What we don't know can hurt us.
“Defense wins championships.”
Or does excellent basketball win championships? You cannot win a game 0-0. And you won't make your high school team as a defensive demon with the offensive skills of an octopus. They say you have to play both ends, but the news disputes that.
“Take what the defense gives you.”
That's works until they give you nothing. As Mike Tyson said, "Everyone has a plan until they get hit in the mouth."
“Play one possession at a time.”
Taken literally, what alternative do you have? Never has anyone described game planning, "one possession planning." There's a line in The Transformers (1986), “Would you like to beg for your lives? It sometimes helps… but not often.” Preparation beats false hope.
“The ball has energy.”
The ball does not. Players create energy by moving the ball before the defense can recover.
“Good teams find a way to win.”
Sometimes. Bad teams find a way to lose. Sometimes bad teams find a way to win..or two bad teams play each other.
“You can't teach size.”
Size, athleticism, and skill are raw materials. Meatloaf sang, "Two out of three ain't bad."
“It's a make-or-miss game.”
Ignores everything the where, when, and by whom those shots arise. "Bad shooters are always open."
“Feed the hot hand.”
The Hot Hand Theory has supporters. Then the "heat check" results in the cool hand.
“Players make plays.”
Coach K said it another way (loaded with talent) - "Basketball isn't about running plays; it's about making plays."
“We need to want it more.”
The worst broadcasters say, "It's all about which team wants it more." That's a load of hoarse manure. Find players who want to screen, sprint back, box out, communicate, and make the extra pass.
“Leave it all on the floor.”
Playing hard won't hurt. Without enough talent, you'll be more fun to watch and lose a lot.
“Control what you can control.”
Yogi Berra would love this foundational principle of Stoicism. "Their guys better not control more than we can." If you have players that confuse back door with screen (door), then it's a long winter.
“Trust the process.”
Only if the process deserves trust. Repeating a flawed process with conviction doesn't cut the mustard.
"Success Is a Choice."
I'm picking on Coach Pitino's book title because coaching at a school without football is a choice, allowing you to pay your guys more. He practices what he preaches.
