Better process, better results. Basketball rewards ENDING POSSESSIONS well. How do we win this possession? There is no pay by the dribble.
Let's digress to ECONOMICS and Adam Smith's pin factory (point factory) in the Wealth of Nations. Specialization with someone drawing out the wire, making the pinhead, attaching the head, sharpening the point increased productivity (pins produced). Collaboration grows points.
Education plus practice increases athleticism, skill and decision-making, producing points. How do we develop "poor man's versions" of Steph Curry or Russell Westbrook (to produce points)? And how do we find Kryptonite (individual or team defense) to hold them down? The net differential is our product.
Here's the last ten game schedule of the Celtics (last night's results unavailable at time of writing)
Unimpressive results, 3-7. But look closer. 4 of the 10 are two possession games and 6 of 10 are three possession games. Small differences in execution translate into large differences in outcomes. A few plays define winners and losers. That's where education enters. The collaboration of "pin-making" translates.
Where do "efficient" points live? The high points per possession actions are threes (skill), basket cuts, and free throws. What's our method to grow "differential efficiency" - to score more and allow fewer? Where's the "bang for the buck?" Player development.
- Catch-and-shoot threes.
- One-dribble threes!
- Cuts - give and go and back door (play the two-man game without ball screens)
Where do opponent possessions die?
- Forced turnovers
- Heavily contested shots without fouls
- Defensive rebounds
What belongs in our "summer school" curriculum? (No one answer) In addition to topics, we revise our drill book, our playbook, and our "go to" actions (e.g. game winners).
"The devil is in the details." Film study must become part of player development. I send clips to a player illustrating positive actions and missed opportunities.
What individual and small group drills do we want players practicing?
Who teaches and how? Local rules here prevent varsity coaches from offseason coaching of their team.
What situations (close and late, ATO, SLOB, BOB, man and zone offense) do we review?
How do we share with players and get feedback? Harsh reality is that nobody excels without a desire and love for the game.
Summary:
- Basketball rewards ending possessions well.
- Wealth of Nations lesson - collaboration grows productivity.
- Small differences in execution lead to large changes in outcome.
- Where do efficient points live?
- Where do possessions die?
- Formulate our specific curriculum.
- Review and share high productivity situations.
- Identify drills you want players practicing (No "opt out")
Lagniappe. "Scout with Bryan" shares a Hawks ATO.
Lagniappe 2. From Tools of Titans, Tim Ferriss interview of Economist Stephen Dubner
"Let's come up with as many ideas as possible, and then put them under scrutiny, and basically try to kill them off, and if they were unkillable, then we'd keep going with them." Ask "what if" and test our hypothesis. Would our offense be more efficient if we emphasized transition more? How many pick-and-rolls do we run? Should we take more or fewer threes (analytics of OUR play)?