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Thursday, November 30, 2023

Basketball: Apply the Four Factors to Succeed

Good actions show up as favorable statistics. Here are five easy ways to get the odds on your side.

Regular readers know the impact of Dean Oliver's Four Factors and the extension, differential results on each. The easy acronym is SPCA - score, protect, crash, attack. Shoot, avoid turnovers, rebound, get to the free throw line. 

Effective field goal percentage (FG + 1.5 FG3)/FGA 

"Get up on 'em."

Presume that what applies to top players applies for our players as far as shot 'contestedness' 


Here's the dashboard for shots and defender proximity for Jayson Tatum. Obviously, sample size matters. On three-pointers with a defender six feet away he shoots almost 47 percent. With a defender 2-4 feet away it's 30 percent. 

Convince your players to contest shots without fouling. 

"The ball is gold." That's what my coach told us. You say, "take care of the ball" or "value the ball." When we tracked team turnovers, making the team accountable, we reduced them about twenty percent. Key points:

  • A turnover is a zero percent possession. 
  • Live ball turnovers allow high points/possession. 
  • Don't commit Doc Rivers' "shot turnovers." If you can't make "x percent" of threes in a game (your choice), don't greenlight non-shooters in games. 
"Wipe the glass." Win the glass as "possession enders." 
  • Get over 75 percent of defensive rebounds. 
  • The key factors on D-boards are position and toughness.
  • Have a defined offensive rebounding commitment (either two or three to the boards) and have transition defense assigned. 
  • Station a guard near the free throw line for rebounding and they should get about three rebounds/game. 
"Get more free throws and allow fewer."
  • "Foul for profit." - Kevin Sivils
  • "If it looks like a foul, it will get called." - Show your hands and don't swat down when blocking shots. 
"Track this magic number, 372." Stops make runs. If you get three consecutive stops, seven times a half, both halves, you have a high chance of winning. 

Lagniappe. Chris Oliver shares... 
Lagniappe 2. Misdirection, throw back. 

Lagniappe 3. You don't have to be a professional to be professional. Be on time, be prepared, be engaged. 

 




 


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Wednesday, November 29, 2023

BIE (Basketball Intelligence Estimate)

"Within the US government, the crown jewel of all intelligence products is the National Intelligence Estimate (NIE)." - Red Team, Micah Zelko

Coaches have the obligation to develop and inform team members of their BIE (Basketball Intelligence Estimate, i.e. basketball IQ). 

I talked to a coach about a once-star player he had coached. "Great player, from the neck down." 

Life teaches us to 'become our own coach'. Be an owner: 

  • Own time management 
  • Apply critical thinking 
  • Consider alternative analysis
  • Have great practice habits. 
  • Live a growth mindset. 
  • Model excellence. 
Players see everything. 

Read widely. Benefit from words and teachings from languages other than basketball.

MUDITA - "Your joy is my joy." Be excited for a teammate's success.

SAWUBONA - "I see you." It's more than just a greeting. 

UBUNTU - "I am because we are." 

Use analogies. Relate one domain to another. 

  • The basketball court is our classroom, our laboratory. 
  • Help players to achieve "escape velocity" from mediocrity, to write a better narrative, to go where they cannot go alone. 
  • Use "chunking" to help players see options from the pieces on the basketball chessboard. 
Apply video lessons. "Great offense is multiple actions" and "movement kills defense" and "the ball has energy." The Bulls double the ball opening a variation of 'short roll passing' with "inside out play" and "one more" mentality. 

Share. Phil Jackson preached, "basketball is sharing." Shared vision, shared effort, and shared sacrifice earn shared victory. 

Sandpaper. Sometimes value lives in the rough edges. One player might have more refinement with athleticism and ability. But another might have more grit, unselfishness, basketball IQ, and leadership. Which impacts our team right here, right now? 

Sense of urgency. One player with less skill may impact winning more. Does she want to win or does she need to win? 

Lagniappe. 

Lagniappe 2. Are you motivated every day?  

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Tuesday, November 28, 2023

Basketball: Celebrating Charlie Munger

Value cultural literacy. 

Think better, execute better and win. That defined the Warren Buffett - Charlie Munger partnership at Berkshire Hathaway for sixty years. Charlie Munger died yesterday at 99.

They mastered value, deliberate practice, and ran one of the most successful businesses in history. Don't value him because he was rich but because he was wise. 

Munger was one of the great modern thinkers, with special focus on using Mental Models. 

Coaches and players with higher basketball IQ have an edge; sport is about edges - technical, tactical, physical, psychological. 

