Saturday, April 29, 2023

Basketball: Maximizing Simplicity (Ecoutez et Repetez)

Tear down our existing structure. Start over. Simplify. That can't mean starting with a list of hundreds. It's the Kondonization of basketball. 

A patient told me, "I throw out that which doesn't give me joy." Another approach is to "tidy a little a day." 

"Simplify the process." Traffic in specifics. Keep, give away, throw out. 

1. "Every day is player development day." - Dave Smart   Develop your 'minimum skill set.'

  • Footwork. Balance. Speed. Finish at the rim. Box drills with defense with constraints of finishing on either side of the rim with either hand off either or two feet. 
  • Make free throws.
  • Expand your range. That's the game mandate. Forty percent of threes is better than fifty-nine percent of twos.
  • Develop separating moves, a "go to" and "counter." Everything else is gravy. Ask every player, what is your 'go to' and 'counter'?
2. "Think shot first." - Don Kelbick  When you have the receipts (skill), find your shot. 



3. Become more athletic. Sport rewards explosive athletes who can separate and finish. A jump rope and jump exercises can do that. "Nothing works unless you do." Athleticism helps:
  • Contain the ball on defense. 
  • Play "longer for harder." 
  • Get lateral and vertical advantage. 
4. Stop fouling. Paring fouls was a key part of the Porter Moser program and is one of the Four Factors. 
  • "Move your feet." (see #3)
  • "Show your hands."
  • Don't swat down. 
  • Contest shots without fouling. 
  • It's a mindset. 
5. "Possession and possessions." Become a 'possession ender' with scores and stops. 
  • Opponents get "hard twos" or "one bad shot" by quality defenders
  • Quality shots score. 
  • Pass better as architects of quality shots.
  • Take care of the ball (maximize the value of your possessions). 
Games become 'math' with higher effective field goal percentage (EFG%)  and lower EFG% allowed. Fewer turnovers means more shots. Forced turnovers and more rebounds means more possessions for us and fewer from opponents (Pete Newell's "more and better shots than our opponents.")

My high school French teacher, Mr. Benoit said, "Ecoutez et repetez." Listen and repeat. Great advice remains great advice. 

Summary: 
  • "Every day is player development day."
  • "Think shot first."
  • Become more athletic. 
  • Reduce fouling. 
  • "Possessions and possession." 
Lagniappe. One guy's opinion. What are we? 


Lagniappe 2. AI input for simplicity 

A coach can prioritize simplicity in a number of ways:

  1. Focusing on the essentials: A coach can prioritize simplicity by focusing on the essential skills and techniques that are required to achieve success in a particular sport or activity. By emphasizing the basics and avoiding unnecessary complexity, the coach can help their athletes develop a solid foundation that they can build upon.

  2. Clear communication: A coach can prioritize simplicity by communicating clearly and concisely. This can involve using simple language, avoiding jargon or technical terms, and breaking down complex concepts into more manageable pieces.

  3. Streamlining training sessions: A coach can prioritize simplicity by streamlining their training sessions. This can involve focusing on a few key skills or techniques during each session, rather than trying to cover too much ground at once. By keeping things simple and focused, athletes are more likely to stay engaged and make progress.

  4. Emphasizing fundamentals: A coach can prioritize simplicity by emphasizing the fundamentals of the sport or activity. This can involve drills and exercises that focus on basic skills such as passing, dribbling, or shooting. By mastering these fundamentals, athletes can develop a solid foundation that they can build upon as they progress.

  5. Avoiding unnecessary complexity: A coach can prioritize simplicity by avoiding unnecessary complexity. This can involve avoiding overly complicated strategies or techniques that may be difficult for athletes to understand or execute. Instead, the coach can focus on simple, effective strategies that are easy to understand and implement.

Overall, a coach can prioritize simplicity by focusing on the essentials, communicating clearly, streamlining training sessions, emphasizing fundamentals, and avoiding unnecessary complexity. By keeping things simple and focused, coaches can help their athletes achieve greater success and develop a deeper understanding of the sport or activity.

at