Thursday, October 24, 2024

Basketball: Beyond Simple

Hat tip: Brook Kohlheim

Einstein shares five levels of intelligence. 

  1. Smart

  2. Intelligent

  3. Brilliant

  4. Genius

  5. Simple

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. 
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