What a great game yesterday in the SEC between South Carolina and Kentucky. Was back and forth most of the way, some great shots, great defense, and a fantastic finish with a great game winning shot from USC. I think USC is highly underrated. They beat a ranked Baylor team, Florida, and now Kentucky with losses to ranked Tennessee and Clemson. Coach Darrin Horn's first year at USC has certainly been very impressive so far.

Anyways, what I wanted to highlight from the game was the fact that rebounding, and specifically in this case offensive rebounding matters. If you dominate your opponent on the glass on both sides, you'll win more times than not no matter how well your offense plays. Kentucky shot a better percentage (52-42%), but USC had a 18-8 offensive rebound edge, and USC ended up winning the game. Here are a few sequences:




Coaching Strategy:

As a coach, what you can directly control is how many to send to the glass. Sometimes coaches tend to under prepare in this very important aspect. To have an effective offensive rebounding strategy, you need to know exactly how many to send to the glass, and also to make sure you have safeties so that you won't get burned badly the other way. USC sends both forwards to the glass on every shot. They will also have a wing come in to rebound down when possible. The 2 guards always back up for the safety,


Offensive Drill Work:

Assuming you have the kinds of players that make good rebounders (tall, athletic, strong, high leapers), they need to have a nose for the ball, they need to understand angles. Just a couple of things to watch for. First, is recognizing that when your defender helps on defense, gives you the best opportunity for an offensive rebound,

The other technique that I've seen and heard Coach Bobby Knight talk alot about is the tap back. Obviously if you get the rebound 2 feet away, just go back up. But the tap back to your guard is something that needs to be taught and drilled. There is a difference between a rebound for a putback and a rebound for another possession, your players need to understand the difference and implement it in games,


Summary:

When I first started out, I didn't used to put that much emphasis into rebounding. Of course, we all know that rebounding is important, but it always seemed like 1v1 defense, or shooting was more important. Then one year, I had the privilege of helping coach a team that had some great natural rebounders. We didn't always have the best talent on the floor, the best defense, or offense, but we went 23-2 and reached the final game of the final tournament of the year because of our ability to rebound (offensively and defensively). Rebounding matters. Yes, to some extent it depends on your players' individual abilities (height, strength, vert, etc...) but it also depends a lot on attitude and coaching style.

For a great new video on rebounding drills, take a look at Dino Gaudio's DVD on Winning the War on the Boards. Coach Gaudio is the head coach at former number one ranked Wake Forest. As always, please check out the X's and O's Basketball forum to talk hoops and exchange notes and ideas.

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If there was ever a case of why defense matters, especially in the last 2 minutes of a game, yesterday's game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Phoenix Suns was a textbook case in point. Sometimes, we often think about and incorrectly emphasize how this offensive play or player was key, or "clutch", etc... But practically speaking, it's usually a bad defensive sequence or lapse which allows the offense to take advantage.

The situation going into the final 2 minutes of the game was this: The game was close throughout, the Spurs got some separation late in the 4th quarter. Then the Phoenix Suns made some great defensive plays, capitalized on offense, and cut the lead to just 3 points. The Spurs come down the floor, the play looked innocent and undeveloped, a Pick and Pop handoff from Parker, to Duncan, handoff to Ginobili, then the defensive breakdown. Take a look,




Miscommunication:

There was nothing fancy. There was a simple miscommunication between Grant Hill, Shaquille O'Neal and Jason Richardson. Hill was defending Parker, Richardson on Ginobili and O'Neal on Duncan. On the pass to Duncan and Parker screen away for Ginobili, Hill and Richardson get caught chasing the ball, which leaves Parker wide open on the pop out,

If the Suns had not gotten crossed up on defense, then the Spurs probably would've gone to an ISO 1v1 and taken their chances that way. Maybe the would've scored too, maybe not. But Parker's shot was an easy one, a wide open 18 footer, can't get any easier than that.

Summary:

At end of games, it's defense and rebounding which count the most. Your players and their abilities will determine the teams success offensively in the "clutch," but tactically, defense and emphasis on rebounding is what a coach can effectively control and manage. If you play great defense and rebound, and the offense just makes an unbelievable shot, then there's nothing you can do but hold your head up and say that there wasn't anything else to do. But when you have a defensive lapse, that's why you have to go back to the drawing board, make sure players know what their assignments are, what the gameplan defensively is, and correct the mistakes going forward.

For some defensive info from one of the greatest basketball minds there is, take a look at Hubie Brown's DVD on his Defensive Playbook for success. Discuss your favorite defensive strategies at the X's and O's Basketball Forum with other coaches from around the world.

