What have you done to become a better coach?
Like General Hal Moore, "Find one more thing..."
Experience shapes our coaches, sometimes negative experience. "Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want."
Experience the Whole League
Ironically, basketball throws us "softballs" and right hooks. What percentage of games are won mostly because one team shows up prepared and fully engaged and the other something less?
With the talent in the NBA, if a team could show up fully 'juiced' every night, could they win thirty-five games?
Areas to Improve Upon
Mazzulla's concept of learning from the 10-15 bad possessions each night, if embraced and seldom repeated, would make all the difference in the world. Coach's say over and over:
Find quality shots, take care of the ball, allow only "hard twos" and let's foul intelligently. And it's hard to get the message across.
Whom Do I Want to Become?
Seek contribution, not validation. I've written Picasso's words fifty times, "Good artists borrow; great artists steal." Be eclectic and steal something great wherever you can.
A Product of the Experiences That You Go Through
Life brings joy and sadness, exhilaration and misery. Share what worked and what brought excruciating pain to you as a player and as a coach. Support players when the "worst play ever" happens.
More Experiences
Learn better teaching methods. Study player development, psychology, and strength and conditioning. That doesn't mean we have to be the Mighty Oz. Use the resources available to make others and ourselves better.
I knew a doctor assigned to a high value operation. He was smart, well-trained, and arrogant. "I can keep anyone alive for 24 hours." That works until it doesn't, in war zones, industrial accidents, and critical illness. There are only two kinds of people - humble and those who will be.
Lagniappe. This sounds about right. And difficult and not entertaining, because defense means work, pain, and suffering.
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