Nobody has their "A game" every day. Even the best have off days, searching for other ways to impact winning.
From Reddit:
It's pretty well known that Bill Russell was 21-0 in winner-take-all-games, but that's incorrect
It's been commonly stated over the years that Russell was 21-0 in winner-take-all games (example). If Russell's team played even with an opponent throughout a series or they both got to the same place in a tournament, Russell's team was ALWAYS going to pull it out in the end.
But where does that 21-0 mark come from?
At USF, his '55 team was 5-0 in the tourney on the way to the title.
At USF, his '56 team was 4-0 in the tourney on the way to the title.
In the '56 Olympics, the US squad was 2-0 when it came to the winner-take-all final 4 for gold after the group stage.
In the NBA, the Celtics were famously 10-0 in Games 7's throughout his career.
That adds up to 21-0, but it's incomplete.
In the '66 playoffs, the Celtics won Game 5 in the best-of-5 series with Cincinnati (link), so Russell was actually 22-0 in winner-take-all-games.
Statmuse shows Russell (17-2) with two elimination game losses. Many factors go into elimination game record, yet even the great Michael Jordan is listed at 6-7 in elimination games. Not the be-all, end-all of comparison, just another set of statistics.
Other notables:
Magic Johnson 6-7
Kareem Jabbar 11-12
John Havlicek 16-5
Kobe Bryant 9-10
Steph Curry 9-5
Shaquille O'Neal 6-12
Larry Bird 15-9
LeBron James 15-13
Kevin Durant 6-10
Tim Duncan 9-10
When the ball isn't dropping, find ways to make a difference on defense, on the boards, with better passing, and more loose balls won.
Lagniappe. Make competition bring out our best.
"COMPETITION EXPOSES YOU." – Billy Donovan
Competition: a fight or battle where two or more people strive for a common goal which cannot be shared: where one's gain is the other's loss.
Lagniappe 2. D White, a winning player sequence...
This sequence from Derrick White was really something else.
Hit a three over Giannis, defended Portis in a post-up, hit another three and then blocked Antetokounmpo. All in less than a minute. Garden was ELECTRIC, and the Celtics actually took control of the game from there: pic.twitter.com/7kpD6FfgUt
Adam Grant wrote "Think Again," discussing how rethinking benefits us in daily life. Knowledge about sport theory and practice takes years, especially the mental part of sports. In the interim, we inhabit an incomplete or erroneous database.
Grant suggests keeping a 'rethinking scorecard', a storehouse of corrected misconceptions. The best truths work across domains.
1) Officiating. Don't overthink it. I only recall a few games over the years where officiating mattered.... Mostly, "it's how you play, not whom," or the officials. Don't make excuses our brand.
2) Simplify. This isn't rethinking, rather consolidating. Some teams are celebrated and criticized for its 'simple basketball'. Don't go off the rails by reinventing the wheel or quitting what works. Versatility is good, except when it isn't. Have a clear plan of how to win.
3) Inside out. There are insiders, those with the most intimate knowledge of the program, at practice, with 'coaches' eyes' seeing strengths and weaknesses. Then there are outsiders who see the 'finished product', games and video. That doesn't reduce the outsiders to zero, but we have a fraction of insider knowledge.
4) False idols. Regular season win-loss record isn't the "be-all, end-all." It's much like baseball and better analytics. ERA, WHIP (walks and hits per inning pitched), and K/BB (strikeout/walk ratio) often share more insight than wins and losses.
5) "Scoring." Watch a game and mentally score, positives and negatives by each team. The best teams score the most points through their actions and losing teams often surrender points through errors, inconsistency, and mental mistakes. Watching is not seeing.
6) It's not so simple. Craft is earned. Technique and tactics have nuances. Balancing the big picture and granular details separate extraordinary from ordinary. Win individual battles and team play.
7) The Craft. Don't hesitate to use New Age training. Use the Jedi Mind Tricks. It's not enough to play a lot or to love the game. Study great teams, great players, and great coaches. Study the mental game. Maybe "Search Inside Yourself" or "The Inner Game of Tennis" are too much for teens. Or not.
