I saw half a JV game of former players and cataloged some of the opportunities, mistakes, or errors while noting some good play, too.
If there's any finger pointing to be done, I'm pointing it at myself, first. I had three years to get it right. My high school coach, Sonny Lane would say, "I'm pleased but I'm not satisfied." As coaches, we are never satisfied. That is our nature, our profession, our curse.
Offensive issues:
- Too much dribbling
- Catch and immediate dribble
- Dribbling east-west for ball reversal
- Offense too often from the corner or side (creates 3 on 5 offense, below)
- Poor post position (3, below), not working hard for "home ownership" premium post position (terminology via Kevin Eastman)
- Not looking to pass ahead on the break
- Poor spacing
- Passing or dribbling into traffic ("excellent players play in space")
- Standing
- Poor pivoting allow defenders to take space, create held balls
- Weak "lollipop" passes
- Lack of alertness (missing catches)
Defensive mistakes:
- Poor help side defense (above), distant from the paint, despite two passes away
- Inconsistent defensive stance
- No defensive block out
- Not seeing both ball and player (common)
- Allowing the direct drive without any help ("the ball scores")
- Running back (transition) on defense seeing neither ball nor player
The results of these errors and omissions? My former players won 58-28.
Don Meyer remarked, "what is unacceptable in defeat is unacceptable in victory." Coaches want players to do the next right thing right now. We've got our eyes on you.
