Total Pageviews

Tuesday, July 1, 2025

Add Value Through Use of AI

Mr. Rogers said, "Look for the helpers." Coaches build teams, getting help wherever we can being open and flexible. Coaches who believe they know everything inhabit a slippery slope. 

Legendary Coach Pete Newell said that the coach's job is to help players "See the game." The ability to see the court, make quick and accurate decisions, and execute define a critical part of your ceiling. 

As coaches, add value, get buy-in, and help players become the best version of themselves.

Exceptional coaches and players ask better questions:

  • How do I improve as a coach?
  • How do I improve as a player?
  • How do I improve as a leader? 
  • How do I improve as a teammate? 
  • How can I help? 
  • What does my team need today?
  • How can I consolidate strengths and reduce weaknesses? 
Initially, people dominated chess. Then a computer, Deep Blue, beat a chess champion. People struct back, forming hybrid teams of man and machine - centaurs. Then Google developed AlphaZero, which taught itself to play in four hours. In a hundred matches against the computer champion, it went undefeated, 28-0-72. 

The point? Humans have structural limitations. Supplement our ability to plan, prepare, and teach with artificial intelligence. What separated Homo sapiens from other animals was mastery of using tools. AI is the current premium tool.

Application - hard to guard actions. Here's a prompt and the AI answer from DeepSeek. 

"Great offense is multiple actions." Developing a basketball offense includes using hard-to-guard actions. Please suggest half a dozen actions to include in our basketball offense.

Great basketball offenses are built around multiple, hard-to-guard actions that force defenses to react and create advantages. Here are six effective actions to incorporate into your offense:

1. Dribble Handoff (DHO) + Read

  • A quick exchange between a guard and a big, forcing the defender to navigate screens.

  • Options: The ball handler can keep it, shoot, or drive; the screener can roll or pop.

2. Spain Pick-and-Roll

  • A traditional PNR with a backscreen set on the help defender (usually by a shooter).

  • Creates confusion—defenders must choose between stopping the roller or covering the shooter.

3. UCLA Cut (Off a Post Entry)

  • A guard passes to the wing, then cuts off a high-post screen into the lane.

  • Forces the defense to decide between switching, going under, or getting back-cut.

4. Floppy Action (Staggered Screens for Shooters)

  • A shooter (usually a guard) comes off two staggered screens for a quick catch-and-shoot opportunity.

  • Forces defenders to fight through multiple screens or risk an open three.

5. Slot-to-Slot Relocation (After a Drive)

  • A guard drives, kicks to a teammate, then relocates to an open spot (e.g., corner to wing).

  • Keeps the defense in rotation and creates open threes.

6. Delay Action (4-Out with a Playmaking Big)

  • A skilled big (or guard) operates from the top of the key, reading the defense for dribble-drives, post-ups, or kick-outs.

  • Forces help defenders to commit, opening up cutters and shooters.

Key Principles for Hard-to-Guard Offenses:

  • Multiple Reads: Actions should branch into counters (e.g., DHO → reject → drive).

  • Spacing: Keep the floor balanced to prevent help defense.

  • Player Movement: Cutters and screeners keep defenders in constant motion.

AI will never be the complete answer because it's not playing. Yet, we can leverage its virtually unlimited power to improve ourselves and our players.

Lagniappe. Is NIL unfair to smaller schools? Not necessarily. 

Lagniappe 2. Get more from our PnR offense with slips and screen rejection.  

Posted by at

Monday, June 30, 2025

Filling Our Basketball Quote Bag

We never know when players listen. We remember events best in an emotional context. The dynamic interaction of the amygdala and the hippocampus sear powerful memories into our core. 

Can we activate the amygdala (our emotional hub) and deliver core messages to our players? My daughters had a terrific coach who would sub out players after a negative or selfish action, saying, "that's not how we play." Conversely, I remember "extreme effort" plays...the 50-50 balls that some girls turned into 80-20s. Anson Dorrance calls that "competitive fury."



Some quotes change lives. Coaching privilege gives us the opportunity to share those moments. These quotes have meaning. 

"A player's most important quality isn't skill."

"How you play is how you live." 

"The summit is not the only place on the mountain." 

"Our choices define us." (Decisions determine destiny.)

"Everyone can be a great teammate." Make that choice. 

"The best players make others better."