8) The "Prime Directive." In Star Trek, the Prime Directive was not to interfere with the development of civilizations encountered during intergalactic exploration. In sport, The Prime Directive is parental advocacy for the well-being and situation of their children above those of the team. Parental advocacy is normal and expected. It can go badly, like a story of a Texas basketball coach fired by a parental donation of tens of thousands of dollars to a private school.
9) Transparency. How much is good, or bad? This is unresolved. Players need to know what to work on to improve. Coaching is a relationship business and the 'right amount' of transparency is hard. Two rules that help include the '24 hour rule' not to discuss a game until emotions have cooled and 'Your Child Only' rule, discussing your child's situation alone, never involving another team member.
10) Secrecy. Some communications are absolutely privileged. Those can't be revealed and go 'to the grave'. Even if a coach says, "this player is the best thing since sliced bread," don't share unless it's authorized.
These are just a few lessons learned over seven decades in sport.
Lagniappe. When the game is on the line, demand high performance from everyone.
"Great leaders are not askers. They're demanders. They're lovers, they're carers, they share...but they hold their players accountable." pic.twitter.com/JhrVoJbGvz
(SPCA - shooting, protecting the ball, crashing, attacking the rim)
2) Stop giving games away with bad decisions, bad shots, turnovers, and fouls
3) Be in great condition to win at the end with toughness, defense, rebounding, and smart play
Watch losing teams and see how they lose:
Lack of coherent plans on both defense and offense
Don't contain the ball or stop transition
Bad offensive possessions
Bad shooters take bad shots
Lack of physical and mental toughness
Be solution focused:
- Have a mentor to assist with critiques (Everyone needs a coach.). Great coaches are unafraid of improvement.
- Show video examples of what you want to see.
- Share shot charts with individual players. Everyone needs to know what is a good shot for them. A player was 1 for 19 from three on the season and passed up a three. Her father yelled at her. We shared the stats with him.
- Reward desired performance. "The best defender starts."
- Build skill. Increase the percent of practice devoted to fundamentals.
Lagniappe. Redeem yourself.
This is an amazing outlook on life
Special stuff
"If you want to be successful, you need to be bad, then you need to be good. Then when you're good, you need to fail. Then when you fail, you're going to figure it out”
The NPR "Wild Card" podcast inspired this piece. Guests answer questions picked from a deck of card questions. Author Margaret Atwood (The Handmaid's Tale) was the guest. She said, "high aspirations, low expectations..." and "you know things when you're older than when you're 20."
The guest randomly picks the cards. Here are a few worthy candidates:
What was the best advice you ever got?
A. Be more assertive.
What's a piece of advice you were smart to ignore?
A. Pass.
What's an experience from childhood that made you realize your parents were human?
A. We were never poor, but never had extra money for 'real' vacations.
What was a disappointing experience that now feels like a blessing?
A. Having medical training in the Navy instead of the private sector turned out advantageous.
How do you manage envy (that you feel toward others)?
A. My job includes, "always do your best." Envy is no part of being our best.
Have you ever had a premonition about something that came true?
A. I anticipated being in a serious automobile accident and delayed entering an intersection by a few seconds. A driver sped through a red light who would have T-boned me.
Have your feelings about death changed over time?
A. Don't fear death; fear suffering.
What's your best defense against despair?
A. Self-belief. Confidence comes from proven success.
Lagniappe. What card questions do we suggest people think about? Food for thought...
Why was your favorite coach the favorite?
What was the best playing advice you got?
Who gave you the best advice as a coach?
What book taught you the most about basketball?
Who in basketball, living or dead, would you like to lunch with?
What was your most disappointing experience in basketball?
What's the number one reason you coach?
Who was your favorite teammate?
What was your worst coaching experience?
What would you change about coaching young players?
What do you think you do that other coaches won't?
What would you do over if restarting your coaching career?
Lagniappe 2. A big in the weakside slot messes up defensive rotation.