Here are a few mental models to think about: 

1. Circle of Competence... the more we understand, the larger our circle. It's not only "know that" but "know how" that enters into the equation. 

2. Sample size. Be cautious about making sweeping generalizations base on a small amount of data. The first time I saw Jayson Tatum play for Duke he committed a huge amount of turnovers. 

3. Self-interest. Do not underestimate the influence of self-interest in decision making. Professor Adam Grant explores this in one of his books, "Give and Take." He describes givers, matchers, and takers. The most successful people are 'ambitious givers'. 

Lagniappe. For those who want in-depth looks at Munger's style and substance, here's a classic video. 


Lagniappe 2. Find confidence components. 
 
Lagniappe 3. Quotes from Munger's "Poor Charlie's Almanack"

"And then all that is required is a willingness to bet heavily when the odds are extremely favorable, using resources available as a result of prudence and patience in the past."

"The best armor of old age is a well-spent life preceding it."

“Those of us who have been fortunate have a duty to give back. Whether one gives a lot as one goes along as I do, or a little and then a lot (when one dies) as Warren does, is a matter of personal preference.”
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Basketball: The Sum of Possessions

"Possession and possessions..." Think about basketball games as the sum of possessions. Success means winning more possessions, more individual battles. 

Teams score or allow points based on positive play, opponent error, negative play, or opponent positive play.

"Control what we can control." Make more positive plays, reduce our negative plays (e.g. poor shots, turnovers, blown assignments, rebounding and fouling). Note the Four Factors among those:

  • Differential shooting percentage (score)
  • Turnover margin (protect)
  • Rebounding edge (crash)
  • Fouling (attack)
"Basketball is a game meant to be played fast." - John Wooden   

That's especially true with superior talent. As the undermanned or underskilled team, more possessions favor the superior team. Think coin flips. If you get paid a dollar for every heads and lose fifty cents for tails, you want as many flips as possible. In the extreme, "stall ball" occasionally keeps less competitive teams in games. 

If a new coach says, "I believe in uptempo basketball" and lacks skill or athleticism, his tenure will likely be brief. 

If we're unfamiliar with an opponent, starting with fullcourt pressure might resemble running into a dark alley. What we don't know can hurt us. I return to a game where we fell behind 6-0 within a minute or so because of aggression against a 'better' team. 

Key points:
1. Make every possession count. 
2. Excellent teams play harder for longer (more good possessions).
3. Don't give away possessions.
4. Consider "scoring" possession quality. 
5. Be intentional in style of play to fit your talent and athleticism. 

Example: Bishop Fenwick faced St. Mary's in the Massachusetts Division 3 Girls State Championship game. MASS has a 30 second shot clock. St. Mary's with two D1 and one D2 recruit had beaten Fenwick by over 30 twice during league play. Fenwick did their best to control the tempo, take away transition, and played a lot of 1-3-1 zone and challenged perimeter shots. St. Mary's won 47-43, although Fenwick was within two in the final minutes. Fenwick also had their "Dream Teamer," Cecilia Kay who had 23 points and was a force inside. She returns for a senior season. 

Lagniappe. Impacting winning isn't just about scoring. 
Lagniappe 2. Sell the move. 


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Sunday, November 26, 2023

Basketball: Metaskills

Deep education teaches us to think better to improve our decision-making.

That involves upper level skills or metaskills.

Consider an analogy of "keystone habits" from James Clear in Atomic Habits. Keystone habits are habits that help us with other habits. Discipline, persistence, and time management matter in all areas. 

Without the ability to concentrate, learn, and solve problems, players can't become their best. 

Begin with an AI (ChatGPT) overview:

Metaskills refer to a set of higher-order abilities or skills that enable individuals to learn, adapt, and effectively utilize other skills across various domains or situations. They are like the "skills about skills" that allow you to approach learning and problem-solving in a more versatile and efficient way.

Here are some key metaskills:

  1. Learning How to Learn: This involves understanding various learning styles, strategies, and methods to acquire new skills efficiently.

  2. Critical Thinking: The ability to analyze, evaluate, and interpret information to make reasoned judgments or decisions. It involves questioning assumptions and considering multiple perspectives.

  3. Creativity: The capacity to generate novel ideas, solutions, or approaches by thinking divergently, exploring possibilities, and combining unrelated concepts.

  4. Adaptability: Being flexible and able to adjust to changing circumstances, learning from experience, and being resilient in the face of challenges.

  5. Problem-Solving: The capability to identify, define, and solve complex problems by employing systematic approaches, logic, and creativity.

  6. Communication: Effectively conveying ideas, thoughts, or information through various mediums and adapting communication style based on the audience or situation.

