Basketball - Stress Testing

"Hope is a good breakfast, but it is a bad supper." - Francis Bacon

Options and outcomes come with a variety of possibilities. "Stress testing" comes with different names and occurs in many fields to clarify "tolerances."

In basketball, hope gets you to tryouts. Stress testing decides who plays.

Stress Testing Examples

Stress testing reveals what holds and what doesn't under fatiguing conditions. 

In physiology, cardiopulmonary stress testing defines fitness (aerobic capacity), limiting factors (e.g. heart or lung), and may help define diseases (e.g. atherosclerotic heart disease, exercise-induced asthma). 

In engineering, testing turbines under conditions of temperature change (cold or heat) is called thermal stress testing. A metal could become unstable at varying temperatures and compromise engines. 

In banking, stress testing can project risk of bank failure under failing loan conditions and help set capital requirements.

Basketball Stress Testing

Stress testing occurs in different categories - physical, competitive, and cognitive loading. 

Strength, athleticism and conditioning are revealed in vertical jump, bench press, and running tests. The Celtics historically used "The Boston Marathon," full-court sprints over three minutes at the end of workouts to measure distance. They measure conditioning and resilience. 

Scrimmages assess basketball ability and IQ. Teams conduct them in a variety of setups including full-court and small sided games. 

Seeing "prospects" competing against established professionals or aspiring professionals (e.g. NBA Summer League) is another form of stress testing. 

Candidates undergo cognitive loading during film sessions as a proxy for basketball IQ. "Seeing earlier leads to deciding better." The more specificity players provide the better teams can assess them. 

High IQ players show certain traits:

• speak in principles, not guesses
• anticipate the next action (NBA = next best action)
• understand spacing, timing, and angles not just positioning
• admit mistakes 

Medical Evaluation

Medical evaluation will be limited at lower levels. Having a doctor's certification to play is usually enough. If the doctor suspects issues then players are triaged to specialists. 

In the NIL and Transfer Portal era, Medical Evaluation should be more extensive. Even the body gets stress tested, because availability is part of ability.

Everyone Performs Stress Testing

Everyone gets stress tested. How do we respond to  pressure? How do we prove ourselves?  Standardized testing in school is stress testing. 

SAT or ACT testing is a form of stress testing. "Fitting in" in many communities exerts a form of stress testing. In the 1970s we endured running testing in both high school and college sports. 

Testing doesn't create excellence. It reveals it. 

Lagniappe. "Coaching is a relationship business." 

The greatest compliment a coach can get isn't trophies or banners. 

It's when former players introduce you to their family and say,
This is Coach, the one who taught me how to be better on and off the court. That's the legacy that matters.

— Steve Collins (@TeachHoopsBBall) April 22, 2026

Basketball - "Via Negativa"

With The Power of Negative Thinking, Bobby Knight went back to the future...the philosophy of via negativa...dating to the times of classical Rome and Greece. 

Google Gemini describes via negativa:

Via negativa (Latin for "the negative way") is a method of description or evaluation that focuses on what something is not, rather than what it is.

By stripping away inaccurate traits or unnecessary elements, you arrive at a clearer understanding of the subject. It is essentially the art of "definition by exclusion."

Think and do better. Winning basketball becomes basketball with "negative elements" stripped away. Adopting the less is more approach is difficult. 

Practice Subtraction

Direct every practice activity toward winning                                    Be efficient - "No lines, no laps, no lectures" - Brian McCormick          Streamline our drill book, playbook, and teaching                              Limit video to 13 clips - reduce "video fatigue"                                  Eliminate the repetitions of anything less than game speed.   

 Attend practice of some respected coaches and see what they don't do

Offensive Subtraction

• Use shot charts to stress test shot selection
• Shots are not a democracy. Remember Knight's admonition, "Just because I want you on the floor doesn't mean I want you to shoot."
• Dribble with purpose. "You don't get paid by the dribble." 
• Eliminate lazy cutting, a prime cause for lack of separation
• Censure "Me, too" shots. "It's not your shot, it's our shot." - Bilas
• Reduce turnovers, the definition of "zero percent possessions." 

