Practice 2 is in the can...more defensive emphasis, a lot of work on press break, and "implementation" of another 'set' with emphasis on reading the defense. One post player was absent with illness and two guards missing for the dress rehearsal of a school play... Is three-dimension chess or teaching basketball harder? If we have any 'strength' it should be scoring in transition. Any competent team will severely limit that. We shot a bit better in both drills and scrimmages. We 'scrimmage' off free throws, BOBs, and SLOBs. That gives an O-D-O look with three teams of 4 (normally) and allows constant practice of 'special situations'. Apologies to the many professors here for whom this is like watching paint dry. The first 'challenge' is getting players to read defenses. Robots make lousy offensive players. The PGs must want to create. Sets are "lines on the paper". Players write the words.
Defense cheats during implementation. If X5 overplays, 5 has to get the back hand up and slip to the basket. That 'normalizes' the coverage. Everything we do works to keep the lane open because we cannot succeed as "infantry". Post entry is followed by scissors action and the 5 has to read the opportunity. If she has nothing then DHO ensues with PnR opportunity and our (lefthanded) 3s getting drive or pull-up chances.
If wing entry, then 1 buries (or can stay for balance) and there is reverse action with second cutter chance for 5. If that doesn't happen, 5 offers the side PnR. We have a few 2s who MIGHT be able to make a three now and then. 4 would roll into helpside rebounding. Simple is difficult. Players need to embrace their role...scorers, passers, screeners. If they want an expanded role, I remind them "become more to do more and do more to become more."
Play the game. Bring energy. Radiate joy. Share. Love being with your teammates. Appreciate the experience. Protect your culture and values, "...the most important one is probably joy-he wants us having fun", Luke Walton said of the values that Kerr pushes to the team. How we treat each other ultimately defines who we are...not the scoreboard and especially not the scorebook. How we communicate and connect determines what our players become. Is our team a TEAM? Pete Carril observed, "How do you know if your team has camaraderie? I can tell by the way they walk off the floor at the end of practice. You can feel their happiness vibrating; you can see how they work out together." We started practice by having one group (working inside each three-point area) on dribble tag and the other playing 'capture' the flag. After two minutes, they switch. They have to get loose...and I want them to be 'loose'. This should be their favorite two hours of the day. It's my favorite two hours of the week (until the next practice). There's some subtlety involved. "Play is children's work" and dribble tag or 'capture the flag' signals that we're playing. One concept I've believed in for a long time in medicine is the "patient experience." I know that it won't be perfect but we must work to make it the best it can be. At my level (middle school), the player experience and the team experience matters...a lot. I want everyone involved to believe that it's time and money invested not spent. How do we make it better? At times it felt a little chaotic Monday night. The players worked hard with a high tempo, but I think we can do more with 'stations', which will also get my assistant coach more involved. One of my goals is to get every player at least 150 shots per practice. This is especially easier with more hoops to work at and an assistant. When you play a game, how many shots do you get? Some players might not get any. But you keep score! We keep score during a lot of the shooting drills - "4 minute shooting", "30 buckets", "Spurs Catch and Shoot", and so on. If you want to compete, bring it on at practice...with joy.
What are basketball's "Ten Commandments"? That would spark discussion. Surely, we'd hear "Defense wins championships". I offer, "basketball is a game of passing and cutting." Are great passers born or nurtured? Or both?
"It's what you learn after you know it all that counts." - John Wooden My high school coach, Ellis Lane, offered that two statistics - assists and rebounds - usually defined winners and losers. Assists identify successful possessions and rebounds your ability to possess the ball. Assists are 'above the line' play, intentional, purposeful, and skillful.
At the end of the day, great passing is the same as great quarterbacking - decision and execution. Decisions begin with vision (seeing the possibility) and being in synchrony with the receiver, knowing where she wants the ball and how she can receive the ball.
Coaches express that in different ways, like "on time and on target." Sometimes the passer has to wait and sometimes she has to act. I tell players that a higher risk pass is justified when it has high probability of an easy score. Like shooting, passing must be situationally appropriate. We teach players that you catch with your eyes, your feet, and your hands. You have to see the pass, shorten the pass (distance between passer and receiver), and then physically catch the pass. We all teach "pass away from the defender" and "see the help defender". But do we understand where our points arise? Coach Torbett shows how subtle changes turn into points. Hubie Brown has emphasized the importance of keeping your dribble alive with the 'stutter dribble' in the same situation.
"When you're fighting a war, everyone doesn't get the same amount of bullets." "Just because I want you on the floor doesn't mean I want you to shoot." - Bob Knight "Non-shooters are always open." - Pete Carril 1. The quickest way to improve shooting percentage is taking better shots. The fastest way to get better shots is to improve passing. Ergo, better passing means improved shooting percentage.
