HOW DO YOU LOOK AT DEFEAT?

“Defeat is a state of mind.  No one is ever defeated until defeat has been accepted as reality.  To me, defeat in anything is merely temporary, and its punishment is but an urge for me to give greater effort to achieve my goal.  Defeat simply tells me that something is wrong in my doing; it is a path leading to success and truth.”
 

- Bruce Lee

(Thanks Coach Starkey)

UNDERSTANDING LADDER DRILL STEP SEQUENCING

Although most coaches already incorporate speed ladder drills into practices, I came across a video that does a good job of showing a step sequences for couple of the basic ladder drills (for players that struggle with them).



(Thanks StrongerTeam.com)

WHAT MAKES A GREAT COACH?

“Great coaching is not just technical knowledge, it is the ability to communicate that knowledge in a manner the athlete can use & translate into action. Just knowing more technical stuff & speaking technical pseudo scientific jargon does make a good coach. Ability to communicate is paramount.”

(Thanks Coach Gambetta)

THE ROCK STARS THAT AREN'T ROCKIN'

One of the first things Erik Spoelstra did as the coach of the Miami Heat was instill a defense-first mentality in his team.  Even with players as talented as LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, it's much easier to be consistent defensively than it is on offense.  The Heat's offense has been up and down this season, but they were able to ride their aggressive, intense defense to one of the best records in the Eastern Conference.

During this losing streak (5 straight losses), the Heat's defense hasn't been there.  The Heat were torched from beyond the arc by both the Magic and the Spurs, and couldn't get key stops when they needed them against the Bulls.

On Tuesday night against Portland, the Heat played well enough offensively to win the game.  Wade and James were clicking perfectly on offense, and even with both Bosh and the bench giving the Heat almost nothing, Miami was able to shoot 52 percent from the field for the game.

Unfortunately for the Heat, their defense was never good enough for them to control the game.  The Heat gave up 57 points in the first half.

Offense is like the Stock Market… there will be good days and bad days, But there’s no reason to ever have a bad day on defense.

(Thanks ESPN & John Krolik)

TODAY'S THOUGHTS

"One of the biggest mistakes that athletes make is that they enter a basketball practice or training regiment without predetermining what their intention will be for that workout."
- Sefu Bernard

"I’ve never coached someone who had no discipline off the court who had it on the court.”
- Matt Painter

“A single day is enough time to make you a little better.”
- Alan Stein

"We should not have to push you to work hard. You should work hard because you want to be a great player."
-Bob Knight

“Your success in life is determined, to a large extent by your ability to think, plan, decide, and take action.”
- Greg Brown

AN EXTENSION OF THE COACH ON THE COURT

As a coach, I've always felt my most valuable player on the court was my point guard, and over the years I've had many PG's that were great ball handlers, but it was a rare thing to have one with a "true" PG mindset.  I came across an article in the Charlotte Observer that really summed up the kind of PG every coach wants.

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Since Kendall Marshall took over the starting point guard job on Jan. 18, the Tar Heels have picked up their pace and scoring average, winning nine of 10 games.  When former starter Larry Drew II abruptly opted to transfer in early February, Marshall was left as the team's only true ballhandler.  Since then, he has become an extension of Tar Heels coach Roy Williams on the floor.

"He understands time and score better than most people," Williams said.  "He understands who's hot and who's not; he understands who's in foul trouble on the other team.  He's a thinking man's point guard, with a lot of ability, too."

It's one thing to want to pass to teammates from seemingly impossible angles; it's another thing to actually be able to do it.

"Passing is something you have to think about, more than action," he said.  "You have the mechanics - thumbs down and things like that.  But at the end of the day, you just have to know where your teammates want the ball without the defender getting in the way."

(Thanks Charlotte Observer)

INSTEAD OF GIVING UP OR GIVING IN...

The worst moments are your best opportunity.  That's how we judge you and how we remember you.

Most people don’t see what goes on behind the scenes in your personal life, but coaches and teammates presume you are showing us your real self when you are faced with overwhelming adversity.

When you have a headache, are facing the toughest opponent ever, haven't had a good night's sleep, are facing an ethical dilemma, are caught doing something when you thought no one else was looking, are irritable, when you have the opportunity to lash out at others, or are just truly overwhelmed.

What a great opportunity for you to show us the real you… it’s your opportunity to handle pressure with poise and show everyone what you are made of. Instead of giving up or giving in... stand tall and give it your best!

(Thanks Seth Godin)

NEVER SURRENDER

Down by 24 points in the third quarter, the Magic went on an unbelievable 40-9 run over the next 15 minutes and stunned the Heat 99-96, the second-largest comeback in Orlando franchise history and matching the second-biggest in the NBA this season.

