life is hard." 

Overnight success is myth. Every day, guilty until proven. 

Lagniappe. 

 

Lagniappe 2. Study the game. 

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Friday, September 12, 2025

Can We Be a Basketball "Original" in a Copycat Sport?

What makes a team "unique" in a sport that lends itself to a wide variety of styles and actions? 

Offensively, Pete Carril-era "Princeton" had a difference-making offense. As popular as it was, it hasn't translated at the professional level. 

Tex Winters' "Triangle Offense" won about half of NBA titles (11) during its run. A better argument is that powerhouse franchises led by Michael Jordan (six titles) and Kobe and Shaq (five) were more responsible. 

Although John Wooden's "2-2-1 press" certainly influenced UCLA dynasty, any claim of unique diminishes the impact of Alcindor (Abdul-Jabbar), Bill Walton, and a cavalcade of stars. The 1970 team with Steve Patterson at center (after Alcindor's departure) might have been unique during Wooden's tenure. Patterson was "only" 6'9" and his 17 points and 11 rebounds helped UCLA defeat Jacksonville and Artis Gilmore. 

I asked ChatGPT Plus for suggestions:

Coaches and players constantly borrow what works elsewhere. But “original” does exist, and it usually shows up in a few ways:

1. Strategic Innovation

  • New systems or wrinkles. Dean Smith’s “Four Corners” offense, Mike D’Antoni’s “Seven Seconds or Less,” or Don Nelson’s “point forward” concept all broke molds.

  • Even a small twist (e.g., the “short roll” pass off pick-and-roll) can feel original when it reshapes how teams attack.

2. Role Redefinition

  • Players changing what’s possible. Magic Johnson as a 6’9” point guard, Steph Curry stretching the floor to 30 feet, Nikola Jokić blending post play with point-guard passing — these are “original” because they made the game rethink positions.

  • “Positionless basketball” itself started as original thinking and became mainstream.

3. Cultural / Leadership Models

  • Wooden’s Pyramid of Success wasn’t just about basketball — it gave his teams a framework no one else had.

  • Gregg Popovich’s culture of international scouting and empowerment of players (e.g., Manu Ginóbili’s freewheeling style) made originality less about X’s and O’s and more about how a team functioned.

4. Aesthetic Expression

  • Creativity in how a player plays: Pete Maravich’s flair, Jason Williams’ no-look passes, Kyrie Irving’s handle, Jokic’s water-polo passes.

  • These don’t reinvent basketball but feel “original” because they’re unique signatures, not just imitations.

5. Timing and Courage

  • Often, what seems “original” is simply doing the right thing before everyone else is ready to copy it.

  • Think: adopting the three-point shot aggressively in the 1980s, or embracing analytics-driven shot selection in the 2000s.

👉 In short, “original” in basketball doesn’t mean inventing something never seen before — it’s often a new synthesis, or someone daring enough to push an idea further than anyone else. 

  • Originality doesn't equate to successful or appropriate. Watch some high school programs build their offense around three-point shooting when they lack high-level talent capable of shotmaking. 
  • Originality such as "The System" still requires a roster of players capable of functioning within its parameters. 
  • There's an argument to be made that a return to roots - defense, rebounding, and toughness - helped Kelvin Sampson return Houston to basketball prominence
  • Legendary Pete Newell cautioned coaches about attempting to reproduce systems they played under noting that it often results in a "poor copy of the original." 
Lagniappe. "He called the second two strikes, delivered when the victim was facedown on the ground, overkill and testified that in his experience overkill was equated with an emotional context." - Michael Connelly in The Fifth Witness. Teams sometimes respond to real or perceived slights with overkill. "What goes around comes around" or FAFO. 

Lagniappe 2. Late game play. 

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Thursday, September 11, 2025

Basketball’s Silver Rule

Rest easy, Adam Silver. Nassim Taleb’s “Silver Rule” belongs in the game: Do not do unto others as you would not have them do unto you.

Applications on the court:

  1. Physicality, not assault. Basketball isn’t gentle. But moving screens with flying elbows or “gorilla basketball” designed to injure? That crosses the line. If that's your ethos, switch to football. When four middle school girls get knocked out with injury, that's no accident.