Use video to prioritize "musts, needs, and wants." Harken back to core Pete Newell, "More and better shots than our opponent." 

Defensive Subtraction

• Stamp out bad on-ball defense. No more straight line drives. No more "dead man's defense" - six feet under the ball handler.
• No more silence. Organization includes defensive talk. 
• No more uncontested shots. Contestedness relates to opponent EFG%
• "Fouling negates hustle." No fouling perimeter shots, threes, and bail out shots. As Kevin Sivils says, "Foul for profit." 
• There are no 50-50 balls. First to the floor becomes the standard.
• No more "ole" matador blockouts. Body 'em or "hit and get." 

Defense thrives on focus, will, and effort. Offense might improve with "try easier" but defense doesn't. 

Use the Socratic Method and quiz players not just what they're supposed to do but what they need to stop doing. 

Lagniappe. Every day is "prove it" day. 

I’m in love with this sentence:

“The most underrated skill in life is to keep showing up, even when you don't feel like it.”

— Reads with Ravi (@readswithravi) April 18, 2026

Lagniappe 2. Coach Steed makes a great point. Our transition philosophy defines our offensive philosophy. 

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Basketball - All the Small Things

Tension exists between "attention to detail" and "don't sweat the small stuff." All competent coaches prefer the former.

1. Philosophy

• Attention to detail often separates excellent from very good talent
• Can you "do your job" without the intricacies of "know your job?"
• Make everything impact success 

Observation - Coaches without clear philosophy...fail. 

2. Continual Learning

• Teach video study
• Decision-making 

Observation - Excellent coaches create a learning culture. 

3. MBWA (Management by walking around)

• Subtle issues require more than casual observation
• Culture has to go beyond "skin deep"

Observation - Excellent coaches see what's there and what's not. 

4. Player Development

• Every day is player development day"
• Fundamentals every day of practice

Observation - If you can't develop talent, outsource the development.

5. Operations

• Offensive structure (spacing, player and ball movement)
• Special situations
• Winning close and late (offensive and defensive delay)
• Tracking choices (shot selection, turnovers, "foul utility") 

Observation - Talent without structure is limited. 

6. Personal Care

• Longitudinal strength and conditioning
• Sleep, nutrition, and hydration
• Active recovery
• Mental health

Observation - Great machines will fail without maintenance. 

Additional notes:

• 1. What gets and keeps you on the floor?
• 2. All fouls are not equal (taking away layup vs frustration)
• 3. "Fouling negates hustle"
• 4. "Turnovers kill dreams."
• 5. Assists create possession enders.
• 6. Verify players are on the same page. "Trust but verify."

Lagniappe. Constraints make the drill work...time and consistency. 

The Celtic Drill ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/9R2mA5YvVF

— Anthony Pugh (@Anthony_Pugh2) April 24, 2026

Basketball - Unwritten Rules

The end of the T-Wolves/Nuggets game ended with the Wolves' Jaden McDaniels taking a meaningless breakaway layup with 1.3 seconds left. This triggered a minor tussle between both teams.

Richard Jefferson mentioned that "unwritten rules" exist in every sport - football, baseball, and basketball. Of course, he's correct.

What are some of the unwritten rules? 

• Dangerous play - notably "submarining" players going up for layups
• Unsportsmanlike - "late game" scoring in games out of reach
• "Dirty" plays - Intentional tripping, pulldowns, "head shots"
• "Showing up" players such as 'standing over' or taunting
• Situational etiquette - late pressing or fastbreaking up big margins
• "Frontier justice" - some players/teams will retaliate after physical play
• Headhunting stars for competitive advantage
• "Gorilla ball" - over the top physical play instead of "basketball"

Legitimately ask: 

1. Does play compromise player safety?                                          2. Is it "legitimate" competition?                                                        3. Does it meet our 'standards'?