 "To tell you the truth, I didn't even know we were down that much," Magic point guard Jameer Nelson said. "I was just playing. I just think that's what you have to do when you know you can play better and you're not playing up to your potential. Just get it going somehow, not worry about the score."

(Thanks Sports Illustrated)

GET RID OF THE BAD APPLE

There is a lot of truth in the old expression “one bad apple spoils the whole bunch.”  Players that are selfish, lazy, pessimistic or do not show the proper respect to teammates can be considered “bad apples.”

I’m a firm believer that great team chemistry is the foundation for a team’s success.  It can turn a very average group (talent-wise) into an overachieving team that accomplishes far more than would have ever been expected of the group.  That great chemistry can often be credited to just one or two individuals within the group that have the right attitude.  All it takes is one or two that are completely unselfish and are influential enough to affect the rest of the team in a positive way.  They end up being the nucleus of the group without ever realizing it.

The same theory holds true for a team with bad chemistry.  The cause for underachieving teams can often be traced back to just one or two individuals that have a negative or selfish attitude.  It is often projected as a “me before we” attitude.   Just one player with a negative attitude can totally poison a team and ruin an entire season.

Although there’s no guarantee of success with great chemistry… accepting a “bad apple” just because they also have talent is almost a guarantee for disaster.

4:13

THE MAIN INGREDIENT

The recipe for success has many ingredients, all of which are important; but the main ingredient that is most often overlooked is determination.

4:13

LEARNING TO LOOK, SEE, HEAR & LISTEN

To me, concentration is basketball in a nutshell.  Concentration leads to anticipation, which leads to recognition, which leads to reaction, which leads to execution.

The concentration I'm talking about involves four key words.

The first two are "look" and "see."  Everybody who plays basketball looks, but very few players see.  Very few players train themselves to use their eyes.  Not everybody has the same shooting ability as everybody else, nor the same size, nor the same quickness.

But each person who's playing this game can develop the ability to see what's happening on the court -- see the open man, see where to take the ball, see the guy who's being defended, see who's open on the break.

"Hear" and "listen" are the next two words.  Most people only hear. The key is listening to what you're being told, what's being said, what is expected of you in your role as part of any team.

A basketball player who learns to see and listen has improved tremendously without doing a single thing involving physical skills.  Once learned, seeing and listening are valuable traits for anyone doing anything.

(Thanks Coach Bobby Knight, excerpt from the book Knight: My Story)

START "SMALL" TO GO FROM GOOD TO GREAT

Going from good to great follows a simple recipe. Start small. 

Starting small means doing something now and something within your control that will have an immediate impact.  As small things begin to accumulate, bigger things will happen.

(Thanks Dave Ulrich)

YOU CAN'T FAKE TRUE COMMITMENT

“Before you can become a good team… you have to become good teammates."
- Coach Jim Larranaga

"Playing hard is a given...playing well is the goal."
- Coach Bob Starkey

“False praise does not help the athlete. Be honest. Praise worthwhile effort not average effort. Do what helps to make the athlete better.”
- Coach Gambetta

“People can smell serious emotional commitment and energy from a mile away ... you can't fake true commitment.”
- Alan See

“The best don't "need" a coach, they "want" a coach.”
- Coach Bru

“The world does not owe you success. But the world gives you plenty of resources and opportunities to create all the success you want.”
- Alan Stein

Phil 4:13

HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?

Watching some college basketball yesterday and caught the big BYU win over SDSU lead by BYU guard Jimmer Fredette. When I watched him play, the thing that struck me the most was how composed he always is, he never lets the emotion of the game get to him, he is always in control. When the ESPN analysts talked about Fredette looking for pickup games at the prison to hone his skills back in his hometown, I was intrigued. Here is the ESPN segment that goes into it,

One of the virtues that is undervalued by coaches is mental toughness. I do think it is something that can be developed like any skill. But it’s harder to develop because in order to be mental tough, you have to be in the position to make mistakes over and over again and then learn from them. It's a painful process, but it's the only way to become stronger.

(Thanks Coach Bru, X’s & O’s of Basketball)

There's a big difference between being a basketball player... and someone who likes to play basketball.

One of the most difficult realizations a young athlete must learn to come to grips with as they move up to the next level, is being able to recognize that they may no longer be the “go to guy” on their team.

Athletes mature at different ages and I've seen numerous examples of a 6^th or 7^th grader that was absolutely the best player on their team, and within a year or two, their teammates mature and catch up and even surpass them in athletic ability and game skills.

It can be even more difficult for the athlete to grasp if they reach a plateau where they aren't getting any better, and their teammates continue to excel.

