7 October 2012

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Julian Fields 2012

REAL NBA TRAINING CAMP: NEW ORLEANS HORNETS

Category : Clinic Notes

1) Drill: Shell Drill - Doubling the Low Post

Halfcourt Defense Shell Drill Doubling

This was a great segment of the training, not necessarily for the drill or game specific structure, but the techniques to doubling the low post and rotating out of it, specifically for the guard involved in the double team. Drill Frame 1 - Entry pass into the coach, defenders dig down to help. Frame 2 - Once the coach attacks with the dribble, x1 doubles with x5. Frame 3 - Rotate to closest player, coach leaves floor; for the purpose of the drill, x1 rotates to the opposite corner, x5 picks up (5). (3) should shoot, everyone boxes out and competes. Drill is finished. Key Teaching Points It is important if you are going to double the low post that you try and move the offense off the block as much as possible. Coach Williams spoke about half fronting the offense and moving them off the block with pressure from your core/legs. Even a couple of steps would be enough to create an angle to double team. x5 cannot let the coach (post player) drive baseline, must shade towards the middle. x1 should not double until the coach puts the ball on the ground, whether this be a pound dribble with his back to the basket or an attacking move towards the rim. Coach Williams spoke about the danger of doubling a player with a live dribble and the potential to be split. My thought would be if you double a player with a live dribble, the concern is not the penetration, more that he/she may see the double coming early and be able to pass out quickly thus creating a tough rotation on the swing of the ball. Once we double, basic double teaming principles apply, close off the double with your feet, high hands pressuring, active voice, don't foul, stay in stance, etc. COMMIT TO THE DOUBLE TEAM, ATTACK HARD. Once the coach passes the ball, this was the best part of the drill I picked up. x1 needs to reverse pivot aggressively towards the paint with his lead foot in the direction of the opposite corner, i.e. need to move on the flight of the pass and put yourself in a directional position to closeout the corner. Lastly, Coach Williams spoke about rotating to a load. One key aspect was that while x1 is sprinting to the opposite corner on the closeout, he should only run out there if the ball is swung, otherwise, load up on the inside protecting the basket, specifically, stay attached to (4) so he can't duck in to the paint for a catch. It was noticeable that the stronger defensive players remained active with their feet throughout the duration of the drill. Constantly changing their defensive position depending on the offense.

2) Drill: 1 v 1 Low Post Pound

Halfcourt Defense Low Post Individual Development

Fairly basic drill, but effective to teach post defenders to be able to contain aggressive post players using their body legally and maintaining their position in a wide athletic stance. Offense took 4 aggressive pound dribbles at the defense, i.e. ball on outside shoulder, creating contact with inside shoulder. Seemed as though offense would take two with right hand and then switch stance and take two on left hand, then take a shot. Defense should remain in a wide stance, using their hips and core strength to contain. For the purpose of the drill, considering safety of players, offense can exaggerate the contact.

3) Development: Defensive Terminology

Halfcourt Defense Communication Terminology

Coach Monty Williams used a nice communication package which made a lot of sense to me. I think it's pivotal to name everything, your drills, defensive structure, offensive structure, etc. His fullcourt match up defense was called "40". When they were looking for a steal in the backcourt first and then foul in the front court, he named it "48", meaning the "40" type defense, looking for a steal (on a bad pass only), but more importantly, an 8-second violation. His halfcourt defense was called "20". He also briefly touched on his "21" defense (I think that's what he called it). I couldn't reference what the "21" meant with regards to the base "20" defense, but I really enjoyed how he setup up the trap along the sideline, sending a player from behind (x3), instead of the conventional trap of the player in front (x2). I think too often when you trap from in front, GOOD players, good being the key word, pick you apart with either a) the pass; or b) middle split or sideline penetration. With Coach Williams tactic, if the defender guarding the ball can make him/her uncomfortable and out of control, this was be very effective way apply pressure. In this example too, Coach Williams then spoke about rotation, the key areas being x2 cannot give us any sideline pass, and x4 having to cover any middle flash / release from (4) or (5) but at the same time, being in a position to steal a bad pass to (3) if the opportunity arose.

4) Playbook: Transition Wing Flash

Halfcourt Offense Playbook HC 4-1 (weakside post low)

I've seen Geno Auriemma from University of Connecticut use this transition offense. The only drawback is that sometimes against heavy pressure, it's hard to get the wing flash catch in-line with (1). If you can get a straight line catch, the handoff moving at full speed can be really effective and hard to guard. A counter Geno discusses / uses, which Coach Williams didn't bring up (today), was that sometimes if you fake the handoff, you can spin back towards the middle if x2 cheats and helps and attack the basket. Coach Williams spoke about a key teaching point with regards to point guard play. He used the term "pace" meaning that the (1) has to be aware of the trailing (5). The timing of the cut into the on-ball needs to balanced. If the pass it thrown early up the court in transition, then (1) can tread for a second and get eye contact with (5) before making his/her cut. Lastly, I liked the option of (4) ducking in if (2) can't turn the corner on the on-ball, i.e. forced to dribble laterally.