Each of us has to ask what reflects our ethical standards and sportsmanship. If we were applying for a position, would we want film of our actions during this game to reflect our standards? 

Lagniappe. Competition and compassion coexist. 

The lie sports culture keeps telling:

You can’t compete against your opponent and still have compassion for them.

You can be the hardest worker,
the fiercest competitor,
the one nobody wants to line up against
and still be humble, respectful,
and compassionate.… pic.twitter.com/hv3eehOexR

— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) April 22, 2026

Basketball - Ten Actionable Quotes

Quotes can helps us if they deliver actionable messages. Above all, coaching is a relationship business and our words inform our character and competence. 

These quotes help define "origin stories." Make a difference. One of the great challenges in life is taking bold action amidst uncertainty. 

"Your actions speak so loudly, I cannot hear a word you say."

Model excellence. Greet every player by name every day. 

"Comparison is the thief of joy." - Teddy Roosevelt

Compare ourselves only to the person we were yesterday. 

"The director is the keeper of the story." - Ron Howard

Own the story. Own the experience we create. 

"I learn something from everyone, often what not to do." - Abraham Lincoln

Reducing or avoiding mistakes raises our floor but not always the ceiling.

"Sacrifice." 

Success follows shared vision, shared work, and shared sacrifice.

"Our habits are votes for the person we want to become." - James Clear

Better habits boost character and competence. Pick, stick with, and check them.

"Look for the helpers." - Mr. Rogers

All great accomplishments come from collaboration. 

"Mentoring is the only shortcut to excellence."

Find a mentor...and become one. I remember what Captain Tom Walsh told me, "I am your mentor and your tormentor."

"Surround yourself with great people." - Coach Mike Krzyzewski

You become the average of the five people closest to you. 

"Shout praise and whisper criticism." - Coach Don Meyer 

Catch more flies with honey than with vinegar. People will always remember inspiring words about them. 

Compile a portfolio of influential quotes. 

Lagniappe. Choose well.  

Jay Wright literally revealed the ONE thing you control when nothing goes your way. pic.twitter.com/Sewj9fGqRX

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) April 22, 2026

Basketball - Can Do Attitude

Rule number 4. "It can be done."  

Colin Powell's 13 Rules

"I try to be an optimist, but I try not to be stupid." - Colin Powell

"Stupid" is a harsh word and seldom reflects well on either the source or the target. Warren Buffett's late partner Charlie Munger explained that it's easier not to be stupid than to be a genius. Use these lessons to make a difference and to avoid regret. 

With rare exceptions (Russia in the 1972 Olympics) do-overs and unicorns travel together. 

All of us have seen and made sport decisions that we'd rather have back. I don't mean a missed free throw or well-intended errant pass. I mean in the Ron Howard sense, "What idiot directed that scene?" (He did.)

1. Looking for early momentum, I instructed our team to press. We were down 6-0 in a minute and the ref literally looked at me for the timeout. He wasn't disappointed. We fell behind by double digits, rallied within six late and lost. I apologized to the eighth graders. "I own this loss. I didn't put us in a position to succeed." 

Lesson - Don't rush to succeed. "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread.

2. Champion skier Lindsey Vonn injured her ACL two weeks ahead of the Olympics. She competed anyway and suffered a catastrophic injury. Author Nassim Taleb of The Black Swan might say that was neither unsurprising or shocking. Knee biomechanics don't permit microadjustments with underlying severe injury. 

Lesson - Don't confuse "want to" and "get to." 

3. Legendary coach Gregg Popovich faced massive criticism for sitting Tim Duncan late in a catastrophic Game 6 loss to the Heat in 2013. We can always rationalize our decisions. Here's his insight. 

Lesson - "Don't bring a gun to a gunfight; bring a tank." - Fergus Connolly in 59 Lessons

4. Games often come down to a "Gotta Have It" moment. Everyone needs to be aware of and understand the implications of a situation. The basketball gods corrected a missed call allowing the fateful Webber Timeout in 1993. Webber went on to a Hall of Fame NBA career.

