Inhabit specifics. There is no et cetera. Many players cannot fill in the blanks. Compare your basketball knowledge now to 'growing up'. Day and night.
1) Cutting. "Basketball is a game of SEPARATION." Lazy cuts, failure to set up cuts, improper use of screens all are 'fails'. Cutting means cut urgently. "Set up your cut" is a Bilas "Toughness" criterion. "The ball is a camera" and has to see you to find you.
2) Passing. "Fall in love with easy." See the floor, scanning for players in better position to score than you. Do not pass or dribble into traffic. Learn to make the right pass for varied situations. Certain passes are “steal me” passes - wing to top, top to low post, throwing through hands.
3) Shooting. As Jay Bilas reminds players, "It's not your shot, it's our shot." Don Kelbick says, "Think shot first." Get 7's (high quality shots) and ROB shots (in range, open, balanced). The degree of "contestedness" often determines the shot quality (how open are you?)
4) Turnover prevention. "The ball is gold" or "value the ball." "Turnovers kill dreams" and are zero percent possessions. If your habit is turning the ball over, then sitting on the bench is a certainty.
5) "Everybody plays defense." - Coach Bob Knight How does that look?
- Know your assignment.
- Contain the ball.
- Deny dribble or pass penetration.
- Challenge shots without fouling.
- Communicate - early, loud, and often.
- Be alert to conversion - defense to offense and offense to defense.
- Block out or rebound.
Make a positive, unselfish attitude your standard.
- Play with joy.
- Team first.
- Strive to make everyone around you better.
Lagniappe.
Lagniappe. Do you have managers? We were blessed to have two GREAT managers in high school, John Hunneman and Andy Johnson. Teammates. They helped us get edges with shot charts and game statistical analysis.
Lagniappe 2. Growing up in a 1-4 high system, the progression to "Horns" is natural. It opens the lane and has no "natural" weak side.
Is horns the most perfect alignment? pic.twitter.com/3TqkQH5naZ
— Matt Hackenberg (@CoachHackGO) August 2, 2025
