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Monday, July 28, 2025

Basketball - "We've Always Done It That Way"

"We've always done it that way" symbolizes entrenched "thinking" and opposes progress. 

Some examples: 

  • random practice versus blocked practice 
  • "skeleton offense" 
  • basketball conditioning with distance running 
  • shooting without pressure
  • Brian McCormick's "fake fundamentals." 

Random versus Blocked practice

"Blocked practice (practicing the same skill under the same conditions) leads to more rapid gains in performance but limited transfer when variability is introduced." Layup lines do not simulate chasedown layups in pressure situations. 

Example: shooting free throws is an important skill. Seldom does a player shoot more than three consecutively. Often players shoot when fatigued or under pressure. Interspersing free throw practice amidst conditioning activities or shooting with movement creates variability and "game conditions."

Skeleton Offense

Coaches sometimes introduce offense without defense. They run players through patterns without defensive disruption. Adding defense requires good spacing, setting up and cutting urgently, and on-time, on-target passing. Finding balance, efficiency, and competition are a constant challenge. 

Small-sided games (SSGs) get more touches, allows for constraints, and provides defense and competition. 

Conditioning

After a disheartening loss in 1971, we spent an entire practice running. Laps and sprints. It was punitive without benefit. Conditioning wasn't the problem. A better team took us apart. In the immortal words of Director Ron Howard, "What idiot directed that scene?" 

Condition with a basketball. Every coach has combination drills. Here's one of my favorites.


Emphasize sprinting to the ball, calling out the receiver's name, and crisp passing. Five minutes of action means nearly continuous running. 

Shooting without Pressure

We've all coached players who can knock down shots in 'catch and shoot' drills in practice but can't score with a defender in the same area code. Add constraints like defense, time pressure, or performance pressure. For example, with "Bill Bradley/Beat the Pro" players get one point for a make and the Pro gets 3 for your miss. You have to make 11 before missing three. A harder version is make 15 before missing two. 

Brian McCormick’s “Fake Fundamentals” – Examples

  1. Three-Man Weave

  2. Defensive Slide Drills Without a Ball or Offensive Player

  3. Shell Drill Without Live Play

  4. Laps and Lines in Practice

  5. Closeouts with Choppy Steps

  6. Form Shooting with No Defense or Movement

  7. Passing Drills Without Decision-Making

  8. Suicides or “Conditioning” Without a Ball

  9. Pivoting Drills Without Pressure

  10. Stationary Ball-Handling Drills

  11. Layup Lines as a Warm-Up

  12. Box-Out Drills Without Live Rebounding

McCormick challenges these drills because they often lack context, decision-making, and transfer to real game situations. Many coaches do not agree. Make your own decisions. 

Lagniappe. Analytics can support our coaching decisions. Apply analytics with goals of raising points/possession. 

Lagniappe 2. Art imitates life in this quote from "The Burning Room" from Michael Connelly. 

"He firmly believed and it had been his repeated experience that the answers to most cases are hidden in the details." Lawyers say that when you have the facts on your side, argue the facts. And when you don't argue the law. Get the details on your side in coaching - skill development, basketball IQ, strength and conditioning, resilience. 

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