Butler and Brad Stevens: What we can learn

A recent ESPN.COM article examines Butler and its coach Brad Stevens a year after its national final loss to Duke - Butler and Cindrella, a season later.

The article makes two main observations: (1) Stevens is well-adjusted and extraordinarily grounded, more so than just about any other Division I coach you'll ever meet, let alone one in just his third year on the job; and (2) this 2010-11 season -- the season after -- could've turned into a joyless, six-month slog if Stevens wasn't as sane and smart as he is.

Perhaps the most relevant part of the article is how Butler has become every opponent's biggest game. They now have a "target on their back" that comes with the responsibility of being good. All of their losses get magnified because of the expectations for the program. The advice for coaches dealing with expectations is that our teams must learn how "enjoy the process." As Stevens says 'Look, you've gotta enjoy this process and enjoy the fight to win. And when you do win? Never take it for granted. You've gotta enjoy that, too. I'm not saying jump on the scorer's table and wave towels and yell. But hug each other. Enjoy each other. Enjoy all of it. Never "expect" it.'"

Pops 4 on 0 Fullcourt Drill

We are big fans of having game-like drills. While I have nothing against a 3-man weave full-court I find it hard sometimes to recognize the translation to a competitive situation. It certainly works on fundamentals (Passsing/catching/running/teamwork etc) but we prefer drills that have more of a transfer of skills to game situations. In this 4 on 0 Drill (Click Here) we got from Gregg Popovich and the San Antonio Spurs we use a full-court passing drill that combines outlets, hit ahead passes and our fastbreak principles (run the wing wide, sprint to half and don't look back until you get there, look over your inside shoulder with your butt facing the sideline etc). Obviously the drill is simple but you can create your own modifications. For example on return trips we will have them come back into a 4-0 offensive breakdown sequence.

The masters of the left corner

Nearly every player on the New York Knicks' roster operates with one rallying cry repeated daily by coaches: "If you're open, shoot it." The left corner on the floor has become the Knicks' Promised Land. According to the article - The Masters of the Left Corner - the Knicks' have made 49% of their 112 3-point shots from the left corner. The league average on all 3-pointers is just 35.9%.

The left corner is the prime real estate for a number of Knicks: five players shoot at least 50 percent from there, including Mr. Felton's 80%, Shawne Williams, 73.3% and 50% from Wilson Chandler and Danilo Gallinari.

What makes the left corner so effective? D'Antoni's philosophy is based on his belief that 3-point shooting skills are inherent in nearly every NBA-caliber athlete. His staff immediately started preaching the corner 3-pointer for the floor space it creates for other players to drive to the basket and for the increased reward it produces on the scoreboard. The article also discusses the impact of Raymond Felton and Amare Stoudemire's pick n' roll game that creates open shots. Different than traditional pick n' rolls D'Antonio has always run spread pick n' rolls.

Some excellent lessons for the advantages of 3-point shooting and the use of pick n' rolls to create advantage situations.

Building a winning program

Mike Carey, who has turned around women's college programs at Salem College and now West Virginia shares some ideas about his success in turning around losing programs: Mike Carey has turned program into winner. Some of his ideas are super lessons for all of us in coaching or business interested in creating a winning culture:

1. The players excepted the coach's personality - Coach Carey is intense and competitive and his player's took on that personality
2. He convinced his players that it was in their best interest to accept that he would never let up n them and push them constantly to get better - "He stays on us constantly," said sophomore center Asya Bussie. "On the court, he won't stop yelling, he'll never stop. He wants us to be perfect."

The lesson is clear. Coach to your personality. And get your players to buy in to that personality by explaining why and how it will help them improve as individuals and a team.

Finishing School Drill

We work a lot in our program on finishing around the rim. Here is one of the drills we use that we call Curls. Players curl around the big block, catch and finish. We shoot 2-foot hooks/push shots, 1-foot hooks/push shots, shot fakes, step through shots and 2-foot fades. We also encourage our players to be creative - different arc, release points and targets. A big emphasis is for our players to follow through, not just with their shooting motion, but also their eyes by keeping them on the target through the release. We also add a defender to disrupt vision. Check out the drill here from the 2010 COBA Can-Am On-Court Basketball Coaching Clinic: Finishing School - Curls

Confidence in coaching

When you hear Raheem Morris, the young Head Coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, speak you hear a person with incredible confidence. As coaches, we know that confidence in players develops from demonstrated ability. Coach Morris is an example from whom we can all learn.

Currently, ESPN is running a series of profiles in promotion of "Content of Character" - a tribute to Martin Luther King Jr. (this year is the 25th Anniversary of MLK Day). In the profile of Coach Morris, his friends and players (including veterans) commend him for his passion, commitment, dedication, and a little bit of swagger. He endears himself to his players because he really tries to understand what is happening in their lives, and he works hard to connect with each of them. One of the best lines in the commentary is a quote from Coach Morris, one that clearly demonstrates his confidence, focus on being positive and believing - "in order for there to be a reality, there must be a mentality."

San Antonio Spurs "Pounding the Rock" Philosophy

Greg Popovich, coach of the San Antonio Spurs, was asked recently about the Minnesota Timberwolves. His comments were interesting. He said despite Minnesota's losing record their players play like winners - Spurs coach believes Wolves aren't far off

Popovich cites a quote by Danish-American social reformer Jacob Riis that's posted in several languages around the team's locker room and has become synonymous with Spurs basketball. "We call it 'pounding on the rock,' that saying we have in the hallway down there," Popovich said Sunday night.

"It's a perseverance, a belief that the game really is 48 minutes and you keep doing your job for 48 and see how it breaks. They're mature. They believe if they stick together and believe in each other, some good things can happen.

The Wolves, in contrast, are what Popovich calls "very talented," but they are also young and unsure. If San Antonio plays 48 minutes knowing something good eventually will happen, the Wolves at this point in their development might just play suspecting exactly the opposite.

What we can gather as coaches is that our team's must believe that whatever happens in a game something good will happen eventually because your team does things the right way on a daily basis.

First Time Coach Learning Lessons

Fred Hoiberg, hired by Iowa State with no prior coaching experience, has found some early success and this article from the Wall Street Journal examines some of the factors Is this guy Hoiberg for real? Hoiberg said he learned much from his former coaches - Larry Bird with the Indiana Pacers and Kevin McHale with the Minnesota Timberwolves -who took their first coaching jobs with no prior experience. "Neither of those guys had experience, but they were great at communication and surrounded themselves with the right people," says Mr. Hoiberg. Hoiberg hired former Charlotte coach Bobby Lutz who offered this advice - how to "tell people 'no' from time to time" in order to balance his coaching, recruiting, public speaking, administrative and family responsibilities; and when to play the tough guy. Some excellent lessons for all of us coaches.

Defense Wins Championships

Larry Shyatt, assistant coach at the University of Florida, spoke at the 2009 COBA Can-Am On-Court Coaching Clinic, and these were his detailed notes about his defensive system. The detailed notes can be found here. Coach Shyatt was an excellent teacher. His language was precise and his intensity and passion was evident during every drill. Here is Coach Shyatt teaching a Ballscreen Shooting drill so you can see his passionate teaching. We are excited about this year's clinic as it is always wonderful to be around such excellent teacher's of the game.

Clever and simple language

In coaching, clear communication is essential. The English language sometimes offers some clever word connections that coaches can use to their advantage. One such twist is the word listen. When speaking to players, and demanding attention, coaches may want to point out that listen contains the same letters as the word silent. Coincidence? You be the judge.