Learning from Failure

Losing a basketball game isn't death...it just hurts. To chronicle suffering, the psychiatrist Viktor Frankl wrote the important book, Man's Search for Meaning, describing years surviving Nazi death camps and coping with intense suffering and death. I think it should be mandatory reading for every high school student, because it reveals the duality of suffering and hope. 

Ideally we learn without failing or from others' failure, but that's unrealistic...because of our humanity.


This is not what a post-game handshake should look like. 

Coach Bob Knight reminds us, "basketball is a game of failure." You might go three for ten in baseball and be an All-Star, but that's untrue for basketball. Failure include the tangible - missed shots, turnovers, (often) fouls, and many types of defensive mistakes. But it also includes immeasurables...failures of alertness, awareness, communication, effort, and energy. Reducing mistakes is fundamental to success. "Do more of what is working and less of what is not." 

What is our mission? We could define our "mission" as 'winning basketball games' but less narrowly 'playing better basketball' and helping young people grow. I've seen a few exceptional teams with poor cultures...therein the exception. We can achieve our mission without winning...although winning is a lot more fun. No matter how hard we try, adversity is a loyal companion. 

How we do our business reflects our perceptions, actions, and our persistence. There will always be critics who brand individuals or teams as losers. We can listen to those voices or control our narrative and attitude. Good coaching helps players find solutions. 

A challenge can inspire fear or excitement. Which do you choose? Slogans without action are hollow. But adversity maintains our humility and reminds us that we're on the wrong path, that changes are needed. 

Talent is never enough. But persistence counts. Respect flows to the teams that 'bring the fight' no matter the situation. As Kevin Eastman says, "are you going to give up and give in or get up and get in?" 

We want to maximize the number and quality of offensive possessions and minimize the quality of our opponents' possessions. We must study what errors prevent us from scoring and permit our opponents to do so. 

I've highlighted areas that deserve attention for us now that impede our competitiveness. 

Offensive failure

Offensive foul (no points and foul accumulation) 
Turnover into opponent points (types and frequency of turnovers)
Turnover without opponent points
Shot clock violation 
Poor quality shot (shot charts, assists - reflect both movement and passing)
Missed foul shots
Missed good shot 
Lack of offensive rebounds

Defensive failure

Three point shot allowed with foul

Two point shot allowed with foul

Easy basket (transition, layup, offensive rebound)
Uncontested made shot

Made foul shots (with or without excessive fouling)
Lack of ball pressure, help, and recovery
Allowing penetration