Wednesday, May 15, 2024

Basketball: 'What the Game Needs'

"Not all moments...are the same." - Brian Scalabrine, Celtics analyst

"Stars give what the game needs." Paul Pierce explained that the game might need rebounding or defense. Top players adjust. 


"Four Factors" Box often reveals the 'why' of outcomes. 


Players giving what the game needs:

Horford with Porzingis out, goes 22/15/5

Tatum 25/10/9 with four steals

Tatum and Brown combine for 16 assists

Pritchard 11 points off the bench, 3/4 on threes 

Holiday and White hold Garland and Strus to 11 and 12


Lagniappe. You are looking for efficient play both offensively and defensively. 

Lagniappe 2. Footwork matters.  

Lagniappe 3. Cultivate great habits.  

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Tuesday, May 14, 2024

Basketball: Fearless

Strive to be fearless. What does that mean?

Self-made billionaire Spanx CEO Sara Blakely says people tell her, "you're so fearless." She answers, "No, I'm not." She's afraid of heights, flying, public speaking. But she overcomes her fears, even holding a "Comedy Night" for her employees where everyone performs standup. 

Share examples. The Patriots faced the 'Greatest Show on Turf' in 2002, with an unheralded quarterback (Tom Brady) against Kurt Warner and the NFL's highest octane offense. Virtually no one gave the 14-point underdog a chance...except the Patriots. 

Harvard's women met Stanford at Palo Alto in the 1998 NCAAs as a 16 versus 1 mismatch. That didn't prevent the Crimson from winning. A future ER doctor made the winning basket. 

As an underdog, believe and compete. 


Unheralded doesn't mean untalented. Trust YOUR ability and system. "It's just a game." 

There no shame in defeat but never fail to show up. 

Lagniappe. Iverson BOB 

 A lot is happening on this BLOB play.

Lagniappe 2. Consistency is more than the hobgoblin of foolish minds.  

Deion Sanders said, "You don't have to be great or successful to be consistent. But, you do need to be consistent to be great or successful."

Lagniappe 3. Gold. Just gold. 

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Monday, May 13, 2024

Basketball: Why the Best Succeeded

Coaches love to celebrate the successes of our players. What separated some of the most successful? Hint, it wasn't the coaching. 

What "minimum" criteria apply? 

  • Direct coaching of the player (e.g. not just summer league part-time)
  • Minimum - All-Star player or higher (e.g. All-State, All-Scholastic) in at least one sport
  • Post high-school career success if already graduated

Parental support. School teams, AAU, individual basketball training, and personal training all cost time and money. 

Physical attributes - skill, athleticism, size. In addition to skill, players need unusual athleticism, size, or both. 

Students of the game. The best leveraged more than coaching maintaining their notebook and studying video, beginning at a young age. 

Coachability. It's not a given that players have commitment, openness, aptitude, a strong work ethic, and humility. They also need access to coaching sufficient for their development. 

Character. Etorre Messina says, "Character is job one."  

Commitment. Show up every day. "Every day is showtime."  

Competitive. Match your work to your slogans. Brad Stevens says to have "competitive character." Kobe Bryant preached "mamba mentality" in relentless preparation. Coach John Wooden shared, "make every day your masterpiece." 

Collaboration. Be the best teammate, the best leader of yourself, and model excellence at home, in school, and on the court. Adopt the Fourth Agreement, "Always do your best."

Never satisfied. "I'm pleased but I'm not satisfied." Our philosophy was TIA - teamwork, improvement, accountability. Have great habits and a 'winning routine' that works for you. 

Lagniappe. Excellence. 

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Sunday, May 12, 2024

Basketball: Coaching Life Lessons with Help from Ann Lamott

"I learned early in life that the margins are small. You have to play hard. This is what it takes." - Brian Scalabrine (Celtics television analyst)

Art reflects life, as does basketball. Ann Lamott writes (her best may be Bird by Bird), lectures, and teaches writing. Here are quotes from her TED talk:

Her grandson often says, "Nana, this could be the best day ever." 

"My friend Paul in his 70's used to say, "I feel like a young man with something really wrong with him.""