  7. Collaboration: Working effectively with others, understanding team dynamics, and contributing positively to achieve common goals.

  8. Self-Management: Being aware of one's emotions, motivations, and behaviors, and regulating them to maintain focus, motivation, and productivity.

Metaskills are not specific to any particular subject or field but are transferable across different areas. They're crucial in a rapidly changing world where the ability to learn, adapt, and apply knowledge effectively is highly valuable. Developing these metaskills can enhance personal and professional growth, making individuals more adaptable and capable of thriving in diverse environments. 

The metaskills list above challenges anyone. Can we distill the list to something more palatable?


Cross-reference the platform of metaskills to individual and team development 'musts' -

Skill - Experimentation, learning, deep practice

Strategy - Group problem solving and innovation

Physicality - Practice, self-awareness

Psychology - Resilience (mental toughness), Empathy, Persistence, Sportsmanship

Share examples. 

1) Work. An older patient arrives hard of hearing without hearing aids. I could yell or put my stethoscope earpieces in the patient's ears and talk into the diaphragm (the part that goes on the chest). 

2) Don't have a low jumpbox? Bind newspapers with duct tape. Opaque plastic milk cartons holding water become 'cones'. 

3) No equipment? You don't need expensive equipment to do pogo jumps. 


4) Spacing. The three-point line is your spacing line. 

5) Wake-up call. Former OSU football coach Urban Meyer talked about 'crossing the red line'. When players cross the field boundary, they're expected to be fired up and ready to go. 

6) Multiple actions. Players hear, "great offense is multiple actions." Give players conceptual tools. 
  • A game of "passing and cutting..." 
  • "The screener is the second cutter..."
  • "Offensive rebounding means anticipation and aggression." 
7) Similar and different. Run the same actions from different formations. Run different actions from the same formations, such as the many actions out of horns or Iverson cuts. 

Lagniappe. We make our habits and our habits make us. 

Lagniappe 2. Spacing is important but not sufficient. 

 

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Basketball: Discipline


They told him, "you need discipline." He replied, "thanks. Where do I get it?"

Literature and history are replete with examples of failed discipline. You know Aesop's story of The Tortoise and the Hare and the myth of Daedalus and Icarus, the latter who flew too close to the sun, melting his waxen wings. Young readers learn how Pinocchio strayed and wound up a donkey on Pleasure Island. Only time will tell whether those who lived in the arc of Jeffrey Epstein will suffer from lack of discipline. 

In Spiderman, we hear the classic line from Peter Parker's uncle, "with great power comes great responsibility." 

We choose a path, illustrated by Ryan Holiday's "Discipline Is Destiny" about the choices for Hercules. 

“Where the road diverged lay a beautiful goddess who offered him every temptation he could imagine. Adorned in finery, she promised him a life of ease. She swore he’d never taste want or unhappiness or fear or pain. Follow her, she said, and his every desire would be fulfilled.
On the other path stood a sterner goddess in a pure white robe. She made a quieter call. She promised no rewards except those that came as a result of hard work. It would be a long journey, she said. There would be sacrifice. There would be scary moments. But it was a journey fit for a god. It would make him the person his ancestors meant him to be.”

Hercules chose virtue over vice. 

Discipline impacts influence or persuasion. The Greeks included ethos (character), logos (reason), and pathos (emotion) to appeal to others. 

Discipline appears in our habits. It impacts how we think, how we communicate, and especially how we act. 

Disciplined people often delay gratification. They do what they don't what to do now with the expectation that it will allow them to do what they want, when they want in the future. 

Disciplined people invest time instead of spending it. Alabama football coach Nick Saban describes it as "choice versus feeling."
 

Saban also explains discipline as "what you're willing to accept." 


In coachspeak, that defines "you get what you accept." Success demands "playing harder for longer" piggybacked upon skill, strategy, and physicality. All require discipline. 

I think discipline exists at an equilibrium or 'steady state'. In a given team ecosystem there is a level of inputs and results. The hope is that more or better discipline results in better outputs. 

Discipline doesn't come with guarantees. Bill Walsh's book title defines the hope, The Score Takes Care of Itself. His discipline embodied imposing a Standard of Excellence across an entire organization. 

In game discipline affects everything - assignments, execution, shot selection, situation and time management. 


Lagniappe. Success is a system of self-belief translated into actions. 


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There is no Elephant in the Room

Elements of team and individual play can always be better. Field goal kicking is more than the kicker. It's the operation, the synchrony among the snapper, holder, and kicker...and blocking.

Plus when examining high school athletes or younger, remember, they're children not professionals.

