Saturday, October 14, 2023

Basketball: These Truths Are Immutable

I'm here to learn and to share. Examine truth via the lens of Dr. Fergus Connolly's framework:

  • Skill (technique)
  • Strategy (tactics)
  • Athleticism
  • Psychology (Mental approach, toughness, resilience)
Skill links to other components. 
  • You can't exercise strategy without skill. "We can't run what we can't run." 
  • Skill links to mental approach. "Champions do extra." 
  • Athleticism - "explosiveness leverages skill."
  • Skill relies on decision-making. Bad decisions (e.g. fouling) neutralize skill and hustle. 
Strategy
  • Multiple paths lead to victory. Even more lead to defeat. "'Cause every hand's a winner and every hand's a loser." 
  • Listen to your current coach. His or her word is the one that matters. When you gain your coach's confidence, ask privately about other ways to perform a skill or strategy such as defending the pick-and-roll. 
  • Keep learning from every source you can find - mentors, coaches, video, clinics, blogs. Learn how to learn. 
  • If there were one best way to do everything, everyone would do that. 
Athleticism
  • Find a workout partner. Drag a teammate into the top 10% with you. 
  • Measure progress. Vertical jump. 3 cone drill. 17s. Bench press. Seeing progress enhances motivation. 
  • Rest and nutrition are parts of the program. 
Psychology
  • The immediate way to improve is to play smarter. 
  • The next best way is to play harder. Hard work is a skill. It doesn't matter if you play hard if you don't make good decisions. 
  • Toughness is a skill. 
  • Mindfulness improves focus, sleep, blood pressure, and lowers stress hormones. It helps control pain, too. 
Lagniappe. Great offense is multiple actions. 

Lagniappe 2. Footwork tips. 

 

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