Every player has "limiting factors" that intersect with the "moments" of game play. Connolly prefers the term limitations to weaknesses. That could be related to tactics (basketball IQ), technique (skill), physical makeup, or psychology (resilience). Understanding how game moments and player limitations connects provides opportunities for growth and better outcomes.
Imagine a player's greatest 'moment' need is transition defense. Is the problem fixable with attention (psychology coactive), speed (physical coactive), or both?
Even a top player will have areas to become more efficient as a playmaker, scorer, or defender.
One top player I coached had strength and conditioning needs. She addressed them and added another dimension to her game. Another had limited shooting range and became a competent perimeter player in addition to a dominant post player. What separates these athletes is the desire for improvement and willing acceptance of coaching.
Help players develop emotional intelligence as well by asking for their self-assessment of their strengths and limitations. Coach Don Kelbick is a major component of emphasizing strengths. Yet against top competition, a glaring limitation like problems with ball containment or finishing at the rim may decide games and minutes.
As coach, diagnose where game factors and player factors intersect for better or for worse. If a player is limited defensively, define what combinations of basketball IQ, technique, athleticism, or effort need work. "What does our team need now?"
Coaches have limitations, too. Some don't excel at player development or Xs and Os but succeed because of skill in recruiting, teaching systems, and motivating. In Monte Burke's "Saban," Coach Saban's wife says that her husband isn't the greatest coach, but he is the greatest recruiter.
Because we all have limitations, work to overcome them or to surround ourselves with others whose skills complement ours.
Lagniappe: BOBs
Lagniappe 2. Are we using enough drag screens? And don't forget the COACHING PEARL from Coach Obradovic, to set the drag screen with your chest FACING the basket to see the play develop in front of you.
Lagniappe 3. Shooting drill progression. Have a line at each elbow and have players compete. Then add a coach about two feet in front of each line (hands down). The shooting percentage drops. Then have the coach put arms up but not trying to block the shot. Invariably the percentage falls more. Players must recognize that defense in different forms degrades shooting percentage. They must learn to shoot with defensive proximity and to favor open shots. Because effective field goal percentage differential is the greatest factor defining winning, better shots equals better chance to win.
