Basketball: Getting Extra Possessions

"Money is the mother's milk of politics." Extra possessions are the mother's milk of basketball. 

Possession and possessions informs key principles. Success relates to our use of this possession and our ability to get possessions. 

"What do you mean extra possessions?" After scoring, possession changes. Let's find ways to get extra possessions, starting with the less obvious. 

1. Increase pace. Only Phoenix and Cleveland have fewer possessions per NBA game in 2018. Defensive intensity (including pressing), transition, and identifying open shots earlier during possession increase pace. 

If you increase pace and offensive efficiency (without losing defensive metrics), you get...Milwaukee. Milwaukee increased its effective field goal percentage from 53.3% to 55.3% and takes almost seven more shots per game. 

That translates to about four more points per 100 possessions for the Bucks. 

And the Bucks have reduced their points allowed per possession from 1.067 to 1.022! So they score more and allow fewer points per possession. 

2. Hack-a-Shaq. The NBA implemented rules to limit strategic fouling but it's still a viable strategy outside those conditions. Knowing your opponent helps with strategic fouling. 

Every NBA coach knows the worst free throw shooters. But only three players 'average' less than 1.1 points per two free throws. 




Inconceivable!

3. Held balls. In youth basketball, held balls can account for significant possessions. Teaching players how not to get tied up saves possessions and having players create tie balls adds possessions (without fouling). 

4. Unofficiating. Some coaches teach players to automatically take possession after the ball goes out of bounds. Players point the direction to "help" the officials. It's up to the officials to correct the possession. 

5. Turnovers and violations. Forcing turnovers and violations usually relates to better ball pressure and better off-ball denial. We were taught to yell "pinch" when the ballhandler lost the dribble with automatic denial for other defenders. 

6. Taking charges. We take few charges, a great play that changes possession and adds a foul to an opponent. 

7. Rebounding. Defensive rebounds finish possessions and offensive boards offer second chance points. I've read that an offensive rebound has a fifty percent point of scoring and a second offensive rebound increases that to nearly eighty. That's less believable for youth basketball. 

Don't forget the role of personnel. Deploy superior rebounders, a pressure team, and a come-from-behind squad when extra possessions are especially needed. Going with "offense-defense" solutions occasionally is a difference maker. 

Finally, remember your timeouts. I like to save three (of five) for the final four minutes, but sometimes they're necessary to stop runs, give rest, make substitutions, or setup an ATO play. There's no Holy Grail for time out use. But they make lousy Christmas presents. 

Lagniappe: via Chris Oliver @BBallImmersion 

"Great offense means multiple actions." 

If the backdoor wasn't open, the replacement cut probably would have been (low defender would help in to help on the backdoor cut), in this simple 2nd side backdoor cut action from James Borrego & the Charlotte Hornets. pic.twitter.com/p0HPDb05gC

— Chris Oliver (@BBallImmersion) December 21, 2018

Continuing a recent theme, watch double downscreens into a dribble handoff set up a weakside backdoor cut. 

Basketball: Proven Mental Toughness Applications

Everyone says, "you need mental toughness." What does that mean? How do you get it? Does playing better improve your toughness or vice versa?

Garry Kasparov considers his greatest achievement surviving from game 27 to game 48 of his 1984 world championship chess series against Anatoly Karpov. He played on the ropes for months with the series abandoned with Karpov leading 5-3 with 40 draws. 

"Compete against your own excellence."

Kasparov says, "mostly I lost games because I made terrible mistakes." He said that he had to recover because he felt, almost, a physical pain. 

He discussed his preparation including his ability to sleep. Sleep is critical because our brain cells shrink and toxins are cleared. He was also the fittest player of his generation (he ran, swam, and could do over a hundred pushups). 

He retired from the game when he felt he could no longer make a difference. 

Researchers at the University of Miami compared mindfulness training (e.g. breathing exercises and body scans) to relaxation training (imagery, relaxation training, relaxing music) and found mindfulness training superior on standardized attention testing. NBA players and employees receive free access to the mindfulness app Headspace. 

"Mindfulness is for pansies." That includes Karl-Anthony Towns, Ben Simmons, and Zach LaVine. Or Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant. 

What specific, practical applications are available? 

Attend to process over outcome. Develop a consistent routine. 

