Read more critically but not to criticize. Malcolm Gladwell explains that he could criticize anything, including War and Peace. Read to understand the author's intent and assess her effectiveness in meeting those intentions.
"Kill your darlings." Reevaluate our teaching, drills, and system. Eliminate what doesn't advance the story. Maybe it's Brian McCormick's "Fake Fundamentals" and replacing with something "outdated" from Pete Newell, Bob Knight, or Dean Smith.
Bob Woodward encourages us to "find the best version of the truth." Unearth the sources and documentation to support the truth. Research and discovery often beat imagination. Basketball truths are out there.
Dan Brown explains the "difference between good writers and bad writers is that good writers know when they're bad." Ask "when is my coaching bad?" If that's too ego-deflating, "if we underperform, why?" Good basketball reveals themes with structure and freedom, communication, connection. If the basketball looks random and uninspired, is there ownership and accountability? Did we get beat, beat ourselves, or get outcoached?
David Mamet says that the most satisfying endings are both "unexpected and inevitable." He shares the wisdom of Billy Wilder about audiences, "Individually, they're idiots," but "collectively, they're a genius." Fans are similar. Individually, we don't know so much, but collectively we know what we want to see. Coach basketball that people want to see.
James Patterson informs great writing), "the pages turn themselves." I love practice. Bring energy and passion to our coaching, teaching, and learning.
Mamet asks, whether we write (or coach) from our experience? "Do we have another choice?" Coach from experience but adopt the best practices of other programs and other coaches.
Lagniappe: Chris Oliver (@BBallImmersion) shares the second cut of Villanova. "The second cut is meant to be fast, random, and uncoordinated."
Coach Daniel explores this in the offense of Saint Joseph's College of Maine.
