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Saturday, April 18, 2026

Basketball - The Invisible Hand


One of the best basketball videos I have ever seen. 

Ignore the post but watch the video. I feel like less of an idiot (calling out stuff to players and teams) after watching this.

Every excellent team has elite communication. And most mediocre and bad teams have weak communication.

Encourage Communication

Communication is a habit. It has to start at practice. It can't be switched on at games. Lack of 'talk' means missed assignments, late decisions, and injuries as 'guys' get blown up by solid screens. Remember the "Silver Rule" of Taleb, "Do not do unto others what you would not want others to do unto you."

Reward Communication

Remember the immortal words of Robert Knight, "Bench, meet @ss." Do everything possible to get on the floor and stay on the floor. 

"What Do I Say?" 

Every team has its own language (lexicon). Remember ELO - early, loud, and often. Talk energizes, recruits, and intimidates. Common calls:

  • "Help, left." May be enough to discourage a driver (stay out of traffic)
  • "Pick, right." Inform the issue and the direction. 
  • "Switch." Just one option to manage PnR coverage. 
  • "Through..." another option to direct ball defender between screener and screener coverage. 
  • "Ice" or force or blue...whatever to direct ballhandler away from screen
  • "Ball..." declaring you have the ballhandler
  • "Red...or fire..." may signal deny with 'dead dribble' 
  • "No middle" or "paint"...keep the ball out of the paint... 
Tip: watch video at 1.5 speed to reduce viewing time and increase efficiency. 

Lagniappe. Present evidence for yourself... (mild language)... 

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