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Saturday, May 15, 2021

Coaching: "Entertain Me" by Understanding Bad Basketball and Inversion

"Do this, don't do that can't you read the sign?"

Coach Ralph Labella tells players, "Entertain me." Play basketball for the fans, the families, and the coaches.

Start with the mental model of "inversion." Bad basketball doesn't entertain. 

  • Don't throw the ball away.
  • Don't take "hope" or "my turn" shots. Doc Rivers calls bad shots "shot turnovers."
  • Don't "dribble the air out of the ball." I don't coach to watch you dribble. 
  • Don't stand.
  • Don't play dead man "six feet under" defense or silent defense. 
What do these have in common? They waste possessions (turnovers, bad shots) or cause inactivity.  

Symmetry opposes "bad basketball?" 
  • "Take care of the ball." Turnovers are coach killers. Study whether our turnovers are poor decision-making or poor execution. 
  • "Find quality shots." (see today's lagniappe video) The fast path to improvement is better shot selection. 
  • "The ball has energy." Spread it around.
  • Pass and cut urgently.
  • Attack the ball defensively. 
Bring intangibles. 
  • Be unselfish. 
  • Bring energy and energize your teammates. Make the hustle plays.
  • Be positive. 
  • Make tough plays (set screens, take charges, get on the floor, block out)
  • Be coachable. 
Know what you want to become. Many wrote off rookie Aaron Nesmith but he's finding his NBA talent late in the season. (Image via BostonSportsJournal)
Yes, these are unsustainable numbers but show an understanding of basketball evolution. And the C's need production with Jaylen Brown kayoed by injury. 

Summary: 
  • "Entertain me."
  • Wasted possessions and inactivity aren't entertaining. 
  • Take care of the ball and cut urgently. 
  • Be coachable.
  • Know what you want to become. 

Lagniappe. Beautiful zone offense with exceptional passing. 


It's an overload strategy that distorts the zone with cutting and passing behind and then looks at low-high action. 

Lagniappe 2. 


My "writing space" is busy but quiet. Look hard and see the empty chair, representing the reader. Worthy writing serves the reader. Find something to steal. 

Lagniappe 3. Following Chris Oliver @BBallImmersion reveals idea after idea. 
Lagniappe 4. Radius Athletics short video (best on larger screen and freezing frames)


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