Watching the first week of the NBA season we've noticed some familiar patterns emerge.
First the NBA playbook of a steady diet of ball screens will never go away. Players who have great ability with the ball in the hands are just too dangerous coming off the ball screen. It puts tremendous pressure on the defense to guard this action and if you combine it with a talented player as the screener it's very difficult to guard.
At the collegiate level it seems that coaches have completely eschewed the motion game or creative specials and strictly use the ball screen game. Last night the URI-Pitt game, Pitt almost exclusively ran side ball screens in the closing minutes of a tight game. You'll notice as you watch the college game even teams that were once traditional motion offense teams, now feature a steady diet of ball screens.
Another more troubling aspect of coaching is the lack of creativity or ideas at the pro level. You can almost tell what's coming every trip down and there are very few wrinkles or options that teams employ to get any variety of looks for their players. Now if you have a dominant lineup and will win by keeping it simple, by all means, but teams that are inferior in their talent shouldn't try to overpower teams with a simple playbook and hope their talent wins out, it won't. We're not going to mention any names here (New Jersey).
We're going to watch film this week and see how Atlanta and their motion based game has been fairing. Their record has been good so far, but we'll report on how their offense has looked early on.
November 9, 2010
Watching players grow
It's fun watching a player develop their game so that they become more useful to their teams. 3 players in particular have shown growth in the NBA.
Joakim Noah, Rajon Rondo, and Derrick Rose are 3 NBA players who have amped up their level of play this early part of the season. Let's take a look at all 3.
Joakim Noah is exactly what you would want in a big. He's a high motor guy who runs the floor hard and give tremendous effort defensively and on the glass. His offensive game coming out of college was suspect to say the least, however, the past 2 seasons he's really worked on developing a jump hook game in the post to either shoulder. He also has, and this is difficult to say, improved his shooting from 15 feet and out. His technique is brutal but he's becoming more and more accurate and he's more willing to shoot it. If we were game planning to play the Bulls we'd let him shoot as many of them as he wants, but he's shown the ability to make them and will start to make teams pay for sagging off him.
Lastly we're really impressed with his ability to be coach-able. As a rookie he had issues with the veteran leadership of his team, going so far as to get suspended. But recently on a nationally televised game against the Celtics, Noah got a rebound and took the bust out dribble by himself, getting back tipped and turning the ball over late in a one or two possession game. Last night against the Nuggets, twice in the last 3 minutes of close game, Noah got rebounds and took the bust out dribble, and then he jump stopped and outletted the ball to a guard. He learned from his mistake and made the proper decision. He's definitely improving.
Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo we can evaluate together. Both are jet quick guards who can go end to end and attack the rim at will. Both are played as slashers or drive first guards who have had their driving angles closed off by sagging on ball and help defenders. Both over this summer have improved their jump shots to the point where teams have to honor it and guard them honestly. The result? Rondo is on a remarkable pace with assists and he blows by his primary defender and dumps the ball off to open teammates when the help comes. And Rose is scoring at a torrid pace. His athletic ability to blow by the first defender and get a floater up in the paint is fun to watch. He also has the power to attack bigger defenders and attack the rim for a dunk or drawing the foul. Both players as they increase their perimeter shooting percentages will become even more effective and entertaining players to watch.
Joakim Noah, Rajon Rondo, and Derrick Rose are 3 NBA players who have amped up their level of play this early part of the season. Let's take a look at all 3.
Joakim Noah is exactly what you would want in a big. He's a high motor guy who runs the floor hard and give tremendous effort defensively and on the glass. His offensive game coming out of college was suspect to say the least, however, the past 2 seasons he's really worked on developing a jump hook game in the post to either shoulder. He also has, and this is difficult to say, improved his shooting from 15 feet and out. His technique is brutal but he's becoming more and more accurate and he's more willing to shoot it. If we were game planning to play the Bulls we'd let him shoot as many of them as he wants, but he's shown the ability to make them and will start to make teams pay for sagging off him.
Lastly we're really impressed with his ability to be coach-able. As a rookie he had issues with the veteran leadership of his team, going so far as to get suspended. But recently on a nationally televised game against the Celtics, Noah got a rebound and took the bust out dribble by himself, getting back tipped and turning the ball over late in a one or two possession game. Last night against the Nuggets, twice in the last 3 minutes of close game, Noah got rebounds and took the bust out dribble, and then he jump stopped and outletted the ball to a guard. He learned from his mistake and made the proper decision. He's definitely improving.
Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo we can evaluate together. Both are jet quick guards who can go end to end and attack the rim at will. Both are played as slashers or drive first guards who have had their driving angles closed off by sagging on ball and help defenders. Both over this summer have improved their jump shots to the point where teams have to honor it and guard them honestly. The result? Rondo is on a remarkable pace with assists and he blows by his primary defender and dumps the ball off to open teammates when the help comes. And Rose is scoring at a torrid pace. His athletic ability to blow by the first defender and get a floater up in the paint is fun to watch. He also has the power to attack bigger defenders and attack the rim for a dunk or drawing the foul. Both players as they increase their perimeter shooting percentages will become even more effective and entertaining players to watch.
October 18, 2010
The Art of War and basketball
Recently the History Channel ran a show on Sun Tzu, the famous Chinese war philosopher. His most recognizable quote is:
Know yourself and know your enemy and you will win a 100 battles.
This translates on the basketball floor as know your strengths and weaknesses and know your opponent's strength and weaknesses and you will be successful in every game.
Most coaches scout their opponents, they study patterns, player tendencies, coaching tendencies, etc.
But how many coaches scout themselves or their own teams? Do you have any tendencies that your opponent can exploit? Do you run the same play out of every timeout? Are you predictable? Are you giving your opponent the edge? Re-watch your game film and look not for your players' mistakes but your own patterns and be unpredictable and tough to coach against.
Know yourself and know your enemy and you will win a 100 battles.
This translates on the basketball floor as know your strengths and weaknesses and know your opponent's strength and weaknesses and you will be successful in every game.
Most coaches scout their opponents, they study patterns, player tendencies, coaching tendencies, etc.