1. All truth is a paradox. "Life is filled with heartbreaking sweetness and beauty, desperate poverty, floods...and acne...and Mozart." 

2. "Almost everything will work again if you unplug it for a few minutes...including you."

3. "We can't arrange peace or lasting improvement for the people we love...help is the sunny side of control."

4. "Everyone is screwed up. Try not to compare your insides to other people's outsides...by the end I was deteriorating faster than I could lower my standards."

5. ...but they keep their butt in the chair



6. "If people wanted you to write about them more warmly, they should have behaved better." 

7. "It's a miracle to get your stories published."

8. "Writing heals..."

9."Food. Try to do a little better. I think you know what I mean."

10."Grace is spiritual WD-40."

11."Go outside. Look up." (Not at eclipses...)

12. 


Lagniappe. Outside work translates to the post and vice versa. 

Lagniappe. 2. Find inspiration.  

Lagniappe 3. Full-court shooting drill. 

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Five Words

 Repost

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Saturday, May 11, 2024

Basketball: Cliche

Clarified cliches add value. Coaches all use them but not every player benefits. Remember "what has not been learned has not been taught." 

Use concrete examples.

1. "Play hard. Play smart. Play together." Have fun.

  • Transition defense. Beat your player to half court while alert and engaged.
  • Read the defense. That allows more efficient attack (front foot) and slips. 
  • Make the extra pass. 

2. "Get more and better shots than our opponent." - Pete Newell

  • This predicted the analytics era. Better shots result in higher EFG%. 
  • Few turnovers combined with high EFG% is hard to beat.
  • Creating turnovers increases higher points per possession for us and fewer shots for opponents. 

3. "Basketball is sharing." - Phil Jackson

  • Share the ball. "The ball has energy."
  • Share your voice. Communicate. "Silent teams lose." 
  • Better passing creates better shots and fewer turnovers. "The quality of the pass relates to the quality of the shot." - Pete Carril

4. "No easy shots." Hard 2s. 

  • Contain the ball. 
  • Contest shots without fouling. Intuitively and statistically, challenged shots have lower shooting percentage. 
  • No bad fouls. Don't foul jump shots. Free throws are 'easy shots'.  

5. "Win this possession." 

  • "Jordans!" How hard would you play if you knew a stop would get everyone Air Jordans? 
  • String together three stops. "Stops make runs." Track how many three stops per half. If you get seven per half, you win a lot. 
  •  Have 'must score' strategies for BOB, SLOB, ATO, versus man, and versus zone. 
Lagniappe. Practice "no dribble" separation footwork. 

Lagniappe 2. Ball movement simplifies the game. 

Lagniappe 3. Make preparation our superpower.  

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Friday, May 10, 2024

Basketball: What Makes a 'Team Player'?



What essentials belong to a team player? John Maxwell elaborates seventeen in his book The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player. Could we distill them to fewer or should we expand them to more?

There's no shortage of comparisons, John Wooden's Pyramid of Success, James Kerr's chapters in Legacy, or Jon Gordon's list in The Hard Hat (below). 


Let's examine a Maxwell Chapter 15 (Selfless). Challenge yourself to develop a shorter yet inclusive list. But first, let's invert. 

Selfish opposes selfless. It represents 'what's in it for me', the search for personal glory over team success. Don Meyer said that most parents would rather have their child be All-State than win States. Selfishness chooses "numbers" with the priority of 'scorebook' over scoreboard. Some players 'need' more touches and more ink. Others need wins. 

Coach Kevin Sivils favored the TEAM award for the best teammate. The Best Teammate was the award that teammates voted. The award didn't have specific criteria other that that it was not designed solely to recognize the 'best player'. The players always got it right. 

Maxwell profiles Philip Toosey, an officer in a reserve unit called the Territorial Army. Called to fight in WW2, he refused orders to leave his unit about to be captured, citing "in any withdrawal, the Commanding Officer leaves last." He negotiated for more rations and less abusive working conditions such that only nine men under his command died during the ten months construction of the Bridge Over the River Kwai. Although he hated the subsequent movie, he took solace in having led his men as well as possible. 

