"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." - United States Declaration of Independence
All men might be created equal (women being superior), but all basketball players are not. That raises questions, what self-evident truths are not?
1. A Boston sports radio announcer once said, "three out of four football games are lost not won." I think that's true...as turnovers or bad decisions multiply in close games with fewer possessions. I don't think the same percentage of basketball wins occur because of opposition giveaways, but stealing from Camelot, "if charity means giving I give it to you."
2. Don't extrapolate too much from professional sports to lower levels. The games are so dissimilar. We scored three consecutive plays on elbow PnRs as U12s that the opponent switched to zone defense.
3. The NBA truth is that threes, scoring at the rim, and free throws are analytically sound plays. Watch a lot of youth and high school games and see cheap imitations. Less talent and long-range shooting foster bad possessions and low scoring losses. Don't be the dad yelling, "nothing but net" while your kid shoots airball after airball. Nothing but air.
4. Assists don't show up directly in the 'Four Factors' (effective field goal percentage, rebounding, turnovers, and free throws). But assists appear indirectly with both higher shooting percentage, fewer turnovers, and probably more free throws. When teams can't, don't, or won't pass they won't be fun to watch or coach. Pete Carril said it well, "the quality of the pass affects the quality of the shot."
5. It's hard to quantify decision-making. But if you want to look, examine shot selection, fouls, and help defense. Shot turnovers, bad fouls, and lack of help and rotation reflect recognition and reaction. It's analogous to Patton saying you don't win a war by dying for your country but by making the other guy die for his country.
6. If "winning is the only thing" why practice anything that doesn't impact winning? Examine everything and eliminate anything that doesn't matter. Some will quarrel with Brian McCormick's Fake Fundamentals but fewer with his 3 L's to avoid - laps, lines, and lectures. If sarcasm started with an L, maybe he'd call that out, too.
7. "She's great. She led her team in points again." Points matter but evaluate the total contribution. Were the points scored efficiently or through high volume shooting? Does she also lead the team in turnovers and missed blockouts? And can she cover your grandmother?
8. Do your job. Defend, rebound, screen, facilitate. Remember Bob Knight's quote, "just because I want you on the floor doesn't mean I want you to shoot."
9. Toughness is a skill. True. But maybe she's Roberto Duran, with 'hands of stone'. Doing anything with the ball starts with the ability to catch it. Don Meyer said that sometimes you can't put something in a player that isn't there. Be open to fixing the fixable.
10. There is a time for everything. Different people and different ideas flourish in differing environments. Sam Jackson says about acting, "sometimes a job isn't for you." A medical colleague reminded me decades ago, "even the Lone Ranger runs out of bullets."
Lagniappe (something extra).
ATO: 5 Out - Carolina 'clear and slip'