But how many coaches scout themselves or their own teams? Do you have any tendencies that your opponent can exploit? Do you run the same play out of every timeout? Are you predictable? Are you giving your opponent the edge? Re-watch your game film and look not for your players' mistakes but your own patterns and be unpredictable and tough to coach against.
October 16, 2010
Goal for Pre-Season
Coach, what are you goals for pre-season?
Unlike the NBA or college where there are scheduled exhibition games, high school teams may or may not (under their state rules) have a scrimmage but more often than not you're playing games that count right out of the gate.
How do you use your 2-3 weeks of practice before the games begin and how do you use your first games? Is it exhibition season and you're trying out different lineups with the results being secondary? Or are you playing damn the torpedoes right out of the gate and doing everything possible to win?
A lot has to do with your philosophy of the season, if every game is a must win, you'll probably have your all your sets and defenses and you'll play your top 6 or 7 to win. Sure you'll win games but at the expense of your bench and mastery of your stuff.
If you view the season as a marathon, you'll most likely have stuff you're going to put in later in the season and you'll spend time on developing players 8,9, and 10 on your roster by giving them playing time. The negative is you might lose games early on and your players might lose some confidence.
Either philosophy isn't bad. A team that plays to win early and succeeds will have almost unstoppable confidence as the playoff season comes closer. A team that is taking the longer view of the season will see growth along every step of the way and be a really tough team to beat in playoffs.
There is no right or wrong answer to this subject, you as a coach much determine your philosophy and stick to it.
Unlike the NBA or college where there are scheduled exhibition games, high school teams may or may not (under their state rules) have a scrimmage but more often than not you're playing games that count right out of the gate.
How do you use your 2-3 weeks of practice before the games begin and how do you use your first games? Is it exhibition season and you're trying out different lineups with the results being secondary? Or are you playing damn the torpedoes right out of the gate and doing everything possible to win?
A lot has to do with your philosophy of the season, if every game is a must win, you'll probably have your all your sets and defenses and you'll play your top 6 or 7 to win. Sure you'll win games but at the expense of your bench and mastery of your stuff.
If you view the season as a marathon, you'll most likely have stuff you're going to put in later in the season and you'll spend time on developing players 8,9, and 10 on your roster by giving them playing time. The negative is you might lose games early on and your players might lose some confidence.
Either philosophy isn't bad. A team that plays to win early and succeeds will have almost unstoppable confidence as the playoff season comes closer. A team that is taking the longer view of the season will see growth along every step of the way and be a really tough team to beat in playoffs.
There is no right or wrong answer to this subject, you as a coach much determine your philosophy and stick to it.
Are we forcing players back too quickly after surgery?
A lot has been made about players coming back from injury in record time and the advances in medical science getting us back so quickly. Perhaps we need to take a step back and re-examine that thought process, are we rushing athletes back too quickly? 3 injuries this fall stick out because players who have injured their ACL's all rehabbed and gotten back in under a year, only to tear them again. The New York Jets Kris Jenkins, the Minnesota Vikings Cedric Griffin, and Purdue's Robbie Hummel.
Obviously we all want our athletes back quickly, but is that any reason we should rush them back? I think we all can agree as coaches that it's the worst thing in the world to see one of your kids get hurt. I think it's especially heart breaking watching one work and rehab only to get hurt again. The looks on Griffin's and Jenkin's faces when their injuries happened were especially crushing. They knew they had torn it again immediately and all their rehab work went for naught.
Obviously we all want our athletes back quickly, but is that any reason we should rush them back? I think we all can agree as coaches that it's the worst thing in the world to see one of your kids get hurt. I think it's especially heart breaking watching one work and rehab only to get hurt again. The looks on Griffin's and Jenkin's faces when their injuries happened were especially crushing. They knew they had torn it again immediately and all their rehab work went for naught.
August 20, 2010
Summer Time
We'll as you can tell we've taken the summer off to work camps and the like. We'll be starting up again with posts once the school year gets under way. We hope you've had an enjoyable summer and I know that you're like us, looking forward to a great season.
April 4, 2010
To foul or not to foul, that is a question...When up 3 late
We're torn on the strategy of fouling when up 3 and on defense. Last night it worked incredibly well for Butler as they allowed the clock to wind down to 2 seconds before fouling and sending Michigan State to the line with no time to do anything except try a missed FT Tap in play.
Of course we all saw what happened with Kansas State attempted to apply the same strategy and Xavier was able to get fouled in the act to shooting and tie the game.
We've also had it backfire in our own experience with referees who for whatever reason decide to pass on the foul and just let a half end which resulted in our fouling player being out of position defensively and allowing a clean look. Additionally we've seen teams get called for intentional fouls in that situation and lose possession of the ball, putting the game in jeopardy.
Fouling when up late is a risky strategy and one we're torn on whether it's right to do or not. It's also risky to allow today's players a clean look at the basket late in a game. This is one that's not easily answered.
Of course we all saw what happened with Kansas State attempted to apply the same strategy and Xavier was able to get fouled in the act to shooting and tie the game.
We've also had it backfire in our own experience with referees who for whatever reason decide to pass on the foul and just let a half end which resulted in our fouling player being out of position defensively and allowing a clean look. Additionally we've seen teams get called for intentional fouls in that situation and lose possession of the ball, putting the game in jeopardy.
Fouling when up late is a risky strategy and one we're torn on whether it's right to do or not. It's also risky to allow today's players a clean look at the basket late in a game. This is one that's not easily answered.
Channelling John Wooden
After watching the tape again of the Michigan State - Butler semifinal, a quote of John Wooden's popped into our minds.
"The game is over coached, and under taught."
We're all for coaching, that's what we do and what we love. However, There were several displays of over-coaching last night.
At the end of the first half, Butler calls a timeout with 2.5 seconds left after a rebound to set up...a three-quarter court length sideline out of bounds? Why? Why not save that timeout for a late game situation. Butler had already used a timeout earlier which we assumed was it's thirty second timeout for the first half.
You really can't tell in the NCAA tournament if a timeout is a thirty and a full because CBS goes to a commercial during all timeouts and the first thirty second timeout of a half becomes a full through the magic of television.
Then the most egregious example of over coaching was the end of game decision by Tom Izzo to claim that the clock had started early. The officials were right on his complaint, stopped the game and reviewed the situation.
