Tuesday, September 30, 2025

Basketball Silos

Despite a wealth of information, sometimes that knowledge remains compartmentalized because of "silos."

What are silos?

Organizational silos represent isolated pockets within an organization where departments or teams operate independently, often to the detriment of seamless communication and collaboration.

Silos in government, especially national defense, contributed to vulnerability to terrorism. 

Why do they exist?

Agencies were reluctant to share information with others. Part of that reticence is known as "turf." That can relate to pride, desire for recognition, or sometimes entrenched policy. 

In basketball, silos result from "me first" mentality. 

What are the consequences of silos? 

Silos create underperformance. An assistant may feel unwilling to share with the head coach. Upperclassmen may not help younger players out of fear of losing playing time or status. 

How do we identify them?

Silos can be hard to detect. We don't know what we don't know. Coaching girls, I found value in having a female assistant who might communicate with players in a different style or relate better. 

How do we resolve the issue? 

Tackle silos head on. They can be persistent and failure to address them can result in system failures. 

Here's a brief summary of how silos hurt basketball teams:

How Silos Hurt Basketball Teams

  1. Poor Communication

    • Guards, wings, and posts stop talking. Missed switches, blown coverages, and wasted possessions pile up.

  2. Fragmented Goals

    • Each group chases its own agenda (e.g., “I got my points” vs. “We got the stop”), instead of the team’s scoreboard. When the scorebook becomes more important than the scoreboard, trouble follows. 

  3. Mistrust Across Roles

    • Shooters don’t believe the pass will come. Defenders think nobody has their back. Trust erodes.

  4. Slow Adaptation

    • Without cross-unit collaboration, in-game adjustments take too long. Opponents exploit gaps.

  5. Duplication of Effort

    • Two players guard the same man while another is left open — wasted energy from lack of coordination.

  6. No Shared Language

    • If the bigs call screens one way and the guards another, breakdowns are inevitable. Teams need a unified lexicon, not "this is how we did it there." 

  7. Stifled Creativity

    • Isolation of roles kills synergy. The best actions — drive-kick-swing, screen-the-screener — require tight interconnection.

  8. Blame Culture

    • Each “silo” points fingers at others: offense blames defense, starters blame bench, upperclassmen blame younger players. 

  9. Inconsistent Standards

    • When groups hold themselves to different expectations (effort, shot selection, discipline), the culture fractures. "The standard is the standard."

  10. Loss of Resilience

  • When adversity hits, silos make it harder to rally together — the team frays instead of uniting. You're lucky if you haven't seen a team fracture. 

Silos are the opposite of teamwork as individuals or cliques keep information to themselves. 

Lagniappe. "Movement kills defenses." So, what resuscitates them? 

Lagniappe 2. General Stanley McChrystal wrote an important book, Team of Teams about US Intelligence in Iraq and how eliminating silos helped improve performance. Successful coaches get players to believe team first. 

📘 Team of Teams — One-Page Cheat Sheet (from ChatGPT Plus)

Core Idea

  • The world is now complex (fast, interconnected, unpredictable).

  • Traditional siloed, hierarchical organizations are too slow and rigid.

  • To adapt, large groups must operate more like small, networked teams: fast, connected, and empowered.

🔑 Principles

  1. From Silos to Network

    • Replace “command of teams” with a team of teams: interconnected, transparent, and trust-based.

  2. Shared Consciousness

    • Make information broadly available (“duty to share” instead of “need to know”).

    • Build a common picture so all teams see the bigger mission, not just their piece.

  3. Empowered Execution

    • Push authority downward.

    • With context + trust, frontline teams can make fast, informed decisions.

  4. Embedding & Lateral Ties

    • Rotate/insert people across teams to build personal trust and break barriers.

  5. Leader as Gardener

    • Leaders set culture, trust, and systems — they nurture instead of micromanaging moves.

  6. Adaptability over Efficiency

    • Optimize for resilience, agility, and fast learning rather than pure efficiency.