Every free throw doesn't go in, players miss blocks and tackles, serves go into the net. And when coaches believe a better combination, player, or strategy exists, they often change. 

Your coach doesn't hate you, she has no hidden agenda, and every substitution doesn't 'send a message' about your skill, toughness, or engagement.

That doesn't mean that coaching decisions never send messages or that coaches are oblivious to feelings, egos, or situations. 

Lagniappe. We "remember" situations more intensely related to "peak experience" and "end experience." Coach Hack points out how this impacts his coaching. I worked to end practice by thanking players for coming and giving high effort. 



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Saturday, November 25, 2023

Applying Lessons from Red Teams

Be our best versions by applying lessons from any discipline. I recently wrote about the University of Foreign Military and Cultural Studies and Red Teams.

Teams knew certain teams would throw varying defenses at them:

UCLA/John Wooden: 2 - 2 - 1 three quarter court press

UNC/Dean Smith: Run-and-jump

Georgetown/John Thompson: full court pressure forced 17 Villanova turnovers in the 1985 title game, won by Villanova

VCU/Shaka Smart:  Havoc defense (Diamond)

UNLV/Jerry Tarkanian: Amoeba defense

LSU/Dale Brown: "The Freak" 

Temple/Jon Chaney: Matchup Zone

Key point 1: Youth coaches press because they know it bothers inexperienced players who often panic. 

Key point 2: Youth coaches play a lot of zone defense as young players don't shoot well, especially from distance. 

Key point 3: Youth coaches often prioritize winning over development so pressure and zone defenses yield more wins making them look 'smart'. 

As the "Red Team" coach, craft your plan to handle pressure. 

Advantage-disadvantage: 

  • 5 versus 7 full court... add constraints such as no dribbling
  • 4 versus 5 half court

Constraints 

  • Must have a paint touch and ball reversal before shooting
  • Must score in the paint
  • Everyone must touch the ball before a shot taken

Gauntlet (28 Special)


Offense must advance through 4 zones of defenders. One dribble allowed per touch, emphasis on passing and cutting to an open area. Offense goes to fourth zone and each defense advances a zone. 

Manmaker


Teach players to play, to apply and to defeat pressure. Add constraints to increase the degree of difficult. Hard practice, easier games. 

Offense fails because of lack of spacing, lack of hard cutting and screening, failure of on-time, on-target passing, and questionable shot selection. 

Lagniappe. Another Pannone share 

Lagniappe 2. Strength and flexibility matter. 

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Friday, November 24, 2023

"You Own Your Paycheck"

Few parents directly told me they disagreed with my coaching or how I coached their children. It always came back indirectly. Maybe that's because they knew I volunteered, paid for a preseason tournament or two, and hosted a catered breakup dinner at the end of season. 

The philosopher Epictetus had a saying something like, "If they knew me better they'd have far worse criticism." 

Whatever those numerous flaws, I kept working to improve - reading, studying, watching video, coaching clinics, and more. 

We all need a "personal improvement program," because only one guy was perfect and we all know how that turned out for Him. 

Specific ideas:

1. Read. I'm slowly working my way through Red Team, an incredibly dense book by Micah Zenko. 

2. Journal. Write something in a notebook, 'commonplace book', in the Notes app on your phone. 

3. See the world around you. See, don't just look. 

4. Take a course. Whether it's in your vocation, about coaching, or MasterClass. I'm taking "The Great Courses" online course on Economics by Professor Timothy Taylor. Coaches are economists as we apply a science of distribution of scarce resources. 

5. Study a coach in depth... Pete Newell, Dean Smith, John Wooden, Geno Auriemma, Pat Summitt, Pete Carill, whomever. 

6. Make friends with the dead. Feel the pain of Lincoln or the wonder of Da Vinci. 

The vast majority of experience I had with players, parents, and families was positive. Perhaps the negatives keep us grounded. Regardless, improvement is our responsibility. "You own your paycheck." 

Lagniappe. What are your one-liners? 

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Thursday, November 23, 2023

Basketball: Comments on a Volleyball Article (That Works for Basketball)

My son Conor, a Bloomberg View columnist and portfolio manager, says, "Never read the comments." But they may share more insight than the article.

First, the comments:

Your recent post is a goldmine of thought-provoking questions and insights, providing a roadmap for anyone serious about taking their volleyball game to the next level. The emphasis on continuous improvement, learning from successful players, and daily player development resonates deeply with the dedication required for excellence.

I particularly appreciate the focus on collaboration with teammates, recognizing the collective effort needed for success. The questions about individual effort during off-season workouts and being a better teammate highlight the holistic approach you advocate for personal and team growth.