Lesson - "Get everyone on the same page." 

5. Games and fortunes turn on a single moment - skill, luck, Act of God. Kawhi Leonard's prayer from the corner did not go unanswered. What's the likelihood of a heavily contested buzzer beater falling in that situation? Reality says it's either 100 percent or zero. 

Lesson - "Make them beat you with your best pitch."

Lagniappe. Strengthen our arguments with a logical framework:

• Claim
• Evidence
• Explanation

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Ego Defense or Good Ideas?

Grab good ideas such as many of Colin Powell's "13 Rules." 

"Don't become so attached to an argument that if fails, you ego goes with it." 

Ideas are currency. Ego is fool's gold. 

Public domain image of 'iron pyrite' known as "fool's gold." 

Once a cigarette ad boasted, "I'd rather fight than switch." Talk about being "dead right" as packages listed tobacco health warnings since the 1960s. 

As coaches, be successful and flexible instead of inflexible and occasionally bitten in the backside. We were playing the top team whose best player was scoring about 25 points a game (a lot for an eighth grader). I thought our best chance was to limit her, crowding her shooting and doubling drives. We were competitive for a half until a teammate we left uncovered made a fistful of threes. We held the 'star' to about eight points but lost. That seemed to enrage their coach (? the father). He should've been happy about a win instead of triggered. 

A coach told me about a late game situation, trailing by one, where he designed a play with multiple options to get an open shot. They got an open look and missed. The star player's father came out the stands and screamed at him because his son didn't get the ball. The coach explained that it was about getting a good shot not his son's shot. Needless to say, that didn't calm the father. The coach was wildly successful. I don't know about the others. 

The Spoelstra 2012-13 Heat had Chris Bosch but imperfect spacing. Moving Bosch to the 'stretch 5' opened up spacing and scoring for LeBron James and Dwayne Wade and earned a title. Bosch didn't let ego stop a winning role change. 

Steve Kerr's substitution of Andre Iguodala for Andrew Bogut in the 2015 Finals at the suggestion of video coordinator Nick U'Ren was a turning point in the Warriors defeat of the Cavs. Kerr didn't let "power imbalance" sabotage a good idea. 

Coach Nick Nurse made a "junk defense" idea (box-and-one) limit the Warriors and Steph Curry in the 2019 series. He could have shunned 'signal' and stuck with convention. Didn't win that game but won the series using the box-and-one selectively.   

Lagniappe. NBA BOBs. 

 

Basketball - Reality and Sports Parenting

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Like Jamal Wallace in Finding Forrester, I often use others' words to start mine. Perspective on sports parenting never gets old. 

Advocacy

Irrational is believing that parents won't or shouldn't advocate for their children. The issue becomes "degree." Parents may want minutes, role, and recognition for their child even more than players. They've invested their lives, time, and treasure to support them. Coaches are transients along that journey. When disagreements arise, that doesn't mean parents have failed. 

Crazy Costs

In the 40 billion dollars youth sports industry, "tuition and fees" have become incendiary. Atop the sundae, the "cherry" of game admission prices has risen to unthinkable amounts. Pay full freight and then get taxed again to watch your child play...or sit. 

Accessorizing

In addition to participation fees (often thousands of dollars), uniforms, sneakers, and 'swag', a host of other expenses arise - travel, lodging, road trip meals, additional medical costs (injuries happen), sports club or gym costs, personal trainers, et cetera, et cetera. 

Truth Telling

There's always an "inside" and an "outside" view. The pot of gold at the end of the rainbow - scholarships, NIL money - greets a tiny percentage of athletes. Many athletes and parents hold unrealistic expectations of their talent and potential. I played against two future NBA first rounders in high school - Ron Lee and Bob Bigelow. Nobody on our team approached their level, especially I. My daughters played with a future WNBA player - Shey Peddy...and they weren't near her level. 

I coached two women who played in the A10 this year - Sam Dewey and Cecilia Kay - and they were far above their local teammates. "Many are called and few are chosen." Coaches have to be realistic, too. 