⚙️ Practices that Broke Silos

  • Daily open O&I briefings: info shared across all units.

  • Cross-team embedding: people placed in other teams to bridge.

  • Office design for interaction: physical and structural changes to encourage flow.

  • Rewarding system wins, not local wins: incentives aligned to shared mission.

🧭 Application Beyond Military

  • Corporations: break silos between departments (e.g. marketing ↔ engineering).

  • Healthcare: cross-functional care teams instead of isolated specialists.

  • Sports: integrate scouts, analytics, coaches, and players into a shared view.

⚠️ Watchouts

  • Too much decentralization risks chaos.

  • Entrenched culture and incentives resist change.

  • Some industries require standardization and compliance.


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Monday, September 29, 2025

Abandon a 9 to 5 Attitude

Draw from ideas around you. Are you on LinkedIn? Every day leaders share thought-provoking ideas. Some apply to coaching. Are you complacent?

Excerpts: 

1) Stop letting opportunities pass you by.

2) To whom much is given, much is required‼️ But you can’t keep asking for more while staying exactly the same.🙄

3) “Comfort is the enemy of growth.”
If you’re too comfortable, you’re probably not growing.

As a player, do extra. Study the best players in the league. Why are they the best? Former Patriots Director of Football Research Ernie Adams says, "If you really want to know...write it down." 

Ask yourself, "How do I earn a role? How can I improve? What hinders me? 

What skill do I need to get me and keep me on the court? 

Here's the deal. "Champions do extra." The unrequired work separates exceptional from excellent, excellent from very good. 

Lagniappe. "Our best players are our hardest workers." - Dan Campbell 
Lagniappe 2. Every coach talks about the value of repetitions. It's the same with our emphasis, our teaching. Coach told us again and again, "Sacrifice" and "I'm pleased but I'm not satisfied." Our choices define us. 

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Sunday, September 28, 2025

Learn About Basketball and the "Guardiola Way" - Space, Time, and Emotion

Study greatness. That's among the greatest messages available. Pep Guardiola's "Barca" teams dominated the soccer world for almost two decades. How?

In Inverting the Pyramid Jonathan Wilson notes the Brazilian distinction between futebal d'arte and futebal de resultados, the conflict between style and results.

The book applies across countries and even sports:

Universal Value for Coaches (even outside soccer)

  • Adaptation: Strategies must evolve, never staying static.

  • Balance: Seek harmony between attack and defense, risk and caution.

  • Learning across borders: Innovation spreads by borrowing and revising ideas from others.

Pep Guardiola is known as one of soccer’s great innovators, but many of his ideas translate directly to basketball. He teaches principles about space, tempo, decision-making, and emotional control. Here are a few lessons worth stealing.

Spacing Wins Games

Spacing emphasis isn't novel. Chuck Daly preached, "Offense is spacing and spacing is offense." Guardiola’s juego de posición—positional play— stretches the defense by occupying the right zones. Basketball has its own version: 5-out spacing, filled the corners, or locating a shooter in the short corner. Spacing opens lanes, creates easier reads, and simplifies the game.

Create and Exploit Advantages

Guardiola talks about “superiorities”—numerical, positional, and qualitative. Basketball lives on the same principle:

  • A 2-on-1 in transition.

  • A guard posting a smaller defender.

  • A scorer isolated against the wrong matchup. The best teams create these advantages deliberately and cash them in.

Value Every Possession

Preach playing "possession by possession." Soccer possession describes ball control. In basketball, it means turnovers, pace, and rebounding. Every possession matters. Teams that protect the ball, control tempo, and clean the glass win the math.

Train for Chaos

Guardiola’s training sessions train complexity. Small-sided games—3-on-3, 4-on-4—force players to read, decide, and act under pressure. Random practice sharpens decision-making beyond scripted drills.

Be Flexible

Guardiola will change formations on the fly. Basketball coaches can shift, too—switch from man to zone, change ball-screen coverage, or alter tempo. The game is dynamic; changing strategies requires players with high basketball IQ. 

