It’s one thing to accumulate quick-hitters to add to the playbook; it’s another to have systematic core concepts to win games. Let’s break down a list of coaching concepts that during my tenure have shown to generate competitive advantages. Attached to each concept are videos highlighting some of the best coaches to follow to learn more about each strategy.
OFFENSE
Fly It Up Early or Cross The Middle 3rd In Transition
Whether it is on a half-court or full-court the objective offensively is to create advantages. Transition offense is one of the best opportunities to expose a disconnected defense. High-school Head Coach Michael Lynch (MA) does a deep dive – website has a ton of content – on running the breaks and attacking the middle 3rd.
0.5 Concept: Don’t Let The Basketball Stick
Not sure how “Point (0.5) Five” became the rule of thumb, but I know where the concept was popularized. While spending time with the San Antonio Spurs, now Head Coach with Olimpia Milano, Ettore Messina transcended the NBA with an accelerated approach to shoot it, drive it, or move it. Time spent holding the ball allows for defenses to get set or dealing with increased ball-pressure. From a coaching standpoint, 0.5 basketball is about teaching players to have a plan in advance and not letting the defense rest.
RPOs (Roll-Pop-Options) Basketball
Offense 101: take what the defense gives you. Stealing the idea from football’s “Run-Pass-Option,” RPO’s in basketball are reads in 2-man actions that don’t have to be designated for the traditional pick & roll or pick & pop sequence. There are a variety of ways to win 2-man matchups and none seem actively better at it than Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray with the Nuggets. My preference is to identify “Chasers” on the team that at any point in the offense involved in a ball reversal, they would then play into the closest 2-man action:
- Gets
- Ballscreens
- Dribble Chase Backdoors
- DHOs
- Fake Into Attack or Iso
Spacing For 1-More Shooting
It takes all 5 to execute on offense even if only 1 is involved with the ball. Spacing starts in the breaks that flow into a halfcourt system coordinated by player movement to open the floor for scoring opportunities. Hopefully, the subsequent result is improving the probability of shooting a higher percentage shot. One of my favorites is the extra pass, the “hockey assist,” or 1-more shooting! This a universally accepted principle amongst coaches, however Coach John Leonzo & Coach Kari Hoffman have excelled at installing the pace & space style of play for other coaches to steal.
Point Guard In Full; Point Forward On Half
As a former point guard that played in a very set-oriented system it’s hard not being in control for an entire possession. From a coaching perspective, my preference has shifted where point guard’s opportunity to explore is in the full court, but when on a half court let’s get it to a playmaking big. This is where Princeton Offense elements start to emerge. For starters, it pulls a potential plugged rim-protecter away from the rim and secondly it can naturally encourage player movement to create separation for future advantages (e.g. backdoors, zooms, or split actions). In an ideal situation give me speed early and versatility from the forwards on the half. Since we’re playing fantasy basketball anyways, here’s an example from Coach Chris Dorsey breaking down how this has worked out for the Sacramento Kings.
DEFENSE
Transition Defense Is Priority #1
I am a firm believer that effort minimizes mistakes defensively. While I don’t represent the entire coaching community, I’d say that a large percentage of coaches at every level are trending towards playing with higher tempo. Thus, the #1 responsibility for teams defensively is limiting easy buckets by focusing on first getting as many people back below the ball. After sprinting to get back, the second responsibility is building a wall to prevent an early paint touch. One of the best to go 94 feet in less than 4 dribbles is Giannis Antetokounmpo. Here’s NBA Analyst Coach Daniel breaking down clips of former Celtics Head Coach Brad Stevens looking to slow Giannis down in transition.
Pressure Everyone. Contest Everything
If talking closeouts, positioning, and contesting everything as a lockdown defender than Coach Mike is the source. Right or wrong my two biggest priorities defensively all merge under the concept of presence. A team that is actively pressuring the ball, alert off the ball, and reduces comfort for scores by heavily contesting shots is my preferred style of defense.
Mixing/Matching Coverages
Not here to stir the pot with the whole zone defense at the youth level, but it’s trending with the pros. The point is sometimes opponents can be tough matchups and it takes some alternative methods to disrupt the normal cadence of a really good rhythmic offense. Maybe it’s a matchup zone for ATOs, or timely blitzes to get the ball out of a dynamic playmaking guard. Ever heard of the “Zoner-Manner-Trapper” (ZMT) Defense? Neither had I until watching this Nick Nurse clinic below covering changing defenses like his ZMT, along with other in-game adjustments to consider.
Whatever The Defense: Limit Paint Touches!
Packline Defense. Sideline/Baseline Defense. Off The Line, Up-The-Line Defense.
Call the defense whatever you’d like, just don’t let the offense win the paint-touch battle. What if the team hits 25 3’s? Then salute to the hot shooting opponents, but I’d bet our presence wasn’t very good that night. Paint touches lead to points, either directly or indirectly from gravity. Our objective is to limit gravity and limit clean looks. Follow Missouri Head Coach Dennis Gates for the defensive blueprint.
Physical Rebounding
There are a ton of other really good coaches out there that are worth a follow, but as far as winning the trenches on the men’s or women’s side my vote would go to Kelvin Sampson or Dawn Staley. Rebounding is a combination of imposing will and calculated effort; it also is a huge ingredient to sustainably getting stops. This could be a reach, but show me a team that rebounds well night in and night out and I’ll bet that program has strong relationships with their athletes.
Coach's Climb 