5 Slot Evolution
Quin Snyder's year-old innovation is slowly spreading around the league, from the Celtics to the Jazz to the Hornets
...or how simply moving the center to the weakside slot forces defenses to rethink — or overthink — their typical rotations pic.twitter.com/K6Zii6VPVq
"Analogy is a kind of similarity in which the same system of relations holds across different setsof elements. Analogies thus capture parallels across different situations. The elements that belong
to the two situations need not be similar, but the relations that hold the systems together must
be alike. However, as discussed below, analogical processing is easier if some concrete features
are also shared."
Bandwidth. To solve bigger coaching problems, acquire additional bandwidth. "He lacks the bandwidth to fix that."
Velcro. Want tighter defensive pressure. Maybe covering a player like a glove or Velcro is the answer.
Boomerang. UCONN women ran "Boomerang with Breanna Stewart and Morgan Tuck with Stewart the finisher.
Be on the same page. In school teachers get everyone on the same page of a book. If players aren't problems follow.
Gravity and escape velocity. Space travel requires "escape velocity" to overcome gravity. Program mediocrity can require escape velocity to become upper echelon teams. That can require coaching, players, or both.
"All hat and no cattle." Big talk and no action gets expressed in different ways. The Red Sox promised a "full throttle" off-season and delivered nothing.
Wyoming saying, "Talk less, say more." We used to joke in the Navy that a meeting would cram five minutes of information into an hour meeting. Brian McCormick says, "No lines, no laps, no lectures," at practice.
Marathon session. Any type of gathering, lecture, or practice can go on 'forever'. If our playbook requires marathon sessions to digest, it needs revision and shortening.
Work of art. A team or individual performance gets described as 'virtuoso' or work of art. That might imply both quality and duration of production. DaVinci's Mona Lisa was under construction over 16 years.
Hub and spokes. Some organizations are decentralized and others operate with a parent (mother ship?) and satellites. Organization occurs in different ways including 'vertical integration' such as youth programs.
Hitting a home run. Coaches want their programs to succeed with peak performances like a home run or grand slam in baseball or a 'sixer' in cricket.
Put the roller skates on him. In dating parlance, women discard or throw overboard a guy with a roller skate analogy. We can separate someone from an organization in the same way.
Moving the goalposts. Everyone wants to succeed. Sometimes people 'move the goalposts' to change the definition of success. A team has a poor record but claims success by redefining success.
Lipstick on a pig. Effect 'superficial' rather than real change by putting lipstick on a pig. You still have a pig.
Out of the Park. A successful project gets hit out of the park, similar to a home run.
Spread your wings. Experimenting, 'leaving the nest', or 'moving up in class' can all be considered as 'spreading your wings'.
Grass is greener. Keeping players 'home' becomes difficult amidst recruiting or 'poaching' at every level. With NIL the grass may literally be greener.
Lightning strikes. A major upset or surprising defeat could both result from a lightning strike, also known as an Act of God.
Frozen out. With limited supply (think musical chairs), some players or teams get 'frozen out' from selection for a team or playoffs. Did Jaylen Brown get frozen out (or blacklisted) by Nike?
Full court press. When we give maximum effort strategically, it's the full court press, or perhaps the 'hard sell'.
Verbal deception. "Your Jedi Mind Tricks won't work on me." A variety of sources try to feed us tales about players, coaches, or teams.
Torches and pitchforks. Everyone won't be a fan. Coaches may feel that an angry mob is after us. Sometimes a whole community can rise up with 'torches and pitchforks' or 'brickbats' or 'tar and feathering'. Early in his UNC career, Dean Smith was figuratively hung in effigy.
The more 'encyclopedic' our knowledge, the better our communication craft. One of my 'pet peeves' is coaches constantly lowering expectations or 'lowering the bar'.
Lagniappe. What's the DNA of our program? You saw that...
This is so great
Doesn’t matter how big of a star you are, Joe Mazzulla is going to treat you the same with the same expectations
Lagniappe 2. Don't give people a chance to make excuses.
What causes a Losing Mindset?
Excuses & Lies.
Here are 8 of them...