Let the System Elevate Players

Guardiola’s teams don’t rely on "hero ball." Teams thrive when the system illuminates the stars. The Spurs’ ball movement, the Warriors’ split actions, or a crisp motion offense share truth: structure creates freedom.

Control Emotions

Finally, Guardiola talks about “emotional superiority.” In basketball, it’s poise—at the free throw line, in the middle of a run, or in the huddle. Calm teams execute. They throw the ball away less, make fewer mental errors, and commit fewer 'stupid fouls'. 

Control the game by mastering space (spacing), time (possessions), and emotion (composure). Guardiola’s principles are universal. And basketball, maybe more than any sport, rewards the teams that master them.

Lagniappe. Learn and share. From the weekly "Brain Food" newsletter... Investor Charlie Munger:  “I think that a life properly lived is just learn, learn, learn all the time.”

Lagniappe 2. Many issues can bring teams down. Lay out and demand high expectations and standards. 


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Saturday, September 27, 2025

Professionalism - Extend It Across the Spectrum of Sports

Professionalism is measured in the “minor leagues of life.” If you can’t take small assignments seriously, you won’t suddenly rise to excellence in the spotlight.

We know professionalism when we see it. Left fielder B.J. Surhoff backed up a throw from right field to third base in the eighth inning of a meaningless blowout at Fenway Park in game 161. Both the Orioles and the Red Sox were playing out the string. Nobody would have noticed if he hadn't. Professionalism means doing what is expected when nobody watches. 

Pre-adolescents can be professional. 

  • Show up on time. 
  • Be mentally and physically prepared.
  • Have spare gear or medication if needed.
  • Have water and/or a sports drink with you. 
  • Bring full attention. 
  • Energize yourself and teammates. 
  • Be the hardest worker.
Example. After a hard loss, one player sought to take responsibility for a loss. Her teammate said, "No. We win as a team and we lose as a team." Empathy is professional. 

Coaches can be professional.
  • Develop a practice schedule, ideally written. 
  • Study the game.
  • Work on teaching methods - teaching eye contact and focus, call and response, the Socratic Method of questioning.
  • Treat players and families with respect. 
  • Set clear expectations. 
Example. Years ago at a parent meeting, a parent complained about a lack of teaching. Another mother spoke, "I'm at every practice. There is a lot of teaching. There may not be enough listening." 

Officials can be professional. 
  • Communicate calls clearly. 
  • Understand that players care. 
  • Keep players safe.
  • Respect players and coaches and give your best effort. 
Example. I recently attended a game (not basketball) where one team clearly committed a violation that impacted the outcome. The opposing coach asked the official why the correct call was not made. The official told the coach, that they didn't want that call to decide the outcome. Players were visibly upset after the close contest. Players' feelings don't come as JV or varsity emotion. 

Professionalism isn’t about age, status, or paycheck. It’s about attitude, preparation, and respect. We know it when we see it — and others are always watching, whether we notice or not.

Lagniappe. Here's a quote from Michael Connelly's Nightshade. "It was called If I’d Known Then. Tash told him it was a collection of letters women in their twenties and thirties had written to their younger selves." What would you tell a younger player or coach version of yourself that would make a difference. 

Lagniappe 2. Ask players what makes a good defender. 

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Friday, September 26, 2025

Coaching Is Teaching: Six Lessons for Basketball

Doug Lemov’s The Coach’s Guide to Teaching emphasizes that coaching is teaching. The best coaches aren’t drill instructors; they shape how players think, learn, and remember. Here are six lessons from his work, transferred to the basketball court.

1. Attention Is the Starting Point

In basketball, the ball creates energy. Coaches who keep players’ eyes and minds sharp get the most from practice. Mike Krzyzewski used to start Duke practices by demanding laser focus from the first drill. If a player drifted—even on a warm-up passing line—he stopped it cold. Why? Because attention on the “easy” reps translates to attention when the game is on the line.

