Tuesday, June 27, 2023

Basketball: Underrated

Find underrated. Grasp and never let go.  

Matt Haig wrote, "every book is about someone searching for something." Everyone searches for the secret sauce. 

Kevin Eastman says, "success leaves fingerprints." On my daughters' AAU team, I introduced my self to another parent. "Hi, I'm Ron." He answered, "My name is Ron, too." I noticed his spectacular ring with an emerald stone. "That's quite a ring." "Do you want to see it?" "Sure." I noticed it said, "University of Miami, Hall of Fame." I said, "You're Ronnie Lippett." And he answered, "And so I am." 

The secret sauce is execution... intersection among personnel, strategy, and operations. 

Successful teams play harder for longer. The plan should be obvious.

  • They have discernible strategies. 
  • They "win more possessions." 
  • They do whatever it takes to impact winning. 
  • They avoid actions that serve defeat - poor spacing, poor shot quality, turnovers, bad decisions, selfishness, lack of effort. 
Recognize and steal good design.

  • Have sound design. 
  • Clear the defender.
  • Sell the ball screen.
  • Slip the screen.
  • Cut urgently.
  • Pass on time and on target.
  • "End the possession."
Prioritize clarity. Share your philosophy in writing with your team. 
  • "This is what we do."
  • "That is how we do it." 
  • Sweat the details. 
  • Get everyone on the same page. 
  • Coach everyone. Share and teach relentlessly. 

Be specific. "Play hard" means nothing. Show examples.

  • "We cannot lose in transition." 
  • Beat your 'guy' to mid-court.
  • "Protect the basket."
  • "Stop the ball." 

Collaboration. "This is how we play. That is not."

  • "Everybody plays defense." 
  • Define roles.
  • Reward excellence in each role. 

Feedback. Always, always verify. 

  • Be "performance-focused, feedback rich."
  • One player not understanding, out of position, unaware of her assignment will sink you.  

Philosophy. Your philosophy should be clear and written. 

  • "Allow no easy shots." Opponents get 'one bad shot'. 
  • "Movement kills defenses." Stand around and sit by me. 
  •  "Cut and pass." 
  • "The ball is gold." 
  • Poor shot quality and turnovers are the same. 
Player development. "Every day is player development day." 
  • Skill. There is no substitute. "We cannot run what we cannot do."
  • See the game. Study video of both positive and negative play.
  • Become more explosive physically. 
  • Harden your mind. "The game honors toughness." 
Assert absolutes. 
  • You cannot play defense without ball containment. 
  • "If you choose to play one end of the court, I choose to reduce your minutes, role, and recognition."
  • Bad teams and limited players take poor shots. 
  • Excellent teams DO NOT GIVE GAMES AWAY. 
  • Bad fouls and bad free throw shooting give games away. 
Lagniappe. You are building your house. "You own your paycheck."


Lagniappe 2. "This is what you have to do to get on the court and stay on the court. Defensively, contain the other team's best guard. Offensively, take care of the basketball and be opportunistic." Coach never said, "you have to be All-League or All-Scholastic." Get 'guys' who listen, work hard, and want to win as much as you do.  






 

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