Joe Mazzulla wants mathematical edges. Coaches work to refine and redefine our craft. Promote the message "possessions and possession." That means get more possessions and end possessions well. This is as close to Holy Grail stuff as exists.
Where do more possessions arise?
Offense:
1) Offensive rebounds - anticipation and aggressiveness
2) Fewer turnovers ("the ball is gold")
3) No "shot turnovers" (bad shots = turnover)
4) Drawing fouls (leads to free throws - better shots)
5) Technical fouls
6) Situational awareness - two for ones at the end of quarters can lead to major +/- swings
Defense
1) Better technique - ball pressure and containment
2) Steals
3) Defensive rebounds are ours
4) Forced turnovers and violations
5) Charges taken
6) Held balls forced
Miscellaneous
50-50 balls won... there is no such thing...it's our ball.
Where does a better possession arise? Find "possession enders," guys that get scores and assists.
1) Open shots via passing. "The quality of the pass leads directly to the quality of the shot." - Pete Carril
2) Higher points per possession plays - pass and cut, transition, live ball turnovers
3) Don't settle for a bad shot. In the State Tournament, pre-shot clock, in 1973 we faced an Andover team that had won seventeen consecutive games. Our first possession included 22 passes until we got a wide open 15 footer for two. For the game, we shot 23-42 and won easily 58-38.
4) Better shots for better shooters in better spots
5) Dominate special situations - BOBs, SLOBs, ATOs (you're sick of hearing about finishing practice - 15 minutes - with three possession games starting with BOBs, SLOBs, ATOs).
None of this is rocket science. Put good and bad teams under the microscope. Bad teams do bad things - rebound poorly, turn over the ball, blow defensive assignments, don't stop the ball in transition, take bad shots and shoot poorly, foul relentlessly. Who has ownership for bad basketball?
Lagniappe. 4 levels of training - skill, strategy, physicality, psychology. Level 3 - physicality.
My Top 10 Exercises to Build a Huge Vertical
— Connor Barth (@ConnorEmilBarth) July 4, 2024
Can't dunk?
Just short of that spike or rebound?
This list has always been what I saw increase when my vertical increased! Check it out and see if you're missing something from your routine that can take you to the next level! pic.twitter.com/r7VcZ5NiNt
Lagniappe 2. Level 2. Player and ball movement.
Indiana St | Advantage Offense | Josh Schertz’s team had the highest EFG% since the 2020-2021 season.
— Film Room Breakdowns (@FilmRoom_XsOs) July 3, 2024
Keys to their historic offense:
1. Spacing
2. Creating the advantage (Forcing 2 to the ball)
3. Reading the advantage. On Ball (0.5 decisions) & Off Ball (Spacing vs Cutting) pic.twitter.com/3nRzSSwdhG
Lagniappe 3. Analogy power, external cues.
Watch this video to learn about an effective external cue you can use to help your players wall-up on defense. pic.twitter.com/jEiufYHJVB
— Transforming Basketball (@transformbball) June 30, 2024