"So for us, try to simplify it, keep it simple with our guys and just get back to the basics. Playing defense at a high level, sharing the ball offensively — none of that changes because we’re in the finals now.” - Ime Udoka
List what winners do; then shorten. Use the T-T-P-P model from Dr. Fergus Connolly as a scaffold. Young players lack cohesive models of game play.
Technical (skill)
- Make better decisions.
- There's no substitute for skill. Develop.
- Space and create separation. "Win in space."
- Take and make better shots. "Possession-enders make shots, rebound, steal, and assist."
- "Pass quality refines shot quality."
- Keep the ball in front of you (contain the ball).
- Get more possessions with rebounding.
Tactical (strategy)
- Find who fits best, not just the best players.
- Have a specific plan to wear opponents down.
- Use hard to defend actions (explosive dribbling, urgent cutting, pick-and-roll, complex screening).
- Win this possession.
- Find mismatches. Mismatches arise with talent or switches.
- Push it. Make opponents defend a longer shot clock.
- Value the ball. "The ball is gold." Turnovers kill victory and live ball turnovers turn into opponent points at high points/possession.
- Self-assessment shows your best offenses and defenses.
Physical (strength and conditioning)
- Get bigger, faster, stronger.
- Play harder for longer. It's conditioning and attitude.
- "Toughness is a skill." Take charges, set hard screens, own loose balls.
Psychological (Resilience, all things mental)
- Play to win not to avoid losing.
- Master situational basketball.
- Love your teammates. "Don't play for me, play for the girl next to you."
- Solve problems.
- Don't give games away with TTPP failures.
- Collect video showing examples to teach playing and character values.
Lagniappe. Think football. The shooter sets a cross screen (block) and leaks out to get a pass to score.
Lagniappe 2. 3 on 3 high (drill). Teach players how to play with spacing, cutting, and passing.
