Read on Twitter
Thinking about how our game sense approach translates from practice to the game.
Defensive challenge - score/stop/score or stop/score/stop
100 point game - 32 point possession + auto win for the charge.
The game w/in the game.
Defensive challenge - score/stop/score or stop/score/stop
100 point game - 32 point possession + auto win for the charge.
The game w/in the game.
The “Human Component” is prevalent. Watch the bench. There’s trust in the passing. There’s trust in the help the helper. Your best player sacrificing for the good of the team. How do you get your team to this consistently?
Be about it if you’re going to be about it. If ORB% is important to your team, which it should be, then there has to be follow through.
Program-wide: 2 ORB allowed in 1 possession = all five out.
This is love. I’m not mad at them. The standard is the standard & they know.
Program-wide: 2 ORB allowed in 1 possession = all five out.
This is love. I’m not mad at them. The standard is the standard & they know.
The human component here is that this is objective and it’s not one person’s fault.
Look at our bench engaged & WILLING their teammates to play hard.
That’s being a competitor.
There’s a difference in “I hope they screw up so I can play.”
That’s selfish.
Look at our bench engaged & WILLING their teammates to play hard.
That’s being a competitor.
There’s a difference in “I hope they screw up so I can play.”
That’s selfish.
One of my pillars of play is “sprint.” We tracked it - if your player beat you down the court either way twice in a row, you’re off.
Here’s an example of a simple concept such as “sprint,” manifesting itself nicely.
Here’s an example of a simple concept such as “sprint,” manifesting itself nicely.
Sprint is for everything. Sprint to close out. Sprint to help. Sprint to transition. Sprint to space. Doesn’t matter - sprint to get there.
You’ll never EVER get it right 100% of the time. That’s impossible. But playing at rabbit speed, not cheetah speed, helps immensely.
You’ll never EVER get it right 100% of the time. That’s impossible. But playing at rabbit speed, not cheetah speed, helps immensely.
I use the phrase “figure it out!” a lot. Here’s why.
Drove bad closeout & picked it up in the short corner. When option 1 doesn’t work, what do players & teams “get to” do? FIO.
Must build “get to”
in practice.
Becomes:
BDT shooting into a 2 on 1.
26 point possession.
Drove bad closeout & picked it up in the short corner. When option 1 doesn’t work, what do players & teams “get to” do? FIO.
Must build “get to”
in practice. Becomes:
BDT shooting into a 2 on 1.
26 point possession.
Practice, to me, was all about efficiency & collapsing time frames.
A press break, in my opinion, was fluff. Why don’t we kill two birds with one stone & play keep away or ultimate basketball as our mental transition game & that is also our press break?
1+1=3 (my opinion)
A press break, in my opinion, was fluff. Why don’t we kill two birds with one stone & play keep away or ultimate basketball as our mental transition game & that is also our press break?
1+1=3 (my opinion)
One of my core ideals is that ALL players get first team reps in practice and it is, based on their effort & winning in practice, & our standards, MY job to get them into the game.
If you ask kids to be ALL IN and they are...then play them a little and let them contribute.
If you ask kids to be ALL IN and they are...then play them a little and let them contribute.
In this clip 
the kid who scores rarely played & had taken it to another level in practice.
We were turning it over A LOT. If starters are doing that, so can the bench?
She made a decision bc she had the freedom on that BLOB. And 1.
Watch her teammates react.
the kid who scores rarely played & had taken it to another level in practice. We were turning it over A LOT. If starters are doing that, so can the bench?
She made a decision bc she had the freedom on that BLOB. And 1.
Watch her teammates react.
Here’s how you build trust.
Leave that kid out there if they’re solid. She started 2nd half & gets matched up with a big.
Panic??
Or, let her fight. Know & trust that she will fight. She has to play against bigger and stronger every day in practice - she’s built for this.
Leave that kid out there if they’re solid. She started 2nd half & gets matched up with a big.
Panic??
Or, let her fight. Know & trust that she will fight. She has to play against bigger and stronger every day in practice - she’s built for this.
I can’t remember where I heard this but “every player should be able to guard a mismatch for a possession.”
If a switch scares you that much time to re-evaluate how you’re teaching D and how much you trust your players.
If a switch scares you that much time to re-evaluate how you’re teaching D and how much you trust your players.
Talking about trust & the human component - it has to be an all the time thing.
Here in crunch time, a 26 point possession in unscripted offense. FIO based on our concepts.
Who says post play is dead?? Not this guy. Just leverage it differently.
Practice HABITS.
Here in crunch time, a 26 point possession in unscripted offense. FIO based on our concepts.
