Want to be a blue collar program
Toughness
Discipline
We determine the outcome
We’re going to foul but game will be played on our terms.
Detail & disciplined in the little things.
Don’t get bored with accountability.
Emphasis for us:
Offensive Rebounds
Turnovers Forced
Steals
“Never bet against consistent behavior.”
Never lost 3 games in a row.
What we’re about — ACT the right way
Aggression
Committed
Thankful
“Chance favors the aggressor.” — only sign in locker room
We teach team attitude and mindset everyday.
Meets individually with each player for 10 minutes weekly — no basketball.
Write a note to someone who has helped you but you haven’t talked to in 3-5 years.
What we emphasize…
1. No fast break lay-up
2. No paint touches
3. No middle
Influence baseline
4. No rhythm 3’s
No ballside 3’s
5. No straight line drives
6. No 2nd chance points
Don’t do defensive rebounding drills — demands two-handed, two-footed rebounds
Offensive Rebounding — Must do one of these four on 80% of the opportunities:
1. Swim
2. Rip
3. Spin
4. Pin
Need steals and turnovers to overcome defensive rebounding.
Takes all 5 defenders:
1. Vision
1/3 up the line
2. Communication
“Talk to the ball”
“Talking makes us quicker”
3. Active
Always adjust your position.
“If you’re standing, you’re in the wrong place.”
4. Off Ball
Box taped at top of the key — deny zone
5. Terminology
Staff created an app for the team — got the idea from the Phoenix Suns
Staff created an app for their team -- got idea from Phoenix Suns
1. Team’s terminology
2. 3 Best games that individual has played
3. Highlight video of team
4. Highlights of their favorite NBA player
Things That Require Daily Maintenance
1. Conversion Defense
2. Pressure
Want offense to turn back to defender or hold ball above head
3. Closeout
Play 3’s and Drivers
4. Post Defense
Pressure teams can’t play behind
5. Blockout
Hit - Find - Get
Conversion Defense Priorities
Basket - Ball - Ballside
Sprinting - Straightlines
Build out
No Easies: Zero Lay-ups
Loves to start practice w/conversion defense drills to emphasis and get into their conditioning early.
Rat Race Drill: Continual 3/2
Everything they do has a winner and loser
4/2 Continuous Drill: Our 4/4/4
Pressure Ball
1. Make ball handler uncomfortable
Above head or turn back
2. It starts with closeouts
Run them off the 3-point line
3. High hands
Trace—guard 2 dribbles
4. Quick twitch
5. No Middle
6. Flatten the ball
4/3 Contest (SMU Drill)
Offense 3 passes, 1 Dribble
3 Straight Stops
Closeouts
1. Can’t be late — move on airtime
2. Can’t be short — take away the 3
(Coach Wade: “3’s get you beat”)
3. Principles—Low, chop feet
Post Defense
1. Front
Knock ‘em back
High hands
2. Early and big
3. Wall up
Square ‘em up
4. Two areas
Post box and perimeter
Know where to fight
“Whether you say you can or can’t you’re right.”
We don’t trap post because of 3 point philosophy.
We don’t believe 2’s will beat you.
Exception: Will trap post with poor passing skills to create turnovers
“Hamer” = forearm
“Punch thru” = swim to fronting position
Low man wins in the post
4/1 post feed drill: Offensive post don’t always flash — “hold the real estate”
Blockout
1. Emphasize every day
2. Drill must finish with a clean rebound
3. Make first contact — take away initial step
The Sandbag
After 10 Turnovers
Missed Blockout
Sprinting the Floor
Court Balance
Has 10 balloons tacked to a board each day at practice...each turnover a manager pops a balloon...when all the balloons are gone they run.
Assigns an assistant coach to something specific…
Head Coach of Turnovers
Head Coach of Offensive Boards
This is what they coach at practice in all drills
Game Standards
(Goal is to meet 3 of the 5 each game)
1. 5 or more Turkeys (3 straight stops)
were 21-4 when they met this one standard
2. 12 or less turnovers
3. 40% of offensive rebounding opportunities
4. 5 or less miscommunications
5. Changes per team they play — often about 3 point defense
Ball screen defense — no switch, fight thru