Maxwell writes, "Being selfless isn't easy, but it is necessary."

He also writes, "the heart of selflessness is generosity." Leaders serve their community and earn the loyalty of followers. In the words of Professor Adam Grant, leaders are "ambitious givers," willing to share recognition. Crediting teammates and coaches for success doesn't diminish you and elevates them. 

In addition to recommending generosity he advises avoid internal politics. He advises, "Be loyal"...as "loyalty foster unity and unity breeds team success." 

Maxwell suggests the following to become more selfless:
  • Promote someone other than yourself. 
  • Take a subordinate role. 
  • Give secretly. "Do something for someone who cannot repay you."
What features belong to the best team players? Shorten the lists.
 
1. Serve. Make teammate improvement your top priority. Communicate, collaborate, connect. 

2. Share. Share work, share sacrifice, share the ball. Find ways to workout with teammates. 

3. Lead. Model excellence in all things. Become a coach on the floor. Never be a distraction. 

4. Show competitive character. Embrace challenges. Be a worthy competitor at all times. Be relentless. 

5. Energize. Bring energy to yourself and teammates daily. 

Ask how you can both lead and follow better. 

Lagniappe.  

Lagniappe 2. Lots of great teaching available.  

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Thursday, May 9, 2024

Basketball: Expand on a Theme, When the Path to Victory is Narrow

Never traffic in excuses. Every coach wants more talent, more size, more experience. 

With a narrow margin for error, teams must be more efficient and less error-prone.

1. "Basketball is a game meant to be played fast." With superior talent and "points per possession" edge, play fast. Inversion argues that lesser talent favors a slower tempo.

2. Possession control. Keep the better team off the boards. Second shots and third shots increase points per possession. "Hit and get" or block out and rebound. Whatever works. 

3. Maximize opportunities. Convert free throws and emphasize shot quality.

4. "Value the ball." Turnovers kill dreams. Live ball turnovers catalyze high points per possession. Every turnover is a 'zero percent' possession. 

5. "Foul for profit" coined by Kevin Sivils. Especially harmful are fouling perimeter shots, three-point shots, and forced shots. "Show your hands" and "don't swat down" on block attempts. 

6. Tempus fugit (time flies). Understand and execute offensive and defensive delay games. The clock is our ally or our enemy. 

7. Develop. In a rematch against an opponent, opposing parents complained how "they got new players." Middle school teams don't have free agency or the waiver wire. In youth leagues, skill building is your primary mission.  

8. "Don'ts." Don't give players excuses. Don't lower expectations with the R word (rebuilding). Don't play the blame game. 

Coach Battenberg shares his perspective. 

Lagniappe. Set a goal (e.g. three or fewer) of limiting transition hoops. 

Lagniappe 2. Exploit zone defenses with screens.  

 

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Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Basketball: Learned and Taught

"Each possession is different, but come down and make the right play." - Jayson Tatum

Some players suffer the burden of greatness and expectations. Complementary players do not. Complementary players add flavor to the dish, the 'acid' of salt, fat, acid, and heat. 

Coach changed lives by teaching young kids how to win. The lessons of the early 1970s persisted. Coaches who imprint 'basketball values' on our players add meaning. 

"Sacrifice." He meant, "get the best shot for the team." In the opening possession against a team that had won eighteen straight, we made 22 passes until we got the wide open shot for two. That can't feel good as a defender. 

Some saw Jayson Tatum have a 'pedestrian' game with 18 points. But he added 11 boards and five assists and his plus/minus of +18 was greater than the sum of that of Brown and White who had 32 and 25 points. Whether the Celtics win or not, he understands now that winning is legacy. 

"I'm pleased but I'm not satisfied." As Joe Mazzulla said, "there are always 10 or 15 possessions that can be better." Win this possession. When teams sustain that mentality, Dave Smart's "play harder for longer," they have a chance to be special. 

"The ball is gold." Don't give away the gold. The Celtics had six turnovers last night. It's hard to beat a team that shoots almost fifty percent when half their shots are threes. That translated to an EFG percentage of 58.7%. The Cavs' EFG percentage was 47.2% despite an even stingier five turnovers. 