Who says post play is dead?? Not this guy. Just leverage it differently.
Practice HABITS.
This trust isn’t just with players. Our staff explicitly committed to trusting the process in our preseason retreat & we reiterated it every day.
If not for Tubbs suggesting sub Bri or Nate advising against a timeout or Cassandra tracking effort? We likely lose & I outcoach ME.
If not for Tubbs suggesting sub Bri or Nate advising against a timeout or Cassandra tracking effort? We likely lose & I outcoach ME.
One of the concepts we really embraced was BYOO - Be Your Own Outlet. Here, after a battle for the board, there was no “get it to a guard,” or slow down.
We go into a 3 on 3 that becomes a 3 on 2 because we kept hunting the paint. @cydstorer was and is elite at this!
We go into a 3 on 3 that becomes a 3 on 2 because we kept hunting the paint. @cydstorer was and is elite at this!
On the next possession - BYOO doesn’t go that well. But that’s OKAY - this was more than a “failed” possession.
1. Try
2. Fail
3. Receive feedback and touches from one to the other (20 and 30)
4. Self-organizing and on to the next thing (4)
1. Try
2. Fail
3. Receive feedback and touches from one to the other (20 and 30)
4. Self-organizing and on to the next thing (4)
The pace is really what’s important. Space is the 6th offensive player and pace, well pace may be the 7th. Pace caused chaos, & we ALWAYS wanted to thrive in chaos.
The team that can transition from one thing to the next and self-organize with focus usually wins.
The team that can transition from one thing to the next and self-organize with focus usually wins.
Early Opposite - 15
Pass - 1
Pass - 1
Post feed - 5
Kick out - 1 (NEUTRAL)
Switch sides - 5
Middle drive - 5
Pass - 1
Switch sides - 5
Shot - 7
Make - 3
49 point possession and THEY self-organized & played together. Note celebrations & body language in transition.
Pass - 1
Pass - 1
Post feed - 5
Kick out - 1 (NEUTRAL)
Switch sides - 5
Middle drive - 5
Pass - 1
Switch sides - 5
Shot - 7
Make - 3
49 point possession and THEY self-organized & played together. Note celebrations & body language in transition.
The price of admission is the effort to control the controllable aspects of performance.
This is a SPRINT clip if I’ve ever seen one. And this is off a MAKE.
It was also not the last time this exact thing happened.
This is a SPRINT clip if I’ve ever seen one. And this is off a MAKE.
It was also not the last time this exact thing happened.
An example of how our x-out coverage came from the idea that whoever talks first is right. Here, 14 talked first and helped which allowed 21 to be the the first help and 11 to x-out to 21’s. 21 ends up contesting and we SPRINT into a transition 3.
A scramble situation leads to chaos. Back to our motto - “thrive in chaos.”
I did not want to “slow us down” to re-organize...instead, I wanted to “speed up practice” so these moments would be easier for players to navigate.
P.s. rule followed - if you can pitch ahead you must
I did not want to “slow us down” to re-organize...instead, I wanted to “speed up practice” so these moments would be easier for players to navigate.
P.s. rule followed - if you can pitch ahead you must
Pitch ahead
Middle
Switch sides
Seven + a make
30 point possession in under 10 seconds.
Driving the 45 is ESSENTIAL to making this work.
Middle
Switch sides
Seven + a make
30 point possession in under 10 seconds.
Driving the 45 is ESSENTIAL to making this work.
Not a great defensive rotation but good enough.
Transition offense is when we want to be the most dangerous.
Our spacing isn’t “ideal” in transition but we want the HUMAN COMPONENT first.
SPRINT.
Technical/tactical feedback is at this timeout.
Love the team reaction here
Transition offense is when we want to be the most dangerous.
Our spacing isn’t “ideal” in transition but we want the HUMAN COMPONENT first.
SPRINT.
Technical/tactical feedback is at this timeout.
Love the team reaction here
Straight out of our mental transition games of keep away and ultimate basketball.
Defense is in a 1-3-1 but that is irrelevant with spacing & freedom. Push it up and find the big advantage. Be free to get it there however you see fit.
This was part of practice every day.
Defense is in a 1-3-1 but that is irrelevant with spacing & freedom. Push it up and find the big advantage. Be free to get it there however you see fit.
This was part of practice every day.
One of our defensive tenets is to “contest eyes.” Saying contest or get a hand up is not enough - specific “cult like” language only.
Here’s that same pass to a sprinter for a finish. But it starts on the defensive end - in SYNERGY with offense.
They’re not separate things.