2. Everyone on the team should know what a good shot is for every teammate. And each player should remember Jay Bilas' Toughness advice, "It's not your shot, it's our shot." 3. Each player should know what a good shot for her is. In addition to being not closely guarded, that implies on balance, in rhythm, situationally appropriate, and in her range. While the Declaration of Independence states that "All men are created equal", all shooters are not. Kevin Sivils has discussed "range testing" in his outstanding series of books. 4. There is no "My Turn" in shooting. There is no "MY TURN" in shooting. THERE IS NO MY TURN IN SHOOTING. Some players seem to have an internal clock that says, "Time to shoot, it's go time." THAT does not work. 5. Pete Newell's overarching philosophy was to "get more and better shots than our opponent." That implies a combination of offensive and defensive efficiency. If you are a good shooter taking good shots, that doesn't absolve you from defending and rebounding.
"Good artists borrow; great artists steal." - Picasso Pleas fall on deaf ears. At a recent coaching clinic, the speaker asked coaches to teach man-to-man defense and play it. Coaches want to win, so I know that we'll face over 75 percent zone, mostly 2-1-2. But some teams will vary it, not with individual assignment defense, but with 1-3-1. How can we respond?
First, let's watch how the Spartans do it...start with great spacing, attack the middle, and move the ball. But maybe we want another 'set'...
If we have a 5 with a good skill set, then she can get an initial pass out of the 1-4 and pressure the middle. Additionally, we should have favorable offensive rebounding position.
Alternatively, if the 1-3-1 wings overplay the middle, 1 initiates perimeter entry and 3 looks to drive into the gap, pressuring X3 and X5. Obviously, there is a quick post feed or ball reversal via 1 as well. If 3 attacks middle, that creates pressure on the middle of the zone as well.
If 3 reverses the ball, she cuts to the foul line area and looks to get a return to attack the paint.
Coach Schakel illustrates these and other options well in his video.
You want to be a better (fill in the blank). Where do you start? Chris Ballard interviewed Steve Kerr and shared wisdom from Jeff Van Gundy, "Van Gundy told Kerr what he tells all aspiring coaches: Write down everything. Everything you've learned, everything you want to do. Everything you'd change. It'll organize your thoughts. Develop your philosophy." None of us can be Gregg Popovich, Pete Carril, Geno Auriemma, or Dean Smith. But we can borrow from their shared experiences and apply elements to become better versions of ourselves. Each radiated clarity about how they want to play and how they live. Popovich's system emphasizes penetration and ball movement and personal growth off the court. Carril's mantra was "the smart take from the strong" with his back cut and three-ball Princeton offense. Auriemma prioritizes unpredictability and knowing how to play. "We're hard to scout because we don't know what we're going to do." And last season Auriemma's team lead NCAA tournament qualifiers in academic standing. Smith's "Passing Game" was about getting the best quality shots that would usually lead Carolina to have the highest shooting percentage in the ACC. Smith also had the personal trust to champion integration and advise his ultimate star (Michael Jordan) to leave early for the NBA. We have our first practice tonight. Among the classic military strategies available (infantry, cavalry, artillery), our size dictates a commitment to cavalry (speed). Recommitting to pressure and transition while expanding our perimeter (shooting) and zone offense will go only so far without 'rebounding by committee'. We need to refine our process to align practice with game intent. Each of us has to fight for our culture, sell our philosophy (get the buy-in), and develop team identity. Although practice starts tonight, the work is always ongoing. There is not so much hay in the barn.
If you went to a dermatologist and asked, "do I have perfect skin?", I expect she'd say, 'very good but not perfect." In my case she might ask, "are you nuts?" But if someone candidly asked us to assess our weaknesses, via real self-examination, I'm confident that very few of us would find a blank slate.
Can we find Seven Deadly Sins of basketball? In "Ego Is the Enemy", Ryan Holiday divides the book into three segments - aspiration, success, and adversity. We can exhibit flaws during any and all of these life stages. In this piece, I focus on aspirational flaws. For example, it's easy to imagine failings during the aspiration phase - cheating, shortcuts (the Rosie Ruiz story), lying, rumor mongering, plagiarism, gaslighting, sabotaging others, a myriad of dishonest pathways. But we can fail because of self-absorption, ignoring our families, selfishness, laziness, and other errors of omission.
1. Lust. Lust manifests in a variety of ways. Coaches complain or manage expectations ("We don't have the material needed to win") or will sell their souls to recruit and retain players. Lust relates to ego - entitlement, control, and paranoia are symptoms.
2. Gluttony. Some teams exult in running up the score, relegating sportsmanship to the bench. Some parents want the minutes, shots, and exposure for their children. I heard a parent tell their child before a high school playoff game, "you get your shots; you get your points." Dean Smith felt that recognizing players who didn't get as much media attention helped his Carolina teams.
