Every program has absolutes, dos and don'ts - passing grades, no tobacco or substance abuse, school attendance on game day for eligibility. But the bare minimum won't achieve excellence.
1. What's our organizational philosophy? Ours has been TIA - Teamwork, Improvement, Accountability. Bill Walsh's The Score Takes Care of Itself covers organization as well as any book I've seen.
2. What's the plan? How do we plan to wear down opponents? Dave Smart discusses being able to play harder and longer than opponents. Work at communication, energy, positivity and get everyone on the same page. "It's the scoreboard not the scorebook."
3. Write it down. Track what we do and why. Revise to improve. We want players to become more efficient. Hold ourselves to the same standard.
4. Get better players. If we can't recruit, that means devote time to player development - athleticism, skill, game knowledge to elevate the VDE triad - vision, decision, execution. "Every day is player development day" to build VDE.
5. Pareto principle (80-20 rule). Spend the lion's share of our time on what's most important. "Do well what we do a lot." Be good at finishing possessions:
- Halfcourt defense
- Halfcourt offense
- Transition defense
- Pick-and-roll offense
- Pick-and-roll defense
6. Handle and apply pressure. Every team will apply pressure points (full court, trapping, denial). Failure to cope with pressure guarantees defeat. I've never found anything better than 5 versus 7, no-dribble, full court practice (advantage-disadvantage).
7. "Foul for profit" as Kevin Sivils says. Free throws are the most efficient scoring tool (points per possession). Do not give away points by bailing out an opponent's bad shots. "Show your hands; move your feet."
8. Offensive and defensive delay. Play well at different tempos. Practice special situations every day. I favor three possession games, O-D-O (offense-defense offense) which start with a free throw, BOB, or SLOB. Whatever our delay game, it always gets named "4" after the Carolina Four Corners.
9. Define roles and work to get players to buy into them. Pete Newell's counsel that a player must know whether they are a screener, facilitator, or scorer still applies. That's tough with many voices in a player's head. Players need "no mind." Focus upon the task at hands. "Be a star in your role."
Reality? Everyone will not be happy.
10. Be flexible. “I thought I was never wrong but I was.” Uncover ideas to upgrade our program. Some NFL teams now practice or meet for 25 minutes and give players 5 minute "cellphone breaks." Because.
Lagniappe. Breaking guys down off the dribble. I prefer teaching girls crossovers, hesitation, and combinations because I think those are less "turnover prone" than behind the back moves.
Lagniappe 2. Game winning lob gives Phoenix a 2-0 series lead.