"I don't know." That wasn't so hard, was it? Have the humility to say, "I don't know."
A player throws the ball away, looks over and says, "I know." If you knew, why make that choice? Or misses three after three and wonders about playing time. We call a baseline out of bounds play and a player lines up in the wrong place. Sometimes not knowing is not okay. Knowledge is the quickest path to improvement.
Fundamental defensive mistakes and errors hurt. Here we're defending a BOB and don't allow an initial shot against "America's Play" (which wasn't well executed). But we can't contain the ball, the big slides to stop the drive and there's not a hint of rotation (help the helper). Ultimately, we had to change to 2-3 zone (my bad) because we got burned over and over because of lack of rotation. Two problems - containing the ball and help and rotation...the things that kill you in the regular season bury teams in the postseason.
I taught medical students and young doctors critical answers, "I don't know" and "that's a good idea, we should do that." Earn credit for admitting ignorance not for feigning omniscience. Nobody knows everything.
"Catch people in the act of doing things right." #33 locates beyond the "spacing line." Our defender (middle) has a foot in the paint, ready to react to her assignment. Good positioning.
Pete Newell reminded coaches to teach players to "see the game." Many times, we have no right or easy answer.
Line this up, ask players what they think will happen. Initially, not so clear. We could run a triangle offense after a pass to 4. Or envision the 2 clearing through and the 5 setting a ball screen. But when we relocate the 1, the 5 immediately sees the cross-screen/mismatch opportunity. Her eyes light up.
Seeing the game is a lengthy process.
Lagniappe: Special situations make special opportunity.
I discussed this last night, but here's the evidence.
Lagniappe 2: "Fear is the mind-killer." - Frank Herbert, Dune
Astronaut Chris Hadfield, MasterClass.
Fear paralyzes feet. You cannot succeed when fear gets into your head.
Quickness helps you with every sport. Work separate those who want from those who do. Jump rope. Wear the weighted vest. Run stadiums. Don't tell me you can't. Show me you will.