What this essentially gives each team is a timeout while the officials are looking at replay. It's usually a shrewd maneuver, however, MSU could have taken advantage of the chaos of transition and gotten a 3 point shot with Butler in a scramble. All the faux timeout did was allow Butler to organize it's defense and use the foul when up three strategy. If MSU allowed the play to continue and not ask for the officials for review, then we're willing to bet that no player on Butler would have been smart or gutsy enough to foul in transition, yet alone allow 4 seconds of clock to elapse before doing it.
In this case this bit of over-coaching cost MSU dearly. Butler fouled up 3, MSU hit the first and missed the second trying for a tip in and was denied.
"The game is over coached, and under taught."
We're all for coaching, that's what we do and what we love. However, There were several displays of over-coaching last night.
At the end of the first half, Butler calls a timeout with 2.5 seconds left after a rebound to set up...a three-quarter court length sideline out of bounds? Why? Why not save that timeout for a late game situation. Butler had already used a timeout earlier which we assumed was it's thirty second timeout for the first half.
You really can't tell in the NCAA tournament if a timeout is a thirty and a full because CBS goes to a commercial during all timeouts and the first thirty second timeout of a half becomes a full through the magic of television.
Then the most egregious example of over coaching was the end of game decision by Tom Izzo to claim that the clock had started early. The officials were right on his complaint, stopped the game and reviewed the situation.
What this essentially gives each team is a timeout while the officials are looking at replay. It's usually a shrewd maneuver, however, MSU could have taken advantage of the chaos of transition and gotten a 3 point shot with Butler in a scramble. All the faux timeout did was allow Butler to organize it's defense and use the foul when up three strategy. If MSU allowed the play to continue and not ask for the officials for review, then we're willing to bet that no player on Butler would have been smart or gutsy enough to foul in transition, yet alone allow 4 seconds of clock to elapse before doing it.
In this case this bit of over-coaching cost MSU dearly. Butler fouled up 3, MSU hit the first and missed the second trying for a tip in and was denied.
March 24, 2010
Working Hard
We're working hard to update our playbooks. 48 first round games means about 100 hours of film work, watching and breaking down the games. We'll be sure to have our April newsletter to include the best of what we've seen.
Also we're working hard on our estore loading up the team playbooks we've gotten over the season.
Also we're working hard on our estore loading up the team playbooks we've gotten over the season.
March 14, 2010
The most exciting and sad time of the year
This is a great time of year, conference tournaments have ended and selection Sunday has come and gone and the best sporting event in the country is about to start.
Sadly it's also a season of firing some pretty good coaches and showing the irrationality of the system that values the monetary rewards of getting to the NCAA tournament over the values and true purpose of collegiate athletics, education. Already heads have been chopped. Coaches at smaller schools who don't make the tournament are losing their jobs after going .500 or better over their career.
Seriously, does anyone expect UC-Irvine to be a dominant tournament team? If they were their coach would obviously be courted by higher level teams and would leave. Instead a man who goes over 500 for his career is let go.
It's no wonder the NCAA coaches want to expand the tournament, it's a simple matter of job security.
Sadly it's also a season of firing some pretty good coaches and showing the irrationality of the system that values the monetary rewards of getting to the NCAA tournament over the values and true purpose of collegiate athletics, education. Already heads have been chopped. Coaches at smaller schools who don't make the tournament are losing their jobs after going .500 or better over their career.
Seriously, does anyone expect UC-Irvine to be a dominant tournament team? If they were their coach would obviously be courted by higher level teams and would leave. Instead a man who goes over 500 for his career is let go.
It's no wonder the NCAA coaches want to expand the tournament, it's a simple matter of job security.
March 2, 2010
E-Store
Coming soon to the Basketball Coaches Report, an e-store where you can buy any and all of our pdf playbooks. We currently have 45 college teams scouted and 28 NBA teams scouted. Check back soon as the E-store should be up shortly.
March 1, 2010
Volume 4
Volume 4 is published, register @ www.basketballcoachesreport.com to get the latest and best plays from coaches across the country.
February 27, 2010
The Timeout
Over the past decade much has been made of Phil Jackson's philosophy of playing through an opponent's run without calling a timeout. Having seen this philosophy and having tried it, we've come to the conclusion that if you want a moral victory, don't call a timeout. You can go into the locker room after your loss and tell your team that they need to improve their mental toughness. If you want to win the game when the wheels are falling off the car, call the timeout and regroup.
Case in point, the Dallas Mavericks vs. Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta up 8, Dallas goes on a tear and Atlanta "plays through it". Eventually Dallas takes the lead and the game goes to overtime where Dallas is able to pull out the victory.
Here's why we would have taken the time out.
1. Atlanta was getting outworked by Jason Kidd (who put on a show getting a triple double). Kidd got an offensive rebound off a free throw, stole the ball from a post player from the blindside, and knocked down several jumpers. He even beat Atlanta's coach to the spot and got a technical called for the coach being on the floor.
2. Dallas' zone defense gave Atlanta's offense fits, there were too many settle for jumpers possessions late in the game. Yes Mike Bibby hit some big shots, but there was little penetration of the zone and a timeout could have set up a better attack.
3. Momentum. Dallas ripped off an incredible run, Jason Kidd energized the entire Dallas lineup. Call a timeout and cool their jets.
Instead Dallas gets the win on the road. Now will this loss benefit Atlanta in the future? We don't know. But if it costs them a higher playoff seed and an earlier exit, it wouldn't have been worth it.
Case in point, the Dallas Mavericks vs. Atlanta Hawks. Atlanta up 8, Dallas goes on a tear and Atlanta "plays through it". Eventually Dallas takes the lead and the game goes to overtime where Dallas is able to pull out the victory.
Here's why we would have taken the time out.
1. Atlanta was getting outworked by Jason Kidd (who put on a show getting a triple double). Kidd got an offensive rebound off a free throw, stole the ball from a post player from the blindside, and knocked down several jumpers. He even beat Atlanta's coach to the spot and got a technical called for the coach being on the floor.
2. Dallas' zone defense gave Atlanta's offense fits, there were too many settle for jumpers possessions late in the game. Yes Mike Bibby hit some big shots, but there was little penetration of the zone and a timeout could have set up a better attack.