"The magic is in the work." 

"Don't cheat the drill." (The best players never do.)

"Become the best version of yourself."

"We can always give more."

"Basketball is sharing." - Phil Jackson



"Remember the guys who quit? Nobody else does either."

"Invest your time don't spend it."


"Chop wood; carry water." - Zen proverb

"Do more of what is working and less of what isn't."

"Is what you're doing now getting you closer to where you want to be?"  

Lagniappe. Offseason opportunity... 

Lagniappe 2. Competition according to Pete Carroll...  

Posted by at

Sunday, June 29, 2025

Thinking About Basketball Players

Where does our evaluation begin in player assessment? It's a constant during development and applies broadly.

What is the player's "competitive character?" Remember that "the best predictor of future behavior is past behavior." It blends commitment, effort, leadership, resilience, toughness and other intangibles. 

Does the player compete on both ends of the court? Can a franchise player be their best version by playing with limited contribution on defense? Some unexpected names appear on the NBA defensive rating list. 

What kind of teammate is the player? For example, Celtics rave about Al Horford as a teammate. 

By way of projection, do we have a comparison for the player? When discussing a high school player with a college coach, she may see the patient more favorably with a good 'comp'. 

What are the speed and quality of the player's decisions? The ability to process the game at a high level separates excellent from lesser players. Poor decisions show up in shot selection, turnovers, and defensive mistakes. 

Does the player fill needs as a "possession ender?" Does she score, assist, rebound, get deflections, blocks, and steals? Some teams value passing more than others.

Is the player more of an "off-ball" or "on-ball" player? A European scout discussing Hugo Gonzalez says that on Real Madrid his opportunity came as an off-ball player. The scout didn't project a development arc as a potential on-ball player. 

Does the player have an "ascending arc" or in the words of former UNC Soccer coach Anson Dorrance, "continual ascension?" 

Do we envision a player as an eventual starter, rotational player, or a marginal contributor?

I've 'seen' players on my teams as potential lottery picks, first rounders, second rounders, and street free agents. Committed players sometimes can move up a class. I've not seen any "second rounders" (developmental) become lottery picks. The Jokic-type player is a unicorn. 

In addition to seeing players 'statistically', see them in the context of potential and inhabiting roles. 

Lagniappe. Divide practice and conquer. 

Lagniappe 2. Better players thirst for coaching. 

Posted by at

Saturday, June 28, 2025

Basketball - "Possession Analysis"

“Examine what is said, not who is speaking.” - African proverb

Don’t rush to judgment based on the speaker without regard to the message. Charlie Munger wisely said, “it is better to be generally right than precisely wrong.”

Execution depends on people, strategy, and operations. Do we have the players, know how, and functional experience to make that work? Matching what we have to what we want defines coaching.

A speed team fares better in transition than in a power game. A team without reliable shooting will likely fail in perimeter offense. A team without toughness will struggle regardless of the style of play. 

When coaches have abundant, sustained success with their program, they don't make sweeping changes. However, if we're not experiencing that degree of success, ask "why not?" 

Go to any recent game video and review a dozen offensive and defensive possessions as an outsider. Track each possession with a standard of "did it generate a quality shot or force a lesser quality shot?"

Possession 1. Houston goes isolation on the first possession getting a jump hook from the low block. On a scale of 10, what quality shot would you rate this? 


Possession 2. Walter Clayton, Jr. averaged 38.6% on three-pointers this season at Florida. What quality shot would this represent? 


Possession 3. Florida initially forces action away from the basket. Houston gets the edge in another isolation (beating ball, you, basket) and scores.
 

Every game sums individual possessions with 'unmeasured' shot quality, defensive mistakes and errors, turnovers, fouls, blockouts, etc. Elite teams "utilize strengths, attack weaknesses" and have the goal of "not leaving money on the table."

Lagniappe. Jeff Janssen on the power of now. 

Lagniappe 2. The essence of defense is "no easy shots" or "hard 2s."  

Posted by at

Friday, June 27, 2025

Raise Your Game with Better Listening Skills

Some of you will tune this out. And it will bite you at the most inopportune time. May you never feel the pain of a "listening loss." 

Listening better helps you in every domain - home, school or business, and sports. Failure to focus and listen during key moments separates success and failure. 

