What immutable truths apply to basketball?
1. Kevin Eastman says, "You have to tell the truth, hear the truth, and handle the truth." Great players want to know the truth so they can improve.
2. I say it's a game of "passing and cutting", but it's not. It's really a game of "shots and stops." Of course, along the way, those emerge as a consequence of Bob Knight's concept, that "it's a game of mistakes."
3. Communication matters...among players, among coaches, and between coaches and players. "The conversations we need to have are those we don't want to have."
4. Success follows "the more aggressive team" and the team consistently wearing down their opponent. We need to find or create relentlessness.
5. "The game honors toughness." Jay Bilas' landmark 'Toughness' article (and book) belongs on every serious player's shelf. My favorite reminder for players, "It's not your shot, it's our shot."
6. Success has no shortcuts. That being said, there are ways to improve your situation and perception. An example: "Drama queens and kings crave attention, so ignore them."
As coaches, we need to be consistent in our energy, enthusiasm, and effort. We must diagnose and refine our product, adding value daily, and give and get feedback.