"It's a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll." Build a positive experience for players and they'll have something good to remember. 

Lagniappe. Reducing injuries is a primary concern for both coaches and athletes. 

Powell's 13 Rules - Why The First Matters for Us

Former Secretary of State Colin Powell republishes his "Thirteen Rules" in It Worked for Me. He distills his experiences in the Army, as Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, the National Security Advisor, and Secretary of State. 

Managing and leading people are not identical. 

The first is, "It ain't as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning." Life events happen that we can't control. Control our response better...both in the short and long term. 

The Other Moore's Law

General Hal Moore reminds us that "there is always something more that we can do." The Spartans remained steadfast at Thermopylae. "When told that Persian arrows would blot out the sun, Dienekes replied: “Then we will fight in the shade.” Choose better perspective as both leaders and followers. 

Losses Are Lessons

"Love our losses." Unfortunately, losses often dispense our best lessons. NFL Mondays are lessons in understanding victory and defeat. Be good at what we do a lot. Be easy to play with and hard to play against. Excel at handling and asserting pressure. Win in the half-court. Don't give games away by failing to manage tempo or through bad decisions. 

Find Mentors to Navigate Crises

CAPT Bill Baker told me early in my medical career, "Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment." He also said, "What's worse than heart disease is turning a heart problem into a brain problem." Avoid transforming one problem (e.g. a problem player) into a systemic problem (team disruption). Have a trusted voice to ask for help. 

Phil Jackson's Bulls couldn't progress in the playoffs. The Triangle Offense helped Michael Jordan et al. get over the hump by 'reframing the system'. With the Lakers, post-Shaq, Jackson challenged Kobe to lead and trust. That reframed ego into a unified system and the Lakers won consecutive titles in 2009 and 2010. 

Lose a Game Not Our Team 

Model excellence. Some coaches earn a reputation for "my coaching helped us win" and "the players own this loss." This reminds me of a scene late in North Dallas Forty when a player yells at the coach, "Every time I call it a game you call it a business, and every time I call it a business you call it a game." (Warning: The language is expletive-filled, unforgiving, and real.) The appeal of team sport is disparate people struggling together. 

Hold Fire

As above, emotion can overrule judgment after games. Abraham Lincoln was often angered by staff, subordinates, and generals. He wrote excoriating letters and then finished them at the bottom, "Never signed, never sent." Take advantage of a "cooling off" period to communicate better like Lincoln did with those "hot letters." 

Summary: Self-regulation is a skill.

• Find a better way. 
• Love our losses. 
• Mentors help our navigation.
• Never lose our teams. "The game is about the players." 
• Let the heat out slowly. 

Lagniappe. Cutting is an underrated skill. Chris Oliver illustrates. 
 

Basketball - Find What Works for You

“Most people have an image of what a basketball player is supposed to be, and that’s what they try to become. I wanted to become something that people didn’t expect.” - Bill Russell

As a player or coach, "Who do you want to be?" The followup question is, "how can you best achieve that?" 

When coaching, remember to "shout praise and whisper criticism." 

"The magic is in the work."

If you know who you want to be and what it will take, are you willing to pay that price? 

Sometimes we won't have the resources and others we are unable or unwilling to pay the price. Confronting reality means making hard choices. 

Develop a written plan.

“The faintest ink is better than the best memory.” - Chinese proverb  Specifics of process allow us a chance to succeed, not a guarantee. They also provide a reality check and allow us to consider whether it accounts for work-life balance.  

Learning culture

Player development encompasses a spectrum of technical, tactical, physical, and psychological skills. Because we probably won't have all the skills needed, we benefit from assistants and/or consultants. As leaders model excellence for everyone in our program. 

That fosters us to grow leadership and change skills. Keep a "leadership scorecard" of opportunities and actions. Keep a "rethinking scorecard" of how we reassessed our attitudes and approaches. 

