TWO PAINS

When we look at what we invest to improve our game, there will always be times when we have to choose between the pain of discipline and the pain of regret.

The Pain of Discipline

Being disciplined is a great characteristic to have, but a difficult one to maintain over time. It’s not easy to work out day after day after day. It’s not easy to grind it out day after day on the same boring drills. There is a pain factor involved — physical pain, mental fatigue (brought on by boredom of doing the same hard things over and over again), emotional pain from sometimes working your tail off every day and not seeing the progress you expected to see. The types and intensity of the pains will vary, but the constant is that the pains will be there!

The Pain of Regret

Simply put, when all is said and done, if you haven’t invested in the discipline needed to be successful, you will look back and regret not having done everything within your control to make the outcome a successful one. This is the ultimate pain of regret. We know lots of people who do this — the ones who are constantly saying things like, ”I wish I had…” rather than ”I’m glad I did…”

So you have a choice — do you choose the pain of discipline and continue to do everything possible (whether it hurts or not) to become successful? Or do you choose to shortcut things? Maybe you aren’t consistent in your energy and enthusiasm, or maybe you don’t maintain the focus needed to succeed. In any case, if you don’t choose the pain of discipline, sooner or later... you will experience the pain of regret.

- Kevin Eastman

PHYSICAL TALENT vs MENTAL TALENT

When I heard people talk about our championship team this past summer I almost always heard “you guys were so talented.” And we did have talent. But if physical talent alone were the only ingredient to winning a championship then we could all name a number of teams that should have won one at all different levels.

I would never argue that we had talent, and physical talent at that. What truly separated us from the rest, though, was that we also had mental talent. Physical talent alone will win regular season games, but you need more than that to win championships.

We had the mental talent that allowed us to understand and carry out a game plan. We had the mental talent to be able to maintain our focus through even the most difficult times of the long NBA season. We had the mental talent to enable us to hold each other accountable on and off the court and not mistake that for a teammate getting on another. We had the mental talent to understand that the coaches were coaching and not criticizing in their comments to players. We had the mental talent to see what went wrong in a game and work to make sure it didn’t happen the next time out. We had the mental talent to admit that we weren’t playing well and that a sub should come in for a starter. We had the mental talent to understand that playing defense every possession every night was going to win us games. And, most important, we had the mental talent to worry only about getting the win — not about who got the glory!

I believe that physical talent wins games but physical talent plus mental talent wins championships. We were like every other team in the nation in that things did not run smoothly the entire season. Where we differed is that we had the mental capacity and strength to fight through and overcome the many obstacles that face a team in its journey to win a title. We proved that there is more to success than running, jumping, and dunking.

- Kevin Eastman

Asst. Coach Boston Celtics

BASKETBALL SPACE

Spacing is a concept that many coaches and players talk about but very few really spend time understanding. We utilize spacing so that we can put the maximum amount of pressure on our opponents’ help defense.

We not only have to take advantage of defensive mismatches every game, we have to put as much pressure on the “help & recover” part of the opponents’ defense as possible. We believe the key to accomplishing this is through spacing.

Our goals with our spacing are:

Make it difficult for one defender to guard two offensive players.

Make the defense constantly run to “close-out.”

Some guidelines of spacing:

Stay 12’- 15’ apart.

Stay “on a string” with the player next to you; move to an open space as they move.

Be prepared to “punish” the defense, be ready and be decisive on the catch.

Always pay attention to your spacing: “when in doubt….spread out.”

We have to put the defense in uncomfortable situations where they have to make an important defensive decision: Do I help and risk not being able to recover or do I stay and risk a dribbled-in lay up? This is the state of hesitation we want them in. It puts the defense at a distinct disadvantage.

(thanks coach Eastman)

WHY FREE THROWS ARE A HUGE ADVANTAGE

Article in the N.Y. Times on UConn's ability to draw fouls and get to the free throw line. Every coach wants their team to make more free throws than their opponent even attempts.

When it comes to fouls in college basketball, not all teams are created equal. And this season’s UConn team was called for fewer fouls than any other (12.1 a game in the regular season) while getting fouled more than most (20.6).

That foul differential of 8.5 is far larger than any other team’s. It allowed UConn to shoot an average of 14.5 more free throws a game than its opponents.

UConn averaged nearly 10 more points a game on free throws. That’s unusual, but it’s a great advantage.

“Ours is, without question, a concerted effort to try to get fouls,” UConn coach Jim Calhoun said. “For example, if one of our kids tries to take the ball to the rim and avoids the foul by trying to scoop the ball, we would be all over him. We want him to initiate contact. Nine times out of 10, around the basket, if you’re trying to complete a shot, the call’s going to go against the defensive player.”