Mental toughness correlates with physical endurance. Exercise. 

Have a mindfulness routine. UCLA has free, guided meditation here. 

Learn more effectively through spaced repetition (multiple training periods)

Use short breaks (Pomodoro technique), e.g. 25 minutes training, 5 minute breaks. 

Self-test. Self-testing reinforces progress. 

"Performance science" applies proven methods to enhance outcomes. We either get on the train or get left behind. Performance tracks combined mindset and preparation. 

Lagniappe: What did our players find hard to defend at practice last night? 

Emptying the ball side and running staggered off ball screens created pace and space that challenged our defenders. 

Basketball: Offensive Actions on the Weak Side

"I can't think for everyone." - Bill Parcells

Everyone likes to be involved but offense is not a democracy. Find balance by involving players on the weak side. At the very least, it occupies weakside defenders. Foremost, we attack opposing defenses to create advantages.

Good options:
Weak side single screens
Weak side stagger screens (e.g. Iverson)
Weak side sequence screens
Weak side cutters with or without screens
Elevator screens

After "standing" (not advised), the simplest (and non-aggressive) approach is cutting through and rotating. At least that preserves driving options for 5 (if that applies).

Consider simple weakside single screening actions, "Hammer" left and what I'll call "Tongs" right. 

Many teams defend pass and screen away actions poorly. Defenders are usually not well-versed in hedging, switching, or going through (we're no exception). 

Double staggered screens while emptying the ball side adds another level of opportunity.

Pay homage to past glory? How about double staggers to free a driver with an Iverson setup? 

Have a player who needs a confidence boost? How about a 1-4 Elevator screen for a shot.

And we have a myriad of choices to bring players to the ball from the weakside.

The Pistons burned the positionless basketball scheme with a simple small on big cross-screen. 

Bring a cutter to the ball from the weak side and feed the sealing post if you have the right personnel. 

The Celtics ran this beautiful zipper back cut catching a team "ball watching" as an end-of-quarter action. 

I don't intend this as comprehensive analysis, rather as a few of the possibilities. I'd rather execute 'spontaneously' than have an endless series of set plays. Running tens of plays disallows creative development for youth. But like writing, demonstration favors 'character development' (skill) and dialogue (creativity). 

Basketball: Random Thoughts, What You See, Asked and Answered

When you watch "your" team (as fan, coach, player, opponent) what do you see? 

That's not obvious, because a team has many structures (offense, defense), style of play, personnel, approach (attacking, conservative), and so forth. 

1. What's your first impression? Size and athleticism leap out. We can't judge skill at a glance. I don't see my team as having much size. Not everyone agrees. 

2. Where does the team want to score? Is the team a 'transition first' team, running at all cost? Are they ground and pound with an inside game? Are they mad bombers looking to take the first three that shows? Do they space the floor, screen, use combinations? Are they motion-oriented? Do they even have an identity? We want to be a space, cut, and pass team with a secondary focus on the screen game (see below). As in chess, understand the power of the double attack. 

3. What are your absolutes, your NOS, as in "know your NOS." 

Key concept 1. Work backwards from No Easy Baskets. Define transition philosophy (and indirectly offensive rebounding), core defense values (no direct drives, no middle), rebounding imperative, and need to limit fouls. For example the 2008 NBA Champion Celtics wanted to take away transition scoring more than they wanted offensive rebounds. 

4. What's the CARE factor? Care is an acronym...concentration, anticipation, reaction, and execution. 

Key concept 2. Does the defense arrive at the pass receiver in time and space proximity to the ball? Great defenses move on the pass, relocate quickly, and limit time and space for the offense. They 'shrink the court' and force offense to play in traffic. Great players want to play in space. 

5. What does my team need now? Take mental notes during games, share them with the team as soon as possible, and work on corrections. In our last game, we didn't contain the dribble, played handsy defense (fouled), and struggled early to make layups ("eyes make layups") by rushing. Our offense saved us. At practice last night we worked on corrections, although we don't play again until after the New Year. 

Add more tools to half court offense. Good teams limit transition offense and play better half court defense. "Basic" execution like give-and-go and back cuts out of spread offenses won't usually work. Teach 'hard to defend' concepts. 

Simple actions can limit turnovers and get quality shots. Open the middle and go to work. 

Lagniappe: 

Randy Sherman shares points per possession content "Getting to 1.0." That also implies knowing where you want to score and how you want to score. 

"Turnovers do to PPP what “taking a zero” on an assignment does for your final grade. Any shot, from a high-value or a low-value area, is superior to a turnover. It at least has a chance of going in." This is the mind-killer of youth basketball. 

Basketball: Rebounding, "War on the Boards" from Verdi to Superman

“Excellence is the next five minutes.” - Tom Peters

I am a bad rebounding coach. We are a good rebounding team. Find rebounders over rebounding coaches. I teach the defensive boards are about positioning and toughness and offensive rebounding about anticipation and aggressiveness. 

Legendary George Raveling wrote a rebounding manual, War on the Boards. He introduces the book discussing Michigan 1964-1965 and its Anvil Chorus, as the Wolverines beat Duke late with three consecutive offensive putbacks. The 1965 Michigan version lost in the NCAA title game to UCLA. 




Anvil Chorus from Verdi's Il Travatore, via Looney Toons

Coach discusses the sine qua non triad of quickness, instinct, and mental toughness in rebounding. 



At the end of the first chapter he shares the popular Superman Drill (above) and what he calls the Toughness Drill (we call it Commando). 

Toughness/Commando

Chapter 2 emphasizes fundamentals, beginning with position, stance, approach, and recovery. Here are a few key takeaways among many:

Find a way. Locate between the offensive rebounder and the basket.
Offensive rebounder must anticipate where (s)he thinks the ball is going. 
Maintain balance throughout, from the ground up. 
Catch the ball with two hands...don't slap at the ball. 
A half turn in the air repositions the rebounder to outlet the ball.
Always protect the ball. 
For us, the rebound is incomplete until secured to a ballhandler. 

Lagniappe 1: via Coach Liam Flynn on Twitter

The best teams practice what they preach in games. This year we started charting what is said during timeouts and emphasizing those points in practice the following week. We want bleedover from what is said in timeouts to what we do on the court. pic.twitter.com/tUEQqfIm02

— Michael Musselman (@michaelmuss_13) December 16, 2018

Lagniappe 2.

We executed this 'sequence screen' as an ATO but couldn't finish at the rim. 

Basketball: Celtics - Pistons Analysis

Brian Scalabrine provides NBA analysis as Celtics analyst, without being a total homer. When teaching points arise, I throw 'em in. Last night, the Pistons, coming off six straight loess, brought an air of desperation that served them well. 

Pregame Brad Stevens, "Robert Williams and other elite rollers drag defenders from the perimeter and set up kickouts for threes." 

Scalabrine:

"Make Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond come out to the perimeter." The Celtics didn't. Griffin backed guys down en route to 27 points and Drummond hung a 19 and 20 double double on the Celtics. 

NBA teams take advantage of switching defenses. An early Pistons set got big on small. 

"Blake Griffin has really adapted to today's game as a Point 5...ability to shoot the three off the dribble." 

During the Celtics' eight-game win streak, the opponents' winning percentage was .352.

Rule of verticality, "To be considered vertical, a defender must: Be in the air to defend the shot when contact occurs. If the player is on the ground inside the restricted area, with his arms “vertical” when contact occurs, he will be assessed a blocking foul."

Gordon Hayward gets a "relocation" assist by emptying a driving lane for Marcus Morris, Sr. Most young players do not understand the value of emptying space. 

"Protect penetrating passes by ball pressure." This especially matters with a potent post-up game (Drummond) and on lobs with sealed defenders. 

"Tatum, so much bigger and stronger...can't push him off his spot." 

(Marcus Smart with consecutive airballs on threes. Home announcers don't comment.)

Brad Stevens, "the goal is to get better every day."

"You can't tell who has control of this game." (This is followed by a Piston run...)

Late inbounds play by Pistons

Lagniappe: via Chris Oliver

Pick the picker action to get entry, followed by a fake handoff for the inbound passer into a 2 player dribble handoff from the Spurs. pic.twitter.com/DZO8sS3cwe

— Chris Oliver (@BBallImmersion) December 16, 2018

Screen-the-screener gets entry, and the initial screener scores off the DHO. 