What we did. Energize practice with ballhandling first. Dribble tag inside the arc with constraints, such as one minute opposite hand intervals, builds skill and competition. 

2. Memory Drives Learning

A player doesn’t improve because they did a drill once. They improve because they return to it, recall it, and use it. John Wooden called this “repetition without repetition.” His UCLA teams worked on the same fundamentals daily, but always with small tweaks. That way, players weren’t just going through the motions—they built recall that held up in different contexts, like a guard recognizing the angle of a screen in real time.

What we did. We added constraints. Pressure full-court scrimmaging went five versus seven, sometimes without dribbling allowed to demand pass and cut mentality. 

3. Feedback Must Be Precise and Manageable

“Stay low,” “active hands,” “see both - ball and man.” Short, specific cues land. Brad Stevens at Butler practiced calm, surgical feedback. During timeouts, he’d often give one adjustment—“force baseline here”—and trust his players to execute. Too much feedback overwhelms. Feedback has to match the pace of the game.

What we did. We often provided written feedback via parents using 'sandwich technique', a correction or coaching point between praise.

4. Transfer Matters More Than Drill Mastery

Hitting fifteen free throws in a row at practice feels good. But can you knock one down after sprinting the floor and getting fouled hard? Geno Auriemma designs UConn practices where the drill ends with fatigue, contact, and chaos—because that’s where real games live. Skills mastered randomly help win championships.

What we did. Players love to compete - scrimmaging, drills with winners, and underdogs with a chance to beat 'star' players in shooting contests. 

5. Culture Shapes Learning

Great basketball programs aren’t just teaching plays—they’re teaching players how to learn. The 2008 Boston Celtics lived by Ubuntu, a culture of trust and unselfishness. Kevin Garnett demanded effort, Paul Pierce demanded precision, and Doc Rivers demanded accountability. Teammates pushed each other because the culture made mistakes safe but effort non-negotiable. Turn practice into progress.

What we did. We shared achievement stories, often about women. Arlene Blum climbing Annapurna (over 8,000 meters) with an all-female crew. Frances Perkins became the first woman cabinet secretary (Labor) during the FDR administration. Rosalind Franklin, the less well-known scientist owned DNA discovery, separate from Watson and Crick. 

6. Teaching Is Deliberate

Basketball demands core technique, but also improvisation like jazz. Wooden famously scripted practices down to the minute. Every rep had a purpose, every drill an emphasis. Even huddles were planned—what to prioritize and reinforce. Coaches as teachers raise not only players’ skills but their basketball IQ.

What we did. 

Basketball isn’t just a game of talent. It’s a game of attention, memory, and transfer. Coaching is teaching, and we provided laminated handouts for key teaching points and composition notebooks for notetaking. 

Lagniappe. Coach Tony Miller shares a great culture idea from his program. "What have you done?" 

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Thursday, September 25, 2025

Controversy in Basketball

Never believe that "all publicity is good publicity." 

When the office of baseball Commissioner was created in 1920 (in response to the 1919 Black Sox scandal), Kenesaw Mountain Landis was given sweeping powers. The Commissioner was empowered to act in cases that, even if not specifically covered by the rulebook, threatened the game’s integrity. The wording granted him authority to act “in the best interests of the game of baseball.”

The closest clause in professional basketball is, “Detrimental to the NBA.”

Let's think about examples of detrimental. 

Character

The NBA forced owner Donald Sterling out after overtly racist comments were revealed on tape. With the technology available today, what amounts to proof going forward? Artificial intelligence moves the goalposts daily as deepfakes are widely available. 

Sports mechanics 

Sports mechanics "fix" games. We've all seen games where a player inexplicably plays poorly. We presume that is the random 'off night'. Revelations that Tim Donaghy officiated games to influence outcomes showed fractured integrity. 

Gambling

With the rise of sports gambling, the boundaries of the unknown unknown have virtually disappeared. From ChatGPT Plus:

The NBA’s Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) contains specific requirements related to anti-gambling training:

  • Annual “anti-gambling training session”:
    All players are required each season to attend one anti-gambling education session, conducted either by their team or by the NBA.