3. Momentum. Dallas ripped off an incredible run, Jason Kidd energized the entire Dallas lineup. Call a timeout and cool their jets.
Instead Dallas gets the win on the road. Now will this loss benefit Atlanta in the future? We don't know. But if it costs them a higher playoff seed and an earlier exit, it wouldn't have been worth it.
February 17, 2010
Managing Expectations
It's February, teams are coming together for their stretch run or falling apart at the seams. One of the keys to having a successful stretch run and season is to manage expectations. With message boards, newspapers, sport dedicated websites, the scrutiny goes all the way down to the grammar school level. That accompanied with the usual array of player, parental, and school influences make for an intense cauldron of pressure for modern players. Results of games are broadcast near instantly. Anonymous message boards levy harsh criticism of players (they are still kids right?) which is undue pressure on any teenager. If expectations aren't managed properly it can crush a player or a team.
Teams that are coming together have set realistic expectations and set manageable short term goals and met them throughout the season. Players are confident and happy in their roles and are playing hard and having fun. These teams are "gelling" at the right time and are poised for a good finish.
If you spent your preseason talking to your team how you were going to win conference and you're 3 or 4 games out of it right now, your players are probably going to be tuning you out because you've lost your credibility. At that point you are holding on to a tiger by the tail and hoping to ride out the string. Players aren't content with their roles, team chemistry is a mess, and everyone wants to go home right after practice or a game. If you're coaching at the high school level you probably have your fair share of parents voicing their displeasure about little Johnny's or little Suzy's playing time, lack of awards or newspaper recognition, or scholarship offers.
If a player had the expectation that they would be all-American, all-conference, all-area, or pick up a scholarship offer and those goals haven't been met you need to refocus their goals on the near term. Go out and own the glass, or take care of the ball, or make the hustle plays to help us win can help keep a player who's lost their way stay in the game. If a player is worried about the external things out of their control, they cannot focus on the things that they can control, their performance.
All is not lost! Simply refocus your team and individual goals into short term, attainable goals. We want to win the rest of our home games or we want to sweep the weekend. If faced with a difficult opponent, we want to hold them to 40% shooting and no second chance points, etc. Giving your players something to aim for, and more importantly something they can buy into for the stretch run will ease a "missed" season.
You and your staff can spend the off-season wondering where things went amiss. Stay in the game and refocus your kids to make the last part of your season a success.
Teams that are coming together have set realistic expectations and set manageable short term goals and met them throughout the season. Players are confident and happy in their roles and are playing hard and having fun. These teams are "gelling" at the right time and are poised for a good finish.
If you spent your preseason talking to your team how you were going to win conference and you're 3 or 4 games out of it right now, your players are probably going to be tuning you out because you've lost your credibility. At that point you are holding on to a tiger by the tail and hoping to ride out the string. Players aren't content with their roles, team chemistry is a mess, and everyone wants to go home right after practice or a game. If you're coaching at the high school level you probably have your fair share of parents voicing their displeasure about little Johnny's or little Suzy's playing time, lack of awards or newspaper recognition, or scholarship offers.
If a player had the expectation that they would be all-American, all-conference, all-area, or pick up a scholarship offer and those goals haven't been met you need to refocus their goals on the near term. Go out and own the glass, or take care of the ball, or make the hustle plays to help us win can help keep a player who's lost their way stay in the game. If a player is worried about the external things out of their control, they cannot focus on the things that they can control, their performance.
All is not lost! Simply refocus your team and individual goals into short term, attainable goals. We want to win the rest of our home games or we want to sweep the weekend. If faced with a difficult opponent, we want to hold them to 40% shooting and no second chance points, etc. Giving your players something to aim for, and more importantly something they can buy into for the stretch run will ease a "missed" season.
You and your staff can spend the off-season wondering where things went amiss. Stay in the game and refocus your kids to make the last part of your season a success.
February 10, 2010
The State of the Union - Collegiate Style
Well there's been a flurry of basketball related articles regarding the business of college sports. It makes the authors of this blog shake their head when reading of some of the perverted uses of "higher education" and how this industry fails to police itself.
The past few days have seen several guests of the Mike and Mike talk show, talking about the NCAA's "1 and done" rule. First off for all of you who hate it, it is not an NCAA rule. It is a collectively bargained NBA-NBAPA rule. Secondly many of the same pundits who applauded the rule are now bashing it saying that kids don't go to class and that the players are one year rental players. Well that is something within the purview of the NCAA and Bob Knight has been an outspoken critic of the NCAA's handling of the matter. Why can't kids and college be held accountable to actually go to class? These are colleges aren't they? That's what people who go to college are supposed to do, attend class and maybe learn something. I guess so long as the billions of dollars pour into college athletics then university presidents will ignore this eyesore. Ignorance is bliss, and to the athletes who play college sports, all in all you're just another brick in the wall of NCAA hypocrisy.
What is further maddening is the idea put forth in this article on espn.com, that only 20 universities annually break even financially. Where then does all this money go? When will the government stop the facade that collegiate sports serves a tax exempted educational purpose? Were the television contracts not enough? Were the licensing and merchandising contracts not enough?
Dana O'Neil's article on UNo Athletics.
The past few days have seen several guests of the Mike and Mike talk show, talking about the NCAA's "1 and done" rule. First off for all of you who hate it, it is not an NCAA rule. It is a collectively bargained NBA-NBAPA rule. Secondly many of the same pundits who applauded the rule are now bashing it saying that kids don't go to class and that the players are one year rental players. Well that is something within the purview of the NCAA and Bob Knight has been an outspoken critic of the NCAA's handling of the matter. Why can't kids and college be held accountable to actually go to class? These are colleges aren't they? That's what people who go to college are supposed to do, attend class and maybe learn something. I guess so long as the billions of dollars pour into college athletics then university presidents will ignore this eyesore. Ignorance is bliss, and to the athletes who play college sports, all in all you're just another brick in the wall of NCAA hypocrisy.
What is further maddening is the idea put forth in this article on espn.com, that only 20 universities annually break even financially. Where then does all this money go? When will the government stop the facade that collegiate sports serves a tax exempted educational purpose? Were the television contracts not enough? Were the licensing and merchandising contracts not enough?