Here’s that same pass to a sprinter for a finish. But it starts on the defensive end - in SYNERGY with offense.
They’re not separate things.
Off a missed free throw.
*Self organize
*Play our rules & use our elements
*Use the Advatage
*Hunt the paint, drive, kick.
*Find a 7 or 9 and shoot with confidence
Elements present: a “get,” “drive after uphill ball movement,” “hold to blast,” “DHO,” BDT 1 on 1 to kick.
*Self organize
*Play our rules & use our elements
*Use the Advatage
*Hunt the paint, drive, kick.
*Find a 7 or 9 and shoot with confidence
Elements present: a “get,” “drive after uphill ball movement,” “hold to blast,” “DHO,” BDT 1 on 1 to kick.
Offensively - FIND the BIG ADVANTAGE.
Doesn’t matter that she isn’t our best shooter - we hunted that shot and we will live with it bc for her it is still a 7.
ORB responsibilities -
FT line CRASH, - back. Shooter has no immediate job. Shoot, follow thru, land.
Doesn’t matter that she isn’t our best shooter - we hunted that shot and we will live with it bc for her it is still a 7.
ORB responsibilities -
FT line CRASH, - back. Shooter has no immediate job. Shoot, follow thru, land.
Pitching ahead in the two side break puts such strain on the defense, even if it is not early opposite.
The “late” rim run here opens up a lot - the post defender thinks she doesn’t have anyone to guard & corner could help which would create 2 on 1 twice.
The “late” rim run here opens up a lot - the post defender thinks she doesn’t have anyone to guard & corner could help which would create 2 on 1 twice.
There’s beauty in simplicity. Push, drive, kick, shot. IN my mind, this is a GREAT SHOT.
Also...best bench celebration of all time. Wait for it.
Also...best bench celebration of all time. Wait for it.
Looking at this from our first game of the season in 18-19, we'd just introduced the two side break maybe a couple weeks earlier. Rule for rim runner is simple - rim run early or late & let's get it to her when we can, if we can. Ends up in FT's early in the game.
Here we get another early opposite to the two side but to the corner first.
In reflecting on the teaching - this is something I wish I emphasized more.
Even with a mis-handled ball, the indecision from the defense is really IT - Want to play 2v1 right away & buy time/space.
In reflecting on the teaching - this is something I wish I emphasized more.
Even with a mis-handled ball, the indecision from the defense is really IT - Want to play 2v1 right away & buy time/space.
Sideline out bounds plays had not been put in yet - not sure we even ran one? Can't remember now.
Regardless, what molecules were we using to gain an advantage? The basic decisions off a catch to "attack the back" and use space to our advantage were ever-present. Simple works.
Regardless, what molecules were we using to gain an advantage? The basic decisions off a catch to "attack the back" and use space to our advantage were ever-present. Simple works.
Love to see the spacing and confidence in this one. This "boomerang" pass was not something we'd 'worked on,' per se, but our kids hunted these types of opportunities.
Often would ask, if we passed this up in practice, "what else do you want?"
More below...
Often would ask, if we passed this up in practice, "what else do you want?"
More below...
"What else do you want," meant, "what better shot are you hoping we get later in a possession?"
If the right kid at the right time in the right spot has a 7 and no one else has a 9...its more selfish for them to pass that shot up than to take it.
Remove the doubt!
If the right kid at the right time in the right spot has a 7 and no one else has a 9...its more selfish for them to pass that shot up than to take it.
Remove the doubt!
"The game slows down for better players."
*fingers touch leather, peek at the rim
*if you can't pitch it ahead, hunt the paint
*"NO NUMBERS NO NUMBERS" - chill - we can make it a 1 on 1 from the elbow
*sever the angle
*branches v. trunks decision
*If help, kick
*no help, finish
*fingers touch leather, peek at the rim
*if you can't pitch it ahead, hunt the paint
*"NO NUMBERS NO NUMBERS" - chill - we can make it a 1 on 1 from the elbow
*sever the angle
*branches v. trunks decision
*If help, kick
*no help, finish
It doesn't matter your class or position, control the controllables and you'll play. Here, a freshman post player in her first varsity game controls her ability to sprint & beats everyone down the floor to take a charge. In transition. The appreciation from the bench MATTERS.
After missing a shot, watch how @cydstorer gets back on defense. She knows shoulder/chest is an advantage and shoulder to shoulder is neutral. Sprint to get there & make them make a choice they aren't used to making. Synergy btwn O & D teaching showing up in games.
44-44, first game of the year, after being up 13 in the game.
I don't think I appreciated this scramble and self-organization on both ends until now, a year and a half later.
