Playoff basketball elevates intensity, physicality, and toughness. Examine key plays or sequences that win games and reinforce core concepts. Here are a handful from the first round of the Magic/Celtics.
Young players and less experienced coaches benefit from watching video to assist building basketball IQ and player development. Find something to share with players.
It's a shoulders game. Wagner gets the position and burns Brown on the drive.
Get paint touches and ball reversals. Brown attacks the paint and finds an open corner three for White.
"Spacing is offense and offense is spacing." Hauser drives baseline and the 45 cut for Kornet isn't open. But Pritchard lifts to restore the spacing and gets rewarded.
The ball has energy. Within seven seconds, starting on defense, all five Celtics touch the ball and Pritchard drains another three.
"...a game of separation." Pritchard gets separation and finishes with a combination of handles and footwork.
Draw 2 and kick. Pritchard penetrates and help comes. This opens huge space for a White corner three.
Miscommunication on defense creates easy shot. The Celtics get caught in a failed switch and Isaac gets an easy two.
Maintain the dribble and a play may declare itself. Holiday surveys the floor and buries a three.
"I'm a salesman." Sell players that defense starts with ball pressure. Holiday forces a turnover and converts the ensuing basket.
A shot fake is "a shot not taken." Brown acts the 'second mouse' and leaves something of Wagner's on the floor.
Lagniappe. Stop wasting time on what we cannot control.
Marcus Freeman said, "You waste time daydreaming about an uncertain future. Who cares?"
— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) April 19, 2025
"The future is uncertain. So focus on being the best version of you today."
No one wins tomorrow.
They win today - one rep, one habit at a time.
(@tbhorka)pic.twitter.com/5iCBTGWbn5
Lagniappe 2. Coach Dags with important principles about player development, personnel structure, and the need to "manipulate spacing."
SHARED PRINCIPLES
— Steve Dagostino (@DagsBasketball) April 19, 2025
College basketball teams have more roster turnover than ever. The luxury of playing with teammates for 3-4 years is gone. I think the next big step in Player Development at the college level is learning how to use Player Development to expedite shared… pic.twitter.com/LwlbtqSaej
Lagniappe 3. Adjust the spots to your level. The drill demands skill and consistency and incorporates pressure.
MONEY BALL SHOOTING
— Hoops Companion 🏀 Resources for Coaches (@Hoops_Companion) April 18, 2025
5 spot drill, 5 shots per spot
Shots 1-4 are worth 1 point per make
Shot 5 is worth 3 points
First to 25 wins