Many parents "would rather see their child be All-State than their team win the State Championship."
3. Greed. In the professional world, owners, coaches, and players 'scrap' for the last dollar. Minutes and shots appear in the greed column. Unwilling passers are greedy. Chuck Daly used to say players want 48 minutes, 48 points, and 48 million dollars.
4. Sloth. Laziness appears in overt and subtle ways. Failed transition defense, "buddy running", unwillingness to pass and cut, lack of defensive stance or ball pressure, poor closeouts, half-hearted challenging shots and blocking out, and failure to prepare and practice are just some ways a lack of effort appears. "Don't cheat the drill." 5. Wrath. We can take out wrath on each other, families, and even fans. Manny Ramirez was incensed about not getting tickets he requested. Kermit Washington's punch of Rudy Tomjanovich is unforgettable.
6. Envy. Jealousy occurs over money, minutes, accolades and recognition, role, and so much more. Madeleine Blais' epic In These Girls Hope is a Muscle articulates how a team won a state championship as the stars learned to play as one. I have seen similar ego-driven battles play out in high school basketball. Was "football inflation pressure" about competitive balance or "Patriots envy?"
7. Pride. Players and teams can get a "big head". In addition to injuries, I think that the Celtics' slow start this season corresponds to media attention.
Pride and hubris ("professional arrogance") can show up as a lack of effort, poor team play, and sometimes as "dumb play." In almost every game, you will see a bad play (e.g. forced shot, bad pass, turnover) get doubled down as the player commits a stupid foul within seconds. Trying to compensate for a poor play creates a second mistake. Pride and lack of discipline can go hand in hand. Pride can show up in poor practice habits or failed preparation.
These examples represent only a tip of the iceberg. As coaches, managing relationships among fellow coaches, players, and players and coaches is vital in order to avoid fatal flaws. But taking ownership to our flaws is the first step to finding solutions. When we stand for anything, we stand for nothing.
Brian Scalabrine does a terrific job doing color for the Celtics. He brings the perspective of a player whose knowledge extended his career. He also adds NBA coaching experience and shares many principles. Here are some "Scal" notes: "If a possession doesn't touch the paint, it's less likely to score." "You just can't make those mistakes on the road." "High hands gets a deflection..." "...needs to be better at reading the defense in that situation" "DeMar DeRozan...reminds you of a young Paul Pierce." "...played with the degree of energy and purpose expected of him." "Execution offensively allows you to set up your defense." "...when you start the third quarter, overemphasize ball movement." "I don't like the energy...they're not moving." "...with offense you want to attack the paint" "It's no touch on the perimeter." "Everyone will get their chance. It might not come when you think it should, but it comes."
"Guards gotta get in the fight underneath..." "...there are other things you can do (besides score) to help your team win" "Teague...not a tall guard, but a big, strong guard." "When you can get to the free throw line...you have a chance to score big points."
How do we fashion our lives into SHIP shape? 1. Sobriety. Sobriety doesn't only mean abstinence from alcohol and drugs. It means freedom from poor influences and unhealthy ego-driven choices. 2. Humility. Humility is the capacity not to think less of ourselves but to think about ourselves less. We function at a higher level when we learn from both wins and losses and treat people well regardless of our power over them. 3. Integrity. Commit to doing the right thing at all times. "Do the next right thing right now" is how Don Meyer expressed it. We want to translate personal integrity into team integrity.
4. Purpose. Do we want passion or purpose? Live intentionally; play with purpose. "False hustle", "buddy running", and "random play" are fool's gold in sport. Be directed and invest our time instead of spending it. Purpose advance other's lives; passion advances our own desires.
5. Bake "SHIP" shape (the acronym above) into our process.
Practice starts Monday. What we do and how we do it has to translate to how we play.
Create opportunities for shooters and drivers. We have lefties who can drive. Penetrators can expand quality by finding open shooters...with staggered screens a help. Depending on personnel, you can stagger with back screens for 1 or down screens by 1 and 4 to get 5 a shot.
"When I look up in the universe, I know I'm small, but I'm also big. I'm big because I'm connected to the universe and the universe is connected to me." - Neil deGrasse Tyson Practice. We are big because we connect to the universe of basketball. Practice serves as our life laboratory. We help people grow and become better versions of themselves...as they connect to that universe. I'm not dismissing the wins and losses that inevitably follow. The experience centers connecting to players and their families. Here are excerpts from an email that I got while attending a coaching clinic last Saturday. Hi Dr. Sen!
I hope all is going well! Thursday night we won our (volleyball) semifinal game and now, today at 1pm at UMASS Boston, my team is playing in the finals! I know this is very, very last minute but because you were such a great influence on me in my high school career, I thought I should let you know in case you want to come!
