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Wednesday, December 13, 2023

Basketball: Practical Application, Five Practice Activities

"Give me something I can use today to win tomorrow." 

Maybe some guys get basketball info on stone tablets. Never have, never will. But here are five activities that helped most and why.

1. Pressure free throws. Each practice in high school, we took four rounds of ten free throws with a partner. The partner could say or do anything except physically interfere with the shooter. Our team's ability to make free throws helped lead to a sectional championship. 

2. Advantage-disadvantage full court pressure. Five versus seven with no dribbling allowed. Good teams have to be able to handle maximum pressure. "Basketball is a game of separation." The only way to thrive with advantage-disadvantage is passing and cutting.

3. Get 50. Steal something great. Jay Wright's warmup drill builds fundamental finishing. Get loose and focused with the Villanova warmup.


4. "Specials." We finished practice with three possession games, O-D-O, "offense, defense, offense." Possessions began with BOB, SLOB, ATO, or a free throw. Free throw block out is underrated. Specials tested special situations, offense, defense, transition defense, and provided competition similar to a scrimmage. If we were close, we had a plan to close out a game. Sometimes a shot wouldn't drop, but we got shots. 

5. Box drills with defense. Playing back to the basket is a lost art for many players. Being able to attack the basket and defend maintains value. Getting players in foul trouble and playing with fouls both matter. 


Lagniappe. A few years ago on a hot Sunday evening, I taught Cecilia reverse layups. She struggled but came back the next Sunday and made them. And last night, she made her teacher proud with these two of her 23 points. 

Lagniappe 2. Find a way to believe in yourself.  

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Lagniappe 3. Everything starts with winning individual battles. 
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