There's something called the DIKW Pyramid, an ascending hierarchy as data translates into understanding. Geno Auriemma can teach newbies how UCONN scores with prior data. He stratifies that: a third in transition, a third from threes, and a third from sets. Data becomes information. As players improve their skills an pattern recognition, information becomes knowledge. Elite players develop basketball wisdom.
New players arrive as virtual blank slates (tabula rasa). They may have some unconnected skills (e.g. dribbling without penetration or finishing). Pete Newell defined the coach's role as helping players SEE THE GAME. A bird flashes by my window. I recognize the flight pattern and coloration as "cardinal" (Cardinalis cardinalis) and know it's a male. A child knows it's a bird and red; experience defines it further.
Accelerate players' understanding by informing the nature of basketball. Share the big picture and the details. Every superior professional has a philosophy and process that defines them.
Basketball is a game of ____________________________.
Sharing.
Cutting and passing. Ask players to define the difference between a front cut and a back cut...a shuffle cut, UCLA, Flex action, slice cut, thru or bury. Blank stares are not answers.
Separation and finishing. (We cannot succeed without putting the ball in the basket.)Explode. "It's a shoulders game."
"Possession and possessions." Defense and rebounding get possession; quality teams have quality possessions.
Players can only exploit concepts they hear and embrace. If we have no philosophy, then we lack the foundation to build teams.
Recap:
Sharing
Mistakes
Efficiency
Teamwork
Superior use of space
Cutting and passing
Pressure
Separation and finishing
Possession and possessions
Mismatches
Every activity in each practice builds upon these principles.
