Concepts. With basketball starting later in many areas because of the pandemic, players have more time to prepare. What do you advise players trying out?
Stand out. With limited time, attitude, communication, and effort have to be obvious.
- Maximize your attention when the coaches are speaking.
- Don't cut corners.
- Add value by executing the details - defensive stance and position, blocking out, cutting, screening, playing unselfishly.
Leave an impression. Your best version has to be good enough. Remember the parable of the lion and the gazelle:
“The gazelle knows it must outrun the fastest lion or it will be killed. Every morning in Africa, a lion wakes up. It knows it must run faster than the slowest gazelle, or it will starve. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle— when the sun comes up, you'd better be running.”
Be a great teammate. Coaches see everything.
- Help set up and break down any equipment.
- Recognize the passer.
- Congratulate teammates on good plays.
- Clean up the bench area after tryouts.
Set Play. In Massachusetts this season, high school will not have baseline out of bounds plays, entering the ball from the sidelines instead. Finding scoring options from SLOBs could be a significant edge in close games. Modify this play by entering the ball from the sideline from 2 to 1 and returning the ball.
Lagniappe: Nick Nurse created a SLOB with a sandwich screen on the help side for a three and a ball side post up.