  • Rookie Transition Program / Team Awareness Meetings:
    As part of broader orientation and awareness programs, rookies in particular receive sessions that cover gambling awareness (alongside topics like media, mental health, substance use, etc.).

  • Penalties for nonattendance:
    If a player fails (without just cause) to attend the anti-gambling training session, the CBA allows for fines (e.g. $100,000) ATL Hawks Fanatic. For missing a Rookie Transition Program, there can be suspensions.

Thus, the education isn’t just optional or informal — it is contractually mandated.

Speaking out

Supporting freedom of speech means supporting people's right to speak even when their opinions differ from ours. Speaking freely can have consequences - upsetting fans, management, or ownership. In other words, "speech, like action, has consequences." 

In response to NBA players speaking out, one political pundit proclaimed, "shut up and dribble." Invariably strong comments inflame passions on both sides of an argument. 

Contracts

With team salary aprons and collectively-bargained maximum contracts, controversy has dissipated. Experts and fans may judge contracts as overpriced or value, but it "is what it is." Athletes get paid as entertainers. Billionaire Warren Buffett says that teachers and nurses may add more value to society than he does, but society doesn't pay that way. 

None of us can do what professional athletes can do. If we could, then we could get paid that way. 

Officiating, Rules, and League Structure

Basketball is hard to officiate. It's not like baseball where machines can call balls and strikes. Tweaking the challenge system is always possible, but what is better or fairer? 

The three-point shot came about not only because of the ABA but because of the physicality of huge players ever-seeking advantage in proximity to the basket. Some have argued that the Rudy Tomjanovich/Kermit Washington incident (1977) added momentum for the three-pointer. 

Will four point shots come to fruition? Should the size of the court increase or the height of the baskets? Should Hack-a-Shaq rules be further modified? Should FIBA and US rules be consolidated? 

Is the "In-Season Tournament" meaningful? Are penalties for 'load management' too strict or not strict enough? 

All basketball isn't pro ball. If we want more access for more young people to play, we need more coaches, less expensive fees for developmental leagues, and more sanity from fans and families whose abuse of officials is driving them out. 

Lagniappe. Do we have enough weak side action in our offense? 

Lagniappe 2. So much goes into coaching. Are we developing enough capable young coaches? 

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Wednesday, September 24, 2025

Basketball - "Whom Do You Want to Be?"

1. Decide Who You Want to Be

Columnist David Brooks reminds us that identity is a choice: “you have to decide who you want to be.” 

That decision plays out in every arena—home, business, or sport.

  • Teams decide whether they’re satisfied with “just competing” or whether they will pursue signature wins that define their season.

  • Individuals decide whether to settle for average, or to be known for relentlessness, preparation, and impact.

Signature wins don’t happen by accident. They reflect an identity decision: we are going to be the kind of team that rises in big moments.

2. Kobe Bryant as a Case Study

Kobe chose to be relentless, not only scoring, but committing to elite defense. He set his identity and lived it. He was All-NBA Defense first team nine times and second team three times. 

His defensive pillars match what it takes for both signature wins and signature lives:

  • Aggressive – Not waiting for the game to come to him.

  • Attacking – Turning defense into offense.

  • Aware – Seeing screens, rotations, mismatches.

  • Energized – Sprinting back in transition, late in games.

  • Focused – Locking in on the assignment.

  • Adaptive – Adjusting coverages, reading tendencies.

  • Prepared – Studying film, knowing opponents’ habits.

  • Reading Offense – Anticipating before the ball is caught.

  • Passion – Loving the grind, embracing the challenge.

3. Translating to Your Teams

Your signature wins aren’t flukes. They arise because players and coaches decided “who they wanted to be”:

  • Aggressive defenders who pressure elite opponents.

  • Adaptive attackers. 

  • Energized team defense, getting stops that demoralize rivals.

