Exploring basketball's best ideas, strategies, and coaches around the world

Happy Sunday and welcome to all the new subscribers from around the world! We're excited to have you as part of the community 🙏

ICYMI: Last Sunday we looked at the defensive strategy of "Hitting" (sending a double at the ballhandler) on perimeter isolations, along with the analytics and overall philosophy behind it. View the full breakdown HERE.

Today at a glance:

🔒 SG Plus Content: "Box & 1" vs The Pop​

🎤 Slappin' Glass Podcast: Marko Barac {KK Mega Basket}

🥇Best of the Week: Baseline Grenades & Flare DHO's​

Let's dive in...

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"Box & 1" vs The Pop

Over the past summer and into the early months of this season, we have extensively examined the merits of "popping" the big in the PnR, particularly the 5-Man, and its associated advantages and stresses it may impose on the defense. We also discussed this topic at length in our podcast conversations with Coach, Pablo Laso, (Bayern Munich) and Coach, Chus Mateo, (Real Madrid), and how popping against "Drop" or "Ice" coverages that aim to keep their slower-footed, rim-protecting bigs near the rim places a tremendous amount of pressure on the defense if that popping big can 1) shot, 2) attack downhill, or 3) is a great DHO/PNR connector on the next action.

The pressure this pop can put on the defense can come in a variety of ways:

• the need for quick rotations and stunts on the backside,
• forcing the big to defend on the perimeter,
• the puzzle of quickly identifying matchups that may or may not need to be switched out,
• and, as Coach Mateo articulated in the podcast, compelling the big to demonstrate their proficiency as a PnR defender before reacting to secondary action...

Even when the defense boasts a mobile big capable of defending on the perimeter, the pop can still pose defensive challenges. As we discussed with College Park Skyhawks Head Coach, Ryan Schmidt, as well as in our own, “Creating Long Closeouts” Clinic, popping the big to initiate a "Long DHO" or second-side action can nullify the defense's capacity to be disruptive in ball screens. This approach also tests the big's ability to defend against multiple actions on both sides of the court.

In today's breakdown we'll look at a unique way the Spanish Club, Basket Girona, attempted to neutralize this popping action. Understanding the merits of the pop and knowing the strengths of their defensive big, last year Basket Girona was presented a match up dilemma when Marc Gasol was put in a PnR situation with then Valencia center, Dojan Dubljevic, who shot almost 45% from three last year. Knowing they would face a steady diets of pops they opted to protect Gasol by defending Dubljevic with a Box & 1 anytime they shared the court together. This week's full breakdown on SGTV looks into:

• Neutralizing the Pop
• Fronting the Post and Mismatch Situations
• Rebounding Responsibilities
• Defending various actions and counters

For this video and written deep dive, along with over 700 others on SGTV, you can become a member a SG Plus below...

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Slappin' Glass Podcast

An absolute masterclass on the podcast this week on a variety of subjects as we were joined by Mega Basket Head Coach, Marko Barac! In this episode we dive into the areas of:

• Hedging the PNR: We hear all of the philosophy and teaching points behind Coach Barac's preferred PNR coverage with younger teams. We also dive into when/why he might switch to a Drop Coverage and tagging responsibilities in both types of coverages.
• Spain "PNR" Reads and Offensive Rebounding Analytics: During "Start, Sub, or Sit?!" we discuss Coach Barac's thoughts on teaching ballhandler reads in the Spain PNR action, as well as Offensive Rebounding analytics. Interesting teaching points throughout.

Please enjoy the entire great conversation with Coach Barac here...

Listen Now!

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Together with Hudl

We're proud to partner with one of the best tech companies in the world of sports, Hudl! Every play, every stat, every breakdown. On their own, they’re essential. But all together, they’re undeniable. Hudl recently introduced their newest product, Hudl Instat – a new advanced data platform that integrates with Sportscode and every Hudl product you rely on to create an all-in-one data powerhouse. Hudl Instat’s advanced tagging and next-level stat reports help you develop your team – and its global film library helps you find the missing piece to get the most out of every second of film. Visit ​hudl.com/slappinglass​ to learn more.

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Tactical

📺 Baseline Grenade DHO​

"A Grenade Hand Off or Zoom DHO originating off the baseline towards the middle of the floor."

✚ Pair With: Flaring the post player to the perimeter after the Grenade DHO.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our defensive breakdown on Denying the DHO and our offensive breakdown on receiving the DHO with the Skip Step.

📺 Olympiacos- Delay Flare • Euro Motion • Flare DHO​

"Olympiacos flows into the Euro Motion off the Delay Flare entry, bringing Alec Peters back to the ball to receive a Flare Screen of the DHO."

✚ Pair With: Utilizing the Flare DHO in the SLOB.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our breakdown on Olympiacos attacking the Under in the PNR and their Flex Ballscreen Motion.

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Interesting Reads

📚 The Heat's Duncan Robinson Renaissance Is in Full Swing​

“I feel like overcoming adversity and developing resolve is a skill. I’ve had my back against the wall and been beaten down and feel like I’m out, but I can show resolve and resiliency and bounce back.”

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📚 5 Reasons Why the Neighborhood Pick Up Game is Better for Athletic Development than Today’s Youth Sports Practice​

"2. No one to save you. No coach, referee, teacher or parent to solve your problems, make teams etc. Figure it out yourself."​
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📚 The Truth is Always Made of Details​

"There’s no special trick to this other than to stay curious about details, even when the thing in question already seems familiar and feels basically 'understood.' You’re just looking closer, to see more of what’s already there: the sounds that make up the noise, the life forms and materials that make up a city park, the assumptions, hopes, and truth claims that make up an opinion. Everything is details all the way down, even when we think we’re looking at a simple leaf or football game."

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Quote of the Week

Thank you for reading and have a great week coaching,

Dan and Pat

info@slappinglass.com

We're proud to partner with the leading Sports Travel company in the basketball world, Beyond Sports! Follow the link above to learn more about why more than 600 universities have trusted Beyond Sports for their team's foreign trips. Let them know Slappin' Glass sent you!

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