Basketball - Complacency Kills Champions

Complacency kills champions. 

Kevin Eastman, in “Why the Best Are the Best”explained that in an NBA Finals playoff game against the Lakers, the Celtics allowed 32 points off defensive mistakes in a win. Restated, teams make errors from youth to the highest level. 

In an interview, Duke Women's coach Kara Lawson said that the goal is 'chasing perfection', not reaching it.

Everyone likes to win, wants to win. Not as many have the will to sacrifice for wins. Talent is a must. Nobody wins without it. Will is underrated. 

Coaches suffer sleepless nights worrying about factors out of their control. Will a player be academically eligible? Will another be healthy? Is another tired? Is a fourth unfocused because of a messy relationship? Are players getting enough rest, eating right, violating league rules while partying? 

Everything and nothing changes over generations. If you want to be exceptional, sacrifice...willingly. Because you play for the girl next to you.

What motivates adolescent athletes? Here's my AI prompt and ChatGPT comments:

As an older coach seeking relevant messaging, I ask, "what motivates adolescent athletes?" I believe in positivity, adding value, and stressing character and cometency. Please share some suggestions.

ChatGPT said:

Motivating adolescent athletes requires understanding their developmental stage, individual goals, and the team culture you're fostering. Here are some approaches that align with your philosophy of positivity, adding value, and building character while addressing complacency:

1. Purpose and Belonging

• Create a Shared Mission: Establish a team identity that highlights the value of hard work, trust, and accountability. Adolescents are motivated when they feel part of something bigger than themselves.
• Highlight Their Role: Reinforce how each player’s contributions impact the team's success. Recognizing effort, even in small ways, builds motivation and self-worth.

2. Challenge and Growth

• Set Incremental Goals: Help athletes focus on short-term, achievable objectives within a larger framework of improvement. For example, “Let’s reduce our errors in this rotation by 20% during practice.”
• Reward Grit: Celebrate when they push past challenges—whether physical, emotional, or tactical. Praise their resilience rather than only outcomes.

3. Positive Reinforcement

• Use Specific Praise: Instead of saying, “Good job,” say, “I love how you tracked the hitter and adjusted your block.” It reinforces the behavior you want repeated.
• Catch Them Doing Things Right: Adolescents often expect correction. Surprise them with unexpected recognition for their attitude or teamwork.

4. Developing Character

• Stress Integrity Over Winning: Share stories of athletes who showed sportsmanship and courage, even in the face of defeat. This aligns with your emphasis on character and resonates with their evolving values.
• Complacency as the Opponent: Frame complacency as an obstacle to greatness. Teach them to embrace discomfort as the space where growth happens.

5. Autonomy and Ownership

• Let Them Lead: Rotate captains for practices or drills, allowing them to feel ownership of the process. Adolescents thrive when they feel trusted to lead.
• Ask for Input: Involve them in setting goals, such as defensive strategies or culture improvements. They'll feel more committed to ideas they helped create.

6. Social Connection

• Foster a Fun Culture: Adolescents value their peers’ approval. Incorporate team-building activities like small competitions, group challenges, or silly rituals that keep the environment light and engaging.
• Encourage Peer Recognition: Build a culture where teammates applaud each other for their effort and unselfish play. This supports your emphasis on being great teammates.

7. Model Positivity

• Reframe Failure: When the team faces setbacks, reframe them as opportunities for growth. Lead by example, showing optimism and perseverance.
• Live Your Values: Share personal stories or reflections on character, resilience, or self-improvement to humanize yourself and inspire them.

Example Messages for Your Team

• "Every rep is a chance to add value to your game and your teammates. Don’t waste the opportunity."
• "Complacency is the enemy of greatness. Champions stay curious and hungry to improve."
• "It’s not about being perfect—it’s about being better than you were yesterday."
• "Character is what you show when the game isn’t going your way. That’s what I care about most."

 Lagniappe. 5 second 2-on-2. 

Here’s how to introduce gets in your offense. Play 2-on-2 with a five-second shot clock, only scoring threes or rim finishes. You may wish to constrain the defense, e.g. no switching allowed. pic.twitter.com/84UmPAtaT6

— Transforming Basketball (@transformbball) December 19, 2024

Lagniappe 2. Teams choose the scoreboard or the scorebook.  

Great teams aren't like everyone else

🏀 Every team has 5 starters
🏀 Every team has a leading scorer
🏀 Every team has a leading rebounder

Not every team is a great team

Not every team is committed to winning

𝗚𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗧 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝗦 𝗗𝗢 𝗪𝗛𝗔𝗧 𝗜𝗧 𝗧𝗔𝗞𝗘𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗪𝗜𝗡

— Jamy Bechler (@CoachBechler) December 19, 2024

Basketball - Why You Should Read My Blog in 2025 - The Three Minute Pitch*

*Adapted from Blinkist

Shooting a few hoops in my driveway one Saturday. My phone rings, it says, "PUERTO RICO." I answer and it's Butch Lee, Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four in 1977, NCAA Player of the Year. "Hi, it's Butch, just wanted to talk some basketball." 

You're busy and you want daily ideas and solutions. Here's a 3-Minute Pitch for reading here inspired by Brant Pinvidic's The Three Minute Rule. 