1. “They just got lucky” 2. “I don’t have time” 3. “Someone else will do it” 4. “I will do it tomorrow” 5. “This is just who I am” 6. “I will do it in the game” 7. “It wasn’t my fault” 8. “The refs were bad.”
AI Minute : ChatGPT comparison, basketball and political science
1. Transition Defense and Policy Reaction
Basketball: Transition defense requires players to move quickly from offense to defense, adapting to prevent an opponent's fast break.
Politics: Governments often need to pivot rapidly to address crises or unexpected events. A quick response, like in natural disaster relief or economic downturns, can prevent further destabilization, similar to how a fast transition defense can prevent an easy basket.
2. Offensive Rebounds and Public Opinion
Basketball: After a missed shot, going for an offensive rebound gives a team another chance to score.
Politics: Politicians often "rebound" from failures by adjusting their approach or messaging, aiming to gain public support for a second chance. Just as grabbing an offensive board can reset a play, changing tactics can help leaders regain favor.
3. Isolation Play and Political Maneuvering
Basketball: Isolation plays let a skilled player work one-on-one to exploit weaknesses in their defender.
Politics: Politicians or interest groups may maneuver alone, leveraging their position or resources to gain an advantage or sway decisions, similar to isolation plays. Both require recognizing when working alone may yield better outcomes.
4. Shot Clock Pressure and Political Deadlines
Basketball: Teams have limited time to take a shot, creating urgency and sometimes rushed decisions.
Politics: Political deadlines, like budget approvals or passing critical legislation, create pressure to act quickly. Decisions under time constraints in both basketball and politics may lead to strategic risks or unrefined outcomes.
5. Zone Defense and Coalition Building
Basketball: A zone defense covers areas rather than marking players, requiring coordination and trust to fill gaps.
Politics: Coalitions often resemble a zone, with various groups covering specific interests to address a broader goal. Just as players in a zone must rely on each other, coalition members must trust that allies will represent shared interests effectively.
6. Foul Trouble and Scandal Management
Basketball: Players with too many fouls risk sitting out, impacting their play style and the team’s strategy.
Politics: Politicians embroiled in scandals or ethical controversies often face similar challenges. They may limit public appearances or take a lower profile to avoid “fouling out” of their position. In both cases, managing risk becomes key to remaining in the game.
The best coaches get the most from their teams, players, and themselves.
Years ago after we watched the UCONN women practice, an audience member asked Coach Auriemma, "were you nice to the team today because an audience was watching?" He answered, "No. I was nice because they're babies. If I yell, they'll say, "Coach hates me. And then they won't play well.""
Back in the day, coaches weren't thinking about kindness during yelling, water prohibition, or video critiques. There weren't any water bottles at practice or games. For anybody.
Sure, coaches had occasional kind words for players and teams. It just wasn't expected. High praise from Coach Lane was, "I'm pleased but I'm not satisfied." And that was good enough for us.
Most people work harder and perform better with encouragement, praise, and gratitude than with "piling on."
Kindness doesn't preclude high standards. Set high expectations for tough, aggressive, unselfish, and smart play without abuse. Yelling more doesn't mean caring more.
Brad Stevens said, "be demanding without demeaning." Driving the bus doesn't entitle us to throw people under it. Inappropriate criticism includes calling players "useless" or "worthless" or worse.
Don't expect players to "run through a wall" for us after throwing brickbats at them.
Lagniappe. The Celtics used the dunker spot to take away rim protection. Most teams don't have the elite players to capitalize.
Joe Mazulla used Jrue Holiday in the dunkers spot very effectively in the NBA finals.
Inverting the offense is EXTREMELY effective at all levels.
The goal is to force the defensive PG to have to protect the rim. It also creates a huge advantage on the offensive glass.… pic.twitter.com/PgxGnM6zgg
Lagniappe 2. Body language is something to work on and teach players to work on.
Your body language is your nonverbal voice.
It communicates a story about your mindset, attitude, and beliefs. • It speaks louder than your words. • It bridges the gaps where words fail. • It's your solution to connect and influence.