Dana O'Neil's article on UNo Athletics.
January 31, 2010
Loyalty Part 2
As the season progresses and more and more stories are told about the goings on of a season we're reminded of one of the most important lessons in team sports. Loyalty.
Lack of it will destroy a team, a program, and individuals. Human beings are always seeking for a way to make themselves seem more important than they really are. One way for team members to feel this importance if they're not getting a lot of playing time, or are simply a walk on is telling tales of the inner workings of a team. They do this to make others think they're "on the inside", to enhance their self worth, or maybe it's just to get laid and be cool. Sometimes there is a profit motive involved, writing a tell all book or worse getting involved with gamblers who then take that inside information and bet with it.
The consequences of telling tales out of school are irreparable. Coaches, players, teammates, friends, and other members of the team all start looking at each other differently when stories of the behind the scenes inner workings start appearing in newspapers, blogs, and gossip mills. Trust is eroded and the effects on a team's ability to be unified going into a hostile environment are diminished.
Trust is tantamount in all team sports. Players must trust the coaches decisions are correct, they must trust that play calls will work, they must trust the instructions given to them aren't wrong. Coaches must trust players to execute the plays, know their responsibilities, to do what they need to do in order to perform at a high level. Players must trust other players to perform their responsibilities and to give it their all.
If trust is eroded then all of these simple decisions are questioned. Maybe a player doesn't extend into the passing lane to deny a pass because they don't trust their help. Maybe a coach doesn't call a play for a player because they don't believe that player has worked on their game enough. All of these scenarios and hundreds more are team killers.
While you're affiliated with a team, you may think that it's cool to tell stories of the inner workings to outsiders but that lack of loyalty diminishes your true understanding of team and eventually your place in it.
Lack of it will destroy a team, a program, and individuals. Human beings are always seeking for a way to make themselves seem more important than they really are. One way for team members to feel this importance if they're not getting a lot of playing time, or are simply a walk on is telling tales of the inner workings of a team. They do this to make others think they're "on the inside", to enhance their self worth, or maybe it's just to get laid and be cool. Sometimes there is a profit motive involved, writing a tell all book or worse getting involved with gamblers who then take that inside information and bet with it.
The consequences of telling tales out of school are irreparable. Coaches, players, teammates, friends, and other members of the team all start looking at each other differently when stories of the behind the scenes inner workings start appearing in newspapers, blogs, and gossip mills. Trust is eroded and the effects on a team's ability to be unified going into a hostile environment are diminished.
Trust is tantamount in all team sports. Players must trust the coaches decisions are correct, they must trust that play calls will work, they must trust the instructions given to them aren't wrong. Coaches must trust players to execute the plays, know their responsibilities, to do what they need to do in order to perform at a high level. Players must trust other players to perform their responsibilities and to give it their all.
If trust is eroded then all of these simple decisions are questioned. Maybe a player doesn't extend into the passing lane to deny a pass because they don't trust their help. Maybe a coach doesn't call a play for a player because they don't believe that player has worked on their game enough. All of these scenarios and hundreds more are team killers.
While you're affiliated with a team, you may think that it's cool to tell stories of the inner workings to outsiders but that lack of loyalty diminishes your true understanding of team and eventually your place in it.
January 29, 2010
How do you get a D-1 Job? Simple be a meat puppet.
No names will be used in this blog post.
Watching the Missouri Valley recently we've seen an old friend on the bench. Now we don't want to out him, but we do want to out D-1 basketball in general.
Would you hire a man who..
Coached a Great Midwest team, result coach fired
Coached a Horizon League team, result coach fired
Coached a Missouri Valley team, result coach fired
Coached a Big 12 team, result coach fired
Coached another Big 12 team, result coach fired
Coached yet ANOTHER Big 12 team, result coach fired
Coaches another Missouri Valley team that was a staple in the NCAA tournament, and now they're having their worst run in years.
Why does he get hired? I don't know but maybe because his dad is an influence peddler in the AAU circuit and head coaches think he has access to players.
The NCAA wants to initiate reform in college basketball and college sports in general but they have to take a long look in the mirror. They stopped being about student athletes when the TV contracts reached 9 and 10 digits in compensation.
There are no punishments for coaches who are habitual line steppers, who simply flee to another program to avoid punishment. Players and institutions get hurt in the wake. One coach who was a pre-season quagmire of a mess alleging academic fraud is now being celebrated as bringing back a storied program to dominance. How soon before allegations at his new address start popping up and he skips to yet another program?
What is the process of being an NCAA coach? Do you need an education degree, seems plausible to require that since you're working at an institution of higher learning! Were any of the 3 coaches fired for alleged player abuse in NCAA football certified teachers? I know it seems trivial but maybe taking a class on ethics or methods of learning would be appropriate. Maybe they would have learned putting your hands on a player or allegedly abusing them doesn't teach them anything and is counter productive, oh and ILLEGAL!
Is it an extensive basketball knowledge? We've sat with many head coaches and assistant coaches at the collegiate level. There are some very good coaches, guys who know the game. Guys who care about their players. Then there are meat puppets who know so little about the game it makes you wonder, who hired this guy? Some are smooth talkers, some are used car salesmen in a jumpsuit, some are related to highly placed political figures and really who doesn't like a celebrity? Some are simply dubious characters who lie, cheat and steal their way to assembling talent laden rosters and try not to screw it up too bad. You've seen these guys, they stealthily talk about what's the next job for them and how they can move up the ladder for the pay day.
It's a struggle to see the ethics line in broadcasting, where major networks hire former coaches who have been accused or in some cases proven to be cheaters and to see them manning the sidelines and studio desks and remote spots from AAU tournaments. Are they breaking the stories on how they got caught which would be interesting to see, no they're just biding their time until another job opens up and their name is out there because they're covering games 3 nights a week. And these are the so-called experts. Malarkey, there are hundreds of high school basketball coaches who know more about the game and are far more entertaining than these meat puppets. Also journalism is a craft of ethics, we will report the news as it is, unbiased and fairly. Why hire a cheat and then not have it mentioned in that person's online bio or ever addressed on the air? Who's doing the reporting of a the latest scandal in college sports? Oh a former cheater himself. How convenient.