Advice:

  • Prioritize listening with summaries. What was the message? "Don't just watch the ball; get to your spot." 
  • Listen actively and ask clarifying questions.
  • Use eye contact.
  • Minimize distractions.
  • Check your listening practices (am I all in?)

Churn out elite student-athletes. Listening does that. “How you do anything is how you do everything.”

Proven suggestions from DeepSeek:

1) Active listening

2) Mindfulness 

3) Team-based listening

Here are three evidence-based approaches that athletes can use to develop better listening skills:

**Active listening during coaching sessions.** Research shows that athletes who practice focused attention techniques—like maintaining eye contact, asking clarifying questions, and paraphrasing instructions back to coaches—retain significantly more tactical information. This involves putting away distractions, mentally summarizing key points as they're being explained, and confirming understanding before moving on. Studies in sport psychology demonstrate that athletes who engage in this type of deliberate listening show measurable improvements in skill acquisition and tactical execution.

**Mindfulness and present-moment awareness training.** Meditation practices specifically designed for athletes, such as body scan exercises and breath-focused attention training, directly improve auditory processing and reduce mental chatter that interferes with listening. Elite athletes often use these techniques to stay present during high-pressure situations where they need to hear and process quick instructions from teammates or coaches. Research indicates that just 10-15 minutes of daily mindfulness practice can enhance sustained attention and reduce the tendency for minds to wander during important communications.

**Communication role-playing exercises with teammates.** Structured practice sessions where athletes take turns being speakers and listeners, focusing on sports-specific scenarios, build both listening skills and team cohesion. This might involve one player explaining a complex play while others practice active listening techniques, or simulating high-stress game situations where clear communication is critical. Team-based listening exercises have been shown to improve not just individual listening ability but also overall team communication effectiveness and trust.

These approaches work because they address the cognitive, emotional, and social aspects of effective listening in athletic contexts.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​ 

Lagniappe. Athletes need to include single leg activities. 

Lagniappe 2. Rip screens often got us great chances, not always finished.  

Lagniappe 3. Life lessons allow everyone to win...whatever the scoreboard.  

Posted by at

Thursday, June 26, 2025

Basketball - Develop Ways to Access AI Both in Preparation and Real-Time

Give me something I can use today. That sounds perfect for AI. Don't presume that humans have superior creativity than 'machines'. Chess computers can calculate millions of possible moves per second. Google's chest champion "Alpha Zero" learned chess by playing against itself and played a hundred matches against the previous computer champion without a loss (28 wins, 72 draws). 

Let's use the rule of three - three topic headings with three subheadings each.

  • Player development
  • Half-court offense (hard to guard)
  • Defending the pick-and-roll 
The initial 'prompt' is:

"Looking to improve coaching using three headings and seeking three ideas for each. Please suggest coaching tips for high school or above levels."

Player Development

  1. Design Constraints-Based Drills
    Build skill through limitation: e.g., one-dribble-only shooting, finishing through contact, or decision-making games (like 0.5-second decision drills). These push players to adapt and transfer skills under game-like conditions.

  2. Film with Feedback
    Use short, regular film sessions to highlight individual growth areas (not just game film). Compare current clips to earlier performance to reinforce progress and set targets.

  3. Layer in Competitive Reps
    Skill work must go live: structure player development sessions so that drills escalate from technical work to competitive (e.g., shooting off the dribble into 1-on-1 closeout challenges).

Half-Court Offense (Hard to Guard)

  1. Two Actions in One
    Combine actions (e.g., a ball screen with weak-side flare or pin-down) to stress defenders. Defenders must make multiple decisions quickly—harder to guard than isolated sets.

  2. Use Ghost and Slip Screens
    Set up defenders with screens that never fully materialize—“ghost” (fake a ball screen then pop) or quick slips before contact—to exploit switching or hedge defenses.

  3. Play Out of Spacing Concepts, Not Just Sets
    Teach players how to maintain driving lanes, lift/shake off penetration, and relocate after passes. A well-spaced offense creates indecision without needing complex plays.

Defending the Pick-and-Roll

  1. Build a Defensive System, Not Just a Coverage
    Decide when you ICE, hedge, drop, or switch based on personnel and location. Have clear roles for on-ball defender, screen defender, and tagger. Stick to your system unless mismatches dictate otherwise.