"That was a $#*& shot." Coach didn't mix his messages. Before effective field goal percentage, there was little nuance and no excuses.

"$#*&bird defense." Give a baseline drive, a transition hoop, or commit a bad foul and you'd see and hear it at practice as grainy black-and-white film ran back-and-forth. Ornithological defense was even worse than a bad shot because it allowed a score. Expletive or not, you worked not to repeat. 

Was it a little profane and too harsh for the sensitive ears of today's players? It was a different time. I couldn't share all those timeless messages to the girls I coached, but sometimes they needed them. 

Lagniappe. Remain a leader. 

Lagniappe 2. Keep working on playing off two feet.  

Lagniappe 3. Find a gym and a rebounder. 

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Tuesday, May 7, 2024

Basketball - Figure It Out, Reevaluate What to Keep or Discard

"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit." - Aristotle

David Mamet shares a MasterClass masterpiece. He reduces truths to their essence.

For example, he revises Aristotle's quote, "Character is habitual action." If you lie repeatedly, you are a liar. Don't complicate matters.

He explains why people converse, "to get something from each other."

His insights have broad application. "Bad writers leave in what good writers remove" or "good writers leave what bad writers remove."

Apply that to basketball. A team loses because of poor transition defense, weak ball containment, and bad shot selection. Mamet would say, "the audience sees the truth." Bad coaches accept 'bad actions'. Better coaches, "do more of what works and less of what doesn't." 

There's no secret sauce. Skill informs execution. Designing an offense matters less than designing players to run it. 


Draw two and dish isn't a new concept (video from 1973). 

Good coaches run parallel development of skill and decision-making. In the cluster of vision-decision-execution, any one of the three that fails sinks you. 

The analogy might be the 'value trap' for investors. Price keeps rising, what should we do? Benjamin Graham reminded his students, "in the short run, the market is a voting machine. In the long run, it is a weighing machine (weighing sales, profits, and cash flow)." The tall, athletic player gets the votes initially. But without acquiring skill and decision-making, they're tall and athletic, not impactful.

Gregg Popovich tells players, "figure it out." Coaches must, too. The greatest player ever might not be a successful administrator or coach. Find what to keep and what to toss.  

Lagniappe. Movement kills defense. 

Lagniappe 2. One-on-one drill initiation.  

Lagniappe 3. Another one-on-one initiation.  

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Monday, May 6, 2024

Basketball: Winners Do What It Takes

The most difficult subjects can be explained to the most slow- witted man if he has not formed any idea of them already; but the simplest thing cannot be made clear to the most intelligent man if he is firmly persuaded that he knows already, without a shadow of doubt, what is laid before him. - Tolstoy

Winning needs focused investment in areas that work. Neither 100 percent investment in offense nor defense is best. Full belief in your failing process is nonsense. 

Leadership. Can the coach sell the program, get buy-in, and add value? In Community Health (1977) we learned about barriers, efficacy, severity, and susceptibility. 

  • Barriers - what hinders us?
  • Efficacy - what's the 'applicable' track record? 
  • Severity - how bad is the situation? 
  • Susceptibility - does it apply to the community? If "hockey" or something else is king, is there room for basketball? 

Philosophy. Can we sell our philosophy to smart people "firmly persuaded that they know already?" 

  • Do well what you do a lot. 
  • Do more of what works (e.g. hard to defend actions) and less of what doesn't.
  • Know Knight's Power of Negative Thinking. Don't take bad shots, don't turn the ball over, don't foul needlessly. Don't give games away. 

Player development. What's your player development track record? 

Show your receipts - D1 players, McDonald's All-America nominee, All-Scholastic/All-State selections, Local Athletic Hall of Famers, valedictorians and more. 

Strategy  "We can't run what we can't run." Without core skills, the choice of 'offensive system' doesn't matter. 

Physicality (strength and conditioning) Without training, we cannot play "harder for longer" needed to outperform opponents. Measurable performance like 12-minute runs, broad jump, and bench press repetitions give easy to obtain, reproducible results. 

Psychology Have a simple program that you can implement such as mindfulness and visualization. 

