2024 Offseason Newsletter #1
After a hiatus for the playing season, I am proud to announce that my coaching newsletter is now back. I will continue to work on updating format.
Announcement
This page will serve as the main hub for my offseason projects. Each year I have done something different, but have ultimately decided to go back to Substack for all of my offseason studies (Was going to embed my Twitter announcement but it looks like Substack will not let you do that anymore).
Monday Morning Thoughts
We will continue with the Monday Morning Thoughts Series as it was a big hit with coaches. I share some thoughts and opinions in order to give coaches some ideas to chew on. If you’d like to check those out, look at my last 6 previous posts
Some of the topics covered in previous editions include:
Winning the Early & Late Offensive Battle (In single possession)
Putting a Premium Focus on your Drive & Kick/Dominoes Game
Putting a Daily Premium on Passing
Inverting Actions
Why Do we Rim Run?
Are your concepts too patterned?
Staying on the cutting edge of trends
Action/Trigger Areas
Spain P&R
Attacking Switches with more player movement/actions
Continuing With Monday Morning Thoughts
Today’s Topic: Beginning of Offensive Possessions?
This is one of the things that I will be examining heavily over the offseason. In particularly how teams start an offensive possession without a play call or some type of secondary break.
I do believe the heartbeat of an offense especially a fast paced offense is the early drive and kick game. The ability to drive & kick in the first 1-8 seconds of the shot clock and attacking multiple sides while doing so.
However, if there is no drive and kick, then what (Important rule of teaching motion/conceptual O is the Next Action Mindset) “If this, then that.”
Obviously a high percentage of teams across all levels generally start the same way being some type of 2 man game on the ball (Usually P&R or DHO).
Without statting or charting anything during the season I was trying to be very conscientious of this during my in season film study when I had time (for those that do not know, a large portion of my basketball consumed now a days is NBA).
One of the only teams you really see start without your average 2 man by attacking off the ball is the Golden State Warriors. There are a few that do it sometimes like the Jazz & Kings as well.
Another common way is to isolate a bigger player with size early or to create some type of double/ triple gap through cutting for a downhill driver. Teams that would be good examples of this would be Boston and Oklahoma City.
So my focus over the next couple of weeks in the offseason will be trying to look at teams who start their Offensive possessions differently than everyone else and how effective this can be. Maybe I’ll report back on this later on in the summer.
Detailed Breakdown: Celtics 135 point game vs Thunder
Boston and OKC are two of the heavyweights in the NBA playoff picture for their respective divisions right now. The Celtics won this game in convincing fashion 135-100 (Note that Thunder did not have SGA). In the link below, I take a look at Boston’s Offense throughout this game and how they were able to have such efficient outing. Mainly focused on 1st half to make it easier on the eyes.
Click Here to Access Celtics Offensive Breakdown vs Thunder
Weekly X’s & O’s Mini Series
You all have seen me do the long extended weekly X’s & O’s. Now you can see shorter versions where I will post a few clips that I have liked from the week.
Atlanta Hawks: Keep to Horizontal Get
Atlanta Hawks: Hammer Set
Andrew Nembhard Indiana Pacers: Uphill DHO keep from Dunker
Indiana Pacers: Skip to Downhill Zoom
Excited to continue this adventure by learning, growing, & sharing the game with everyone. As always please reach out to me! Would love to connect and share ideas with all coaches. Contact Info Will be below as well as Twitter & YouTube Channel if you are looking for more content.
Connor Harr
Cell: 330-787-1146
Email: connor.harr@westliberty.edu
Twitter: https://twitter.com/HarrConnor
YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCj4VCfQit1isSRkynnU6RSw
Amazing content Coach Connor, pleasure to watch your work from Serbia, Europe.
Coach Pavle