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From the weekend, Phil Jackson being interviewed by Magic Johnson about a bunch of different topics. The first thing they talked about was going for 10 Championships. I just like what Coach Jackson said about coming in 2nd. It really is the worst feeling in the world. Most people think that when you come in 2nd, you should be proud to have reached the finals. And to some extent yes, as a coach, as a player, as a competitor, its a good feeling that you reached the end where everyone else was watching and you were still playing. But, you never quite get it out of your mind. Why you lost, what would you do different. It sticks with you, the regret, the sense of failure. Its not like when you come in 3rd or 7th or 10th, there is a sense that, well we tried the best and that's all one can hope for. When you come in 2nd there is a profound sense that you lost because you did something wrong.

Second thing they talked about which I thought was interesting was about agency (3:00 in the video). For example, one could say why does Kobe take 30 shots a game?? Well, on the one hand you can look at it like Kobe is selfish and there isn't anything his teammates can do about it. Or, maybe its because his teammates allow Kobe to shoot 30 shots a game, through their non-action, forcing Kobe to put the offense all on him. Sometimes the reward for doing a great job, is more work. Which really isn't fair at all. Players need to understand that they are responsible for both their actions, and lack of action. Everything you do or don't do affects the behaviors and actions of others.



For more info on the Lakers' famed triangle offense take a look at Tex Winter's DVD on the Encyclopedia of the Triangle Offense. Coach Winters is of course the longtime assistant to Phil Jackson. Don't forget to check out the X's and O's Basketball Forum to discuss this and any of your favorite basketball topics.

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By far the best basketball game I've seen all season (Nov-present) was last night between the Purdue Boilermakers and the Wisconsin Badgers. Two great teams, conference matchup, ESPN national TV coverage, as good as it will get until Feb 11 when Duke and UNC go at it. Both teams were kickin' up somethin' fierce on defense, and yet both teams still executed and made plays offensively. It was a playoff atmosphere with both teams showing a lot of emotion, and it was a fantastic finish to boot with Purdue winning by one.

All game long, Purdue's ball-hawking defense was intense. What I loved was the way they fronted the post. It was like watching a clinic on switching from 3-quarter front to help and back to a full front. Here a few sequences from the first half along with an Inside the Play segment with ESPN's Steve Lavin,




Fronting Over the Top or Full Front:

The general rule is, that if the ball is at the top of the key, above the free-throw line extended, the best fronting position is to come over the top,

When the ball is in the low-wing or corner position, below the free-throw line extended, then the idea is to to full front the post. The weak side help comes from the baseline who is in ball-you-man position taking away both the lob over the top and to closeout on a skip,


Coaching Tip, Windshield Wiper:

I've never heard of this before but Steve Lavin referred to it in the segment. The "window wiper" is a great way to think of the post denial on the 3-quarter front. Hand outstretched, palms out, moving up and down. Like a windshield wiper,


Summary:

As you know, I love watching great defense and this was the mecca of defense between Bo Ryan and Matt Painter. Purdue's defense was just flying all over the place, especially against Wisconsin's Swing Offense. At the other end, Wisconsin was pursuing the Boilermakers all over the court as they executed their 4-out motion offense. You probably would've expected a score in the 50s or even 40s, but both teams still executed, still scored. It really was a great game, a great Purdue win on the road.

As for Wisconsin, I know it's been tough with the 5+ losses in a row, but you have to take solace in the fact that they've been competitive in every game. It's a cliche, but it means that they just aren't closing games, they're a little tight and they're not confident in themselves yet in taking those games.

If you enjoy watching Purdue and want to know more about their system, take a look at Matt Painter's DVD on their 4-out Motion Offense. As always, be sure to check out the X's and O's of Basketball Forum to discuss this and more of your favorite basketball topics.

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Watching some NBA games yesterday, caught part of the second half between the Miami Heat and the Atlanta Hawks. We know the Hawks are doing decent following their playoffs from last year. But the Miami Heat have really improved as well, most of it being due to Dwyane Wade being healthy.

I highlighted this specific play not necessarily because it's any better of a play than any other offensive play, but I just thought it showed that if players execute the fundamentals correctly, like setting up your cuts, setting good screens, and using them, any play can work well.




