Psychology tells us that losing feels about twice as bad as winning feels good. Development aside, that rings true.
Consider bias (sample size, recency - latest results, attribution). Attribution bias is problematic...our brilliance, preparation, and hard work explain success. External factors like conditions, officiating, and bad luck aren't our fault. This overstates our skill and minimizes the role of chance and bad process (coaching, strategy, execution). Bias also dodges accountability.
Offensively, our strength and weakness our interconnected...we need a more balanced attack. We need to finish better both on drives and offensive boards. We largely controlled the boards but didn't capitalize on putbacks.
Finishing school. Be solution-focused:
1) Mikan Drill and Bradleys (hops and high release near the basket)
2) Commando 1-on-1-on-1 rebounding
3) Superman Drill with finishing
Defensive transition: we struggled in one game.
Review key concepts:
1) Allow no more than three transition baskets per game
2) 1s and 2s back first
3) Stop the ball and shape up
4) Beat your assignment to half court
5) "It's not a running game; it's a sprinting game."
A pair of transition defense drills.
Press breaking:
Advantage-disadvantage with constraints (e.g. 5 on 7 with no dribbling allowed). We need all players to maintain a competence standard at handling pressure.
My coaching contributed to the one loss over the weekend. I had not prepared everyone to deal with full court pressure, constructed lineups ill-equipped to handle pressure, and gave them too much rope while the opposing coach targeted those groups.
Lagniappe: From "The Athletic" ...discipline from Dante Scarnecchia
“I was a Sergeant in the Marine Corps,” Scarnecchia proudly beamed during an interview with The Athletic. “I liked the discipline. I liked the structure."
“Boot camp is hard, man. It’s as hard as it can get. That was back in the day when the drill instructors would get kind of physical with you. It was hard, but it was fair. If you didn’t screw up, they didn’t mess with you."
"They (fellow marines) would do some of the dumbest things, and we’d all have to pay for it. I would say, OK, that’s the way of the world. And that’s really the way in football. Even though everybody is going in the same direction, one guy that’s not can cost the lot.”
Lagniappe 2: So you want to be a leader? Read about leaders, coaches, and their mentors and heroes. Abraham Lincoln's study was George Washington. Teddy Roosevelt read nine volumes about Lincoln. FDR admired Teddy Roosevelt. And Lyndon Johnson said he learned everything from FDR. Read about Dean Smith, Pete Newell, John Wooden, Bob Knight, and Coach K. Extract the best from each and recognize the warts, too.
