Basketball: Putting Players and Teams in Position to Succeed

Good coaches put players and teams in position to succeed. Find three things daily to add to your toolbox. 

"Teach players to 'SEE THE GAME'." - Pete Newell

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

Develop "competitive greatness." - John Wooden

Teach putting the team first. "Basketball is sharing." - Phil Jackson

"Mentoring is the only shortcut to excellence." 

"Everyone has to make the same movie." - Martin Scorsese (Everyone can't have their own agenda.)

"Look for the helpers." - Mr. Rogers

The best way to improve teams is individual growth. Use Dr. Fergus Connolly's framework of technique (skill), tactics (strategy), physicality, and psychology. 

Young players don't know the game well. The lack the philosophy, maturity, and experience to mentor themselves. Coaches help them write a better story. 

Technique:

• What are your strengths and weaknesses? 
• Maximize your strengths; know your role. Coach Knight would say, "shooters shoot, passers pass, everyone plays defense."
• Attention to detail...scoring from three levels as appropriate. Find 'four ways to score'. 
• Study greatness - Klay Thompson shooting form, Chris Paul passing, etc.

Do something better: Shooting, what's your favorite shooting drill? 

Strategy:

• Attack opponent weaknesses, utilize your strengths.
• Keep it simple. Don't outsmart yourself. Do less but do it well. Be great at a few things. 
• Small-sided games train offense, defense, and competition. Fewer players mean more touches. More touches, more skill and decisions. 
• Limit what opponents want to do. Beat their press. Consider zone to slow down the opponent star player. 
• "Technique beats tactics." - Gregg Popovich

Do something better: Track shot quality. Remember that Dean Smith sometimes scrimmaged with shot quality scoring - layups (2), open shots (1), contested shots (0), turnovers (-1).

Physicality:

• Increase speed. "Basketball is a sprinting game." New-fangled techniques include weighted vests. Old school was running stadium stairs. 
• Increase explosiveness. "A game of separation..." Jump rope, lift weights.

Psychology:

• Play harder and longer than opponents.
• Improve focus. Have a mindfulness practice. 
• Build better habits. "We make our habits and our habits make us." Have a daily routine.
• Make good habits more accessible and bad habits less so." For example, have workout gear with you. 

Lagniappe: Notes from Coach K's MasterClass

Keys:

- Ask players what they think. What are your goals? 

- Reminder, "you didn't come to Duke to be the same player."

- You don't get a new move on an app. 

Lagniappe 2. Shoot like Klay.