I often write about "performance-focused, feedback-rich" tasks, borrowing from Thomas Crane's "The Heart of Coaching." After a game or tournament, we should self-assess our team without fingerpointing but with the positive intent to improve the process and outcome.
What was our plan (process)? We play fast, a modification of the Grinnell style. Because we are small and athletic, our goal is to dominate the middle of the floor, control the pace, and get more and better quality shots than our opposition. This demands high energy play, the goal of getting shots within twelve seconds (we're not there, yet), and frequent substitution, ideal for our thirteen player roster.
What was the outcome? I'm a big fan of Bill Walsh's The Score Takes Care of Itself. Play the game "in the moment" and work to be successful each possession. When you string together a series of successful possessions, good things happen. And so far, very early this season, the players have embraced process-based outcome.
What worked? Analytics help trend process implementation. We are getting a high volume of shots, steals, deflections, and forced turnovers. The volume of shots is generating points. Defensively, the energy level (multiple efforts) and conversion from offense to defense have been successful.
What failed? Players think about what it takes to win while coaches realize the myriad flawed executions that inform disaster. Lacking size, we need to block out more (positioning and toughness), use better hand discipline to limit fouls, and overplay hand-dominant dribblers. We can set more and better screens, look ahead earlier and more often to improve transition, and finish better around the basket with better technique and targeting. We are not converting off baseline out-of-bounds (BOB) plays which involves timing and finishing.
Where's the correction? Next week at practice, we can run our "three line transition" drill with better spacing, less (ideally zero) dribbling, and more efficiency. We'll continue to work assiduously on shot technique and volume of repetitions. The "Dog Drill" can help reinforce defensive overplay. We can create a lot more with ball screens and dribble handoffs that are hard to defend. BOBs need reps.
It's better to do fewer things well than many things poorly. With younger players, I focus on getting the team on the same page because everyone can improve with guidance on the priorities. We haven't done enough situational work to reinforce 'smart play' in close-and-late games. That's a big opportunity for us at both ends of the floor.
