RonSenBasketball: Basketball: Cast the Best Actor and 3 + 2

Friday, August 6, 2021

Basketball: Cast the Best Actor and 3 + 2 > 5

"Cast the best actor." - Mira Nair (Director, Queen of Katwe)

Basketball Friday presents concepts, a drill, and a set play.

Put the best combination of players on the floor. Why would we not? At the developmental level with relatively even playing time, I want a ball handler, two scorers, and two rebounders on the floor. That might be two girls. And if we have several girls who lack physicality, I avoid playing them together. "The game honors toughness."

As coaches, we find canvases for others to paint on. And we develop our own palette to create art. We are the keepers of the story.

Hall of Famer Tom Heinsohn was an accomplished watercolor artist as well as being enshrined as both an NBA player and coach.

Train players to contribute early (e.g. varsity freshmen). Make players antifragile, raising their compete level. That unsettles existing varsity players and parents. When a young player kicks the door down, egos get bruised. Sport is a meritocracy not a seniority system.

"It's not rocket science." At the varsity level, to have a team that goes deep in the postseason, you need at least two ball handlers, three scorers, and two dynamite rebounders. Again, you might get all from three players.

And as Coach Knight says, "shooters shoot, passers pass, and everyone plays defense." If we surround key offensive players with defensive stoppers at both a guard and frontcourt position, then we pressure opponents who won't have their three scorers. I call that 3 + 2 > 5. Grow the defensive stalwarts into competent offensive players, we've got something special.