3 Phases Coaches Are Studying

One of the benefits of all the virtual clinics that have been going on is that you are able to build some relationships with other coaches (speakers as well as attendees) who can challenge your thinking and help you come up with additional ideas for your team both on and off the floor.  

I have been engaged in some 1-1 conversations with coaches when I am not hosting clinics and doing deep dives into a variety of subject areas.

Here are a couple of great ideas and plays I am studying that I wish I grasp earlier on in my career.

 Low Post Play

 I know that analytics may not be favorable to low post play but I remember Mike Dunlap once saying that “the team that plays closest to the basket wins”.  There was also something that Etttore Messina once said in a clinic about using the low post to flatten the defense and playing through the low post.

One way to do that would be to get the ball inside and run screening actions away from the ball.  Here is an example from BBall Breakdowns Coach Nick, talking about your basic split action for creating shots.

Another example comes from Coach Luka Bassin showing a popular action from Europe to create shots from the low post.

This is another method from Coach KJ Smith showing a curl action for creating a shot.

Zone Offense

Zone offense is another area of deep study for me recently.  I am always looking for new set ideas as well as ways to improve my teaching attacking the zone.

One method that has never changed is beating the zone down the floor.  Here Coach Steve Lappas talks about the reasons why.

Another way to get shots against the zone is to distort the zone with cutting and movement. Check out this zone action utilized by Jim Christian of Boston College against Syracuse’s 2-3 zone.

I am definitely stealing this set from Rob Lanier to use against zone defenses in the future. Screening actions cause indecision with zone defenders.

Defense

I have heard USF head coach Brian Gregory speak before on defense and one area he challenged my thinking on was the type of stunts your defenders use when helping.

As a fan of Coach Don Meyer, it was great to hear one of Coach Meyers former players, Steve Smiley, discusses the types of shots that get you beat in this course.

The 1-3-1 defense is a zone that I have played in the past and so I really like what Coach Ronnie Hamilton shares in this course.