Tuesday, January 4, 2022

Basketball: The ONE Thing (with Apologies to Gary Keller)

Attention creates excellence; distraction designs defeat.

Consider the following: 

Google = SEARCH

Starbucks = COFFEE

Apple = iBranding (iMac, iPod, iWatch, etc)

Southwest = The LOW-COST airline

New England Patriots = DO YOUR JOB

Successful organizations live a central FOCUS guiding their actions. Unsuccessful businesses change focus (chasing fads), carry excessive amounts of debt and unstable management (especially the CFO). 

Achievement requires:

  • Clear, defined goals
  • Block time to pursue the goals
  • Accountability to the process (e.g. habits, review of progress, ruthless self-analysis)
Which brings us to 2022. Commit to:
  • Ask GREAT questions
  • What's our ONE THING?
  • HOW am I improving today?
  • WHAT does our team need today?
Stick with Pete Newell's: 

"Get more and better shots than our opponents." 

Let's propose a scenario. We just got beaten by a team whose dominant post player did damage inside. If we are going to face them in the post-season, we have to make them beat us another way. 

Can we disrupt post entry passes? If so, how? 
  • Ball pressure (not TOTEM pole pressure)
  • Front the post
  • Back side help to prevent throwing 'over the top'
The ball enters the post. What are some alternatives?
  • Dig or double from the same side.
  • Double the post - ROTATION is NOT optional 
  • Be aware of vulnerabilities exposed and help the helper

Many teams stop the ONE THING that opponents want to do most. 

Lagniappe. Paul Minors book summary of "The ONE Thing"

Key points:
  • Find the ONE thing that matters most.
  • You know the Pareto Principle - 80% of results come from 20% of the effort. Double down and find what's in that 20% 
  • "This is where I’m meant to be right now, doing exactly what I’m doing."
  • "Physically block off the hours you want to dedicate to your ONE thing."
  • Commit to MASTERY
Lagniappe 2. One action sets up other options. As I watched the second play, I thought that the wing would cut back door. 



Lagniappe 3. What kind of leadership do we want in the locker room? Do we want leaders who are positive team builders and support the program or bullies with an agenda? Do we want championship party guys or championship character?