Keep it simple

Basketball is a wonderful sport, at times made better through complex systems and detailed technical teaching. However, when teams are struggling or important games are to be played, coaches remind their players that they should stick to fundamentals and keep the game simple. Teams, beyond the talent of individual players, succeed when they give strong consideration to the following:

• rebounding - on offense, fight hard for every board, be creative in pursuit
  
• rebounding - defensively, make contact and be sure to protect their hoop
• turnovers - defensively, force them then convert them in transition
• turnovers - on offense, limit (preferably eliminate) them, value the ball
  
• fouls - on offense, try and draw them and put the defense in early bonus foul trouble
• fouls - defensively, play tough and stay out of trouble
• screens - on defense, don't get hit by them, talk through them
• screens - offensively, set them low and solid, read and attack
  
• location - make opposition play offense in uncomfortable areas and ways
• location - play offense in attack areas, get passes inside the paint, get to the FT line