Trying is just a noisy way of not doing something.

I learned from author and consultant Art Turock that we need to make a distinction between being interested and being committed. When you are “interested” in doing something, you only do it when it’s convenient, but when you are “committed,” you follow through no matter what — no excuses!

Many people are interested rather than committed. They talk about trying to do something, rather than actually doing it. They make lots of noise, but fail to follow up. An interested exerciser wakes up in the morning to rain and says, “I think I’ll exercise tomorrow.” A committed exerciser wakes up to the rain and says, “I better exercise inside.”

When a person is committed to doing something, he or she will find ways to suppress rationalization. Even when it is inconvenient, such a person will keep his or her commitment. Persistence in life is characterized by this mental and behavioral toughness.

-Ken Blanchard

The Heart of a Leader

DON'T BE CONTENT WITH WINNING GAMES

“I’ve told coach Riley this: All my life, all I’ve ever wanted to do is win and be put in a position where I can win and succeed. Build me a team. Put the pressure on me to win a championship. Give me a team and say ‘All right, you’ve got to go do it,’ and I’ll take that pressure. Give me guys that we feel can compete every year to win a championship. I don’t want to be content with winning games. I don’t want to win games. I want to win championships."

- Dwayne Wade, Miami Heat

Basketball opportunities are found during the flight of the ball NOT on the catch.

4:13

YOU ARE WHAT YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE!

Don’t tell me

I can’t do something.

Don’t tell me

it’s impossible.

Don’t tell me

I’m not the greatest.

I’m the double greatest!

- Muhammad Ali

HOW TO BE A GREAT TEAMMATE

1. Always make today my best day

2. Taking pride in a job well done

3. Treating others with respect

4. Isolating my negative thoughts

5. Treating tasks as opportunities

6. Utilizing my talents everyday

7. Doing the job right the first time

8. Expecting positive outcomes daily

9. Speaking well of others every day

- Billy Donovan's Attitude Plan

It starts with being the right kind of person first.

"You have to BE before you can DO, and you have to DO before you can HAVE. Success starts with being the right kind of person first. Build the proper character foundation in your life, then apply it with a great work ethic, and only then can you have the things in life you want."

- Zig Ziglar

CAN CROSSOVERS REALLY BREAK ANKLES?

I remember watching a varsity game a few years back when a young point guard did a crossover that literally dropped her defender to the floor as she tried to guard her. It’s called an “ankle breaker” because it looked like the defender’s ankles just snapped and dropped her straight to the court. Thankfully, the only thing the defender suffered as a result was some embarrassment. I came across this clip from Sport Science this afternoon that takes a scientific look at the crossover and the ankle breaker.

THE SECOND COMING OF DEBBIE BLACK

One of the things we stress the most in our program is individual defensive effort. We’ve watched clips of Debbie Black to emphasize the effort required in becoming a great defensive stopper. This morning, I came across a clip of the closest player I’ve ever seen to matching Debbie’s effort on defense. Check out #10 in the clip (Sandra Sinclair) and watch her excellent footwork as she anticipates and uses angles to turn the ball.

4:13

THE FUTURE IS PURCHASED BY THE PRESENT

Over the years, I have often thrown out little cliches' to our players about putting in the extra work during the off-season to ensure you'll be ready once the season starts. I don't think its ever been more important to do that than it is right now.

If the only time you're going to work on your skills is on the weekend... then keep in mind that there are only 18 weekends left before our first game. And that includes the weekends during Soccer & Volleyball season which preceed our season.

The player you want to be this coming season will be determined by the amount of preparation you put into becoming that player. You have a choice... to remain the player you are, or to become the player you want to be.

4:13

NOT BY ACCIDENT...BUT ON PURPOSE

“The thing has already taken form in my mind before I start it. The first attempts are absolutely unbearable. I say this because I want you to know that if you see something worthwhile in what I am doing, it is not by accident but because of real direction and purpose.”

Vincent Van Gogh (1853-1890)

artist

Inspiring others with what he "doesn't" have

Kevin Laue’s left arm ends at his elbow as the result of his mother’s umbilical cord cutting off the circulation and stunting the arm’s growth. While he could never quite succeed on the monkey bars or with a guitar, he plays basketball at a very high level. At 6′10″ tall, he’s a presence inside.

Told he would’ve been a Division I athlete if it weren’t for his arm earlier in his high school career, Kevin kept applying himself. The California native received a Division I basketball scholarship to play with Manhattan College and is expected to compete for playing time as a freshman. Overcoming a significant obstacle, Kevin provides an inspiring story to all who face challenges in their lives.