"Habits are votes for the person we want to become." James Clear

We make our habits and our habits make us. Build habits that will help you to achieve your goals. How? Pick, stick, and check. Clear says, "don't miss twice." Habits are self-reinforcing. 

To an important degree, "we become what we believe." 

Compete

Competition manifests in many forms for the student-athlete. Competition shows up in self-care, not only work but recovery. Competition is also a habit. Remember the Fourth Agreement, "Always do your best." It's unacceptable to be an "A" student on the court and a D+ student in the classroom. Competition shows up in focus, toughness, selflessness, and commitment to make teammates and team better. 

Competition is a choice. 

Track performance

"Winners are trackers." - Darren Hardy in The Compound Effect 

Constraints of playing against defense, standards, and time help us raise performance. I tracked results of taking a hundred free throws a day. I was only to make a hundred consecutive twice. 

Constantly seek our personal best, regardless whether it's taking a test, practicing a sport, or writing a piece. Chase perfection and catch excellence. 

As coaches, sometimes we have to challenge others to step up. Other times we have to challenge ourselves. 

Lagniappe. Don't pay by the dribble. 

Kids don't realize they can get scholarships off of this. But it's not cool enough to play this way. https://t.co/OrA9wgNup8

— Dennis Marshall (@mar5hallhoops) April 13, 2026

Basketball - Swiss Army Knives or Hammers?

In a complex, chaotic world are you generating solutions with Swiss army knives or hammers? 

There's no "designated hitter" in basketball. Every player plays both ends of the court, communicates, and makes decisions in the best interest of the team. 

The eyes of the expert

The expert has a nuanced view of the game - the possibilities, probabilities, and influence of opponents, situations, officiating, and other factors. 

Even experts benefit from coworkers' input. That's growth.

Most NFL Mondays are "accountability days" where coaches uncover the root causes for wins and losses.  

Win with easy baskets. Deny easy hoops. Tatum reads the rolling Queta and there's minimal help. 

Forcing turnovers, especially live ball turnovers, creates high points per possession chances. The Sixers had 14 turnovers and the Celtics eight. 

Beginner's mind

Zen master Shunryu Suzuki wrote: "In the beginner's mind there are many possibilities, but in the expert's mind there are few." This concept, shoshin, describes a mind that is empty, open, and considering all possibilities without preconceptions.

Both students and experts benefit by curiosity, openness, and enthusiasm while seeking "find the best version of the truth." 

Mental models

Mental models help us build flexible tools to find solutions to complex problems. What are the most important mental models for sports? 

1. Circle of Competence - Do well what you do a lot (utilize strengths). Attack opponent weaknesses. Avoid bringing our weaknesses into play. 

2. Sample size - Don't make generalizations from limited data. "One swallow doesn't make a summer." One great game doesn't put a young player into the Hall of Fame.

3. Growth mindset - "Every day is player development day." Within player development are technique, tactics, physicality, and psychology. Under the rubric on mindfulness, practice improves focus, decreases circulating stress hormones (anxiety), and helps sleep.

Pursue growth across physical and mental approaches.

Lagniappe. Hard-to-guard actions belong in our offense...such as Spain PnR (ballscreen to backscreen) 

🍀Boston Celtics 2025-2026 ~ Spain Pick and Roll Plays + Variations

- Spain PnR = back screen on ball screeners man

Variations include :
-> Spain Reject Exit
-> Stagger Spain
-> Stack Out Spain (Flip Flare, Blind Pig,etc)
-> Chest Spain
-> Stack Replace
-> Spain Ghost pic.twitter.com/4F6uxgyfIX

— NikNBA🏀 (@NIKNBAYT) April 18, 2026

Basketball - The Invisible Hand

One of the best basketball videos I have ever seen. 

Ignore the post but watch the video. I feel like less of an idiot (calling out stuff to players and teams) after watching this.

Every excellent team has elite communication. And most mediocre and bad teams have weak communication.

Encourage Communication

Communication is a habit. It has to start at practice. It can't be switched on at games. Lack of 'talk' means missed assignments, late decisions, and injuries as 'guys' get blown up by solid screens. Remember the "Silver Rule" of Taleb, "Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you."

