The inside-out three-point shot is at the pinnacle of all three-point attempts and the three-pointer to seek and encourage above all others. Not all threes are created equal. There are threes to encourage and threes to discourage. There are off-the-dribble pull-up threes. There are threes by a cutter coming off a screen. There are threes…
Gap Creating Cuts
Six gap creating cuts to create and exploit enlarged gap space for dribble penetration. If there is one offensive concept worth the risk of “taking too far” it would be the creation of space. With the proliferation of pack line style defenses at the lower levels, maintaining and creating space is vital in allowing for penetration.…
Pressure Man Tips – Selective Trapping
Utilizing selective traps provides one of the major weapons of disruption in pressure man-to-man defense. Here are four scenarios for selective trapping. One of the major weapons of pressure man-to-man defense is the double team or trap. Trapping the ball can disrupt offensive flow by creating a disadvantage situation for the ball handler. An effective…
2-3 Zone: Forward Play
There are 2-3 zones and then there is the Syracuse 2-3 Zone. Coach Jim Boeheim and his Syracuse Orange have been befuddling opponents for decades with their brand of zone defense. Syracuse recruits great players blessed with the length and athleticism to be effective in the zone, but aside from that, the forward play is what…
Mental Biases and Coaching: Action Bias Pitfalls
A tendency toward action bias can at times lead basketball coaches and players astray, undermining short and long term progress. Read more on Cognitive Biases and how they relate to coaching: The Impact of Optimism Bias Avoiding Outcome Bias The Perils of Confirmation Bias Survivorship Bias in Coaching Defeating Choice – Supportive Bias Coaches are hard…
Spacing vs Positioning in the Half Court
Spacing vs Positioning: Both play a major role in effective offense, but what’s the difference between these two concepts in half court? (Note: This blog originally appeared in our September 15, 2018 newsletter. Subscribe here.) Often I receive an email that goes something like this… “Coach, I love the info you share and I really…
Moving The Nail Defender
Six tips for moving the nail defender with cutting and screening to facilitate top penetration. The “nail” is tiny hole drilled in the floor at the center of the free throw line. It is here that defenses will often park a defender meant to deter top penetration. The offense wants to drive through the nail;…
Developing Your Game Model
Develop a Game Model to help improve and clarify performance standards, strategy and tactics for your program. Understanding the game is fundamental for successful teams and coaches. It is assumed coaches understand the game, but can they articulate a model that players can comprehend? In better organizations, the players see the game the way the…
Video Playbook: Fred Hoiberg Pitch Series
A video breakdown of pitch and flip entries from Fred Hoiberg’s Pitch Series We decided to go back a few seasons and take another look at Fred Hoiberg’s Pitch Series that he brought to the Chicago Bulls from Iowa State. The series features some weave-like ball and player movement, misdirection and both wing and spread…
Big Man Camp: Kevin Love
“Big Man Camp” featuring Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers demonstrating the high side and low side scoring series from the T-Post position. Summer is basketball camp season and below is a virtual “Big Man Camp” featuring Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers. In this series of videos, Love demonstrates moves from both the “High Side” and “Low Side” scoring series from…