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Wednesday, June 18, 2025

Basketball - The Enemy Within, the Harbaughs' Four Factors and Ours

Follow the Harbaugh brothers thread to their four "silent forces" that compromise teams:

1) Division within (blame, complaints, excuses, etc.)

2) Noise (from media and others)

3) Fatigue (how do we measure that?)

4) Complacency ("the wind blows hardest at the top of the mountain."

Everyone has their own version of "deadly sins." I offer these:

1) Selfishness. Selfishness puts our individual wants, needs, and desires above those of the team. It's the first of the deadly S's - selfishness, softness, and sloth. Preach team as the primary core value. 

2) Envy. Like selfishness, envy can become contagious. Players, families, and entourages can envy teammates with more minutes, role, and recognition. Ego is the enemy. Madeleine Blais' excellent "In These Girls Hope Is a Muscle" addresses this brilliantly. 

3) Distraction. Success demands focus. The "noise" listed above counts as distraction and other issues (e.g. problems with significant others) can likewise pose problems. 

4) Partying. Player alcohol and substance use keep coaches awake at night. "There's nothing to do in this town." Coaches only have so much control of immature and self-destructive behavior. Strong leadership within the team can help. "This is who we are. That is who we are not." Coach Saban says players need to understand what must be done and what must not...and then do it or keep themselves from it. 

Lagniappe. Screen, give, and go. Great stuff from Chris Oliver. 

Lagniappe 2. Few actions inspire us more than hearing others express confidence in us. 


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