Here are some excepts (with annotations):
- Don’t cheat your kids. It’s the reason you coach. Someone kicked your butt into doing it right. Don’t allow your kids to slide. (Find balance. We can be demanding without being demeaning. We can use the "sandwich technique" with criticism in the middle. "Way to work hard. Gotta see the ball AND your man. Way to sprint back on defense.")
- Communication, “If you care about winning, you talk to your
teammates!” ("Silent teams lose." "Communication is sharing.") - Teams don’t get easy baskets against set defenses that are back and ready to guard. (Transition defense isn't just running back. It encompasses purposeful play, focus, protecting the basket and the perimeter. Force the offense to make the extra pass to allow your teammates to get back into the play.)
- Re: Wing Denial Backdoor Cuts, On-ball defender responsible for the lob (ball pressure will eliminate easy look as well as make the pass longer, higher, slower). 1 pass away (deny position) is responsible for taking away the bounce pass. (All excellent defense starts with ball pressure. Ball pressure means to attack the ballhandler's space without fouling.)
- Teaching point: On ball defense – “Crawl up in him.” [I like this terminology. Creates an image of a low stance] (Consider substituting out defenders in practice who don't pressure the ball. Ball pressure will sometimes get beat. Defense must help and recover. As coaches, the court is our classroom, our laboratory, our world. We define the rules. Excellence comes from discomfort.)
- Basic philosophy: No layups. No 3’s. Hard 2’s (No easy baskets. All players must understand your defensive first priority.)
- Hands off the offense and eliminate hand checking. ("Hand discipline; show your hands.")
- 1 pass away – “Shrink the gap.” On the line, up the line. (Get in the passing lane. Deflections matter.)