As athletes move up to the next level, more and more demands will be required of them. Shooting baskets out in your driveway was the only real practice needed when you played youth ball. If you could hit shots, the ball went to you in the game. Not necessarily because you were so good... but maybe because your teammates couldn't shoot.  As you move into more competitive Middle & High School play, shooting isn't nearly enough to earn playing time.

Recognize that you are competing against your teammates for playing time. Making the team didn't mean that you were the best (no matter how much you may love the game), it only means that you were in the top 12-15 kids out of the 30 or 35 that tried out.  If you don't think you are getting the minutes you deserve, you need to ask yourself a couple of questions and be honest in your answers...

Where do I rank against my teammates in the following areas:

Defense?

Quickness & athleticism?

Ball handling?

Court Awareness?

Understanding the offense & knowing the plays?

Hustle?

Conditioning?

Leadership on the court?

To excel at the next level means you'll have to work a lot harder to improve your skills (both mental & physical) more than just shooting around in your driveway and during scheduled practices. You're going to have to make specific improvement a priority outside of scheduled practices.  

There's a big difference between being a basketball player... and someone who likes to play basketball.

4:13

AAU PLAY vs DEDICATED PRACTICE FOR IMPROVEMENT?

I am a firm believer that too many young athletes get caught up in the AAU trap and think it's an absolute must to improve their game and eventually get a scholarship.  

I came across a great example from Innovative Athletes that puts that theory into perspective...

Let’s pretend you are in the 8th grade, you have 6 AAU games scheduled this weekend:

In those 6 games you average 8 shot attempts per game, that’s 48 shots for the entire weekend and let’s say you shot 12 free throws.  So total you shot 60 shots in 48 hours of play.

Now turn the situation around, let’s say you decide to stay at home and work on your shot which should consist of 350 shots plus another 50 free throws.

In just 2 hours you get 400 shots compared to 60 in 48 hours.  Yes, a lot less fun but which is more productive to your game?

The math doesn’t make sense and think of this on a long term basis, those shots add up over a period of time, just think about how many shots you could be shooting in your driveway.

My advice, play on team when you turn 15, choose your coach and team wisely.  One that will benefit your future, I love the competition of AAU, it’s a great evaluator of talent and is huge in regards to college scouts.  Be wise with the weekends you choose to play, you do not have to play every weekend, NCAA coaches are ONLY allowed to scout in July – prepare diligently on your game for July and than take full advantage of the July tournaments.

Kids worry too much about not being exposed enough, well guess what... by failing to prepare will only expose your weaknesses.  Trust me, college coaches will find you if you are a good fit for their program.  Their sole job in the summer is to hunt for talent, your name will pop up eventually and I just want to make sure you’re prepared for your opportunity.

(Thanks iAthletes)

FRIDAY'S QUOTES

“People can smell serious emotional commitment and energy from a mile away ... you can't fake true commitment.”
 - Alan See

The best don't "need" a coach, they "want" a coach.
 - Coach Bru

 ”The ratio of We’s to I’s is the best indicator of the development of a team.”
 - Lewis B. Ergen

 “Instead of telling yourself how hard you work, spend time thinking up ways in which you could work harder.”
 - Dick DeVenzio (via Rick Allison)

 “Without mistakes, the learning process would be permanently blocked. No mistakes, no progress.”
 - FIBA Coach
 

“Thoughts determine what we want, Actions determine what we get.”
 - Greg Brown

THE MICHAEL JACKSON LAW

Of all the strange and surprising patterns of talent, few are stranger or more surprising than the phenomenon called the Michael Jackson Law. This is the rule that the most talented performer in a family musical group will be among the youngest children.

Consider:
 The most talented Bee-Gee? Andy, the youngest.
 The most talented Jonas brother? Nick, the youngest.
 The most talented Hanson brother? Zac, the youngest.
 The most talented Andrews Sister? Patty, the youngest. 

 The pattern isn’t exactly new. Mozart and JS Bach were also the babies of their families.

The question is, why? Why are the Tito Jacksons and Nannerl Mozarts of the world fated for obscurity? Is it simply a coincidence? Or is there something deeper going on?

I think the younger kids are more talented because they have more opportunity to steal. That is, to spend lots of hours intensely watching their siblings, borrowing what works, and discarding what doesn’t. To use their siblings as a test kitchen for developing their own recipe for success.

Young athletes need to do the same thing. They need to watch the older more experienced athletes on their team and pay attention to what works and what doesn't. Pick up the good habits and try to avoid the bad ones. Soak up everything you can from those that are better than you.