  • Prepared scouting and game plans that neutralize strengths.

  • Passion from leaders with urgency and pride.

That identity yields wins over opponents that define seasons and give your program credibility.

4. Lessons for Athletes, Coaches, and Beyond

  • At home: Choose whether you’ll be a source of stability, patience, or encouragement.

  • In business: Decide if your “signature wins” are about quarterly results or about building enduring trust and culture.

  • In sport: Identity leads to behavior, behavior leads to habits, and habits yield signature wins.

Signature wins aren’t just about scoreboards. They are the outward proof of an inward decision: who we chose to be.

Lagniappe. Cellphone use on game day degrades performance. Pushback would be enormous. 

Presence Alone Can Distract

  • Even just having a phone visible, without using it, can diminish performance on complex tasks—suggesting phones may remain mental distractions until out of sight. (Reference) TIME+1. 

Bottom Line: Does Avoiding Cellphone Use Help?

Yes—there is clear evidence supporting the idea that abstaining from smartphone or social media use before training or competition:

  • It helps preserve decision-making accuracy and cognitive focus.

  • It potentially ensures better physical and technical performance, especially in skill-dependent sports.

  • It supports optimal recovery and sleep quality, indirectly bolstering performance sustainability.

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Tuesday, September 23, 2025

Basketball - "Ernie Cards"

"Trust but verify," said President Reagan. Former Patriots' consultant Ernie Adams broke out "Ernie Cards" each Friday in preparation for NFL game day. Some called Adams "Belichick's Belichick," a man with an encyclopedic football knowledge and memory. Challenging players is never optional.

As coaches, we put players in position to succeed by learning, teaching, and finding ways to seek technical, tactical, and psychological edges. Curiosity helps. 

"Ernie Cards" posed situations to challenge players and help "get them on the same page." All of us have lost games because players made mental mistakes or got "brain lock" in critical situations. 

Tailor to high school, college, or professional level. Here's a sample selection via ChatGPT Plus. Every coach will generate their preferred answers. 

🏀 High School Basketball Ernie Cards

End-of-Game

  • We’re down 2 with 10 seconds left, no timeout. What do we run?

  • We’re up 3 with 7 seconds left. Do we foul or defend the 3?

  • Tie game, 1 shot left. Who gets the ball and why?

Defense

  • Your man sets a ball screen. Do you fight over, go under, or switch?

  • Shooter hits 3 in a row. What’s your adjustment?

  • Star player has 4 fouls. How do you attack him?

Offense

  • You’re double-teamed. Where’s the open teammate?

  • 2-on-1 fast break. Do you pass or finish?

  • Shot clock (or game clock) at 5 seconds. What’s your move?

Special Situations

  • Baseline inbound, 3 seconds left. What’s our go-to play?

  • We need a stop. What defense do we call?

  • Opponent switches to zone. What’s our first action?

Mindset & Team Play

  • You just made a turnover. What’s next play?

  • Teammate misses a rotation. How do you respond?

  • Opponent goes on a 10–0 run. How do we get back under control?

How to Use

  • Practice: Coach pulls a random card mid-drill → players execute scenario.

  • Huddles/Film: Quiz players, rapid-fire style.

  • Gamified: Split into squads—correct answers = points. Wrong answers → quick sprint or pushups.

The Patriots had a relatively secretive process, so no images are available off the Internet. There's a legend about a phrase, "Pink Stripes," on Adams' white board. Adams said he would take that to his grave. It might mean laundry pickup or indictment of NFL officials. We'll never know. 

Lagniappe. Measure it to improve it. "Objectives and key results were embedded in the management system at Intel, but they were also a philosophy, a seminal teaching system. We were all taught that if you measured it, things got better."- John Doerr, "Measure What Matters"

Lagniappe 2. Off-ball stagger for 3. Ryan Pannone always a great sharer.

