What Went Well?

Practice 2 is in the can...more defensive emphasis, a lot of work on press break, and "implementation" of another 'set' with emphasis on reading the defense. One post player was absent with illness and two guards missing for the dress rehearsal of a school play...

Is three-dimension chess or teaching basketball harder? 

If we have any 'strength' it should be scoring in transition. Any competent team will severely limit that. We shot a bit better in both drills and scrimmages. We 'scrimmage' off free throws, BOBs, and SLOBs. That gives an O-D-O look with three teams of 4 (normally) and allows constant practice of 'special situations'. 

Apologies to the many professors here for whom this is like watching paint dry. The first 'challenge' is getting players to read defenses. Robots make lousy offensive players. The PGs must want to create. Sets are "lines on the paper". Players write the words. 

Defense cheats during implementation. If X5 overplays, 5 has to get the back hand up and slip to the basket. That 'normalizes' the coverage. Everything we do works to keep the lane open because we cannot succeed as "infantry". Post entry is followed by scissors action and the 5 has to read the opportunity. If she has nothing then DHO ensues with PnR opportunity and our (lefthanded) 3s getting drive or pull-up chances. 

If wing entry, then 1 buries (or can stay for balance) and there is reverse action with second cutter chance for 5. If that doesn't happen, 5 offers the side PnR. We have a few 2s who MIGHT be able to make a three now and then. 4 would roll into helpside rebounding. 

Simple is difficult. Players need to embrace their role...scorers, passers, screeners. If they want an expanded role, I remind them "become more to do more and do more to become more."