Your encouragement for players to identify their key volleyball skill and strategic planning for team success adds a strategic and introspective layer to your coaching philosophy. It's clear that you understand the multifaceted nature of success in volleyball, blending individual strengths with team strategy.

The inclusion of book recommendations, particularly James Clear's Atomic Habits and Jason Selk's concepts, shows a commitment to not only the physical aspects of the game but also the mental and psychological components. This holistic approach sets the stage for a comprehensive and transformative player development journey.

In conclusion, your post isn't just a set of questions; it's a powerful guide for players aspiring to greatness. Your insights into continuous learning, strategic planning, and intentional habits offer a valuable blueprint for those willing to invest in their growth. Keep inspiring and guiding your players to reach their full potential!

That reader thought this article had merit. 

Alabama football coach Nick Saban tells players to focus on two things - do the things necessary to be successful and avoid doing the things that prevent success. That's a tall order for most players. 

These are questions that players should ask. 

1. What did Gia Vlajkovic and Sadie Jaggers do to change positions and perform at a high level? 

2. "Every day is player development day." What are you doing today to improve your skill, athleticism, physicality, or resilience? 

3. Can I find a teammate to share workouts to elevate both of our games and drag us into the top ten percent of players? 

4. Am I coasting through off-season workouts or giving maximum effort? How you do anything is how you do everything. 

5. Have I found a mentor? "Mentoring is the only shortcut to success." Ask your coaches what you need to do. 

6. What's my long-term personal development plan. Have I written it down?

7. Can I be a better teammate? Encouraging and energizing others comes back to us. 

8. What is the volleyball skill that gets and keeps me on the court? 

9. Teams that win championships ordinarily have three dynamic hitters. Who plans to step up and assume those roles? 

10.Am I tracking progress? There is ALWAYS room for improvement. Add to your game with front row players being able to set each other, get more setter dumps, improve service and platform skills. 

11.Do I utilize cellphone video and game video to study the details? What's your runup as a hitter? How can I close the double block better? Where is my 'contact point' on attacks? A low contact point over the net means getting blocked a lot, even if tall. 

12.What's my strength and conditioning plan? I suggest reviewing James Clear's Atomic Habits. Commit to a habit, do it regularly, and monitor. I call that PICK, STICK, and CHECK. "Don't miss twice." 

From the summary linked above:

THE BOOK IN THREE SENTENCES

  1. An atomic habit is a regular practice or routine that is not only small and easy to do but is also the source of incredible power; a component of the system of compound growth.
  2. Bad habits repeat themselves again and again not because you don’t want to change, but because you have the wrong system for change.
  3. Changes that seem small and unimportant at first will compound into remarkable results if you’re willing to stick with them for years.

THE FIVE BIG IDEAS

  1. Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.
  2. If you want better results, then forget about setting goals. Focus on your system instead.
  3. The most effective way to change your habits is to focus not on what you want to achieve, but on who you wish to become.
  4. The Four Laws of Behavior Change are a simple set of rules we can use to build better habits. They are (1) make it obvious, (2) make it attractive, (3) make it easy, and (4) make it satisfying.
  5. Environment is the invisible hand that shapes human behavior.  

Lagniappe. Ball reversal against the press. 

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Wednesday, November 22, 2023

Basketball: All the Small Things


"Don't sweat the small stuff." If it impacts winning, then it's not small. Maybe overlooked stuff should count as small stuff. 

Examine what players and teams may miss. 

1. Court conditions. Are there asymmetrical boundaries, dead spots on the floor, variable lighting conditions that might matter? 

2. Helping your teammates. What's the level of communication, moving without the ball, and defensive rotation (help and recover)? 

3. Urgent cutting. "Movement kills defense" and sluggish movement doesn't. 

4. Undisciplined fouling. "Fouling negates hustle." 

5. Energizing teammates. Some players have an unusual capacity to motivate themselves and others. We need them on our teams.

6. Hustle plays. Coaches see everything. Set great screens, fight around them, read screens, hit the floor, get deflections, and take charges. All show up on the scoreboard but not in the scorebook. 

7. Practicing hard. Practicing hard makes a player and teammates better. Like an iceberg below the waterline, most people will never see it. 

8. Touching, as in high fives, daps, and head taps. Teams that touch win more. File under supporting teammates and nonverbal communication. 

9. Avoiding distraction. "Never be a distraction." Be on time. Be ready to go. Know your role. 

10.Being coachable. Listen and give consistent effort. No eyerolls, dismissive gestures, or sulking. 

Lagniappe. Tough love. 
Lagniappe 2. Use hard-to-defend actions. 
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