  2. Drill Two-Man Responsibility Daily
    Break down coverage with 2v2 or 3v3 drills focusing on ball-screen reads and recoveries. Emphasize communication (“Up!” “Drop!” “Under!”), angles, and footwork under pressure.

  3. Tagging and Rotating from the Weak Side
    Most PNR breakdowns happen on the back side. Train the help side (especially the low man) to bump the roller, rotate early, and recover with urgency. Use shell-style drills to ingrain rotations.

Let's repeat the exercise, substituting a current or historical coach as the idea generator... 

Player Development (John Wooden Style)

  1. Teach Fundamentals Relentlessly
    Wooden believed success was built on "little things done well." Insist on correct footwork, balance, and body position—whether passing, pivoting, or defending—every single day. Begin each practice with precision of basic skills.

  2. Plan Every Minute, Progress Every Week
    Wooden scripted practices to the minute. Design development arcs—e.g., “Week 1: Perfect chest pass form; Week 2: Pressure passing.” Progress gradually, but expect mastery. He emphasized, “Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.”

  3. Coach Character as You Coach Skills
    Wooden taught that competitive greatness is rooted in poise and confidence. Connect improvement to values: e.g., perseverance in shooting slumps, self-control in tough matchups. Remind players, “Be more concerned with your character than your reputation.”

Half-Court Offense (Hard to Guard, Wooden-Inspired)

  1. Master Execution, Not Tricks
    Wooden’s teams ran relatively simple sets (e.g., UCLA High Post), but with flawless timing, angles, and reads. Teach players to set meaningful screens, cut hard, and read defenders—not just run plays.

  2. Play Unselfishly and Move Constantly
    Wooden emphasized team over individual. Install actions where every player has a role every time (e.g., screen, cut, relocate). Teach players to value the pass before the shot. “It's amazing how much can be accomplished if no one cares who gets the credit.”

  3. Condition to Outlast, Think to Outwit
    Wooden's offense was hard to guard because his players outlasted others. Teach players to maintain mental focus late in the shot clock, using patience and poise to find a high-percentage shot.

Defending the Pick-and-Roll (Wooden Principles Applied)

  1. Teach Positioning Over Gambling
    Wooden was a stickler for body control and smart angles. In pick-and-roll defense, prioritize positioning: square hips, active hands, and short, choppy steps. Don't reach—contain.

  2. Drill Repetition with Precision
    “Repetition is the key to learning,” Wooden often said. Practice the same coverage daily with small variations—e.g., guard goes over vs. under, big shows vs. drops. Repetition builds automatic reactions.

  3. Insist on Communication and Trust
    Wooden's teams thrived on discipline and unity. Demand clear, early talk on screens (“Screen right! Show! Drop!”). Rotate responsibility between players—each must feel accountable to the team’s standard.

Our imagination and skill with prompts become our only limitation. Coaches can also shift from "mechanical" time for practice development to creative. 

Coaches could also use AI "real-time" to suggest opponent-specific strategies.  

Lagniappe. Most of you know Jay Wright's word... 

Lagniappe 2. Get great talent and you have far more options on how to play. 

Posted by at

Wednesday, June 25, 2025

Basketball - The Struggle

“All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” - "Animal Farm" by George Orwell

“It is much harder to struggle against irrelevance than against exploitation.” - Yuval Harari in “21 Lessons for the 21st Century”

Sport reflects society. Will gladiatorial spectacle return? 

The basketball parallel to Harari’s postulate is exploitation of college athletes by colleges and the NCAA. The status quo was scholarships in return for athletic indentured servitude. Colleges promised the carrot of “free education” while players became full time employees. Try practicing 30 hours a week (it happened) against the pushback of "how can you take those classes if you’re a serious player?" Yes, I got that at Harvard as an end of the roster baseball guy.

As players won the right for additional compensation, colleges and Congress fought to swing the pendulum back with regulation, in effect a “salary cap.” The “gravy train” aims to ensure colleges and politicians get the most gravy. Some animals ARE more equal. 

Colleges can now pay players directly. We’ll see how that plays out. That does not exclude other income. 

Lagniappe. This is not a 'rip' screen but reminds me of it. Excellent players make others better. 

Lagniappe 2. Sometimes it pays to be patient. Other times it pays to be quick.  

Posted by at

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

Ten Timeless Basketball Concepts That Work

What did you learn that gets violated to the point that separates winning and losing?