Reward Communication

Remember the immortal words of Robert Knight, "Bench, meet @ss." Do everything possible to get on the floor and stay on the floor. 

"What Do I Say?" 

Every team has its own language (lexicon). Remember ELO - early, loud, and often. Talk energizes, recruits, and intimidates. Common calls:

• "Help, left." May be enough to discourage a driver (stay out of traffic)
• "Pick, right." Inform the issue and the direction. 
• "Switch." Just one option to manage PnR coverage. 
• "Through..." another option to direct ball defender between screener and screener coverage. 
• "Ice" or force or blue...whatever to direct ballhandler away from screen
• "Ball..." declaring you have the ballhandler
• "Red...or fire..." may signal deny with 'dead dribble' 
• "No middle" or "paint"...keep the ball out of the paint... 

Tip: watch video at 1.5 speed to reduce viewing time and increase efficiency. 

Lagniappe. Present evidence for yourself... (mild language)... 

😳“CREATING EVIDENCE”😳

“You start with BELIEF, you stand on EVIDENCE. FACTS don't care about FEELINGS. When you get there, nobody cares HOW you got there, they care about how YOU can HELP!” (Former @NFL Linebacker Will Compton)

🎥 (via @JoshChambers) pic.twitter.com/LoYCICYIDR https://t.co/kF58fg3UQj

— Hoop Dreams Basketball 🏀🧠 (@hoopdreamsbball) April 16, 2026

Basketball - Good Judgment

"Good judgment comes from experience; experience comes from bad judgment." - Anonymous

Each of us follows a career arc, ideally with what legendary Coach Anson Dorrance calls continual ascension.

Kevin Eastman says, "Success leaves footprints." What steps promote advancement? 

1. Measure What Matters

Ascension starts with clarity, objective reality. 

• Film is the truth machine.
• Shot charts show proficiency. 
• Habits don’t lie.

What you measure improves. What you ignore wanders. Measure success and failure, especially what process - turnovers, fouls, "possession enders," the determinants of outcomes.

2. Build Daily Habits (Small Edges Compound)

Big gains come from small, repeatable actions. 

• Pay attention to detail in practice. 
• Put the team first. 
• Limit transition baskets.
• Work on footwork to get separation on offense and prevent it on defense.
• Practice special situations (e.g. SLOB, BOB, ATO, close and late) every practice. 

"Repetition makes reputations."

3. Compete Constantly (The Pete Carroll Mentality)

Ascension fights friction. Top women's teams practice against men. 

Create competition in everything:

• "Stay Ready games"- Celtics' reserves play four-on-four
• Raise the stakes by keeping score.
• Player development teaches how to win. 
• Don't interrupt all mistakes. 
• Competition happens in the weight room, shooting games, etc. 

 4. Leave Your Comfort Zone 

Players plateau without pressure.

• Practice against different tempos.
• Constraints of time, performance, "personal bests"

As a younger player, I spent time every practice chasing around this superb ballhandler, working to contain the ball. The coach was preparing me to do that against the best scorers. Pain heals. 

Growth incorporates mistakes and frustration. That’s work, not failure. 

5. Reset Quickly (Next Play)

Fragility turns into serial failure. A bad shot becomes a "frustration foul." Getting beaten on defense can lead to a next possession turnover. 

Carryover can't happen. No death by a thousand cuts. The best players shorten the gap between mistake and recovery.

Summary:

Continual ascension isn’t dramatic. It’s disciplined. It's Belichick's four pillars:

• Put the team first. 
• Attention to detail
• Know your job.
• Do your job.

Lagniappe. Discipline succeeds. 

The most disciplined person in the room usually wins. Not the smartest. Not the most talented. The most disciplined. Be that person.

— Coach Chron (@coachchron.com) April 16, 2026 at 11:04 PM

Lagniappe 2. Find one trait to adopt as your own (via Mike Neighbors via John Maxwell)... talent isn't enough. 

