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Wednesday, September 4, 2024

Basketball- How Can I Help (Six Ways)?

Being the person who asks, "how can I help?" isn't always wanted. Most see "position" as expertise. "I'm the high school coach, I don't need (or want) your input." Note, I don't volunteer advice. 

Having trained in medicine, I know better than that, because the field is dynamic; I need consultation every day from specialists, pathologists, radiologists. If you 'diagnose' a problem correctly (e.g. biceps tendon rupture), it's in the Orthopedic domain, not medicine. "Triple negative" breast cancer? The treatment changes all the time. Multiple specialists are involved. 

Apply the Bob Woodward 'six shared items'. Share concepts, ideas, or solutions that others can contemplate. Every coach regularly problem solves. (1) "What does our team need today?" 

(2) Stay emotionally stable amidst pride and humility. Our high school girls were consistently excellent for over a decade. In a Holiday tournament they played a superb New Hampshire team, which delivered a big dose of humility. They absorbed the lesson and had an excellent season. 

(3) Have a big picture framework for player development and detailed (granular) one to apply. Big picture consider Dr. Fergus Connolly's (Game Changer) skill, strategy, physicality, and psychology. What edges do we have in teaching needed to win the one-on-one battles as often as possible. 

(4) Player development is job one. I haven't seen any high school teams yet who can win shooting almost half their shots beyond the arc. "The Celtics are the favorites, and one reason for that is their ability to knock down 3-point shots at a high rate. The C's hit 1,351 3-pointers during the regular season -- the second-most by any team in history. They also ranked No. 1 in 3-pointers attempted (3,482) and second in 3-point percentage (38.8)." Our high school or younger teams aren't similarly skilled. I've seen multiple high school teams shoot more airballs than hoops from three. 

(5) "What is our edge?" Do the math. No turnover-prone team succeeds with the abundance of zero percent possessions. Get more and better shots via quality passing (more assists) leading to easier shots. If you have overwhelming talent, play faster. 

(6) Efficiency applies on defense, too. A philosophy of "one bad shot" has a lot of corollaries:

  • Strong transition defense
  • Ball containment
  • No paint
  • Contest shots without fouling
  • Strong defensive rebounding (over 75%)
  • Limit fouling (high points/possession shots allowed)

Get real. Nobody wins all the time. As Dean Smith said, “If you make every game a life and death proposition, you’re going to have problems. For one thing, you’ll be dead a lot.”

Years ago, a parent asked a coach their philosophy. The coach answered, "I don't have one." That translated into a 1-19 campaign. 

Whatever the philosophy and implementation via "playbook and strategy," get everyone on the same page. Adapt when it fails. 

Offense is like stock trading. Have an edge. Apply it relentlessly. Have the discipline to change when needed. 

About a third of games are "close games" within two possessions. Have concrete, credible and executable plans to win those:

  • Offensive and defensive delay games
  • Strategic fouling 
  • Competent free throw shooting (50-60 percent won't do)
  • Special situations (BOBs, SLOBs, ATOs)
  • "Must have actions" versus man and zone defense
There are an infinite number of ways to help or get help and neither happen with uncontained ego. 

Lagniappe. Screen zones. 

Lagniappe 2. Can't have good execution without good decisions.  

Lagniappe 3. Nice action against post fronting.  

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