Apply in our basketball framework. "Tell them what you're going to say. Say it. Summarize what you said." And then get feedback from our players. "What did I just say? What does that mean to you?"
1) Have a clear basketball philosophy. Mine evolved to TIA - teamwork, improvement, accountability. And you can't win 0-0. Teach them how to score both with talent and with concepts.
2) Develop a learning culture. "Every day is player development day." Find novel ways to pursue higher levels of excellence.
3) Erect a scaffold for improvement: Borrow Dr. Fergus Connolly's
Skills (technique)
Strategy (tactics)
Physicality
Psychology
4) "Get more and better shots than our opponents." - Pete Newell That combines fewer turnovers, better passing, rebound edge, and shot selection.
5) "Basketball is sharing." - Phil Jackson Sharing means communication, help and recover, rotation, switching, and more.
6) Anchor on excellence. Study top teams, coaches, players.
Who is your king or queen of simplicity?
What are your top examples of offensive and defensive simplicity?
Share an example of clarity and simplicity.
And then invert.
What complexity undermined a program or your program?
What are the worst examples of defensive complexity?
Share an example of confusion and complexity.
From ChatGPT. One classic example of complexity causing problems in basketball is the "Princeton Offense" implemented by former NBA coach Eddie Jordan with the Washington Wizards in the mid-2000s. The Princeton Offense, known for its fluid, read-and-react style with constant movement and passing, worked well in college at Princeton, where it was developed. But when Jordan tried to implement it in the NBA, it led to confusion and frustration.
The system required precise execution, constant decision-making, and exceptional basketball IQ from all players. However, the Wizards’ roster—featuring star players like Gilbert Arenas—was built around individual scoring talents, not the collective passing and movement required by this complex system. Players found it difficult to adjust to a scheme that wasn’t well-suited to their strengths, leading to miscommunication, turnovers, and a loss of confidence.
Instead of creating open shots and confusion for defenders, the complexity of the offense caused hesitation and disarray on the offensive end. In this case, a simpler, more straightforward system might have allowed the Wizards’ talented scorers to thrive, but the overcomplicated approach contributed to inconsistent results and ultimately, the team's underperformance.
This illustrates how simplicity and clarity in a system can often lead to better outcomes, especially when players know exactly what’s expected of them.
Ask ourselves regularly whether we are clear and simple enough?
Lagniappe. Majerus tips on defense.
Rick Majerus with some Defensive Thoughts: * Defensive Rebounding is the key to Winning Basketball * BLOCKOUT EVERY-TIME * Move on Air Time * Def is about Playing in Multiples, Multiple Efforts * We are talking & we are talking loud * I want guys who will play their Hearts Out pic.twitter.com/PvzI0ujImc
Good coaches want a lot from players, some under their control and others not.
Developmental (youth) coaching isn't the same as higher level coaching where job security, income, and perception matter. Time, role, and recognition don't belong solely in the players domain.
Play hard for each other (not for the coach or community)
Be a great teammate, put the team first (shared vision, sacrifice).
Give great effort daily, be your best version at home, in school, and in all activities.
Communicate on and off the court.
Play unselfishly.
Be coachable.
Focus on this play.
PTRW (Play the right way) - physically and mentally tough.
Be a student of the game, understanding what works or doesn't.
Respect the game, officials, coaches, and teammates.
Show sportsmanship.
"Don't whine, don't complain, don't make excuses." - Wooden
What coaches find difficult...
Players with agendas
Lack of attention or effort
Toxic attitudes, wherever they originate
ChatGPT input on being a great teammate:
Being a great teammate requires qualities that go beyond individual performance, focusing on how one's actions contribute to the collective success of the group. Here are key inputs to being a great teammate:
Selflessness: Prioritizing the team's needs over individual desires. Great teammates put aside personal agendas and do what's best for the group, whether it's sacrificing a play or helping others shine.
Communication: Clear and open dialogue builds trust. Great teammates share constructive feedback, encouragement, and ideas to keep the group connected and aligned.
Accountability: Accepting responsibility for personal actions and holding others to a high standard. Accountability fosters respect and a stronger commitment to team goals.