The NCAA is a mess, it needs to lose it's tax exempt status because it is all about business and not about education. If not, then hire educators and police them properly, make rules that are clear and easy to understand since the current NCAA rules manual requires a law degree to navigate. Pay the coaches what you would pay your rock-star professors, and no 7 digit contracts.
Are there some who do it right? Yes and there are players who use this opportunity to get a free education and the experience of a lifetime. Those are the stories that should be celebrated. The guys who repeatedly lie, cheat, steal in this profession should be ostracized so the business of education can get done.
Oh and in case you're wondering the NCAA assistant has never delivered one of his dad's players to the programs he's worked in. Seems Papa knows enough not to send his AAU players to play for his son. And as far as we can recall, he's never been a coach on a team to make the NCAA tournament. Yup sounds like a good hire!
Watching the Missouri Valley recently we've seen an old friend on the bench. Now we don't want to out him, but we do want to out D-1 basketball in general.
Would you hire a man who..
Coached a Great Midwest team, result coach fired
Coached a Horizon League team, result coach fired
Coached a Missouri Valley team, result coach fired
Coached a Big 12 team, result coach fired
Coached another Big 12 team, result coach fired
Coached yet ANOTHER Big 12 team, result coach fired
Coaches another Missouri Valley team that was a staple in the NCAA tournament, and now they're having their worst run in years.
Why does he get hired? I don't know but maybe because his dad is an influence peddler in the AAU circuit and head coaches think he has access to players.
The NCAA wants to initiate reform in college basketball and college sports in general but they have to take a long look in the mirror. They stopped being about student athletes when the TV contracts reached 9 and 10 digits in compensation.
There are no punishments for coaches who are habitual line steppers, who simply flee to another program to avoid punishment. Players and institutions get hurt in the wake. One coach who was a pre-season quagmire of a mess alleging academic fraud is now being celebrated as bringing back a storied program to dominance. How soon before allegations at his new address start popping up and he skips to yet another program?
What is the process of being an NCAA coach? Do you need an education degree, seems plausible to require that since you're working at an institution of higher learning! Were any of the 3 coaches fired for alleged player abuse in NCAA football certified teachers? I know it seems trivial but maybe taking a class on ethics or methods of learning would be appropriate. Maybe they would have learned putting your hands on a player or allegedly abusing them doesn't teach them anything and is counter productive, oh and ILLEGAL!
Is it an extensive basketball knowledge? We've sat with many head coaches and assistant coaches at the collegiate level. There are some very good coaches, guys who know the game. Guys who care about their players. Then there are meat puppets who know so little about the game it makes you wonder, who hired this guy? Some are smooth talkers, some are used car salesmen in a jumpsuit, some are related to highly placed political figures and really who doesn't like a celebrity? Some are simply dubious characters who lie, cheat and steal their way to assembling talent laden rosters and try not to screw it up too bad. You've seen these guys, they stealthily talk about what's the next job for them and how they can move up the ladder for the pay day.
It's a struggle to see the ethics line in broadcasting, where major networks hire former coaches who have been accused or in some cases proven to be cheaters and to see them manning the sidelines and studio desks and remote spots from AAU tournaments. Are they breaking the stories on how they got caught which would be interesting to see, no they're just biding their time until another job opens up and their name is out there because they're covering games 3 nights a week. And these are the so-called experts. Malarkey, there are hundreds of high school basketball coaches who know more about the game and are far more entertaining than these meat puppets. Also journalism is a craft of ethics, we will report the news as it is, unbiased and fairly. Why hire a cheat and then not have it mentioned in that person's online bio or ever addressed on the air? Who's doing the reporting of a the latest scandal in college sports? Oh a former cheater himself. How convenient.
The NCAA is a mess, it needs to lose it's tax exempt status because it is all about business and not about education. If not, then hire educators and police them properly, make rules that are clear and easy to understand since the current NCAA rules manual requires a law degree to navigate. Pay the coaches what you would pay your rock-star professors, and no 7 digit contracts.
Are there some who do it right? Yes and there are players who use this opportunity to get a free education and the experience of a lifetime. Those are the stories that should be celebrated. The guys who repeatedly lie, cheat, steal in this profession should be ostracized so the business of education can get done.
Oh and in case you're wondering the NCAA assistant has never delivered one of his dad's players to the programs he's worked in. Seems Papa knows enough not to send his AAU players to play for his son. And as far as we can recall, he's never been a coach on a team to make the NCAA tournament. Yup sounds like a good hire!
The Evolution of Game
Watching Boston Orlando and Chicago-Oklahoma City recently and noticing the evolution of game for one young point guard, and the status quo of another.
The Bulls' Derrick Rose has simply been on fire of late. He's always had the ability to take the ball to the rim and finish but more importantly the development of an 18 foot jump shot has made defenses play him honestly which has allowed easier penetration to the paint and rim. He's a big reason the Bulls have played and beaten 4 legitimate playoff quality teams from the western conference in a ROW! Reading some of the media coverage of the Bulls' many were expecting an 0-7 road trip after losing the Golden State Warriors of the D-League and Los Angeles Clippers. But Rose has put the team on his shoulders and has lead them to an impressive streak.
On the other hand, we've seen more of the same from Rajon Rondo. His inability to hit a free throw line jumper forces clogged lanes to the basket and makes initiating the Boston offense that much more difficult. Luckily he has 3-4 shooters who can space the floor allowing him some driving lanes, but if he were able to hit a free throw line jumper on a semi-regular basis he could be a 20 point 10 assist man every night.
The Bulls' Derrick Rose has simply been on fire of late. He's always had the ability to take the ball to the rim and finish but more importantly the development of an 18 foot jump shot has made defenses play him honestly which has allowed easier penetration to the paint and rim. He's a big reason the Bulls have played and beaten 4 legitimate playoff quality teams from the western conference in a ROW! Reading some of the media coverage of the Bulls' many were expecting an 0-7 road trip after losing the Golden State Warriors of the D-League and Los Angeles Clippers. But Rose has put the team on his shoulders and has lead them to an impressive streak.