  2. Sportsmanship starts with coaches. Down 15 with three minutes left? Get kids more minutes, don’t press the bottom of the other team’s roster. Running up the score in middle school basketball teaches the wrong lesson. 

  3. Respect the refs. Some coaches start “working the officials” from the opening tip. I’ve seen one tossed 45 seconds into a game. If nothing has happened yet, why stir trouble? 

  4. It’s not all about “my boy.” A Hall of Fame coach once told me about a parent furious his son didn’t get the final shot in a close game. Another teammate got an open look and missed. That happens. Basketball is a team game. 

  5. Handshake lines should be brief. After an upset win, the opposing coach told me, “We would have won if we made any shots.” We’ve all thought that, but the line isn’t the place to say it. Wins and losses don’t define our worth.

A Good Rule: when it’s better left undone or unsaid, don’t do it—or say it.

Lagniappe. Strive for consistency. 

Lagniappe 2. I coached with an excellent coach, Ralph Labella who argued that commitment was most critical for achievement.  

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Wednesday, September 10, 2025

The Basketball "Idiot Index" - Finding Inefficiencies

Walter Isaacson, in his biography of Elon Musk, shares how Musk devised an “idiot index”—a simple measure of inefficiency. The index compared the cost of a finished product to the cost of its raw materials. If the gap was wide, then the process was flawed. Smarter design and execution could shrink the gap, save money, and improve outcomes. Musk would bring component production "in house." 

That insight raises a compelling question: what would a basketball version of the Idiot Index look like?

Diagnosing the Gap

Biographers give us glimpses into how people think. Sometimes it enlightens us, sometimes it unsettles us. Translating Musk’s idea into basketball invites the same reflection. What are the “hidden inefficiencies” that separate a team’s raw material (talent and potential) from its finished product (wins, culture, reputation)?

Some candidates for a Basketball Idiot Index might be:

  • Potential vs. Actual Level: The space between what a roster could achieve and what it consistently produces.

  • Impact of Coaching: The margin by which superior teaching, preparation, and systems elevate the same players.

  • Avoiding Self-Inflicted Errors: How much better a team would be if it simply cut down on turnovers, bad shots, and defensive lapses.

  • Program Development: The gap caused by the absence (or strength) of a youth pipeline feeding into high school or college programs.

  • Culture Costs: The inefficiency created by poor team culture—conflict, selfishness, or corrosive outside influences (the “Hoosiers” problem of meddling parents).

Who Can Diagnose the Index?

Doctors order tests, engineers measure tolerances, and biographers trace patterns of thought. In basketball, the diagnosticians are:

  • Coaches who spot recurring breakdowns in execution.

  • Players who self-scout honestly, asking what holds them back.

  • Analysts and Statisticians who track efficiency ratings, turnover ratios, and shot quality.

  • Leaders in the Program who observe cultural issues that undermine performance.

The index doesn’t just measure what went wrong; it tells us how big the gap is between what we are and what we could be.

Can the Index Be Fixed?

A high Idiot Index in basketball isn’t permanent. It points to opportunity:

  • Skill Development: Raising the “floor” of players through fundamentals.

  • Smarter Systems: Installing offensive and defensive schemes that play to strengths.

  • Culture Repair: Building trust, accountability, and unselfishness to eliminate wasted energy.

  • Process Discipline: Practicing repetition, attention to detail, and Wooden-style habits that turn preparation into execution.

Fixing the index means shrinking inefficiency—the same raw material (talent, effort, resources) producing a much stronger finished product.

Musk’s “idiot index” wasn’t about blaming people—it was about spotting inefficiencies that others ignored. Basketball needs the same humility and rigor. The goal is not to shame but to measure and improve.

If your team’s Basketball Idiot Index is high, the challenge is clear: identify the gaps, own them, and then turn potential into reality.

Lagniappe. Coach Berge on earning more minutes. 

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Tuesday, September 9, 2025

Identify Basketball Edges and Leave an Impression


Grandmaster Garry Kasparov once observed that part of chess is knowing what not to do when there’s nothing to do, and what to do when opportunity arises. That lesson applies across sports: players must learn both patience and decisiveness.

When advantage appears—whether in speed, strength, or size—it must be pressed. Great process ensures you can “leave an impression.” As the saying goes, throw your best pitch.

In chess, players don’t see isolated pieces; they see the board in chunks that form themes. Learning works the same way. If you were memorizing Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address, you’d break it into manageable parts—“four score and seven years ago” is one natural chunk. Chunking simplifies complexity and helps you “learn how to learn.”

That same principle guides physical training. Skills are built through visualization, practice, and repetition. John Wooden, the legendary UCLA basketball coach, taught EDIR5: explanation, demonstration, imitation, repetition—repeated five times. Top performers across domains rely on this approach because, as Wooden often reminded his players, repetition makes reputations.

Basketball provides its own version of chunking. A simple guard–post–wing triangle can generate multiple scoring options from the same spacing. What looks like one pattern actually contains many layers, just as in chess.


Lagniappe. Execution defines us. 

Lagniappe 2. Coach Tavares suggests ways to free the roll man.  

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Monday, September 8, 2025

Basketball - Telling the Story Combines an Outside and Inside Perspective

Coaches live in two worlds: the external one, with media, fans, and peers, and the internal one, with the team. Externally, the best coaches resist hype. Instead of saying “I’m excited about this team,” they let the story and the numbers speak for themselves. Hype sets you up for letdowns. Underselling your team can be worse—players often perform down to lowered expectations.

Internally, clarity matters. Coaches must state expectations and standards directly. Specific challenges push players beyond comfort zones, while vagueness creates confusion. Translate a broad framework into daily habits that define identity, drive performance, and prove character.

1. Identity

Identity is what your team wants to be known for. It anchors style of play and mindset.

  • Balanced offense and defense: Avoid becoming predictable. Strive for versatility—threaten opponents in multiple ways while protecting against theirs.

  • Play to strengths: If speed is your edge, build pace into practices. If power is your edge, train to impose it. Identity is not one-size-fits-all.

  • “Smart team” mantra: Limit unforced errors. Reinforce the idea that intelligence—shot selection, positioning, communication—is as important as talent. 

Identity becomes actionable when coaches embed it into practice design. Drills should reflect the style of play you want, so every rep reinforces the identity. How we practice will define how we play. 

2. Performance

Performance is what you can control today. Principles don’t win games without execution.

  • Preparation: Scouting reports, film study, and walkthroughs. Teach players how to study the game, not just play it.

  • High effort: Effort is non-negotiable. Sprinting to the block, diving for loose balls, or finishing drills strong creates habits that transfer to competition.

  • Attention to detail: Success often lives in the margins—footwork, spacing, timing. Coaches model this by correcting small errors consistently.

Performance becomes actionable through measurable standards—whether it’s serve targets, turnover limits, or hustle stats. Data keeps performance accountable.

3. Character

Character is revealed under pressure. It’s not claimed, it’s proven.

  • Teamwork: Celebrate assists, communication, and rotations that free teammates. Recognition teaches players that “we” is greater than “me.”

  • Unselfishness: Praise players who sacrifice minutes, take charges, or make the extra pass. Build rituals of gratitude, so unselfish acts never go unnoticed.

  • Resilience: Prepare players for adversity by practicing recovery. Simulate late-game pressure, bad calls, or momentum swings, and teach reset routines.

Character becomes actionable when adversity is embraced as part of training, not an interruption.

Pulling It Together

Identity sets the direction. Performance drives the daily work. Character proves who you are when tested. Together, they form a framework that becomes real only when translated into behaviors, structures, and culture.

Frameworks inspire. Programs transform. The job of a coach is not wordsmithing but turning values into lived experience, so that when the whistle blows, your team doesn’t just know who they are—they show it.  

Lagniappe. Horns provides great spacing and a framework to run many options. 

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Sunday, September 7, 2025

Basketball - Cultural Literacy, Understanding Gen Z Better

Cultural literacy helps us relate to players. Yes, I'd be 'delulu' to think we'll all have a shared language with Gen-Z. Making an effort to become aware of "their world" might help understand how to help them to focus and solve problems in the basketball domain. We don't have to know their favorite movies and songs, just more about how they see the world. 

Flexibility. Be willing to adapt traditional coaching methods. When a player learns better through different approaches, experiment with new techniques rather than insisting everyone conform to one style.

