"The girl went 0 for 8 in the first half on three point shots, including four airballs. She had to be the coach's daughter."
We know a good shot when we see one. Part of basketball symmetry, Pete Newell taught "get more and better shots than our opponent." ROB shots are "in range, open, and on balance." Being "open" doesn't qualify as a good shot.
T.J. Rosene shared the "7's Rule."
Understand shot selection. Levels 1-10, there is no 10 (perfect shot) or 1; discuss 3-5-7-9. 3rd grade shots lose. 9s are great shots and obvious. 5s are so-so; get 7s. In range, in rhythm, with room. Get 7s to win.
Roy Williams "green lights" three point shots for players who make sixty percent in practice.
Shot Selection Quotes:
- Doc Rivers calls bad shots "shot turnovers."
- My coach called them, "$hit shots."
- Bobby Knight said, "just because I want you on the floor doesn't mean I want you to shoot."
- Pete Carril added, "bad shooters are always open."
- Defenses "socially distance" bad shooters.
Bad shots can be situationally inappropriate. Our local high school team was up eight points with just over a minute left with the ball on the side. They inbounded the ball to the team captain who immediately jacked up a three and missed. In a state semifinal, the team led by eight in the first quarter with the ball and twenty seconds, an obvious "hold for one" situation. They didn't, missed and the opponent scored near the horn. They then made a three on the first possession of the second quarter. A possible double digit lead evaporated to three points in thirty seconds.
Podcast excerpts:
In Chris Oliver's Basketball Immersion podcast with Gail Goestenkors she explains that it starts with "why?" Be willing to learn.
She had each player (at Duke) watch video with the coach and develop a scouting report. This helped develop leaders and had players more engaged.
Coach Goestenkors also had players "pick teams" for drills where losers had to run. Players had to choose between picking friends and picking talent, just like the coach.
Analytics help coaches "get it right."
"Find a positive way...you don't have to be negative, you don't have to yell."
"Trust my assistants...you still have the last say."
Gain advantages from special situations (especially with quarters). She advises coaches to see preseason WNBA practices because they have to put in so much.
"Every drill is a competitive drill."
She ran special situations out of every water break at practice.
Coach Chris Oliver felt there was an overemphasis on conditioning and inadequate attention to skill and decision development.
"You're not learning anything on the line (sprints)."
Put more attention on sideline out of bounds and fouls to give. This has to be emphasized in practice.
Defending SLOBs. Consider switching your defense, trapping the best player -Star Defense. (This illustrates my contention about every possession matters. We worked on special situations at the end of every practice with O-D-O, offense-defense-offense three possession games).
She had an assistant in charge of special situations (with her top five plays).
"In the NCAA game, it's more about recruiting than coaching." (Coach Oliver)
Review with staff (feedback), "what could we have done differently?"
She started practice with video (5 minutes) "plays of excellence" and "plays for improvement."
Best practices (technically and tactically). She said she would run more "drag screens," pindowns, and accelerate tempo even more. Spend more time teaching players to play the game. That doesn't diminish the importance of mismatches. She likes changing defenses and would trap more (Star Defense).
Best advice for young coaches. "Know who you are and what you stand for." "Hire to your weaknesses" and people who can have difficult conversations with you. "Conflict can be a great teacher." Have a plan AND follow through. "You have to rerecruit your players daily."
Team building (relationship building). She's seen teams doing the ROTC/Navy SEALs training, boxing, yoga, journaling, flag football.
Lessons learned. "Everyone is a student. Everyone is a teacher." Be open to ideas, be flexible.
Lagniappe. Via Basketball Immersion
