Create Advantage with Film Study

 Video is the truth machine. It reveals who players are. Within the actions of sport (spacing, player and ball movement, scoring execution), video shows the how, when, and where advantage arises. NBA coaches like Erik Spoelstra cut their teeth in the video room. Video is the DNA of basketball evolution. Film informs aspiration, inspiration, and desperation. 

Great coaches film practice, games, and bench behavior. 

First, let's examine clips of a perennial power, Minneapolis North:

1. Ball movement. Spurs 0.5 second decisions 

2. Active hands, rapid conversion, no-hesitation attack. 

3. Versatile finishing. Crab dribble, reverse left-handed layup off two feet for power and stability. 

4. Opportunistic defense with a primary trap zone double, steal, and finish. 

5. Another brilliant conversion, outlet pass to half court, and score within 7 seconds. 

6. More versatile finishing with extended 'off-footed' layup on opposite side. 

7. "Fall in love with easy." Offensive rebounding and unselfish play nets another layup. 

Offensive 'micro' actions start with spacing. Chuck Daly's quote belongs: "Offense is spacing and spacing is offense." No team exists with bad spacing and great offense. Examine spacing "at a glance." Great players "win in space." 

2. Defenses shrink space.

• Pressure and contain the ball
• Load to the ball
• Drop to the level of the ball
• Deny penetration that leads to inside-outside openings
• Contested shots yield lower percentage shots

3. Win in conversion. The "golden moment" arises to create edge at exchange of possession. The defense may be celebrating, disorganized, or unaware of the counterattack. Practice this moment with Coach Knight's "change" drill where on the whistle the offense must drop the ball and each player must find a new player to cover. 

4. Advantage comes via movement. "The ball is a camera" and if you want it, it has to see you. "Movement kills defenses." 

5. The ultimate advantage comes with versatile finishing (see the clips above). The Mikan and reverse Mikan drills help reinforce neural pathways that end with hoops. Remember Kevin Eastman's adage, "eyes make layups." 

Lagniappe. "Basketball is a game of separation." 

You know the steps - explanation, demonstration, imitation, repetition x 5

Lagniappe 2. Horns misdirection. 

3. Chuck Daly quotes. "Defense can't guard two things in a row."