The key is showing genuine interest in understanding their perspective while maintaining our coaching standards.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

Collaboration. Embrace authentic communication not just hierarchical approaches. Gen Z wants transparency about decisions and reasoning behind strategies. They don’t want, “because that’s how we’ve always done it." They ‘hear’ coaches who explain the “why” behind instructions rather than blind obedience. This recalls Pete Newell's saying, "They're not cattle." 

Technology. Use video analysis, apps, and digital tools not just for performance tracking but as teaching methods. Share film breakdowns through platforms they’re comfortable with. Many Gen Z athletes learn effectively through visual and interactive content.

Individualism. This generation values being seen as individuals with unique strengths rather than being a cog in a machine. Work to learn each player’s personal goals, learning style, and motivations.

Mental health. Recognize stress, anxiety, and mental wellness. Gen Z is more comfortable discussing these topics than previous generations, and they expect leaders who acknowledge the mental side of performance.

Include players in some decision-making processes where appropriate. They want to be seen and to feel heard and valued as contributors, not just followers.

This might mean soliciting input on practice drills and culture building activities.

Personal touches. Lead through genuine relationship-building rather than relying on authority. Share appropriate personal stories, admit when you’re in unfamiliar territory, and be willing to acknowledge that we have been and will be wrong sometimes.

Here are a couple of examples (via ChatGPT) of Gen-Z friendly convos:

1. Correcting Technique

❌ Old-school style:

“You’re doing it wrong. Fix your stance.”

✅ Gen Z-friendly:

“Good energy. Try shifting your weight a little lower — it’ll give you more balance. Let’s test it now so you feel the difference.”

2. Giving Constructive Criticism

❌ Old-school style:

“You can’t miss that play. Focus next time.”

✅ Gen Z-friendly:

“I like how aggressive you were going after it. Next step is locking in your timing — that’ll put you in position to finish the play. Want me to show you on film?”

Ironically, for all the talk about the differences, the style reminds me of Coach Wooden's "sandwich technique," correction amidst praise.

Lagniappe. No smooth hands?  

Lagniappe 2. Clinic notes from Mensbasketballhoopscoop  

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Saturday, September 6, 2025

Developing a Basketball Program Blueprint

In fashion design, they use a concept called "Lookbooks." An effective lookbook creates a strong, cohesive visual narrative that clearly communicates a specific brand identity while inspiring.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ In basketball, a "Program Blueprint" conveys a similar intent. 

I handed out a program overview as well as handouts such as laminated versions of Wooden's "Pyramid of Success" and Bilas's "Toughness" values. Was it 'overkill' for middle school? Yes. 

Here's how one might look:

🏀 Basketball Program Blueprint

1. Introduction

  • Welcome Letter (from Head Coach)

  • Program Mission and Vision

  • Quick Snapshot: “Identity and Performance”

2. Core Values 

  • Character - You Represent the program continuously

  • Competence

3. Culture & Standards

  • Team Standards (“How we act”)

  • Competitive Character (attitude, decisions, effort, resilience)

  • Player Roles & Accountability ("Excel in your role")

4. Playing Identity

  • Style of Play (offense, defense, conversion philosophy)

  • Competitive Edges (e.g., speed, toughness, unselfishness)

  • Branding DNA (how others see us)

5. Player Development Pathway

  • Practice Schedules, Drill Book

  • Skill Progressions 

  • Mental Game (Mindfulness boosts focus and resilience)

  • Strength & Conditioning

6. Leadership Model

  • Captains (everyone can lead)

  • Player-Driven Standards (peer accountability)

  • Coaches’ Roles (teacher, mentor, strategist)

7. Communication & Community

  • Expectations for Parents & Families

  • How We Handle Adversity (losses, injuries, setbacks)

  • Community Service & Representation

8. Fundraising and Branding 

  • Primacy of Booster Club

  • Legacy (program history, Hall of Fame moments)

9. The Blueprint in Action

  • Season Goals (competitive + developmental)

  • “Proof of Culture” (stories, quotes, player experiences)

  • Long-Term Vision (sustainability)

10. Closing

  • Commitment Statement (make promises to yourselves)

  • Final Words: “Run your race” (results follow the process)

Lagniappe. Develop your standards. 

Lagniappe 2. Teams that lack "shot accountability" forfeit chances to win.  

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