Take care of the basketball. Leading by one, five seconds to go. Most teams will switch everything. Great. Screen small on big to look for a mismatch, a capable free throw shooter, and keep the ball farther from the opponent's basket. Remind players NOT to foul.
Bad transition defense is a killer. Define who goes to the offensive boards and who doesn't. The 2008 Celtics didn't want to surrender transition baskets and usually sent only two to the offensive boards.
Leverage small edges. Stationing a guard at the free throw line for a defensive rebound statistically gets three rebounds a game.
Free throw rebounding. We can't allow offensive rebounds against free throws.
"Sandwich" the opponent's best rebounder.
Shot turnovers. Doc Rivers calls bad/forced shots "shot turnovers." Emphasize quality possessions through basketball "symmetry."
Immediate upgrades. Players ask how they can get more minutes. Make an immediate impact. Nobody can increase skill overnight.
- Play harder. Check the film and look in the mirror. Were your stance and positioning consistent? Did you always sprint back in transition? Be hard to play against.
- Play tougher. Block out, set hard screens, no "alligator arm" rebounding.
- Talk on defense. Don't let a teammate get blown up on a screen.
Lagniappe: Engage at all times. "A man distracted is a man defeated."
Lagniappe 2: NOT OK. "Kids play offense when they have the ball and defense when their man has it." - Larry Brown
