"It's dark at the base of a lighthouse." - Japanese Proverb
Self-analysis presents challenges. We overlook our flaws or deficiencies and miss opportunities for high performance.
During Community Health classes in medical school (fall 1977), I constructed an acronym about what keeps us from doing the right things -
BESS
BESS works well for coaching.
1. Barriers (e.g. cost, time, availability)
What limits player development? Players have summer jobs, go on lengthy vacations, don't play summer ball, or have other distractions (texting, electronics, relationships). Basketball is a cruel mistress.
2. Efficacy (what works)
"It doesn't matter. I'm a starter and better than who's coming along?" That may or may not be true. Do you believe yourself invulnerable to internal competition? If so, do you believe that your opponents are 'holding back', deferring to your magnificence?
3. Severity (meaningful consequences)
What's the worst thing that could happen? You don't improve, you lose your edge, you get 'beat out', you lose strength and conditioning, and your next season you become, "El Busto."
If you're lucky, then you get one shot at relevance, being part of something special. Look at it another way. You're developing character and competence. Who wants to hear, "If only..."
4. Susceptibility
We had an expression in the Navy - DATU (doesn't apply to us). We skipped past mercury spill training and fire safety training, but random drug testing applied to everyone. I asked (rhetorically), "maybe if you're negative 15 times, it means that you don't use drugs?"
Coaching and correction applies to everyone. If there are curfews or strength and conditioning requirements, you get no exemption.
Overcome barriers. Be aware of effectiveness, the consequences of failure to advance, and rules that apply for everyone.
Lagniappe. Additional defensive strategies.
14 Defensive Wrinkles to Consider
— Hoops Companion 🏀 Resources for Coaches (@Hoops_Companion) July 30, 2026
1 - Come out of timeouts, quarter changes, and even free throws with a different defense. Opposing coaches will often call timeouts or start quarters with their teams talking about how to attack your defense - switch it up on them.
2 - When… pic.twitter.com/bocHkb6xz4