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Monday, September 22, 2025

Basketball - Ask Yourself One Question Daily

"September is the new preseason." - Steve Young

"Make it challenging. Make it interesting." - Ernie Adams

"Don't ever let players go on 'cruise control' in practice." - Bill Walsh

As a coach, player, or anyone who believes in putting the team first, ask one question: "what can I do today to help this team win?" 

*Digression: What's expertise? Belichick's Belichick, Ernie Adams, says "know and explain what's actually happening on the field." He uses the example of a receiver running an 'option route'. 

An option route in football is when a receiver doesn’t run a predetermined route but instead chooses from multiple possibilities based on the defense’s coverage.

  • Concept: The quarterback and receiver agree beforehand on a “menu” of possible routes (e.g., slant, out, curl, go). The receiver then “reads” the defender’s leverage or the defensive coverage and adjusts.

  • Example:

    • If the defender is playing inside leverage, the receiver might break outside.

    • If the defender is off and soft, the receiver might run a quick hitch.

    • Against a blitz look, the receiver might run a quick slant to give the QB a fast outlet.

  • Requirement: QB and receiver must see the defense the same way in real time — otherwise it leads to miscommunication and turnovers.

"Structural Possibilities"

Skill

  • Principle: Practice matters. As Ernie Adams said, “This practice stuff actually works.”

  • Impact Input: Shot selection. The fastest way to improve is taking better shots, not just more shots. The best players should take the best shots. Bob Knight: “Just because I want you on the floor doesn’t mean I want you to shoot.” Corollary—do more of what works, less of what doesn’t.

Strategy

  • Principle: Become good at what we do a lot.

  • Impact Input: Define our edge and exploit weaknesses. Sun Tzu wrote, “Avoid what is strong and strike at what is weak.” Know our advantage and protect our soft spot. Example—don’t challenge Patrick Ewing at the rim; attack elsewhere.

Physicality

  • Principle: Sport rewards athletic explosiveness. If you’re not gifted, catch up; if you are, get further ahead.

  • Impact Input: In-season strength training. It’s no longer optional—every high school player in America lifts. Sustained development separates those who stay strong in November from those who fade.

Psychology

  • Principle: Focus, toughness, resilience. The “mental game” is underrated.

  • Impact Input: Daily mental reps. Ten to fifteen minutes a day on visualization, breathing, or reflection pays dividends. If the mental is to the physical in a 4:1 ratio (Bob Knight), why ignore the four?

🧠 Mechanisms: Why Mindfulness Might Help Athletes

  • Attention control: Mindfulness trains focus on the present moment, reducing “chatter” about past mistakes or future worries.

  • Emotional regulation: Improves ability to manage stress, frustration, and anxiety during competition.

  • Reduced rumination: Helps athletes move on after errors (“next play” mindset).

  • Mind–body awareness: Heightens awareness of tension, breathing, and posture, useful in high-pressure moments.

📊 Objective Research Findings

1. Meta-Analyses

  • Baltzell & Akhtar (2014): Systematic review found mindfulness interventions linked to better concentration, reduced anxiety, and greater psychological flexibility in athletes.

  • Noetel et al. (2019, Perspectives on Psychological Science): Across sports and performance domains, mindfulness-based interventions improved attention regulation and emotional resilience, with moderate effect sizes.

2. Randomized Controlled Trials (RCTs)

  • John et al. (2011, Journal of Clinical Sport Psychology): Collegiate athletes who completed a 6-week mindfulness program showed significant improvements in flow states (being “in the zone”) compared to controls.

  • Dehghani et al. (2018, Frontiers in Psychology): Soccer players practicing mindfulness had lower pre-competition anxiety and better performance consistency.

  • Harris et al. (2021, Psychology of Sport and Exercise): Mindfulness training reduced burnout symptoms in elite athletes.

3. Brain and Physiology Evidence

  • fMRI studies (Tang et al., 2015; Chiesa et al., 2011) show mindfulness alters activity in the anterior cingulate cortex and prefrontal cortex, regions tied to focus and emotion regulation.

  • Heart rate variability (HRV) — a marker of stress resilience — often improves after mindfulness training in athletes (Ivarsson et al., 2018).