Box Stagger for Corner 3-pointer:

Very basic set play for the corner-wing 3-pointer. Ball at the top of the key, O5 sets a fake screen for O2 to make it look like O2 will pop out to the same side wing. O2 v-cuts and goes baseline instead. O4 and O3 set stagger area screens,

X2 gets stuck out of position from the initial v-cut and fake screen and so O2 has plenty of space to get to the corner-wing spot. O1 dribble relocates to make the shorter pass. The corner-wing positioning is important because if O2 comes all the way up to the wing, X3 probably can switch and cover in time,


Setup your Cuts:

The most important part that makes this play work is the way Daequan Cook sets up his cut. You have to sell the cut with misdirection and change of speed, to fake one way and go the other way. All the great players know how to use these details to gain their advantage,


Summary:

It's why fundamentals are so much more important than what offensive sets you run. If your players don't understand the basics of basketball, the vernacular, why things work and others don't, your offense will never be any good. You can fake it with good athleticism or skill, but eventually that will catch up to you against good teams.

As for the Heat, I think they could be the Hawks of last year. They could sneak up on one of those big 3 in the East and make a run of it. They have the talent, just need the consistency. My gut feel though is that they're still 1 or 2 years away from being a contender though.

If you're looking for more on getting open and becoming a better scorer, take a look at the Five-star Basketball DVD on getting open and attacking. Coach Bergeron goes through all the basics of cutting as well as flashing to the post and dribble penetration. Head over to the X's and O's Basketball forum to discuss this and many more of your favorite basketball topics.

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Some great games yesterday and today in NCAA action. I caught the Big Ten matchup between Indiana and Minnesota. Indiana has lost a bunch of games in a row, and they sit at the bottom of the standings but I don't think the numbers tell the whole story. If you watch the Hoosiers play, you see a team that is playing above their potential. We all know that Tom Crean inherited some significant challenges when he came into the job there, but with the way his team competes, especially on the defensive end, you couldn't tell that they are on an 8-game losing streak with only 5 wins all season. They maybe last in the conference, but they don't play like it.

I can always tell when a team is well-coached, well-prepared, and motivated just by watching the way they play defense. Offense is mostly about skill and talent, but your teams defense is a reflection of the character of the team. Are they hard-working? Do they work together as a team? Is each player accountable? That's why I think despite their record, the Hoosiers are playing solid basketball. Here are a few sequences from the second half,




In my opinion, when you have a team that is challenged talent-wise, as the Hoosiers are when more than half the team left after last year, you must play hard defense. Your defense has to lead to your offense. Especially good M2M team defense, it has to be practiced, it's not developed naturally.

Just wanted to highlight a couple of pictures. This first one is just great 1v1 man defense by the Hoosiers. When players know that good individual defense is rewarded with playing time, that reinforces the good habits,


We all teach it, but how many teams do you actually see use it? When the offensive player picks up his dribble, the ball is "dead." That is the most opportune time to crowd the player chest-to-chest and everyone else is in deny. This is not a natural motion, it must be practiced, drilled, and ingrained. All 5 players have to work together,


Summary:

You look at all the losses by Indiana. Lose by 3 to Minnesota, 6 to Michigan. A few blowouts over 80, but for the most part, the Hoosiers have been competitive. Here are some "numbers" for all the stats people to consider:

• Indiana has outrebounded its first five Big Ten opponents (except Minn 30-29)

• IU ranks dead last in three-point shooting percentage, making just 29.3 percent of its attempts from beyond the arc. Through to Jan. 17, Indiana had made just 20 three-pointers in five outings.

Tom Crean has the Hoosiers playing hard. Will they finish last in the conference? Probably, but as time goes on, they can only get better. And it all starts with their defense.

If you're looking for to boost the competitiveness of your team in practices, take a look at Tom Crean's DVD on Competitive Practice Drills. As always, be sure to check out the X's and O's of Basketball Forum to discuss this and more of your favorite basketball topics.

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Steve Lavin of ESPN breaking down Georgetown's princeton offense. He lists the following 5 offensive keys:

1. High and wide spacing
2. Precise passing
3. High velocity cutting
4. Reading the defense
5. Executing counters



It's a great offense for sure. A lot of people associate the Princeton offense for teams with less talent, but as Georgetown shows, you can incorporate it for any group of players. There's only one imperative in making it successful... Your players must pass the ball and work as a team. The Princeton is not a good ISO offense.

There are plenty of videos teaching various Princeton concepts like the backdoor cut, etc.. But surprisingly there aren't that many specific videos on implementing the Princeton system. If you are looking for one however, you should check out Joe Scott's DVD building the Princeton Offense. Coach Scott is the current head coach at Denver and used to be the head coach at Air Force and Princeton, both 5-out teams. Be sure to check out the X's and O's Basketball forum to discuss your favorite coaching topics.

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