 

Basketball Discipline - What, When, Well, and Consistently

Bob Knight gave one of the best definitions of discipline I've ever heard.

4 simple steps.

But most people forget about the last 2.

Here's his exact definition: pic.twitter.com/N8CxbtLzOR

— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) April 13, 2026

Discipline defines destiny. Discipline gets chores done, schoolwork done, and development done.

Coach Bob Knight dissected it into four parts:

• What (has to be done)?
• When (must it be done)?
• Well (everything must be done well).
• All the time (consistency)? 

Those apply throughout our lives. It's not enough to know our homework assignment and complete it. Do it well and do that consistently. It's not enough to know that you must communicate on the court. Do it well and consistently. It's not enough to "get back" in transition. You have to be fully engaged, beating your cover, and/or defending the basket/ball. 

The "authentic achievers" know their job and when, and do it consistently well. ACHIEVEMENT = PERFORMANCE x TIME

Lagniappe. Stay positive. Stay present. Refocus. 

As an athlete, your biggest problem in games isn't making mistakes. It's your negative response to making mistakes. Once you learn to stay positive and resilient, you'll perform much better in games.

— Sports Psychology (@SportPsychTips) April 9, 2026

Lagniappe 2. Mike Neighbors always shares interesting insights.  

Here's the link to stuff he's stolen (long). 

 

Basketball - Bad Possessions

Bad possessions are the cockroaches of basketball. They annoy and frustrate. "There's never just one cockroach." Coaches want to "edit out" the bad possession. Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla emphasizes film study of the 10-15 bad possessions that could change a game. 

Bad possessions inhabit both offense and defense. They generally result from failures of decisions (reads), execution, or communication.

Players need to hold themselves accountable in real-time and coaching illustrates where changes must happen. Halfway through a season is too late because games and perhaps playoffs have slipped away. 

Bad Offensive Possessions (examples)

• Poor shot selection - low quality - shooter, shot (range, openness, balance)
• Turnovers (zero percent possessions), worse = live-ball turnover
• Poor execution (cuts not set up, not urgent, bad screen set/use
• Missed free throws
• Delay in offense initiation becoming "bail-out" shots during shot clock

Bad Defensive Possessions (examples)

• Miscommunication, missed assignments
• Poor transition defense = easy shots (numbers, layups)
• Bad ball containment = layups, drive and dish
• Poor shot closeouts and shot contests
• Weak technique resulting in fouling (highest point/possession)
• Defensive rebounding lapses (high percentage scoring)

Film examples: 

Remind players what their parents said, "Don't play in the traffic." Jaylen Brown gets swarmed in the paint. A live ball turnover follows and the Pels turn it into two points in transition. Live ball turnovers turn into high opponent points-per-possession. 

Another example: loss of focus and failure to value the ball. 

A possession can break down at any point. A failed blockout or unalert rebounding can translate into a high percentage opportunity.

 

The Hornets are second in three pointers attempted per game and third in percentage. Limiting the Hornets means defending the three. The Heat clog the middle and tag but the Hornets "lift" from the corner and score. A defensive possession they might want back... 

When the Celtics won the title in 2008, assistant Kevin Eastman wrote they allowed over 30 points in one Finals game through defensive mistakes. Charlotte loses Larsson and worse fouls after the layup. 

Individual defense is hard. Bad closeout/subtle fake by Jaquez and no help from Charlotte leads to a layup. Charlotte ranked 11th in defensive rating.

 

Summary

Bad possessions come in multiple flavors. Although over fifty years have passed, I remember us getting lambasted for $hitbird defense or $hit shots showing up on grainy black-and-white 8 mm film. "The truth machine" makes you want to be better.

Lagniappe. Be a mentor. Look for a mentor. 

Payton Pritchard has become a key leader in the Celtics locker room.

Neemias Queta told me just how much he leaned on Pritchard when his own role was inconsistent: https://t.co/XAZdlwioA8 pic.twitter.com/sfrVeWAU9y

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) April 14, 2026