Basketball: Problem Solving

Practice is a place for problem solving.

Overly explicit instruction can stifle critical thinking skills. By giving players too much direction, we take away the opportunity for them to analyze situations and make their own decisions, which is crucial for competitive situations. pic.twitter.com/CKcTULPD2A

— Chris Oliver (@BBallImmersion) March 18, 2024

I love practice. That's not enough. Practice must help players solve game problems. 

Individual Growth

• Skill
• Strategy
• Physical development
• Psychological growth (Resilience)

Four Factors:

• Shooting (EFG%) - game-like shooting conditions
• Turnover reduction - versus pressure, advantage-disadvantage
• Rebounding 
• Attacking the basket - 1-on-1, off the catch, off-the-dribble, PnR

Team solutions: 

• Spacing
• Player movement
• Ball movement
• The Scoring Moment

Key practice activities blend individual and team decision-making, offense, defense, conditioning, and competition. 

1) Scrimmage. We only had 3 hours of practice a week so we used the final 15 minutes of each session for three possession games (O-D-O, offense-defense-offense) started with SLOB, BOB, free throw, or ATO. This layered in "special situations" practice. 

2) Advantage-disadvantage. I prefer five versus seven full court press break with no dribbling. Teach cutting and passing with constraints. Press breaking three versus four also helps. Steve D argues for three-vs-three no dribble. 

3) Game-like shooting. I favor drills with high volume, high intensity (e.g. makes per minute), with a lot of movement (e.g. cutting) into the shot. Adding defense versus shooters also helps. 

4) One dribble offense. Individual skill development from the elbow (box drills), wing, or three point line. Teach the basics without defense but add defense early to emphasize footwork, ball protection, and urgency.

Add your solution-finding ideas...

Lagniappe. Stops make runs.   

"Our goal is to get 3 stops in a row seven times in a game. If you get this, 90% of the time you will win the game." – Dwayne Casey

— Coach the Coaches (@WinningCoaches) March 28, 2024

Lagniappe 2. Talk wins.  

“You can always hear a good team.
The bad teams… you never hear. They don’t ever talk.”

(Via @DanCasey 🎥)

pic.twitter.com/xps4uqh0Sv

— Hoop Herald (@TheHoopHerald) March 29, 2024

Lagniappe 3. Gratitude.  

Shaka Smart talking about adversity and gratitude.

Listen to his authenticity.

Great leaders care.

“I love these guys. I don’t want the season to end.”

“Been through a lot of adversity this year. Getting this guy back right on time was perfect.”

pic.twitter.com/km0V3iSqQ1

— Buckets Basketball (@BucketsBBALL1) March 29, 2024

Lagniappe 4.  "We show up with full intensity."  

Competing isn't just about showing up; it's about leveling up.
It's a skill that demands your best effort, every single day.
The greatest opponent that you'll ever face is the potential you have yet to reach.
Outwork, outlast, and outperform every single day. pic.twitter.com/VieAXETPfQ

— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) March 28, 2024