Basketball: Turnovers Kill Dreams

Showdown on reducing turnovers - AI versus Me. I go first.

 

RS: "Turnovers kill dreams." You don't need analytical genius to know that turnovers prevent scoring. Even worse, live ball turnovers bleed into an opponent's offense with far higher points per possession. The Celtics game one loss to Philadelphia (Mayday!) was a prime example. Good teams don't give games away. 

Change the mindset. "You get what you accept." Don't accept, "It's okay" from the bench when players give games away with poor decisions and failed execution. Excellent players want coaching. They don't want repeat mistakes. 

Darren Hardy wrote in The Compound Effect, "winners are trackers." Track and report team turnovers. The goal isn't to embarrass players but to reduce turnovers. Tracking reduces mistakes. 

"Do the math." Most high school teams aren't scoring even one point per possession. Presume 65 possessions, which vary by game pace. Twenty turnovers means 45 possible productive possessions. You have to score at extreme rates to succeed under those conditions. 

"Study failure." Zak Boisvert's construct of turnovers as decision or skill- based shares a fixable framework.

Stop 'shot turnovers'. Doc Rivers calls poor shots shot turnovers. Airballs usually equal turnovers. 

How do we limit them? 

• Be aware. "The ball is gold...value the ball...take care of the ball."
• Handle pressure. Practice advantage-disadvantage (e.g. 5 vs 7).
• Shorten the pass. Receivers, come to the ball. 
• Study video. See the game, learn the game. 
• Condition. "Fatigue makes cowards of us all." 
• Constrain. Adding 'no dribble' to 5 vs 7 reinforces 'cut and pass'
• Build skill. Dribble tag, non-dominant hand inside the arc. Or make 10 passes before allowing a shot. 
• Pivot better. "Pivot out of trouble." 

Chunking. Be aware of the chessboard. See danger and avoid it. 

Reducing error is a process. Skill, strategy - including the Four Factors, physicality (strength and conditioning), psychology (including awareness, resilience of mental toughness). 

AI: 

Basketball turnovers can be reduced through a combination of individual skill development, team strategy, and effective communication. Here are some specific ways to reduce turnovers:

1. Improve ball handling skills: Players can work on improving their dribbling and passing skills through drills, such as ball handling drills or passing drills, to reduce the likelihood of losing the ball.

2. Increase awareness: Players should be aware of their surroundings and anticipate potential turnovers. This can be achieved by keeping their head up while dribbling, scanning the court for open teammates, and being aware of defensive pressure.

3. Minimize risky passes: Players should avoid making risky passes, such as trying to thread the ball through a tight space or throwing the ball blindly. Instead, they should make simple, high-percentage passes to open teammates.

4. Improve decision-making: Players should make good decisions with the ball, such as knowing when to pass, shoot, or dribble, and not forcing a play that isn't there.

5. Improve communication: Teammates should communicate with each other on the court, calling for the ball, and giving clear signals to avoid confusion and turnovers.

6. Focus on teamwork: Players should focus on working together as a team, moving the ball quickly, and creating open passing lanes to reduce the chances of a turnover.

7. Practice under pressure: Players can practice their skills under pressure situations, such as with a defender or in a game-like scrimmage, to improve their ability to handle difficult situations and reduce turnovers.

Overall, reducing turnovers in basketball requires a combination of individual skill development, team strategy, and effective communication.