Support: Emotional and mental support during both victories and setbacks. A great teammate lifts others up, encourages improvement, and helps the team stay focused, even during tough moments.
Work Ethic: Consistent effort sets a powerful example. By showing dedication to practice and preparation, great teammates motivate those around them to push harder and stay focused.
Adaptability: Being flexible to roles or strategies, even if they are outside one's comfort zone. A willingness to play wherever needed enhances the team’s overall effectiveness.
Respect: Treating teammates, coaches, and opponents with respect, regardless of circumstances, creates a healthy environment that promotes long-term success.
Lagniappe. Simplify.
SIMPLIFY YOUR FREE THROW ROUTINE!!
Stop over complicating your free throw routine. Players love to add extra movements, dribbles, spins to their routine. None of that matters. Set the ball in your stance, lift, and finish straight to the rim. Done. Have the ability to set… pic.twitter.com/oiMblidJbj
John Wooden said, "A player who makes a team great is more valuable than a great player. Losing yourself in the group, for the good of the group, that’s teamwork."
Great teams come together. • They trust. • They commit. • They hold you accountable.
Borrow from other domains. Michelin 3-star chef Thomas Keller explains how all cooking is about "time and temperature." How does that apply to sport, school, business, and so on?
The success equation: ACHIEVEMENT = TIME x PERFORMANCE
What coach might know something about success? Former Alabama football coach Nick Saban. He asks, "are you investing your time or spending it?
Flanking the top of the "Pyramid of Success," are faith (belief) and patience (time).
Whether we believe in Gladwell's "10,000 hours," mastery takes time. The pathway from high school to completing medical training (med school, residency, fellowship) was fourteen years. Gladwell wrote, "This is the scholarly tradition I was referring to in my book “Outliers,” when I wrote about the “ten-thousand-hour rule.” No one succeeds at a high level without innate talent, I wrote: “achievement is talent plus preparation.” But the ten-thousand-hour research reminds us that "the closer psychologists look at the careers of the gifted, the smaller the role innate talent seems to play and the bigger the role preparation seems to play."
What about temperature? Temperature is intensity.
Anson Dorrance wrote about former player Mia Hamm's intensity as she trained alone, unseen in a park he randomly passed by.
In Legacy, James Kerr wrote, "champions do extra."
Kevin Eastman speaks about doing the 'unrequired work."
How does this apply to the coach-player relationship? Coaches have favorites, players and teams doing the work:
Early is on time.
Offseason work reflects time.
Hard work is intensity.
Focus and coachability link time and work.
Strength, conditioning, and skills grow with time and intensity.
Lagniappe. Be addicted to the details.
There are tons of things - both good and bad, that one can become addicted to. If growth is the goal & you enjoy winning, you must first become addicted to the details. Our habits and the details make all the difference. pic.twitter.com/I9W79KEbV2
How do we select among a number of good choices? In a recent MasterClass, a former CIA agent explains how they select movies in their family.
Each member selects a movie. They rotate a "movie master" who gets two votes and each other family member gets one vote. Let's try an example with four choices.
MM (Dad) - Hoosiers, Hoosiers
1 - Finding Forrester
2 - Space Jam
3 - Coach Carter
Each family member eliminates one.
MM (Dad) - Hoosiers, Hoosiers
1 - Finding Forrester
2 - Space Jam
3 - Coach Carter
Imagine possibilities where team members get input.
Pregame meals
Halftime snack
Music at practice
Eliminating a drill (from a practice)
Rotating a team captain during the preseason
Picking a team building activity
Choosing a book to read as a team
Find ways to involve players in decision-making.
Lagniappe. NBA Trainer Chris Brickley gave away T-shirts at a camp years ago. A patient sent me a photo:
Lagniappe 2. The Hurley UCONN foundations.
Dan Hurley said, “You better get us now. Because it's coming."
He was right.
Coach Dan Hurley and the UConn Huskies are rewriting the playbook for modern college basketball dominance.
“The difference between good and bad writers is that good writers know when they’re bad.” - Dan Brown (author, The DaVinci Code)
Good coaches communicate well.
Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla was interviewed in The Boston Globe. "It’s the character of the guys,” he said. “They like to compete. They like to play. I still think we have a lot to get better at. The guys bring it every day. They want to get better. They want to play hard. That doesn’t mean that we won’t have stretches of the season where we’re (not) perfect but there’s been some moments of greatness."
The best coaches put players and teams in positions to succeed. That might include more preparation, more film work, or less intense practices or even a day off. One size doesn't fit all.
When it looks as though there's no plan, there's no plan.
"You just slip out the back, Jack Make a new plan, Stan You don't need to be coy, Roy Just get yourself free." - Paul Simon, 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover
If you can't defend the half court OR transition, you cannot succeed.
"Beauty is skin deep; ugly goes all the way through."
Turnovers are zero percent possessions. "Turnovers kill dreams."
Good teams find ways to win. Ugly teams give games away.
Undisciplined fouling allows too many easy shots.
Lagniappe. "Be here now." Focus. "Next play."
“Success is momentary, it’s not continuous. It’s right then, this is what you did, that’s over and done with. You better be where your feet are and move onto the next one,” Nick Saban Winners use successful moments as building blocks en route to building competitive greatness. pic.twitter.com/Rg5Ceh64f3
Society wrestles with moving the goal posts. Tired of crime? Three felonies got the analogy of a baseball strikeout. "Three strikes and you're out." All felonies are unalike. Do we want to jail and support a three-time car thief for life?
Basketball can be similar. Some truths are immutable.
Positivity. "You can't have a positive life with a negative attitude."
Work ethic. Hard work outperforms. One of the most common reasons offense fails is the lack of 'urgent cutting'.
Study. Nobody translates theory into practice without study. Watch video, including cellphone video of yourself. Focus, don't just look.
Be a tracker. Measure your progress... speed, strength, efficiency at shooting, passing, rebounding, defending.
Minutes. As a player, you have to give coaches a reason to put and keep you on the floor. Everyone can get a trophy, but there are only so many minutes to go around.
Fundamentals. Don't return to fundamentals. Never leave. Examine what actions drive improvement. Brian McCormick's "Fake Fundamentals" series asks hard questions. Dr. Fergus Connolly, performance specialist, says that everything should impact winning.
Self-analysis. Some people are their harshest critics. Coach reminded us, "I'm pleased but I'm not satisfied." Others award themselves an "A" for B or C work. "Dog looks in the mirror and sees god."
Excellence. Coaches have a lot of tough tasks. Develop talent. Put players in the best position to succeed. Get the most out of available resources. It's not like poker, where a player chooses which hands to play and how much to bet. You have to play every hand (game) and manage risk as best you can.
Coaches that we should admire are driven to understand people and their sport, what impacts success and failure. Top coaches don't find excuses, they find solutions.
The MasterClass on the CIA discusses myths about the CIA, including that it's a rogue agency, unaccountable to anyone. What "coaching myths" would you dispel?
1) Coaching is easy. That reminds me of the Ernest Hemingway quote, "Writing is easy. All you do is sit down at a typewriter and bleed."
2) Coaching is easy money. Done properly, it's a large outlay of time and effort for low wages. I never took a salary, sponsored teams in tournaments, and had catered end-of-season gatherings. It was never about money.
3) Coaches have favorites. This might be true. Coaches have favorites - players who show up early, prepared, who listen, work hard, are good teammates, and are coachable. Who would have guessed?
4) Parents are the problem. I won't say that every parent liked me. Few would acknowledge it to me personally. Parents should advocate for their children. It's fair to explain that you agree and that you are responsible for all the players not just one.
5) Great players make great coaches. There's no easy answer. John Wooden is in the Hall of Fame as a player and coach, as are Tom Heinsohn, Lenny Wilkens, and Bill Sharman. Great coaches like Dean Smith, Bob Knight, and Gregg Popovich were good not great players. Coaching and playing require different skill sets.
Let's ask ChatGPT.
1. "Yelling and intensity equals better coaching"
Myth: The louder and more intense a coach, the more motivated and disciplined the team will be.
