In the midpoint of the season, coaches are straining their voice repetitively reinforcing defensive and offensive strategies. Understanding these cues can enhance player instincts, facilitate communication and maximize scoring opportunities while minimizing defensive breakdowns. This is a top-10 list of my most repetitive basketball coaching cues heading into the final stretch of conference play.
Playing Unbothered
Coaching staffs will come up with different mantras for their programs to set a tone believed to be emblematic of the mission ahead. You've probably seen shooting shirts and warmups with sayings like, "We>Me" or "Why Not Us?" branded on the players' apparel. After being on this coaching journey for over a decade, one of those one-liners that that continually sticks out in my mind to consider for the future is cultivating an Unbothered culture.
Fighting Over Top Of Ball Screens
Getting over top of ball screens is a mentality as much it is a physical ability. When players are expected to fight through ball screens; it may be one of the hardest actions to defend when considering how much ball-pressure is tightly officiated. Going to share a few tactical guidelines that I've applied in the past, covering time spent along the way as an assistant in addition to my own philosophy as a head coach at the high school level.
Out Of Bounds Plays & Philosophy
When it comes to BLOBs and SLOBs, are you a one-shape fits all or an assortment of favorite plays regardless of how it starts? If you're of the opinion to just throw it to halfcourt and get it in to run offense, then this conversation will be of no interest to you - and we are not the same.
Tunnel Vision Coaching
Going back to the tape always shows a missed opportunity. It's tunnel vision coaching, and how sometimes getting locked in on the game get's you beat. Observations from previous experience as a head-coach to how I'm still learning as an assistant.
Conceptual Offense Trending In The NBA
For whatever reason using the term conceptual offense gives me this negative connotation. It probably doesn't help that following a recent segment with Bam Adebayo giving an on-court demonstration of the Miami Heat's revamped offense he says, "It's literally AAU basketball."
Will Rule Change Lead To More 1 Foot Finishes?
W.W.J(W).D. The NCAA's new rule for the 2025-2026 season allows continuous motion of one step or pivot in shooting, potentially shifting coaching strategies to favor teaching two-foot finishes over single leg takeoffs. This change raises the question, "What Would Jay Wright Do?"
Early Exhibition S.W.O.T. Analysis
Despite everybody's playbook being thin and rotations yet to be determined these pre-season games offer significant early evaluation opportunities for coaching staffs. More or less, coaches are gauging the (S)trengths - (W)eaknesses - (O)pportunities - (T)hreats of their team based on initial performances against outside competition.
College Basketball Learning Curve
Discussing three concepts that tend to show the steepest learning curves for high school players transitioning to competing at the college level.
Shooting Philosophy
Let's get #52WeekCoaching back for the upcoming season. What is your coaching philosophy when it comes to shooting the basketball?
Coach's Climb 