You say, "Everyone knows that." Knowing and doing inhabit separate worlds.

1. Ball, you, basket. The inability to contain the ball creates layups, help and recover, and penetrate and pitch opportunities. Good defense starts with ball pressure and containment. 

2. Player, you, ball. Especially against capable players, the defender's problems multiply when their assignment gets the ball.

3. Sag (load) to the ball. Drop to the level of the ball. Good offense creates separation with spacing, player, and ball movement. Good defense shrinks space and limits separation.

4. "Get back." No easy baskets...transition baskets violate the rule. Conversion from offense to defense needs CARE - concentration, anticipation, reaction, and execution. 

5. "The ball is gold." Turnovers are zero percent possessions and live ball turnovers lead to high points per possession chances. Turnovers kill dreams.

6. "If I stop yelling at you, I've given up on you." Coaching is teaching and correction. Corrections apply to everyone. Listen and be coachable.

7. Cut hard. Lazy cutting and not setting up cuts are primary reasons for failed offense. It's obvious, yet not emphasized enough. 

8. Take great shots. Coach called them "sh*t shots." Doc Rivers calls them "shot turnovers." Pete Carril said, "bad shooters are always open" and Bob Knight said, "just because I want you on the floor doesn't mean I want you to shoot." 

9. "Foul for profit," says Kevin Sivils. Fouling bad shots, perimeter shots, threes, late shot clock, "retaliation fouls," and bad technique fouls promote high points per possession shots, i.e. free throws. 

10. Know your assignment. If you don't know whom you cover or what defense we're playing, how can I put you on the floor?

There are so many more - "see both," "pass," and "don't immediately dribble" automatically. Every coach here says "nothing new." I get it.  Watch every game from Biddy Ball to The Finals and you see these rules broken. They're not suggestions...

Lagniappe. 

Lagniappe 2. Playing fast?  

Posted by at

Monday, June 23, 2025

Basketball - Professionalism for Young Players

Via Mike Reiss on Deatrich Wise, Jr:


On Bill Belichick: "One of the things Bill always said was 'practice execution becomes game reality.' That's one thing I've always taken to heart. Practice as hard as I can and exactly how I want the game to be. That's what makes great teams great."



Professionalism may sound abstract or overdone when coaching preadolescents and adolescents. “We’re not getting paid.” 


Think about it another way, as training for life. Ask players what professionalism involves. They would probably have problems answering. The best young players I've coached (two women playing D1 basketball) have been not only committed but organized and focused on learning the game. 


"Repetitions make reputations." The offseason is critical to fulfilling your potential. 


Punctuality. Be on time, stretched out and mentally ready to go. 


Preparedness. Know your job to do your job. The best players also understand their teammates' jobs. The point guard should know the reads for the screener. Knowing that the roller defender has overcommitted up, she should be looking for the roller to slip to the basket. 


Preparedness also means knowing the strengths and weaknesses of the opposition. If you know historically that the opposition emphasizes transition, you should ask how many players are going to the offensive boards and have a plan for limiting the fast break.


Self-care. Professionals care for their body including adequate sleep, rest, hydration, nutrition, and post-workout management (e.g. contrast therapy, muscle rolling). 


Strength and conditioning. Young players will need advice on athletic development. Ideally, your program has access to strength and conditioning coaching. If not, that will mean learning and distributing a program or players accessing outside training. Doing baseline measurements and followup are important. 


Sport-specific strategy teaching. Basketball IQ comes from experience and training. The Internet has an abundance of training video, coaching clinics, and information on the wide range of basketball areas. Players with access to cellphones can take training videos. 


Player skill development. Just as with athletic development, provide ideas and references for players to maximize their offseason improvement. 


Resilience training. With virtually all professional teams and Olympic athletes accessing mindfulness training, why would you not? Mindfulness improves focus, reduces anxiety and depression, lowers blood pressure and stress hormones. Training the body without training the mind is incomplete. 


Lagniappe. "Resilience is the strength and speed of our response to adversity—and we can build it. It isn’t about having a backbone. It’s about strengthening the muscles around our backbone." - "Option B: Facing Adversity, Building Resilience, and Finding Joy" by Sheryl Sandberg, Adam Grant


Lagniappe 2. 

Posted by at
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)