I recall this player fondly because of her positivity, work, and continual cheerfulness regardless of success or adversity. She plays both volleyball and basketball in college.
While we help players develop, we build relationships and values about self-respect, study, and sportsmanship. Aside from parents, we have a unique opportunity to make a difference in young people's lives. We help them function as a team, to strive for team goals, and to learn to be reliable and to trust.
We condition within practice and go at a high tempo. For example, if you do not make at least 1-2 free throws, you take a lap while the next girls shoots (we have four baskets this year). Shooting is a priority fundamental and coaches will hop in and provide random defense during some of the drills.
We need clarity on who we are and who we are not. Regardless of what "game" our opponent gets from us, we absolutely define our identity and our integrity. What do we want from our team? Education changes behavior. How we educate our players determines how they behave. Each of us controls our ATTITUDE. Be warm and demanding. Fight for a culture of positivity and work. "The magic is in the work." DISCIPLINE implies focus. "The main thing is the main thing." Everyone must understand the direction and goals and work collaboratively to support their execution. Punctuality reflects discipline. We spend our time or we invest it. EFFORT ultimately is self-directed. When we apply the whip consistently, we are more likely to break the spirit than to promote its growth. Basketball is TEAMWORK. "It's the scoreboard not the scorebook." Teamwork is the product of culture and connection and caring. RESPECT the game. Respect translate into specifics - treating people right. That means policing the locker room and the bench, playing the game right. Respectful players play smart, play hard, and play together. Cooperate with the officials. Help your teammates execute their assignments and know your responsibilities and your teammates'. GRATITUDE matters. Grateful players appreciate the opportunity their families give them. Grateful players 'take care of business' at home and academically. Grateful players don't 'blame, complain, and defend mistakes'. Young people often have 'egocentric' behavior. We have the obligation to show them another path, bringing reason amidst the chaos of emotion. More than just sports, we coach life.
The presenters made a lot of great points about the rules, the coaches' roles in behavior, and officiating in general. Ken Miano reported that he goes to the venue 15 minutes (youth) to one hour (college) before the game for preparation and more. 8 states (including Massachusetts) use a shot clock. "The game is always important to someone." Good officials understand this. Point of emphasis: DISPLACEMENT. Displacement is quite different than 'holding your position'. You cannot block out a player and DISPLACE them. You cannot displace the offensive player (e.g. the post) or "back down" the defender holding her ground. DISPLACEMENT is the operative word. Point of emphasis: Protecting the free throw shooter...a defenseless player. If defenders cross the imaginary plane of the free throw line to block out the shooter, they are committing a foul. Period. Point of emphasis: If you are setting a screen and not in the visual field of the defender, you must allow her a step (to turn around). Offensive foul. Traveling: technically you can pick up the pivot foot to pass, but travel if the foot comes down...(two steps) Carrying should be called if your hand goes under the ball. "The hand is part of the ball." This is confusing. The tomahawk chop down on the ballhandler (including a slap) is technically NOT a foul. Good Lord.
Coach Hammel, out as Merrimack College coach after a long career, delivered a clear message about energy and fun amidst his experience. He made a plea for man-to-man defense, ironic in a competitive league where most of the coaches play predominantly zone defense. We've heard and shared many of these but there's always something new. "Practice is my time. Games are the players' time." "Simplicity and execution." "We always run from drill to drill." "Make drills competitive." "Basketball is over-coached and undertaught." (Pete Newell) "Drill work has to resemble game action." "All drills should have both offense and defense." "All of our individual drills last five minutes and team drills ten minutes." "Practice must be planned. Bring your practice notes." "Basketball is a game of physical habit and this must be accomplished through repetition." (another Newellism) "Everything we do in practice must show itself somewhere in the game." Break defense down by: transition, individual drills, ball-side, help-side, team defense. The best defensive players are the sideline and baseline. Once we get the ball there, we want to keep it there. Know your NOS. (Kevin Eastman) - No layups - No middle - No paint - No open 3s - No offensive rebounds Aggressiveness relates to will to dominate your opponent. It is reflected in unrelenting pressure, denying dribble penetration, getting deflections, and contesting every shot. Talk wins games. Defense is about the ball. You can't play defense without understanding its relationship to the ball. Defensive specifics: "Turn the dribbler in the backcourt. Force the dribbler in the forecourt." Big believer in 'shell drill' to help teach help-side defense. Works on defensive conversion every day (Change drill...a Knightism)
Multiple dimensions to these drills - ball pressure, conversion, offensive and defensive competition, and ball side denial defense. We're going to have four baskets this year, so I can run the defensive drills on one side of the split and have shooting drills simultaneously on the other side of the court.
