Ecclesiastes 1:9. "There is nothing new under the sun."
Steal from history's great minds. Darwin rocks.
1. Flexibility. Be willing to change. Plans fail. Mike Tyson reminds us that "everyone has a plan until they get punched in the face." Changing a failing plan isn't weakness.
2. No excuses. Darwin's studies argued, "that all humanity was linked." He couldn't justify treatment of one race differently than another.
3. Attention to detail. Darwin owned the original "five-year plan" to study his universe. He even developed a pro and con list of whether to marry. Evidently, "better than a dog" won out.
4. Efficiency. Darwin believed in organization and careful record keeping. His words apply to basketball, “Intelligence is based on how efficient a species became at doing the things they need to survive.” Translate this to basketball-speak as "do well what we do a lot."
- What's in our playbook?
- Revise and update our drill book.
- Have a portfolio of "game winning" actions. (As a player, what's your winning move?)
- Write down and share the few things we want our team to do well.
- Always write out our practice schedule.
5. Work ethic. Darwin usually spent three ninety-minute sessions a day working. He wrote nineteen books despite believing in "deliberate rest."
7. Player development (Teach Both Sides of a Controversy)
- Defending the backdoor cut - open up or head snap?
- "Ten toes" or "turn" (and exceptions)?
- PnR coverage and protection
- One-two or hop?
- Always block out or hit and get?
"We have met the enemy and they are us."
9. Curiosity
10. Teamwork. Collaborate and prevail.
1. Be a Team - Together Everyone Accomplishes More
2. Work to Dominate Your Opponent
3. Positively Affect Our Teammates
4. Individual Responsibility for Self-Determination
5. Be Champions On and Off the Field
Lagniappe 2: Winning doesn't alway mean a work of art.