/ Coaching Retreat, July 2007 in Tunica, Mississippi

Del Harris – Assistant Coach 1 On Skills

 I have a huge problem with guys covering their “areas” when they are going to set a screen  You cant be serious if you are worried about getting hurt  You are more ready to play if you set the screen in an athletic position with your arms up and across your chest  This is a skill that has to be taught  Other skills include, playing hard, and running the court  Guys don’t know the best way to do these so we teach them

On defensive principles

 “good defenders take away your first step, great defenders take away your first two steps”  When the guy you are guarding gives you jab step I like to teach hopping back or moving your back foot back ready to contest jump shot

On guarding the ball screen

 If you are guarding the ball on ball screen, we teach to jam the ball and fight through the screen hard, if you take the fight to the screen you will get through or maybe get a foul on the guy setting the screen  don’t get “velcroed” or stuck on the guy setting the screen

On Team and Individual Defense

 Don’t always be the guy that is getting rotated for  Stop you man and cut him off

On guarding the back and cross screens

 I like to teach getting to the bottom side and fighting him low  You will have help to the top side from your teammate

On Practice Organization and Emphasis During Practice

 I have three things that I love to do in my practices  I try and do them as much as possible

6 Possession Drill

 the game is played at most in six possessions not much longer

Collated by Rob Beveridge – Bevo International Coaching

Larry Brown /John Calipari Coaching Retreat, July 2007 in Tunica, Mississippi

 you can make it four if you want to but don’t stop play until you have the number of possessions you want 2

O – D – O Game

- Offense / Defense / Offense

- the score will never be the same

- it will be 3-0, 2-1, 1-2, 0-3

- the winner of the mini set gets one pt and you go to 5

- it is great for situations

9 Possession Game

- no defense but you could

- great for light workouts or game day practice

a) man press breaker

b) zone press breaker

c) ¾ ct slob and need quick score

d) slob vs man

e) slob vs zone

f) blob vs man

g) blob vs zone

h) “need” play vs man

i) “need” play vs zone

Collated by Rob Beveridge – Bevo International Coaching

Larry Brown /John Calipari Coaching Retreat, July 2007 in Tunica, Mississippi

THOUGHTS ON DEFENSIVE SKILL DEVELOPMENT AND PRACTICES: 3  Playing Hard, Running the Floor, Setting Screens are all Developed Skils.  Likes guys who screens with arms across chest, not at their waist. More physical and in better position to slip and have hands ready to catch.  When jabbed at : think about teaching small hop back as compared to step back on back foot.  Good defenders take away one step. Great defenders take away first two steps. Must make the dribbler break angle and force him to arc.  When trying to beat a ballpick, backpack, crosspick, or downpick – use a common concept. When being screened, move up into your man’s body. The will put you in a good initial position to beat the screen in concert to where the help will be coming from the man guarding the screener.

 Good practices replicate game conditions. He likes to use four possession games and six possession games. This is very similar to the typical length of action in a game. Try not to teach until the end of the segment, don’t disrupt flow.

 ODO game – offense/defense/offense. Start the first possession with a situation (ie. Side out with 6 seconds left on shot clock). Scoring is 3 points per sequence. Someone must with either 2-1 or 3-0. Total game score is 1 point for each sequence win. Sequence winner starts the next one with the ball first.

 “9-possession game.” A great way to get players thinking about different situations, and even good on lighter days with no defense. Possessions: 1) Man Press, 2) Zone Press, 3) 3-qtr. ct. press, 4) Side Out Man, 5) Side Out Zone, 6) Baseline Length of court Man, 7) Baseline Length of court Zone, 8) Need Play Man 9) Need Play Zone

Collated by Rob Beveridge – Bevo International Coaching