X-out, contesting eyes, being there on the catch, quick outlets, attack the two side, take a 7.
I don't think I appreciated this scramble and self-organization on both ends until now, a year and a half later.
X-out, contesting eyes, being there on the catch, quick outlets, attack the two side, take a 7.
A quick clip showing transfer of BDT concepts & trunk v. branch decisions. The one more into a fight for her feet & stab dribble on the catch sets up a relatively uncontested finish.
Nothing flashy, but that 1 on 1 turned into a 1 on 0 bc of 1st and 2nd level decision making.
Nothing flashy, but that 1 on 1 turned into a 1 on 0 bc of 1st and 2nd level decision making.
"Whoever talks first is right."
Had to go back and look at the scout - this phrase was on it. The switch was not a "plan," or part of the scout, rather it was based on cues & information our players diagnosed.
Started w/ human component of communication & processing in chaos.
Had to go back and look at the scout - this phrase was on it. The switch was not a "plan," or part of the scout, rather it was based on cues & information our players diagnosed.
Started w/ human component of communication & processing in chaos.
We all love to be right.
The better player you are, the more you are accountable when things don't go right.
Therefore, the better player you are, the better talker you need to be.
Everyone wants to be a really good player - so being accountable to talking & listening is 1st.
The better player you are, the more you are accountable when things don't go right.
Therefore, the better player you are, the better talker you need to be.
Everyone wants to be a really good player - so being accountable to talking & listening is 1st.
Thinking back to Defensive Challenge (score/stop/score or other way).
Decisions all around - not close enough shot, BYOO by our 5 player (
) into 2 on 1 at rim.
In between, the effort & communication to get a stop are the glue.
Not O, Not D...Synergy for 94 feet.
Decisions all around - not close enough shot, BYOO by our 5 player (
) into 2 on 1 at rim. In between, the effort & communication to get a stop are the glue.
Not O, Not D...Synergy for 94 feet.
This was the only non-conference game we lost that year. Results aside - it proved some powerful points for me.
1. Scouting is somewhat overrated. We spent too long on this scout & not enough on us
2. I want to be the team doing what we do BETTER than they do what they do.
1. Scouting is somewhat overrated. We spent too long on this scout & not enough on us
2. I want to be the team doing what we do BETTER than they do what they do.
These two thoughts inform practice environment & game prep.
Scout to know their personnel tendencies & common actions. Players make plays, plays don't make plays.
Practice is about refining and sharpening US. We have so much to improve, why spend majority of time on THEM?
Scout to know their personnel tendencies & common actions. Players make plays, plays don't make plays.
Practice is about refining and sharpening US. We have so much to improve, why spend majority of time on THEM?
I'm in no way saying scouting doesn't help - it does. But it is not a keeping up with the Joneses thing...Pareto Principle (80/20 rule).
If we know that 80% of the game is played in transition & chaos...then let's mirror that in practice. Build in components of the scout...
If we know that 80% of the game is played in transition & chaos...then let's mirror that in practice. Build in components of the scout...
...so that we see the actions over and over as "today's version" of chaos in practice. This game proved to me I needed to re-evaluate and spend more time on US rather than getting caught up in sets/offenses the other team was going to run.
My mission is to build teams capable..
My mission is to build teams capable..
..of withstanding ANYTHING. And if we lose, it won't be because of someone else's offensive playbook. It'll be because their players just out-decided and out-played our players and we didn't make enough adjustments to put our kids in a position to be successful.
Doesn't mean we didn't scout. I love watching and learning and finding an edge in how our team prepares. What to watch for matters. We scouted everyone, but the information given to the players and how we weaved it into practice changed drastically and for the MUCH better.
Same game, near the end of the 3rd.
We didn't have THIS in the first half of the game. Don't let someone push you around - they want to run flex & run clock, okay, let's attack them. Multiple efforts are EXPECTED.
We will do US better than you do YOU. Just took too long.
We didn't have THIS in the first half of the game. Don't let someone push you around - they want to run flex & run clock, okay, let's attack them. Multiple efforts are EXPECTED.
We will do US better than you do YOU. Just took too long.
When we say, "figure it out," - same applies defensively.
We were not and would not be a denial team, but players are empowered to make decisions on both ends and our team will adjust & live with it within our rules.
"NO NUMBERS!" - hunt. the. paint. THRIVE IN CHAOS.
We were not and would not be a denial team, but players are empowered to make decisions on both ends and our team will adjust & live with it within our rules.
"NO NUMBERS!" - hunt. the. paint. THRIVE IN CHAOS.
