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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. 

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