On the other hand, we've seen more of the same from Rajon Rondo. His inability to hit a free throw line jumper forces clogged lanes to the basket and makes initiating the Boston offense that much more difficult. Luckily he has 3-4 shooters who can space the floor allowing him some driving lanes, but if he were able to hit a free throw line jumper on a semi-regular basis he could be a 20 point 10 assist man every night.
Announcers Ad Nauseum
We know that announcers sitting court side really don't watch the monitors, they just watch the game, but a funny moment happened in the Boston-Orlando game tonight. Jameer Nelson drove to the hoop and scored, in the process his shoe came off his foot. Boston inbounds and goes down and hits a wide open three by Rasheed Wallace. Reggie Miller unfortunately says after the shot that Nelson was slow to get back for some reason. The camera's showed Nelson adjusting his shoe for probably close to 3 seconds, even if you're not looking at the monitor, can't you just scan the floor to see him adjusting his shoe? Of course Nelson scored on the next two possessions forcing the Celtics to burn a timeout.
The Scramble
In watching several games this week we've seen a very useful tactic, the offensive rebound and scramble. Much has been written on forcing a defense to shift or distort it's original shape and nothing does that better than a shot followed by an offensive rebound. While it's preferable for one of your bigs to simply rise up and score, sometimes it's advantageous to kick the ball out to a wide open shooter (the defense has collapsed in for the rebound) and shoot. Additionally it's advantageous to kick out and slash by on the closeout.
Of course you can just get on your shooters for missing in the first place!
Of course you can just get on your shooters for missing in the first place!
January 15, 2010
Utilizing your pieces
One of the most important things we do as coaches is put players in a position to succeed. One way that is underutilized is running plays for players who are "feeling" it. Watching Ohio State recently, Thad Matta does a great job of getting the hot hand a look out of the same sets.
NBA teams are very effective at swapping out positions for plays to take advantage of mismatches, foul trouble, or to exploit the way an opponents is guarding an action.
It's a given that we probably don't do enough of this in practice, but take your tried and true specials and put a different player in the target spot. Say you run a screen the screener action for your 2 man. Run it in practice for someone else (1,3,4 or 5). What we've done is run our BLOB's and SLOB's with different players at different spots. It helps players understand the timing and other options of the plays we run. Plus every once in a while it's fun to run a jump shot play for your 5 man for 3. The kids will get a kick out of it.
Coaches you never know when an injury, an ineligibility or a defection are going to weaken your ranks and make you play someone at a different position. Why not prepare for it ahead of time and get players looks at different spots.
NBA teams are very effective at swapping out positions for plays to take advantage of mismatches, foul trouble, or to exploit the way an opponents is guarding an action.
It's a given that we probably don't do enough of this in practice, but take your tried and true specials and put a different player in the target spot. Say you run a screen the screener action for your 2 man. Run it in practice for someone else (1,3,4 or 5). What we've done is run our BLOB's and SLOB's with different players at different spots. It helps players understand the timing and other options of the plays we run. Plus every once in a while it's fun to run a jump shot play for your 5 man for 3. The kids will get a kick out of it.
Coaches you never know when an injury, an ineligibility or a defection are going to weaken your ranks and make you play someone at a different position. Why not prepare for it ahead of time and get players looks at different spots.
January 13, 2010
40 Year old Virgins?
Watching home games @ Michigan is equal parts entertaining and disturbing. Copying the formula @ Cameron Indoor Stadium, Michigan has it's students close to the floor and they do the obligatory jumping in unison trying to distract the opponent and create a home court environment.
However, upon closer inspection and through camera closeups you can see the "Blue Rage" is not college kids, but rather middle aged people, jumping like they were 18 years old. I wonder what their motivation is, whether if be a midlife crisis or just plain arrested development, it's eerie watching a bald bearded man jump up and down at a college basketball game.
However, upon closer inspection and through camera closeups you can see the "Blue Rage" is not college kids, but rather middle aged people, jumping like they were 18 years old. I wonder what their motivation is, whether if be a midlife crisis or just plain arrested development, it's eerie watching a bald bearded man jump up and down at a college basketball game.
January 9, 2010
Color Commentators Part II
We've seen enough basketball on TV in the past month to give a fairly good analysis of the color commentators out there, from both an entertainer and coaching perspective.
Here's our list of guys (any why) you want to turn the volume up on:
Bill Raftery: This guy is a coaches coach who is also very entertaining. He gives good insight as to strategy and does it in a way that amps up the intensity of any good game that he's working. You gotta love hearing "onions" when a guy takes a big shot or makes a great play down the stretch. As coaches we appreciate the players who take and make the big shot down the stretch, just like Raftery does!
Doug Gottlieb: One of the better young color commentators. Has a player's perspective since he's not too recently retired. Gotta love someone who works in "the 7 ways to defend a ball screen" into his commentary.
Jay Bilas: Good analysis, good demeanor, just please don't let him get a Duke game. He tends to show off on those games.
Fran Fraschilla: The coaches' coach, does a great job of explaining situations and strategy in a way that coaches can appreciate and is not over the head of the average fan.
Bob Knight: Good coaching insight, obviously slanted with his view on how the game should be played. Kind of hard to argue perspective against one of the all-time winningest coaches in college basketball.
Leave the Volume where it's At:
Dick Vitale: We've come full circle on Dicky V. When you're in high school or in college and he's doing a game, his hype o meter really adds a lot of excitement to the goings on. Once you get older, you can tire quickly of his hyping of things we already know. He's been accused of being a homer, hyping his friends to the point of annoyance. While that may be true, he does offer some coaching jewels every once in a while. Just don't turn the volume up when he's on the air, he might pierce an eardrum or two.
Jay Williams: Jury is still out on him. He offers good insight from a player's perspective. Has good chemistry with his play by play guys.
Digger Phelps: We're really torn with Digger. We've heard from people we trust that he still lives in South Bend and has been known to go into the basketball offices and tell the coaches there what they're doing wrong. If that's true then his on air persona of arrogance isn't an act.
Mute'em:
Corey Williams: Thankfully he only does broadcasts for Arizona games. Blatant homer. Case in point, Nic Wise's shot at the buzzer against Lipscomb. Shot was ruled a 3 on the court. Replay was inconclusive at every angle (on HD no less). He proceeded to try and tell everyone that the shot was obviously out of his hands @ .1 seconds left. Wasn't so obviously and while the shot stood, you felt after listening to Williams that Lipscomb got hosed.