1. Give me three minutes a day. Find something to steal. 

2. Readers matter because you 'spread the gospel' and sell your beliefs. 

3. Simplicity and clarity define valuable messages. 

4. Evaluate via this prism:

• What is it? - Daily basketball and leadership education
• How does it work? - Phil Jackson said, "basketball is sharing." That. 
• Are you sure? Show your receipts. 
• Can you do it? Read on. 

5. Is it a just a pebble into the pond or does it create ripples?

Analogies help us. It's not about the pebble; it's ripples that can change the world. 

6. Share interesting and important information. 

• Clear philosophy - TIA - teamwork, improvement, accountability
• "Possessions and possession." Get more possessions and maximize each one. 
• Develop "possession enders," players who get scores and stops 
• Analytics matter - edges in shooting, turnovers, rebounds, free throws
• Graduates succeed - leaders in business, education, and more
• Blog ranked in the Feedspot top 50 of basketball blogs
• Of 25 middle school girls I coached (head coach) in a city of 30,000 people, two earned NCAA Division 1 scholarships. 

7. Deliver a compelling opening. See above. 

8. When did you start to believe? A group of nobodies went 21-4 en route to the State Semifinals of the top basketball division in Massachusetts in 1973.

9. Disappear the elephant in the room. Where are your receipts? 

10.What's your hook and your edge? Get players' attention. Sixth grade tryout. A little girl comes up to me, "Coach, I am really excited to be here." She understood the core value, "Nothing great is ever accomplished without enthusiasm." 

Lagniappe. Chuck Daly said, "I'm a salesman." We all are. I sold healthier lifestyles as a physician. 

Here's the ChatGPT summary of "3-Minute Rule" 

Brant Pinvidic’s The 3-Minute Rule: Say Less to Get More from Any Pitch or Presentation focuses on simplifying your message to maximize impact. His core philosophy is: “Say less to get more.” The book offers a framework for creating concise, clear, and compelling pitches, with the idea that you should convey the essence of your idea or proposal in three minutes or less.

Key Concepts:

1. The 4 “WHAC” Questions:

   • What is it? Clearly define your idea or offering.
   • How does it work? Explain the mechanics in simple, accessible terms.
   • Are you sure? Prove the credibility of your idea with facts, logic, or data.
   • Can you do it? Demonstrate feasibility and your ability to execute.

2. Keep it Simple:

   • Avoid jargon, overexplaining, or overwhelming your audience with details.
   • Prioritize clarity over flashiness.

3. The Power of Storytelling:

   • Present your message in a logical, engaging sequence that keeps attention and builds curiosity.
   • Use emotional triggers strategically to connect with your audience.

4. The First Three Minutes Are Crucial:

   • People form opinions quickly, so the opening moments of a pitch should grab attention and provide a clear framework for understanding your idea.
   • The audience should leave with a clear takeaway, even if they don’t get all the details.

5. The “Information Hierarchy”:

   • Start with the most compelling and easy-to-digest information first.
   • Layer in supporting details as needed, only after the big-picture idea is clear.

Pinvidic provides numerous real-world examples and exercises to help readers refine their messaging. His approach is useful for entrepreneurs, coaches, and anyone needing to present ideas effectively, emphasizing that simplicity and structure lead to persuasion and results.

 

Basketball - Not Scoring Enough and Allowing Too Many Points?

Basketball is math. You get a certain number of offensive and defensive possessions and your goal is to maximize efficiency on each. The great Pete Newell summed it up, "get more and better shots than your opponents." 

As a coach, ask players to pick the top three ways YOUR team is not getting enough stops and scores. It's plain as day. 

Offense:

• Poor shot quality
• Poor shooting
• Excessive turnovers

Do the math. Let's say you have 70 possessions and turn the ball over 25 times. That leaves 45 "viable" possessions. If your team shooting percentage is 30 percent:

Two pointers - 10 for 30 = 20 points

Three pointers - 3 for 15 = 9 points 

Add in half a dozen free throws because "hey, we're shooters" and you score 35 points a game and lose. 

Defense:

• Problems containing the ball (allow too many layups)
• Poor transition defense (especially off live-ball turnovers)
• Excessive fouling

You're allowing easy baskets (layups), transition hoops (high points/possession) and free throws (highest points/shot)

An example from a HUDL stat log:

The math is killing you. 

1) Build skill. If you have to devote more time to fundamental skills, do it. Track practice results and demand improvement. 

2) Run some hard to defend actions. I see games without teams running any pick-and-roll. Pass it around, take a three. You're not Cleveland or the Celtics. 

Hard to defend actions:

• Pick-and-roll
• Back door cutting 
• Simple screening (e.g. back screens)
• Complex screens (screen-the-screen, staggers-Iverson, screen the roller - Spain)
• DHOs and Zoom (downscreen, DHO) 

Lagniappe. Back cut. 

View on Threads

Lagniappe 2. Study the classics. 

Using deception!

Rick Pitino teaching the "up and under" move pic.twitter.com/i97Z8BHUYt

— The Courtside Vault (@CourtsideVault) December 31, 2024