Wednesday, September 24, 2008

Tips from Del Harris, John Calipari, and Bill Self

More great stuff from Coach Silver down in Waco, Texas.I've posted below an abbreviated version of his essay "What I learned from Del Harris, John Calipari and Bill Self." I pulled it from his weekly email. If you've not signed up for those, you can do so at his website. [At the top of the home page, there's a little box where you type in your email address.]

"What I Learned From Del Harris, John Calipari, and Bill Self"
by Coach Duane Silver

From Del Harris:

1. Study: Read books on how to be a leader.

2. Study: Read all the basketball info you can.

3. Prepare: Write down what you're going to do this season.

4. Coaching is an honorable profession.


From John Calipari:

1. The Dribble Drive Motion Offense: This offense is really street ball with great spacing.

2. Two key stats: At halftime, he looks at two stats: How many lay-ups have we taken/made)? How many three-point shots have we taken/made?

3. The worst shot in this offense is 15-footer off of the dribble.

4. Dribblers have to be able to play while getting bumped into while driving to the basket.

5. This offense is the wave of the future. It's like the shotgun in football that no one seems to have an answer for on defense. [Note from Duane here: If you have a quarterback in the shotgun who can run and pass it is like having 12 men on the field.]


From Bill Self:

1. Offensive Philosophy: One shot or more on each possession.

2. Defensive Philosophy: One shot or less on each possession.

3. Great teams play with 2 post men.

4. Ball screens are the wave of the future. The NBA is a ball-screening league. Anyone can guard the first ball screen, it is the second and third ones that hurt you. When a post ball screens, he must sprint to the screen.

5. The game has become smaller.

6. You need angles to score in the low post. Most players cannot shoot over someone.

7. Don't allow the ball to "stick," i.e., someone just dribbling the ball and not going anywhere. Dribble with a purpose.

8. Butt Screens are key. This way the defense does not know where to hedge.

9. Teach your team how to read what the defense is doing on ball screens (daily) are they hedging, doubling, switching, or going under.