Updated Jul 6, 2016 Coaching U Notes from Ben Witherspoon, www.pushbasketball.com Stan Van Gundy, Head Coach of the Detroit Pistons Response to what their core values are: Create culture by getting the right kind of players. Get guys who love the game. Ask pre-draft rookies How will you know when you ve made it? to gauge their love for the game I want people who care about their teammates and celebrate their teammates success." We want to play hard, smart, and together. They script the first 6-8 plays to get multiple players involved early and to find out how the other team is guarding certain actions. In regards to assistant coaches: Head coach has to be clear in defining their roles. They outline each coaches responsibility in every practice plan. They have certain guys that only do player development. Head coaches need to be clear about what they want from their assistant coaches and communicate it to them. Udonis Haslem was his favorite player in Miami because the only thing he cared about was winning the game. JJ Reddick is the most focused player he s ever been around. He loved Rashard Lewis because of what kind of teammate he was. He remembers Rashard calling him screaming when he found out his teammate Jameer Nelson made the All-Star team. To help defensive awareness: Drill it over and over, the more they see it, the easier they recognize it. And then study lots of film. Books that he recommends: Peak by Anders Erickson Mindset by Carol Dweck The Smart Take from the Strong by Pete Carrill Offensive points of emphasis: Take care of the ball, push the ball, screen, be unselfish, and take good shots. Don t pass up good, open shots because of the shot clock.
I ve never seen a good, dumb player in our league." If you re a good player, you know when to dribble, when to pass, and when to shoot. - Hubie Brown Stan Van Gundy's 6 Defensive Musts: 1. Get back. 2. Protect the paint. 3. Close & contest. 4. Pressure the ball. 5. Defend w/out fouling. 6. Block out & rebound. Offensive rebounding: If 3 is below FT line, he crashes boards. If 4 is top of key, he gets back. They want to stop layups, free throws, and 3 s. Joe Abunassar, NBA player development coach, @ImpactBBall 5 Parts of Player Development 1. Skill work 2. Performance - speed, agility, etc. 3. Nutrition 4. Physical therapy - take care of your body, recovery, stretching 5. Mental - love the grind, compete Put number of makes goals on your drills in practice. Eating properly 90 minutes after the game reduces recovery time from 72 to 24 hours. Adjust shooting mechanics when the release/backspin are "funky." Your power comes from your glutes. Drive off back foot when coming off screens. Kevin Eastman, Former Assistant & VP of Player Personnel to Doc Rivers, @KevinEastman Keep the main thing the main thing." 4 Keywords to being a Winner -Every - Everyone has to bring it, every second of every day.
-Next - Next play mentality. Learn from the past, produce in the present, prepare for the future. -Serious - Teams that win are more serious more of the time. -Willing - Have to be willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to win, pass, play defense, set screens. Relationship formula: 1 year before I ask for anything from someone. The loudest voices and most talk has to happen on the weak side of the floor. 2 Types of Mistakes: Honest - You don t know better Ignorant - You do know better Mistakes are ok but they have to be new ones." 5 Successful Coaching Points: 1. Learning 2. Focus 3. Enthusiasm 4. Effort 5. Energy The best are the best for a reason." Most important things that affect your future: character, personal growth, true relationships. He reads 2 hours every day. 4 team factors: Your system, culture, control players on your team, preparation. 3 Musts of Coaching: Put out fires, gas in your tank (start your year with inspiration), refocus their lens (skill set, mindset, reset). Truth is the most powerful word in an organization. We will not win the way you want to win, if you don t drop your guard and let me in. - Doc Rivers Confront any breach in culture immediately. Why are you more mad about missing a shot than that guy scoring on you?" On playing out the game plan: Don t fail the plan, let the plan fail us.
When evaluating players, they look at: Does he love the game? His drive What kind of teammate is he? Is he coachable? Can he handle hard truths? Set mini goals for your players by quarter. DeAndre Jordan had pass ahead and offensive rebound scores goals. "My separation is in my preparation. -Russell Wilson Bill Russell told Kevin Garnett there are 3 types of leaders: Leaders that get behind guys and push them forward, guys that go out in front and bring them in, and guys that are side by side with them to guide them. Their bottom of the bench guys help create and solidify their culture. If they do not, they won t be on the team. Find a way to get on the floor and stay on the floor. - Kevin Eastman s advice for his son Ubuntu is what Doc Rivers has used to teach selflessness. You don t have to be right, but we have to get it right." You play for a teammate, not with a teammate." Brendan Suhr, Assistant Coach at LSU, @BrendanSuhr Questions to ask yourself as a coach: 1. What is your definition of the role of a coach? What does it mean to you? 2. Why do I coach the way I coach? 3. Would I want to be coached by myself? The notoriety of a coach comes from the execution of his players under pressure. - Hubie Brown What great coaches do: 1. Connect to players and use a relationship based coaching approach 2. Love, serve, care 3. Coach every player differently 4. Develop trust - Trust is the ultimate human currency 5. Create a positive environment Defense:
-3/4 court presses are great for making teams use clock and not let them push the ball up the floor -Do what you can to stop their best player and get the ball out of his hands - 1-2-2 trap him on wing and in corner. Other 3 guys are in a triangle. Lennie Acuff, Head Coach at U. of Alabama Huntsville, @CoachAcuff Program core values: Selfless, thankful, humble, driven, committed, responsible There are 2 types of coaches: Those that are humble and those that are about to be. Stress is being unprepared for something you care deeply about. -Rick Carlisle Confidence is contagious, so is a lack of confidence. 3 Keys to Turning a Program Around: 1. Make the program important - At the school, in the community 2. Positive environment 3. Vehicle for improvement It s hard to coach kids you don t want to be around." On building your system: Don t try to do too much, too soon. They recruit guys that fit their program. They believe in recruiting offense and then they teach them defense. On the night of the game, get more good shots than your opponent. They change defenses a lot, almost after every timeout. They run on everything: makes and misses. CoachDougNovak.com has good resources. Happiness begins when selfishness ends." A good rule is to give guys one second to shoot it, pass it, or drive it. For their end of season meeting, they ask guys to send an email answering these questions: 1. What did you like? 2. What did you learn? 3. What s next for you and for us?
Mike Procopio, Player Development Coach for the Dallas Mavericks, @HoopConsultants Player development is not about having a bunch of drills. It s about communicating problems, finding solutions, and then repetition. The Mavs players have to be 30 minutes early for a workout or they get fined. And 15 minutes early for any meeting. Key skills by position: Point guard - Changing speeds, being able to live in the paint with the ball, make midrange shots, pick & roll reads, finish with either hand off both feet, defend your position. Wing - Off ball screen reads, make midrange shots, pick & roll reads, finish with either hand off both feet, defend your position. Bigs - Run the floor, set great screens, 1 or 2 moves with a counter, pass out of the post (cutters, kick out, high-low) Shooters need comfort and confidence Go straight up on floaters, ball trajectory should be up in the air, not a line drive