Monday, July 15, 2024

"Coach, What Are Your Expectations?"

Find a role, a way to force yourself onto the court. Ask your coaches what you can do to help the team. That won't always mean big numbers. Here are some priorities. 

1) Impact the game. That's not 'cookie cutter'. Everyone's contribution is different.

2) Make others around you better...some obvious ways, others less obvious. 

  • Take away easy hoops, e.g. transition defense. 
  • Add by subtraction...no turnovers. 
  • Space. Opens passing, cutting, and driving. 
  • Screening (a) opens teammates.
  • Screening (b) 'the screener is the second cutter'. 
  • Talk. "Silent teams lose." Talk recruits and energizes. 
  • Block out. Help teammates rebound.
  • Take a charge. Add a possession and a foul on your opponent.
  • "Get on the floor." There is no 50-50 ball. 
  • Cut urgently to separate. 
3) Be a great teammate. "Don't whine, don't complain, don't make excuses." 
4) "Show up every day." 
5) Excel in your role. If that's being the best reserve, be that guy. 
6) Never be a distraction. Be on time, know the game plan. 
7) Be on the same page. Don't have your own agenda. 
8) Outwork everyone. "Be easy to play with, hard to play against."
9) Study the game - read, study video, watching isn't studying. 
10)"Team first." If that means getting a teammate water or policing the bench area, do it. 

Summarize simply:
  • Add value to the team. 
  • Add value for each individual around you. 
  • Add value for yourself. Make yourself a better person and player. 
Lagniappe. Curry. 

Lagniappe 2. Make winning your only agenda.

Lagniappe 3. Everyone fails. 

Lagniappe 4. Don't feed tears to your enemies. 

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