"Spend less time impressing the teacher and more time on the lesson." - Sammo Hung, "Martial Law"
You don't have to be flashy to be effective.
John Havlicek, a former teammate of Jerry Lucas and Bob Knight at Ohio State, was anything but flashy.
Simplify your game. If you're going to "hot dog" then you better not screw it up. As Prem Watsa says, "don't major in the minors." Have a plan when you practice.
Less can be more. I love Scott Skiles' wraparound pass. But don't sacrifice time needed to develop court vision, make free throws, and enhance athleticism.
Keep it manageable. Think GO TO and COUNTER as you stock your toolbox. Have a handful of moves that you make yours. Old-timers think of the Sky Hook (Abdul-Jabbar), Dream Shake (Olajuwon), Up-and-under (McHale Move), and Sikma Move.
Four ways to score. "Know thyself." Maybe it's catch-and-shoot, basket attack, transition, and free throws. Or you're a three-point shooter, live at the line, or great offensive rebounder. Just as a pitcher needs an "out" pitch, you need your stuff. Become versatile around the basket.
Close encounters. If you have the ambition to "close" with the game on the line, invest time in honing game winning isolation moves. Practice defending the opponent's closer as well.
Summary: SIMPLIFY
- Don't major in the minors.
- Separate with change of direction and/or change of pace.
- Keep it manageable.
- Have four ways to score.
- A closer needs a closer's bag.
Lagniappe. Practice with purpose. This video shows ideas for developing your shooting coming off screens.
Lagniappe 2. Miami Heat 25 Horns...the middle is open and an off-ball screen opens the 2 for a pick-and-roll.
Lagniappe 3. Video is the "Truth Machine." Don't care what the announcers say, make your own judgment. UCONN - Indiana video clips
Bueckers rejects the ball screen and scores on the pull-up.
Practice the shots you plan to get. Fudd comes off a screen for a three.
"Great offense is multiple actions." UCONN's downscreen into a pick-and-roll doesn't goes as planned, but Nelson-Ododa stays with the play and gets the reverse layup.
UCONN's ball screen 'drop coverage' is messy and the roller wide open but Williams recovers to block the shot and Indiana punches the ball out of bounds.
UCONN intends to score a third in transition, a third off threes, and a third off sets. Not sure how they classify this one.