Wednesday, November 9, 2022

Player Development - A Handful of Actions to Add Extra Arrows to Your Quiver (Clip and Save Edition)

The podcast explained the NBA GM's favorite 'technology book', Empire of the Summer Moon. What?

The book describes the rise and fall of the Comanches from about 1700 through over half the 19th century. The technology of ascent was the horse and the change was the Colt revolver. Comanche warriors excelled at horsemanship, riding into battle supine on their horse, wheeling around and unleashing a dozen arrows in sixty seconds. Their opponent had a single shot at a moving target with a rifle. 

Coaches bring 'game changers' via player development. Steal great ideas from other coaches. The best Xs and Os don't work without talent. Never have, never will. 

Technology was part of Jim Collins' secret sauce in Good to Great. Technology doesn't have to be new to work. 

Excellent players and coaches have no offseason. They work assiduously at advantage creation and advantage exploitation (separating and finishing). 

"Every day is player development day." - Dave Smart

"Never tired of doing the little things..." - Wooden on Bill Walton

Get 50 from Jay Wright. Warmup with variety. 

Box drills. Master footwork with drive or shoot off the catch. 

Quarters (Pitino 168) Multilevel shooting, competition, and endurance with eighty-four shots. 

Championship 37

5 x 3p

t shots

5 x 2pt shots with left hand dribble pull up

5 x 2pt shots with right hand dribble pull up

2 x free throws maximum score of 37

Wing attack - Pierce series


Negative step. Drew Hanlen calls it a load step. 

Float dribble. Apply versus defense in a one-on-one setting. 


Summary (filling your players' toolboxes)

  • Get 50
  • Box drills 
  • Quarters (Pitino 168)
  • Championship 37
  • Pierce Wing Series
  • Negative Step
  • Float Dribble 
Lagniappe. "Body language screams."