⚖️ Limitations and Nuance

  • Benefits are usually moderate, not miraculous — mindfulness helps but doesn’t replace technical skill or fitness.

  • Consistency matters: Gains require regular practice (like strength training).

  • Works best for attention-demanding and high-pressure sports (e.g., volleyball, basketball, golf, archery).

✅ Objective takeaway:

There is solid evidence (from RCTs, meta-analyses, and physiological measures) that mindfulness improves focus, stress regulation, flow, and resilience in athletes. It doesn’t guarantee peak performance every time, but it measurably strengthens the mental side of sport. 

1a. Get eight hours of sleep a night. Sleep improves athletic performance. It's not open to debate. 

Summary: Make a difference with the obvious. 
  • Take better shots.
  • Press your edge. Avoid opponent strengths, attack weaknesses.
  • Physical training in-season is not optional.
  • Develop your mental game. Mindfulness works.
  • Get eight hours of sleep.
Lagniappe. One enduring sentence, "It takes what it takes." There's no wiggle room.

Lagniappe 2. Great sets create multiple options. 

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Sunday, September 21, 2025

Basketball Rules to Learn Early

As an ambitious young player, what should you learn early? 

  1. Team First
  2. Control what you can control 
  3. Attention is the first price paid
  4. Learn every day - be coachable
  5. Make those around you better
  6. Impact winning
  7. Attitude is choice
  8. Game day is too late to start preparing
  9. Enhance your value 
  10. Never be a distraction

Team First

Selfishness destroys teams. As Adam Grant wrote in Give and Take, the most successful people are ambitious givers. Jalen Hurts summed it up: “Contribution over credit.” Great teams thrive when players value the team above themselves.

“It’s amazing what can be accomplished when nobody cares who gets the credit.” – Anonymous

Control What You Can Control

You control less than you think. But you always control your attitude, your choices, and your effort. That’s the foundation. Everything else is noise.

“Control what you can control.” – Woodenism

Attention is the First Price

Nobody can learn without attention. You can’t follow the team’s philosophy or execute the plan without it. Attention is a skill—one sharpened by mindfulness, film study, and intentional practice.

“Attention is the beginning of devotion.” – Mary Oliver

Learn Every Day

Coach Bob Knight said, “the mental is to the physical in a ratio of four to one.” Growth requires a plan and the discipline to track it. The game keeps evolving—you must evolve, too.

“When you stop learning, you stop leading.” – John Wooden

Make Those Around You Better

The best players elevate teammates. Skills matter, but so do the intangibles—energy, toughness, and work ethic. Winners are 'force multipliers'. 

“A rising tide lifts all boats.” – John F. Kennedy

Impact Winning

Games come down to “scores and stops.” Top players are possession enders (scoring, rebounding, defending) and possession controllers (assists, decision-making). They tilt games by valuing each possession.

“The scoreboard takes care of itself.” – Bill Walsh

Attitude is Contagious

Positivity radiates. Negativity spreads. Choose which one you’ll bring into the huddle, the locker room, and onto the court.

“Your energy introduces you before you speak.” – Unknown

Preparation Separates Winners

Preparation is both mental and physical—film work, hydration, nutrition, recovery, sleep. If your body or mind is in poor condition, you can’t be your best. Discipline in the unseen moments defines champions.

“Failing to prepare is preparing to fail.” – John Wooden

Enhance Your Value

“Every day is player development day.” Whether adding a move, sharpening footwork, or becoming a better communicator, daily investment compounds.

“Get better every day; if you’re not, you’re getting worse.” – Pat Riley

Never Be a Distraction

You represent the team, your family, and yourself. Carry that responsibility well. Teams collapse under distraction but rise with unity.

“Don’t mistake activity for achievement.” – John Wooden

Lagniappe. Teaching people how to handle mistakes marks leaders in every discipline.

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Lagniappe 2. Beautiful BOB with a clear out and basket cut. 

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