#1 - 1-2-1-1 PRESS
Welcome to first edition of the 1-2-1-1 Press. A small basketball project to help learn more about the game of basketball from my eyes.
The first edition of the 1-2-1-1 Press focuses on the pre-season and practice segmentations.
As it is currently “off season” for programming here in Tasmania, I want to look at ways of promoting better discipline in athletes and also making practice more developmental than last year.
1 - Forefront of the Press
Motivation vs Discipline
“Motivation gets you going, discipline keeps you growing”
This has been at the front of the mind this week when thinking about how to improve athletes and myself.
The distinction between them both is sometimes put together, but mean different concepts.
Motivation is that energetic video / song / words of wisdom that gets you fired up and ready to go, Discipline is what actually continues that new habit you wish to do.
For me, the 1-2-1-1 Press is exactly that. I’ve been wanting to do something like this for quite a while, and gotten to the point of publishing before, but the discipline of staying on top of it has let me down.
Being disciplined happens to lots of athletes as well, the 6am wake ups and the boring ball handling drills at the starts of practice are some aspects of the game that they need to be more disciplined at. Once mastered, it takes an athletes (and coaches) game to another level
How can you be more disciplined this week?
2 - 2 Main Talking Points:
Slappin’ Glass - Rick Pitino
“Make your point, make your correction and get on”
TIME STAMP: 12:40 -> 13:35
Great saying by Coach Pitino in relation to his practices. Mentioning that it is key for his teams to be in elite condition and wasting time in practice takes away from it.
10 sec stoppages to “Make your point, make your correction and get on” keeps players participating and continue their growth conditioning wise.
Another way to incorporate that would be via the “Fly-By” conversations with athletes. These are where you don’t stop the entire group, but rather have a little chat to an individual during a drill.
If needed, stop a drill and realign all the athletes. But with limited practice time, it’s important to keep the sessions going.
“I don’t hire Assistant Coaches, I hire future Head Coaches”
TIME STAMP: 37:30 -> 40:56
“You must have the same pressure that the Head Coach has”
Developing of Assistant Coaches is key for program success and their own development. Allowing Assistants to take a block of practice, can allow a Head Coach to step back and see how athletes interact and respond, but more importantly, gives an Assistant, Head Coaching repetitions in an elite environment.
At the recent U16 AJC in Perth, I gave my Assistants the opportunity to work on cutting film and scouting reports. Tough for me to give up that responsibility (as I thoroughly enjoy them both), but it worked out better than imagined. The sense of winning by the AC as they now have more input in the game plan made them more heightened to stay engaged on the court.
1 - Book Thought of the Week:
The Midrange Theory - Seth Partnow
LINK: https://bit.ly/3chdvKT
Chapter 1 - What Basketball Analytics is Not
Interesting first up chapter on basketball not being analytical, but analytics playing a major part in the game. They can help with achieving the right shot or player signing
Key message within the first chapter is that we can’t solely focus on statistics or in-depth analysis to play the game, it can’t justify what happens possession by possession in an environment where the lights / temperature can dictate what happens with the spin on a ball. (in book example, Damian Lillard 2019 shot over Paul George, average players would shoot 22%, Lillard is a 38% shooter from 30 feet out)
However, we can use analytics to source the right shots with highest percentage within the teams offensive structure to ensure we are getting good looks for certain personnel, but also use this knowledge to force the opposition into shots they don’t want to take.
A great sneak peak chapter and very much looking forward to continue reading the book and finding little gems about the analytical world of basketball.
1 - End of Game Play of the Week:
SLOB - CELTICS OVER
This is a play popularized by former Boston Celitcs HC, Brad Stevens. Lots of variety and options out of this action that can get the look you need.
Thank you for reading the first edition of the 1-2-1-1 press, leave a comment and please subscribe to this more content
Thanks
Coach James