Basketball Strategy and Tactics: More Like Chess Than Poker

"Chess is an immensely rich game and you can always keep finding new ideas that will make you happy." - Garry Kasparov, MasterClass 

Why is chess like basketball? Chess has less randomness between opponents than other sports. Outcomes in baseball turn more often on the starting pitcher than basketball results. Chess has a high degree of predictability with little contribution from luck. 

Reading Annie Duke's Thinking in Bets, learn that poker and life are similar because of incomplete information. Playing a hand that has a 24 percent chance of winning, still means a 1 in 4 chance of victory. The collapse of Men's March Madness 1 seed - 16 invincibility reminds us that outliers exist, but just barely. 

Different sports fall variously along the continuum of luck and skill. Michael Mauboussin discusses this in depth in The Success Equation. 


"When skill dominates, outcomes are more predictable." Outcomes depend on the number of players, possessions, and factors involved. 

In his MasterClass, Grandmaster Garry Kasparov informs us about keys that reduce randomness in chess. We can apply many. 

"Tactics is knowing what to do when there is something to do; strategy is knowing what to do when there is nothing to do." 

"Tactics disturb the balance of the position" (create direct advantage)

"Strategy is actually seeing the outcome of slow maneuvers." 

"There is no general strategy for the game of chess." 

"No matter what you do, it should fit your personality." 

"At the end of the day, it is about making decisions."

"...you have to make your opponent uncomfortable." 

"You know exactly who you are...unleash your creative potential."

"Strong players...see opportunities...because of these patterns." (As in chess, players "chunk" positions with many possible variations...diagram above.)

"More patterns that you can recognize...more tools that you have at your disposal." The strength of the individual pieces also determine the strength of moves. 

"You should offer (your opponent) a chance to make a mistake." 

"You have to feel the climax of the game." 

"In a normal game, in the middle of the game, the choices that you make should be based exclusively on making your opponent less comfortable." 

(At lower levels of competition) "It's all about you." As a middle school program, our world reflects more randomness between teams, players, and execution. 

The game on the court is not the same as the game on the (computer) screen. Kasparov illustrates that what seems obvious on the board (court), is less obvious schematically on a computer screen. 

How this played out in practice was different than I envisioned on the screen. 

Lagniappe: via Chris Oliver. What makes an effective closeout? 

This is Paul George “closing out” on a good shooter in the corner. THIS is how it’s done. None of that hands high, butt down BS, choppy steps fake fundamentals. pic.twitter.com/ggD3J0zWuC

— BBALLBREAKDOWN (@bballbreakdown) December 15, 2018

We teach defenders that better defense arrives at the receiver (ball) as close as possible to the time the ball arrives. 

Basketball: Chris Oliver Podcast with Liam Flynn

Chris Oliver invites coaching insights from around the world, sharing the game. He interviews Liam Flynn , an assistant coach in the Chinese Basketball Association. Here are notes from a recent podcast: 

Philosophy: runs high pick-and-roll offense..."creating advantage"

Emphasis on making passes out of the PnR

Says that CBA style is more similar to the NBA

"How would another coach describe your team?" What are your core values? 

Offense:
- Attack with the pass (versus isolation)...ultimately relates to shot selection (was there      an advantage we created...numerical, two on the ball, two on the roller?)
- Keep the ball moving...
- Ball movement depends on coverage...e.g. if aggressive, early pass to roller
- Determine appropriate pace...not always fast 
- Your offense - Motion, sets, or combination?
- Have to be able to teach what you know
- Freedom versus structure depends on personnel (I know that we need structure, but      want to sell freedom
- Need a common language
- Regardless of teaching, explain how the approach creates advantage
- Brevity..."deep outlets ignite the break" reduces to "deep"
- Calling plays...no best way

1. Wait for the spacing..."spacing before advantage"
2. Set up the defender on the dribble
3. Screen sprinted in
4. Can always reject the screen 
5. What are your specific reads? 
6. Patience to get a desired shot

Defense:
- Individual aggressiveness
- What is your "pick up point" 
- They play 3/4 court man
- "Exceptional ball pressure"
- "Feet always moving...boxer...active hands"
- Taking team out of offensive flow (my note: limiting advantage)
- "Ball in the backcourt, you're in the backcourt." (Pressure language)

Lessons Coach Flynn learned from NBA Summer League:
- Best basketball minds are there
- Traditional teaching isn't necessarily best
- Need a portfolio of special situation plays
- Feel for drills...stopping, continuing, praising, correcting
- Think out of the box, e.g. elevator screen into flare for 3 for screener
- A part of a play may be extracted

Final thoughts:
- Share willingly
- Evolve your coaching philosophy
- Have players clearly understand your expectations 

Lagniappe: quick hitter from 1-4 off high ball screen

Lagniappe 2 (from Liam Flynn). One paint touch, three ball reversals, three points. 

