Sunday, June 30, 2019

Finding ideas from Basketball to Business, Plus Two Italian Masters

"Imagination leads to innovation leading to differentiation." - Bill Russell

 Ideas are the currency of the future. The more we survey the world, the better to adopt or to modify concepts. 

The "Helpside I" is part of Ernie Woods "Total Disruption" defense. Helpside I imposes Newtonian physics using the gravitational pull of the basketball. By loading to the ball, the defense creates a numerical mismatch. 

Backside help is only one component of Total Disruption (above, via Woods). 

Conversely, think of spacing as like polarity of magnets repelling each other. Defenses use gravity as an edge; offenses magnetic polarity. 

 Analytics applies mathematics with the calculus of possessions and "points per possession."

Golden State leverages more high points per possession actions than the rest of the NBA. With youth basketball, we have low points per possession, compounded by poor possessions inflicted by turnovers. If we want improvement, we need better shot quality via better quality actions and fewer turnovers. Do the math. 

 Disney sought organic growth and rejuvenation of its animated films division. CEO Bob Iger (2005) reached out to the competition (Steve Jobs, Pixar) for coveted talent and technology and bought the company...making a SUPER TEAM. 
The ten-year results of Pixar and other acquisitions and execution reflect Iger's risk taking. Bold ideas can achieve superior results...stock price quadruples in a decade. 

Good ideas come from anywhere and everywhere. A youth game might reveal a set or concept we can use. 

Author David Baldacci suggests, "open your mind." Connect unconnected ideas. Because 'great offense is multiple actions', brainstorm how to blend hard-to-defend actions.

There's no idea truck or guy in a trench coat selling plays. Explore the world, adapt, and overcome. 

 Lagniappe: Chris Oliver shares backcut action through a zone. The offense was able to pull the defense up to create space. 
Lagniappe 2: Work to understand how others think. "I found nothing in my whole inventory, that I think better of, or more esteem, than the knowledge of great men's actions." - Macchiavelli, The Prince

 Lagniappe 3: Coaching, like cooking, is love of craft. 

Massimo Bottura and sous-chef Taka, in MasterClass teaching Italian cooking. 
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