Every coach figures out what she believes matters for her team. As a youth coach, I expose players to different actions and philosophies. Get kids ready to compete and contribute as soon as possible for high school. Donovan lucidly explains his approach.
- believer in player and ball movement
- get everyone involved, yet maximize individual talents
- great players won't be great without spacing (we all tell young kids DON'T PLAY IN TRAFFIC)
- what actions or locations work well for your personnel?
- "level of sacrifice" (guys understand their roles)
- learn as much as you can about analytics (a good shot is what is team efficient)
- "there is an analytic component" linking players to effective actions (without taking away a guy's game...uses Chris Paul as example)
- Highly contested shots produce a big drop off versus "Chris Paul open midrange shots"
- You're not going to get exclusively layups and threes... what is a good non-paint two?
"What is your offensive and defensive identity?"
- Non-efficient shots become efficient IF superior offensive rebounding and get fouled (uses Thibodeau T-Wolves as example)...this also speaks to what Muffet McGraw pointed out (where do our points come from against good teams and in close games?)
- Each player needs an understanding of their efficiency in different actions. Young NBA players have become more cognizant of this.
- Close to the basket, most shots will be highly contested (contestedness and who's taking those shots?). (I had a team that was awful close to the basket because of lack of size and degree of contestedness. We had a better chance with mid-range than contested layups.)
Review:
- Is our team good in transition?
- Are we good in the half-court?
- What moves the needle?
Real time:
- How fast are we playing?
- What shots are we getting?
- How many "potentially assisted shots" do we get? (My high school coach felt the two stats that led to our success would be assists and rebounding).
CREATE UNCONTESTED SHOTS
What is your players' feel and understanding for the game? IQ also depends on your knowledge of your strengths. It takes time.
What is good spacing? "HOLD BOTH corners to flatten the defense." Point guard can't create without filled corners. For OKC, centers likely either trailing or rim running.
What is the risk-reward of aggressive offensive rebounding? Personnel-dependent.
Donovan respects the experience and knowledge of those around you (NBA veterans have a wealth of knowledge.) A veteran might have played (against e.g. Spurs) 30-40 times. Lean into that experience. You will be humbled.
What are players least prepared for as newcomers?
- Players have a lot of tricks.
- Guys also need to find a niche.
- When to shoot, pass, drive is the biggest learning challenge for new guys.
How randomly can you play? NBA scouting compensates for innovation. Flowing into random offense is critical.
"Run for others." Create chances for other guys.
"Space for others."
What works for a player in college may not work at the next level. (Darwinian) flexibility adjusts to impact winning. Your job may not be to score. Your job is to adapt to changing circumstances.
Humility is vital - to listen, to learn, to grow, to be consistent.
"Study every guy that you may be expected to guard."
Value comes from your ability to impact the group (re: winning).
Getting better. Want to learn. Don't take disagreements personally. As a group, each much share their convictions. (Personal note, there's a saying on Wall Street, "discipline is more important than conviction.")
"Adversity is an opportunity to grow..." and unavoidable. Slumps happen. "You gotta figure this out." Each of us owns our confidence.
"Active spacing" means other players adjust (to altered geometry..."open window")...our "the ball is a camera" teaching.
The NBA is a different game because players are so skilled and so smart. Be willing to see the game from players' viewpoint as well. They want to win. At lower levels, we don't have that luxury. That's okay.
Summary (key points):
- Teach your spacing. (Each level has different geometry.)
- Link analytics (what works) to your players' skills. Efficiency is relative.
- Work on your habits to REINFORCE YOUR IDENTITY.
- Roles and sacrifice matter. Communicate and collaborate with professionals.
- CREATE UNCONTESTED SHOTS.
- WHAT MOVES THE NEEDLE for your team?
- Overarching lesson is "Darwinian response to change."
- Overarching lesson is "Darwinian response to change."