Basketball: Signature Work

I heard a moving eulogy. The speaker tearfully described teenage work for the departed. The job was in a crawlspace (that the boss couldn't access) and he asked about the quality of the work. "Was your work good enough that you would sign your name to it?" 

Is our work good enough to sign? 




I read a Robert Benchley essay long ago about barbering and "professional pride." A great haircut takes longer. Cynics say that it's about earning a tip, but it's not that simple. Exceptional takes time. 

How do we earn signature work from our teams? 

Symmetry principles work. Everything we want as a team offensively we must deny defensively. Get easier shots; allow no easy shots. Get separation; pressure the ball. Pound the boards; keep them off the glass. This also works as a checklist pregame. 

Collectivism works. Model our demands. 

• Be on time. 
• Be prepared. 
• Bring energy. 
• Be relentless.
• Be authentic.
• Be consistent. 
• Be detail oriented. Sweat the small stuff.
• Respect the game, teammates, coaches, officials. 
• Add value. 
• Be a learning machine.  
• Never give up. 

Lagniappe: Hat tip, Coach Liam Flynn

'With the ball', you can use ‘Veer screens’ to confuse D as to whether PNR will be set or slipped. See these two @utahjazz clips. Same play, 1st time they set screen, 2nd time they slip or ‘Veer’ which creates a 'two on the cutter' advantage putting D in rotations. (END THREAD) pic.twitter.com/sMHUsQv2XW

— Coach Liam Flynn (@coachliamflynn) July 26, 2018

Successful actions create defensive expectations that foster defensive mistakes. A well-run screen confuses defensive reaction later.