Commitment is king. Players choose whether to invest in themselves and winning or not. "It takes what it takes." In addition to all of the above, players need to play, a lot.

"Mentoring is the only shortcut to success." Find a mentor. 

"Winners are trackers." - Darren Hardy, The Compound Effect   Measure what you do and seek improvement and betterment of your personal best. 

Are you willing to do what the beast does? 

Lagniappe. Be ready to react. 

Lagniappe 2. Can you play out of a cross step? 



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Sunday, May 5, 2024

Basketball: Lying Eyes?

“Who are you going to believe, your beloved husband or your lying eyes?” - Richard Pryor

We discount truths we prefer not to believe. 

  • We avoid opinions contrary to our beliefs (confirmation bias). 
  • People judge others based on ‘character’ and ourselves based on ‘circumstances’ (fundamental attribution error).

Our kid doesn’t make the team or get our desired role. It’s the lousy coach or some half-witted conspiracy. He passes up a three-pointer and we’re thinking “shoot” even though Johnny’s 1 for 15 from the arc on the season. We see with our heart not with our eyes. 

How can we overcome some of these 'cognitive biases' and use productive 'mental models'? Focus on reality. 
  • Study video, "the truth machine." 
  • Be a tracker. Shot charts, turnovers, and fouls trend. 
  • Be aware of "sample size" to see whether we have 'enough' observations.
  • Expand our "circle of competence" by studying other coaches, attending or watching clinics. 
  • Find a mentor or ally (coach) to provide non-judgmental feedback. 
Lagniappe. Zoomish. Downscreen into DHO into backdoor action via Chris Oliver. 
Lagniappe 2. Creating uncertainty for defenses. 

Lagniappe 3. What are our values? 



 

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Saturday, May 4, 2024

Basketball: What Analytics Don't Measure

What contributions don't get counted? Most occur in "the 95" (without the ball) but not all. And yes, individual and team play shows up in offensive and defensive efficiency team stats. 

Offensive 'invisible' examples (often multiple actions):

  • Communication 
  • Screens
  • Rebounding tip outs
  • Outlet passes
  • "Hockey assists"
  • Saved balls
  • Cutting to open areas for teammates
Defensive examples: 

  • Communication
  • Block outs
  • Charges drawn
  • Defensive help, rotation, and recovery
  • Ball containment
  • Transition team defense
  • Forced held balls
  • Defensive great 'contests'
  • Forced shot clock violations
  • Forced five second violations
Lagniappe. Ball containment just wins. We did something similar but using multiple baskets. No standing around.  


Lagniappe example 2. Help and recover. 


Lagniappe 3. More ball containment. 

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Failure is a Weigh Station

Baby steps. Nobody magically learns to walk. Roll over. Sit up. Pull yourself up and cruise along furniture. Stand up; sit down. Again. Take your first steps. The process repeats and repeats.

Failure is a weigh station on the highway to success. 

Have the will to keep going. 

Post by @khaldsalm7
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Lagniappe. One dribble pullups. Get separation and quickness into the shot.


Lagniappe 2. "The ref's not gonna call it." Attack the front hand/leg. Maybe. 

Lagniappe 3. Variations on Pistol Action 

 

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Friday, May 3, 2024

Basketball: Applying AI to Address Parent Concerns

Everyone needs an approach to communicate with player families. Without exception, coaches and administrations get complaints about player minutes, role, and recognition.

Coaches use the "24 hour rule" to allow a 'cooling off period' and many limit discussions about playing time and absolutely about other teammates.

President Abraham Lincoln had his "Hot Letters," where he vented his displeasure with various generals and other parties, then filed as "never signed, never sent."

Coach Neal Cobleigh wondered what would ChatGPT artificial intelligence say to an unhappy parent. I asked.

Write a letter from a coach to a disgruntled parent upset about her child's playing time and role. I've also edited, shaving syllables. The edited (easy to read) version is below.

ChatGPT

Dear (Parent's Name),

I hope this letter finds you well. I wanted to take a moment to address the concerns about your child's playing time and role on the team. As a coach, I understand and respect your passion for your child's development and success in the sport, and appreciate your willingness to discuss these matters openly.