Jim Jackson: Watched the game of Michigan State and Northwestern. Here's an interesting situation. Shon Morris does the opening to the show as the color commentator. Yet when the game starts Jackson is the color commentator. The explanation being that Jackson's flight had arrived late and that he just got there. Ok. But how does someone who just got there recall a story from that morning's shoot around? It's almost as nonsensical as a stewardess who arrives at the same time you do, welcoming you to that city.
Anyway that's not why he's on here, he's on here because he is a jabber mouth and rambles on. Speaking more does not make you a better analyst. Offering something of value when you speak does.
Take this for example (this is paraphrased from our notes)
Northwestern gets a lot of points off their out of bounds plays, and they don't count towards your offensive baskets?
Really? What does it count as? A turnover? A FT?
Shon Morris: Ok he's on here for one particular bad choice of words. This former Northwestern player is usually a pretty solid analyst. But in the Stanford-Northwestern game, Stanford's best player Landry Fields dunks of Northwestern's John Shurna. Morris calls it a Noczema moment. A horribly poor choice of words considering both players have complexion issues.
Here's our list of guys (any why) you want to turn the volume up on:
Bill Raftery: This guy is a coaches coach who is also very entertaining. He gives good insight as to strategy and does it in a way that amps up the intensity of any good game that he's working. You gotta love hearing "onions" when a guy takes a big shot or makes a great play down the stretch. As coaches we appreciate the players who take and make the big shot down the stretch, just like Raftery does!
Doug Gottlieb: One of the better young color commentators. Has a player's perspective since he's not too recently retired. Gotta love someone who works in "the 7 ways to defend a ball screen" into his commentary.
Jay Bilas: Good analysis, good demeanor, just please don't let him get a Duke game. He tends to show off on those games.
Fran Fraschilla: The coaches' coach, does a great job of explaining situations and strategy in a way that coaches can appreciate and is not over the head of the average fan.
Bob Knight: Good coaching insight, obviously slanted with his view on how the game should be played. Kind of hard to argue perspective against one of the all-time winningest coaches in college basketball.
Leave the Volume where it's At:
Dick Vitale: We've come full circle on Dicky V. When you're in high school or in college and he's doing a game, his hype o meter really adds a lot of excitement to the goings on. Once you get older, you can tire quickly of his hyping of things we already know. He's been accused of being a homer, hyping his friends to the point of annoyance. While that may be true, he does offer some coaching jewels every once in a while. Just don't turn the volume up when he's on the air, he might pierce an eardrum or two.
Jay Williams: Jury is still out on him. He offers good insight from a player's perspective. Has good chemistry with his play by play guys.
Digger Phelps: We're really torn with Digger. We've heard from people we trust that he still lives in South Bend and has been known to go into the basketball offices and tell the coaches there what they're doing wrong. If that's true then his on air persona of arrogance isn't an act.
Mute'em:
Corey Williams: Thankfully he only does broadcasts for Arizona games. Blatant homer. Case in point, Nic Wise's shot at the buzzer against Lipscomb. Shot was ruled a 3 on the court. Replay was inconclusive at every angle (on HD no less). He proceeded to try and tell everyone that the shot was obviously out of his hands @ .1 seconds left. Wasn't so obviously and while the shot stood, you felt after listening to Williams that Lipscomb got hosed.
Jim Jackson: Watched the game of Michigan State and Northwestern. Here's an interesting situation. Shon Morris does the opening to the show as the color commentator. Yet when the game starts Jackson is the color commentator. The explanation being that Jackson's flight had arrived late and that he just got there. Ok. But how does someone who just got there recall a story from that morning's shoot around? It's almost as nonsensical as a stewardess who arrives at the same time you do, welcoming you to that city.
Anyway that's not why he's on here, he's on here because he is a jabber mouth and rambles on. Speaking more does not make you a better analyst. Offering something of value when you speak does.
Take this for example (this is paraphrased from our notes)
Northwestern gets a lot of points off their out of bounds plays, and they don't count towards your offensive baskets?
Really? What does it count as? A turnover? A FT?
Shon Morris: Ok he's on here for one particular bad choice of words. This former Northwestern player is usually a pretty solid analyst. But in the Stanford-Northwestern game, Stanford's best player Landry Fields dunks of Northwestern's John Shurna. Morris calls it a Noczema moment. A horribly poor choice of words considering both players have complexion issues.
January 7, 2010
Catching up in the New Year
Well, we've been busy watching as many high school tournament games as we could as well as the college holiday hoops and updating the playbook portion of our website so we apologize for not keeping up with the blog. We hope everyone had a great new year and much continued success for your teams in 2010.
The following team's playbooks are in our collection.
Michigan State
Gonzaga
Stanford
Oklahoma State
UCLA
New Mexico State
Northwestern
Wake Forest
NC State
USC
UNLV
2005 Arizona
2005 Illinois
Lipscomb
Arizona
BYU
Michigan
Kansas
In addition we have 28 NBA Playbooks that we're adding to our database.
Go to www.baskebtallcoachesreport.com and sign up to receive our newsletter and you'll get the best sets and actions from all these playbooks. Over 20+ pages of plays each month delivered to your email in a .pdf each month.
Plus we offer special .pdf's for joining. If you join now you will get the North Carolina Early Offense System. All 16 of UNC's Secondary breaks broken down in an easy format.
The following team's playbooks are in our collection.
Michigan State
Gonzaga
Stanford
Oklahoma State
UCLA
New Mexico State
Northwestern
Wake Forest
NC State
USC
UNLV
2005 Arizona
2005 Illinois
Lipscomb
Arizona
BYU
Michigan
Kansas
In addition we have 28 NBA Playbooks that we're adding to our database.
Go to www.baskebtallcoachesreport.com and sign up to receive our newsletter and you'll get the best sets and actions from all these playbooks. Over 20+ pages of plays each month delivered to your email in a .pdf each month.
Plus we offer special .pdf's for joining. If you join now you will get the North Carolina Early Offense System. All 16 of UNC's Secondary breaks broken down in an easy format.
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