(Thanks Daniel Coyle)

THE STEADY CLIMB TO THE TOP

In my three years at UCLA, Coach never mentioned the word, “win,” once.  Words he used were “go,” “faster,” “again,” “hurry up,” and “bear down.”  Coach believed success was not measured by how many banners you manage to hang but rather by how much effort you made to reach your own potential, as an individual and as a team.

-- Swen Nater

WHAT IS YOUR APPROACH?

Many times, the difference between being good and being great comes down to your attitude and the way you approach practice and developing your game.

Are you thinking I "have to" practice or I "get to" practice?

4:13

A POINT GUARD vs A "TRUE" POINT GUARD

At the middle & high school level, the best ball handler on a team usually ends up being the point guard by default. But being a great ball handler doesn’t necessarily mean that the player will be a great point guard. A “true” point guard is so much more than a great ball handler… they are in essence the coach on the court and the player that understands the game enough to be able to make their teammates better.

John Wall turned the Rookie Challenge at this weekend’s NBA All Star festivities into a personal playmaking clinic. Before the game, the Washington guard looked up the Rookie Challenge's assists record which was 17, by Chris Paul in 2007 and said he planned to beat it. Wall scored 12 points when he wasn't repeatedly setting up his fellow rookies for acrobatic dunks and wide-open jumpers. Wall racked up a record 22 assists to win the MVP award,

(Thanks John Hollinger)

"LITTLE THINGS" MAKE A BIG DIFFERENCE IN BIG GAMES

Good coaches understand that “little things” make a big difference in BIG games.

Watched a Final Four tournament this weekend and couldn't help but notice some of the “little things” that occur in games that most players never practice and those little things can often determine which team wins or loses in a close game.

Here is one of those little things I saw... I watched a team up by seven points with 3:50 left in the game, start to “play keep away” with the ball by spacing out and holding the ball until defensive pressure was applied. That's a smart strategy on offense... burn as much clock as possible to protect your lead.

At this particular point in the game, the defense was playing a sagging man-to-man (off the ball) in order to protect paint. Each time a defender would come out and put pressure on the ball, a pass was made to a wide open offensive player, this cycle would be repeated over and over again. The defense was basically chasing the ball rather than denying the catch, which allowed the offense to run more than a minute off the clock during each of their possessions before the defense finally got the ball back.

It would have only taken about 20 seconds for the coach to instruct the defense to pressure the ball AND deny the catch, which would likely force the offense into shortening their length of possession. But that didn't happen... and the defensive team in this example lost the game.

Little things make a big difference in BIG games.

4:13

THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE?

What do you think the biggest difference is between high school and college age basketball players? 

Yes, college players are usually bigger, stronger, and faster. Yes, college players are usually more skilled and have higher basketball I.Q.’s. Yes, college players are usually more mature in every aspect of their game.

However, I believe communication is the biggest separator. College basketball players effectively communicate better than high school players do.

This past weekend I watched a marathon of college basketball – caught 2 games in their entirety and saw bits and pieces of 4 other games.

What did I see?

College players talk! They talk on screens. They talk on inbounds plays. They talk when sprinting back in transition D. They thank the passer on an assist. Between the squeaking sneakers and constant chatter… a college court is never silent.

College players listen! They listen when they huddle before free throws. They listen to their coach during time-outs. They listen with their eyes and their ears.

Obviously, these are blanket statements. Not every college player does these things…and some high school players do. However, in both cases, those are the exception rather than the rule.

In high school, you may have sufficient talent, but lack of consistent, effective communication can easily be your teams Achilles Heel. When you don’t talk on Defense, your opponent gets easy buckets. When you don’t talk on Offense, things get scrambled and confused.

Bottom line: lack of communication causes breakdowns on both ends of the floor.

(Thanks Alan Stein)

INFLUENCING YOUR OPPONENTS PLAY

"You can't always be the strongest or most talented or most gifted person in the room, but you can always be the most competitive. 

There are bound to be days when you run into someone who is better than you.  What can you do about it?  You can compete, that's what.  You can put forth so much effort that you cut your opponent down to size and force him to play below his abilities.  Competitiveness allows you to influence your opponent."

- Coach Pat Summitt, from Reach for the Summit (Thanks FootballCoachAcademy)

HOW BAD DO YOU WANT IT?

"The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." - Les Brown

"Heroes and cowards feel exactly the same fear - they just respond differently." - Dan Millman

"Above average talent isn't a requirement for success. It's about having belief, sustained effort, and an absolute sense of purpose." - Coach Farris

“Great teams are not built by extraordinary players, but by ordinary players doing extraordinary things." - Alan Stein

"Handling success is often as hard as acheiving it. Key is not to get amnesia. Analyze what got you there; then up it!" - Kevin Eastman