This is one of the most beautiful possessions of basketball you could ever hope to see. #CLFbeautifulbasketball @PienoZvaigzdes pic.twitter.com/ORy05XgFCg

— Coach Liam Flynn (@coachliamflynn) August 15, 2017

Basketball: Constantly Edit Our Process

"You're not paying for all of the words that the author put on the page; you're paying for all of the words the author deleted...the author gave what works room to breathe."- Dan Brown

"Protect the process." We cannot achieve mastery without investing time. (Above, Dan Brown from MasterClass)

Coaches, "edit and delete." We don't pay homage to every drill we ran last year...or fifty years ago. 

We "edit" on the fly during games (tactics and personnel) and we transform in the background, via strategy, preparation, and practice. 

Winning doesn't mean that we're doing everything well; losing doesn't mean we're totally off track. Stay with what's working; abandon what's not. 

What are we working to accomplish? We need clarity. We and our players should recognize the purpose of an activity. 

Editing practice often means doing more of what's uncomfortable for players. I put struggling players into situations giving them problems (usually pressure) to desensitize them. But do it in a way that we're not showing them up. 

I want elements from each of the above in every practice. Sometimes, we can combine elements. For example, we could start and ODO (e.g. offense-defense-offense) segment in shell. Or start ODO in a full court press to work on pressing and press breaking. 

Practice outline 12/12.

Constraints are critical. Limit areas of play, dribbles, or insist a ball reversal and paint touch before a shot. They DON'T know how to play. They'll never have the playground education we had. 

Keep editing. That's protecting our process. Make it better every day. 

Lagniappe 1. Dan Brown shares that he learned from Steven Tyler of Aerosmith about a meeting weekly, where every member brings an idea that might be terrible. They call it, "dare to suck." Nine of ten ideas are bad, but sometimes brilliance emerges with a platinum song.  

Lagniappe 2. BOB "Twins"

Not ready for prime time...

Basketball: Difference Makers, Lessons from Admiral Stockdale

Author Dan Brown (The DaVinci Code, Angels and Demons, Origin) says one difference between good writers and bad writers is good writers know when they're bad. Good coaches know when it's broken. Kevin Eastman says, "Do it better, do it harder, change personnel, $#&* it ain't working." Distinguish difference makers from posers. 

James Stockdale (1923-2005) was a Naval Aviator, prisoner of war, educator, President of the Citadel, Vice Presidential candidate, and Congressional Medal of Honor winner. His life defines discipline and character. 

Stockdale never wavered in leading, suffering with, and mentoring fellow POWs. He literally disfigured himself to avoid being used for propaganda. Stockdale credited Stoic philosophy ("control what you can control") as helping him survive prolonged captivity. 

Stockdale's discipline and toughness emerge as exemplars. "I think character is permanent and issues are transient." 

However, Stockdale could be perceived as inflexible, which shortened his stay at the Citadel. In his Vice Presidential debate, he had no preparation (had no time to prepare) and came through as confused and detached. Thrown into politics, he entered the wrong arena at the wrong time. His hearing aid was turned off. 



Stockdale endured torture and isolation for years in service to our country. He protected his values relentlessly at tremendous personal sacrifice. He never 'sold out' to expediency. 

He is known for the Stockdale Paradox: "You must never confuse faith that you will prevail in the end—which you can never afford to lose—with the discipline to confront the most brutal facts of your current reality, whatever they might be."

Define and maintain our values. That doesn't mean that change is impossible, but if change means compromising our values, how do we respond? 

Lagniappe:

We're not consistently reacting on the off-ball screens. Defense demands communication and consistency. Do you switch, show, or go through? I don't believe that you can "lock and trail" from the weak side.