4:13

Discipline is about more than just punishment.

“Discipline is the internal structure that supports your organization. It is the basis of leadership. Discipline is the only sure way I know to convince people to believe in themselves. Discipline is the internal mechanism that self-motivates you. It gets you out of bed in the morning. It gets you to work on time and it tells you when you need to work late. It drives you. It is essential to success, whether individually or in a group.”

- Pat Summitt

From “The Ultimate Coaches’ Clinic”

(thanks coach Starkey)

NO SQUARE-UPS ALLOWED

We understand the importance and value of getting “squared-up” on offense, in order to give yourself as many options as possible, making your defender “freeze,” and step back trying to anticipate which option (driving left or right, jump shot, pass) you are going to choose. All of those options are possible if you get squared-up.

Let's discuss how to best defend against a smart player trying to square-up. Your goal as a defender is to try to limit their options and thus take away the square-up as often as you can. How do you do this?

First, always try to deny your opponent the ball as aggressively as you can. By denying the passing lane to your opponent, they are often forced to receive a pass without getting squared-up as they receive it, and further from the hoop than they want to be. This allows you to defend more aggressively and not be put on the “defensive” (I know...bad pun!).

Once your opponent has the ball, try to immediately turn them in the direction they do not want to go. Pay attention early in the game which hand your opponent prefers to dribble with, and unless you are trying to force them in that direction as part of your team defense, always force them to their weak side.

By taking away the lane your opponent is trying to pass or dribble to, you can force them to turn one direction or the other, or even better, turn their back to you completely to prevent you from stripping them of the ball. By turning or forcing your opponent one direction or another, and then turning them again and again, you take away their chance to square-up and help all your teammates anticipate what option the opposing players will have to choose.

Good basketball players are always involved in the effort to get squared-up, or prevent their opponent from getting “squared-up”.

4:13

BE THE DOMINATOR

By dominating from the get-go you can intimidate your opponent and take her right out of her game. By making a statement from the tip-off you make it known that YOU have come to play. YOU are a big-time player and your opponent is going to have a tough time trying to guard YOU tonight.

If you're playing against a strong, confident player you've also let it be known that you're not going to back down. She is in for a battle. YOU let her know she’s met her match.

Establishing yourself from the start of the game will set the tone and let it be known you're a big-time player who's come to dominate.

4:13

Winning is the science of being totally prepared.

"We put a premium on knowing what the other team does [and wants to do offensively]. Then we try and take them out of it."

- NBA coach PJ Carlisimo

UPCOMING KICKS PREVIEW

Mid-Summer is usually the time we start getting teased with the newest kicks dropping as hoops season approaches in the distance. The Jordan Element at $115 looks sharp, but hoops worthy? Time will tell.

I really loved the Kobe IV and his newest kick is due out in July and has a totally different look to it, but I like it none-the-less.

The much anticipated Hyperize is available now in a varoety of colorways. Stay tuned for more soon...

SELF DISCIPLINE

"Self-discipline is the key to personal greatness. It is the magic quality that opens all doors for you, and makes everything else possible. With self-discipline, the average person can rise as far and as fast as their talents and intelligence can take them. But without self-discipline, a person with every blessing of background, education and opportunity will seldom rise above mediocrity."

-Brian Tracy

2008-09 NATIONALS - FLASHBACK

'Liv & Hannah answer a post-game question...

IMPROVEMENT THROUGH MISTAKES

Took my daughter surfing earlier in the week and she did amazingly well for her first time ever being on a board. Yesterday's surf was unusually high and she talked me into going back again. Although I thought the waves were way too much for her to handle (as a rookie surfer) she was semi-successful because she understands the concept of "improvement only comes through mistakes."

If all she ever rides are the small safe "easy to ride" waves, then she probably won't improve her surfing skills. She understands that it is only through challenging herself to push beyond her comfort zone and into making mistakes that she can learn how to improve. Basketball is no different. As a player, you have to push yourself until you make mistakes... that is how you come to understand what caused the mistakes and how to adjust to improve and avoid the same mistakes in the future.

4:13

AMAZING DOESN'T JUST HAPPEN

"Coaches can teach you but you have to take it to the gym; even the pros understand this & work after being taught."

- Paul Pierce

"The best shooters in the game have to be the best shot fake players as well; the shot fake has to become a valued weapon for the shooter."

- Kevin Eastman

The NBA has a marketing slogan that says "where amazing happens"; but I can tell you amazing doesn't JUST HAPPEN! Lots of preparation needed!

(thanks coach Starkey)

"Learning is not a matter of intelligence. It's a question of concentration."

- Chuck Knox: