I have put together an off-season exercise that might help you as you imagine what you want your team to be this winter. And it is an exercise you can come back to during the season, to evaluate if your team is becoming what you want it to be.
Step #1- How do you want to divide up the minutes?
Based on what you have seen from your players in the off-season, how do you hope to divide up the 160 available minutes? I realize that this may change as you get into the season, but this is an exercise to get you thinking in those terms.
Step #2- How would you like to see the shots divided up this season?
Look back at the total shots per game that your team took last year. If your team averaged 50 shots per game, how would you ideally like to see those 50 shots divided up this coming season?
Step #3- How will your best players get the shots you want them to get?
As you finish up with Step #2, how do you envision the best 2-3 players getting the shots you hope them to get?
In your fastbreak, are there things you do in transition that should give them shot opportunities? Draw up or list those opportunities.
In your normal half-court mm offense, are there things you do that should give them shot opportunities? Draw up or list those methods.
In your normal zone offense, are there things you do that should give them shot opportunities? Draw up or list those methods.
In your sets plays or in your ob’s, do you have plays that will get those three shots? Draw up or list those sets.
Do you need to add or subtract things from your offenses to better effect getting shots for your best players?
Step #4- After week one of practice, repeat Steps #1 and #2
Based on what you have seen in week one, how do you think the player’s minutes should be distributed, and how do you hope the shots will be distributed?
Step #5- Chart pre-season practices.
Usually you will have about 2-3 weeks before you play games. During the second week of practice, film some of your 5 on 5 time. This can be actual scrimmages or just a 10 minute 5-5 time in practice. The more film you get, the better.
Chart shots taken. Does the shot distribution in practice match what you have said you would like to see?
Recognize how your best players are getting their shots. What are offensive actions that your best players are taking advantage of, and what are specific sets that get them shots?
Step #6- Educate Your Team About Roles & Shots
I don’t think when it comes to roles that you need or want to be really specific about projected minutes, but you should share with players what you need from them in their role. And make it clear that a role can change.
Make players aware of good and bad shots. This can be done in practice by making comments such as, “We can get a better shot.” Or structuring a possession, “This possession, I want a shot in lane.” “This possession, I want a shot off third ball reversal.”
One on one talk to players. “When you shoot a floater, for you that is not a good shot right now.” “You are shooting 20% from threes.”
Step #7- “Massage” your offense, “Educate” your players.
Now as you get close to your first games, take the info you gathered in Step #5 and use it to shape your offense into what you want. In practice, construct and manipulate your offense into what you want it to be. And educate the players about your best offensive options.
Step #8- Game prep.
As you head into your games, chart out a sub rotation that you would like to use. You may or may not follow it exactly but have a plan to get people the minutes you want them to get.
Make an offensive cheat sheet that lists the ways to get your best players shooting opportunities- in fastbreak, in your normal offensive flow, in sets, in specials. So as the game you can look to it as a reminder.
Step #9- Evaluate yourself and your team.
Whether after just a game or after 4-5 games, try to evaluate if you are giving players the minutes you want to get, and if you are getting shots from the right players.
No comments:
Post a Comment