Basketball: Prioritize Quality Over Quantity, Video Breakdown of Two Top Teams

Nobody knows everything so "call around" to find help. Crowdsourcing may not yield a precise answer but narrows the possibilities. "Mentoring is the only shortcut to excellence." Remember Mr. Rogers' advice, "Look for the helpers." 

I attended a scrimmage the other day to watch a pair of playoff-bound teams. I brought a folder with half a dozen "ATOs" to share with a coach I know well. 

After the heat of battle, I shared that ATOs were probably his smallest concern but he graciously took them. 

Our coaching profession is famously collegial; take advantage. An abundance of online video allows 'study and steal' from excellent sources. 

Excellent teams:

• play with intent 
• seldom beat themselves
• create tactical advantage. 
• attend to detail
• understand that every possession can determine the outcome

Coach John McNamara from Pentucket, north of Boston, always has those teams. Cathedral has an excellent skipper in Clinton Lassiter. Here are a few short clips from a recent matchup.

Penetrate to pass. Offense traverses spacing, cutting and passing, and the scoring moment. 

"Draw 2" and pass is a core strategy. 

Take advantage of defensive mistakes. "The help can never be beaten." 

A backdoor cut draws help but good footwork beats the defense. 

A parental message applies. "Don't play in the traffic." Scheme can't overcome decision-making. "Win in space." 

Cathedral (in white) is a favorite to win the Massachusetts Division 4 title. Here they run a high ball screen, draw the protection and get an open 3. 

Everyone looks for drive and kick offense and Pentucket is no different.  

Pentucket ran a variation of the high post split with a follow-on post pitch to one of their promising young players. This wasn't crisp. 

Cardinal sin, defensive errors leading to a layup. 

1-4 is popular full court press break. You cannot give the long pass. 

Opening play of the fourth quarter...anticipate the back screen into double screen. 

Simple works. 

Pentucket screens across and clears space for a driver. 

"Great offense is multiple actions." BOB screen the screener with multiple options and good seal. 

It's a variation on this action. 

Cathedral's turn. 6 seconds to go, down 2, SLOB. 

Cross-screen into back screen, screen-the-screener action. I love the toughness on screen. Well done. 

Lagniappe. "A game of separation..." master a few 'continuation' moves (e.g. hesi and in-and-out) and change of direction moves (e.g. crossover, behind-the-back) and advance from there. Don't fill your bag with moves that you can't execute. 

Lagniappe 2. I've briefly shared some of the "peer effects" in the "standing ovation" model. The coaching relevance is obvious, as players variously adopt peer behaviors.

• playing hard
• sharing the basketball
• taking quality shots
• communicating (talk)
• focusing on academic achievement
• abstaining from alcohol and substances
• getting adequate rest and nutrition

This isn't abstraction. When a coach calls and asks whether is a player is coachable, committed, and a team player, we share an honest appraisal. The coach is making a big investment and wants reliable info. The same goes for employers. Character matters.