Coaches talk about playing hard, playing together, and playing smart. Sometimes playing smart comes with maturity. When players and coaches work their craft, remarkable becomes routine. As Coach Wooden noted, "little things make big things happen."
How do "mature" players play?
1. Mature players 'see the game' and seize opportunities as they arise. That might mean setting a drag screen in transition, cutting when a defender turns her head, or springing a surprise double team. Some call it developing a feel for the game.
2. Mature players make the "next play" by functioning "in the moment" (see D'Amico tweet above). Immature players 'double down' on one mistake by making another trying to overcompensate. Virtually every youth/high school game sees a bad play (e.g. bad shot, turnover) followed up in seconds by a needless foul.
3. Mature players wait for plays to develop. They don't force the action when it's not there. Patience requires maturity.
4. Mature players get better shots. They move without the ball, use screens intelligently, and "sweat the small stuff."
5. Mature players find solutions to help their teams even when the shots aren't dropping. They get an extra rebound, deflection, loose ball, or take a charge.
Bonus: Mature players are crafty.
