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Sunday, February 12, 2023

Basketball: Ten Issues for Winning Big in High School Basketball, One Old Man's Opinion

None of these ideas arrived on stone tablets. Some are conventional, others modestly innovative. And since my influence equals a pebble in a large pond, nothing should change. Find something to steal. 

It's not like I have any resume'. In the big picture, it's weak tea.
  • I was the "2" guard on a Massachusetts top division (Division 1) state semifinal loser. 
  • My daughters were All-League players on a Division 2 state semifinal loser on teams that went 90-6 in high school during a ten-year run of League titles including five undefeated regular seasons. 
  • After about fifteen years as an assistant, in six years coaching middle schoolers (two groups of three-years apiece), I helped one player achieve a scholarship to Illinois (won two state titles) and another high school player will play D1 if she wants. 

1. 3-2-2. No it's not a defense, it's personnel observation. Strong teams need three scorers, two dynamite rebounders, and two reliable ball handlers. That might mean three terrific players or mix and match among more. Nobody wins with mediocre athletes and mediocre talent. 

2. En guard. Nobody wins big with backcourt mediocrity. It's the extension of Bobby Knight's The Power of Negative Thinking. So much goes wrong with 'adequate' guards - no ball pressure, inconsistent penetration and initiation of offense, vulnerability to pressure, turnovers. Find guards or develop them. 

3. Development Day. "Every day is player development day." Players need the growth mindset and push to improve. Fundamental development needs, especially shooting, never diminish. Practice should include at least half on fundamentals. 

Practice free throws. We practiced four sets of ten each practice. "Teams that cannot shoot free throws last as long in the playoffs as dogs that chase cars." - Tom Hellen

4. Handle pressure. Play deep in the playoffs and you face fast teams, big teams, balanced teams. At some point you have to be able to withstand and to generate comebacks. I favor full-court 5 versus 7 practice every practice, with constraints (e.g. no dribbling). "Make practice hard so games are easier." 

Unless you have recruited a "Talent Uber Alles" team, you don't steamroll everyone. And if you did, recruiting was your superpower, not coaching. 

5. Know where to excel. These are absolutes:
  • Transition defense.
  • Half-court defense. 
  • Defend the pick-and-roll.
  • Get quality shots in the half-court. 
  • Handle pressure. 
6. Quality coaching. Mediocre coaches struggle to communicate and adjust in big games. Hire a buddy or an ally and you get exactly that. 

7. Clarity of philosophy, identity, and culture. "This is who we are; that is how we play." You've heard it, "any idiot with a whistle can coach." No. In the development arena, I preached, "teamwork, improvement, and accountability." Steve Kerr preaches MINDSET, MENTORS, and CULTURE. 

8. Leave your comfort zone. Resilience and toughness develop through challenge. That means willingness to fail. Play a cupcake schedule and eventually someone will eat your lunch. The price of an Olympic Gold Medal in figure skating is the will to "fall 20,000 times." 

9. Get thicker skin. Legendary Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton brushed his skin with a horsehair brush to achieve a leathery quality. You won't play a ten-player rotation, so some players and their families will come for you. Director Mira Nair reminds us that to do the job, have "the soul of a poet and the hide of an elephant." 

10. Luck. Avoid injury and illness. Preparation helps us make some luck. Pasteur preached, "chance favors the prepared mind." Well, he didn't have to worry about sprained ankles and concussions. 

Ed Smith's book, "Luck: A Fresh Look at Fortune" informs a detailed view of luck. Here are a few quotes from the book:

"Luck is not a force but an opportunity."

"Luck is not a thing but a pattern."

"Luck is not a possession but a relationship."

"Luck is not a number but a story."

"Luck is not a gift but a challenge."

"Luck is not a destination but a journey.


That's a lot of stuff. Winning is hard; that's why it's valued. 

Lagniappe. Shoot, shoot, shoot. 


Lagniappe 2. We used this. Called it "Duke." 
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