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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?  

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