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Saturday, July 29, 2023

Basketball: Doing Better at Doing Better

Success follows better decisions and execution and fewer mistakes. Examine your teams and be specific. Share the format with players and asked them to think about how it applies to the team and to them individually. 

1.Decision-making:

  • a. Shot selection
  • b. Better passes (turnover avoidance)
  • c. Fouling (e.g. jumpshots and threes)

2. Execution: (no easy baskets)

  • a. Communication
  • b. Ball containment
  • c. Defensive transition

3. Reduced mistakes: (don't give games away)

  • a. Fewer fouls (bad technique)
  • b. Missed block outs
  • c. Missed assignments 

Look under the hood and you'll see links back to the Four Factors - net effective field goal percentage, rebounding, turnovers, and free throws. 

Suggestions for improvement:

1a. Review shot charts with individual players. Assess shot quality re: ROB - range, openness, balance

1b. Examine turnovers by decision/execution. 

1c. Enforce a standard of not fouling perimeter shots. 

2a. Are we communicating? Communication starts in practice. 

2b. Drill ball containment with drills such as 'dog drill' 

2c. Defensive transition. Have we assigned two or three players to get back? Do we scramble, protect the hoop, stop the ball? 


3a. Emphasize better technique. "Move your feet, show your hands, don't swipe down (on blocks)"

3b. Not easy, especially for zone teams. Track defensive rebound percentage.

3c. Missed assignments can't happen. "Not my guy," doesn't fly. Defense is always a team responsibility. 

Your team's issues might be different - spacing, lack of urgent cutting, low skill. But with a third of games decided by two possessions or fewer, the little things matter. 

Lagniappe. "Every day is player development day." 
Lagniappe 2. And more. 













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