Trends happen for good reason, chasing wins. Sports breed copycats.
Here are five widespread trends that show up across the NBA, filtered through “copy what wins” in college and even good high school programs.
1) Pace + early offense (including “0.5” decision-making)
Teams hunt edges before the defense is set: hard push after makes, quick inbounds, early drag screens, and 0.5 rules (shoot/drive/pass in half a second). Etorre Messina had a key role in this development. The goal isn’t reckless speed. It’s forcing rotation. Once the defense rotates, the offense is playing advantage basketball.
Coaching: sprint wide, rim run, early paint touch, and quick decisions.
2) Three-point volume and spacing
Spacing is now a system, not a vibe: corners filled, 45° slots occupied, bigs pulled out, and shooters relocating on drives. Even teams that don’t shoot a ton still organize to create "3-point gravity" that opens layups and free throws.
Coaching: teach drive-and-kick spacing, filled corners, and relocation (drift, lift, replace).
3) Positionless lineups and skill versatility
More players with the versatility to handle, pass, and shoot; more bigs initiate actions (DHO, delay, short-roll playmaking). Defenses can’t “hide” a weak link as easily because everyone is involved in screening, switching, and decision-making. Mobility is a premium skill.
Coaching: train everyone in catch-to-attack, simple reads, and screening.
4) Ball-screen heavy evolution (Spain, empty-corner, re-screens, short roll)
Pick-and-roll didn’t disappear, it evolved to:
Empty-corner PnR (less help at the rim) - e.g Duke elbow series
Spain PnR (back screen the roller)
Re-screens/rejects/snakes
Short-roll passing to capitalize on gravity to the ball
Coaching: teach a menu of counters and short-roll reads.
5) Defensive trend: switching + scram
Defenses prioritize taking away clean threes and straight-line drives, often with:
You said
ChatGPT said:
More switching (1–4, sometimes 1–5)
Scram switching (secondary switching) to 'correct' mismatches after the switch
Strong help rules that suit your teaching
More zone looks as change of look (2-3, matchup, 1-3-1)
Coaching: clear defensive rules, simplify as necessary
Lagniappe. "Earn confidence."
“Confidence- you don’t just get it.
— The Winning Difference (@thewinningdiff1) January 18, 2026
You have to earn it.
You have to go do the gritty, hard, miserable work of earning confidence.
You have to look it straight in the eye and earn your confidence.”
🎥 @TristanUda pic.twitter.com/xMitrG4jLe
Lagniappe 2. SEAL Team leader Jocko Willink (author Extreme Ownership):
Jocko Willink explains the secret to building great relationships as a leader.
— Coach AJ 🎯 Mental Fitness (@coachajkings) January 23, 2026
"If you want people to trust you, you have to trust them. If you want people to listen to you, you have to listen to them. If you want people to respect you, you have to respect them."
"And if you… https://t.co/OHjaLGjUyh pic.twitter.com/ueqZXm4vMx