First and foremost, I want to assure you that every decision I make regarding playing time and roles on the team is done with careful consideration and with the best interest of the team and each individual player in mind. I understand that it can be frustrating when your child doesn't receive the amount of playing time you may feel they deserve, but please trust that these decisions are based I base decisions on various factors including skill level, performance, team dynamics, and strategic considerations for each game.

I want to emphasize that playing time and roles on the team are not static and can change throughout the season. I encourage open communication between among players, parents, and myself. and I'm available always willing to discuss your child's progress, areas for improvement, and ways we can how to work together to help them succeed.

It's important to remember that sports offer valuable lessons beyond just playing time and winning or losing. They teach resilience, teamwork, discipline, and the importance of perseverance in the face of challenges. I truly believe that every player, regardless of their role on the team, has the potential to contribute in meaningful ways and to grow both as an athlete and as an individual.

I want to thank you for your continued support of the team and for entrusting me with the responsibility of coaching your child. I'm committed to providing a positive and nurturing environment where all players can thrive and reach their full potential. If you have any further concerns or questions, please don't hesitate to reach out to me.

Sincerely,

Dear (Parent's Name),

I hope this letter finds you well. I want to address concerns about your child's playing time and role. As a coach, I understand and respect your passion for your child's development and success, and appreciate your willingness to discuss these matters.

First and foremost, every decision I make regarding playing time and roles is done with the best interest of the team and each individual player in mind. It can be frustrating when your child doesn't receive the amount of playing time you feel they deserve, but I base decisions on various factors including skill level, performance, team dynamics, and strategic considerations.

Playing time and roles on the team are not static and can change throughout the season. I encourage open communication among players, parents, and myself. I'm available to discuss your child's progress, areas for improvement, and how to work together to help them succeed.

Sports offer valuable lessons beyond just playing time and winning or losing. They teach resilience, teamwork, discipline, and the importance of perseverance in the face of challenges. Every player, regardless of their role on the team, has the potential to contribute and to grow both as an athlete and as an individual.

Thank you for your continued support of the team and for entrusting me with the responsibility of coaching your child. I'm committed to a positive and nurturing environment where all players can reach their full potential. If you have any further concerns or questions, please reach out to me.

Sincerely,

(Coach's name)

All coaches have been there. Build rapport. Build trust. Emphasize team, time, and improvement.

Lagniappe. Listen to experienced voices.

In this episode of the CDL podcast, Chris Oliver of @bballimmersion and I share the 5 ideas that we believe coaches should start with if they aren't familiar with Skill Acquisition concepts. My starting point was Block, Variable, and Random practice. https://t.co/xYD2vhpymX pic.twitter.com/YNZ3ZCfZM1 — Coach Dave Love | NBA Shooting Coach (@CoachDaveLove) May 2, 2024

Lagniappe 2. Trust matters. 


Lagniappe 3. Stop and separate. 
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Thursday, May 2, 2024

Basketball: Fit Five Things on an Index Card

Less is more. Players can't and won't remember long lists. Imagine five MUSTS on an index card. 




 










The best players make their teammates better. What is your 'varsity skill' that gets and keeps you on the floor? 

Possession enders find "stops and scores." Those translate into Pete Newell's "more and better shots" than opponents. Rebounds maintain or end possessions. Bad shots and turnovers invert the concept. 

Excellent team defense earns hard twos, shots contested without fouling and cleaned up with defensive rebounds. Hard twos arise with ball containment and preventing penetration. 

Great shots arise through maintaining spacing, player and ball movement as "the ball has energy." On good teams, the ball is the smartest thing on the court as it finds the best scorers in their spots. When players stand and the ball stops, poor shots follow. 

Toughness wins rebounds, loose balls, and helps teams maintain leads and overcome deficits. Toughness means physical and mental and is a skill that players and teams can learn. 

Lagniappe. In boxing they say, "stick and move." Learn to drive, kick, and move.  

Lagniappe 2. "Zero second decision-making."  

Lagniappe 3. Mr. Energy, Ganon Baker shows how to create space with pivoting. 

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