Reality: Yelling may grab attention, but it doesn’t always foster improvement. Great coaches balance intensity with calm, instructive teaching moments. Athletes often respond better to clear communication and understanding, especially under pressure. Emotional intelligence in coaching is often more effective than volume.
2. "If you played at a high level, you can coach at a high level"
Myth: Being a great player naturally leads to being a great coach.
Reality: Many high-level players struggle with coaching because teaching requires different skills, including communication, patience, and the ability to break down fundamentals. Successful coaching is often about relating to players at various levels and helping them improve their game, which doesn’t always come naturally to former elite players.
3. "The best teams run complex plays"
Myth: The more intricate the playbook, the better the team will perform.
Reality: While having a diverse set of plays is useful, over-complicating systems can confuse players and slow down execution. Simplicity with clarity often wins out, especially in high-pressure moments when quick decisions are required. The best coaches teach concepts rather than just scripted plays, allowing players to adapt and read situations.
Myth: Defensive dominance is the ultimate key to winning championships.
Reality: Defense is crucial, but so is scoring. Teams that win championships often excel at both ends of the court. Offense and defense are interdependent. A great defense can spark offensive transitions, and an effective offense can limit the other team’s scoring opportunities by controlling tempo. It's not just about one or the other but how they work together.
5. "Drills alone will make players better"
Myth: Running a lot of drills in practice guarantees skill improvement.
Reality: Drills are important, but mindless repetition doesn't lead to mastery. It’s about quality, not just quantity. Players need to understand the context of why they’re doing a drill and how it applies to real-game situations. Coaches who emphasize deliberate practice—focused, intentional improvement—get better results than those who simply run players through routines.
6. "You need a big team to win"
Myth: Size is the most important factor for success.
Reality: While having height can be an advantage, the game has evolved. Teams that emphasize speed, skill, and versatility can often outmatch taller teams. Modern basketball values shooting, spacing, and positional flexibility, showing that smaller lineups can thrive, as seen with successful "small-ball" strategies in recent years.
7. "Great coaches always stick to their philosophy"
Myth: The best coaches never deviate from their core coaching philosophy.
Reality: Adaptability is often the mark of a great coach. Sticking rigidly to one philosophy can backfire, especially if the talent on the team or the evolution of the game doesn’t align with that approach. Great coaches adjust based on their personnel, the competition, and the flow of the game.
8. "The best players make the best leaders"
Myth: The most talented players are natural leaders and should always be captains.
Reality: Leadership is about more than talent. Some of the best leaders aren’t necessarily the best players but are those who inspire their teammates, communicate well, and bring out the best in others. Coaches who assume their top scorer will be their best leader may overlook valuable leadership potential elsewhere on the roster.
9. "Every mistake needs to be corrected immediately"
Myth: Coaches must correct players’ mistakes as soon as they happen to prevent bad habits.
Reality: Constantly stopping practice to correct errors can disrupt the flow and prevent players from learning through experience. Sometimes, it’s more effective to let the play continue, then address patterns of mistakes during a break or in film sessions. Players learn resilience by figuring things out on their own at times.
10. "Winning is the only measure of success"
Myth: The only thing that matters in coaching is whether you win.
Reality: Winning is important, but the best coaches know that development—both on and off the court—is just as crucial. Helping players grow in confidence, teamwork, and discipline can be just as rewarding as winning a championship. Successful programs often see long-term success by focusing on culture and individual improvement rather than just the scoreboard.
Lagniappe. Eastman's first word.
Kevin Eastman drops some great thoughts to coaches at the KC USA Basketball Coaches Academy! Outstanding speaker who speaks to corporations all over the country! @usabasketball @USABYouth pic.twitter.com/nKlIGZVXd8
JJ Redick made his coaching debut tonight with the Lakers, here are some of the actions they used:
• Away Series (1. Post Split 2. Spain 3. Back Door 4. Away 5. 77) • Corner Grenade • Give & Go • Guard to Guard Series (Handoff, Keep, Ghost) pic.twitter.com/Si6iTVsmBR
