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

Happy Sunday and welcome to all the new subscribers from around the world!

ICYMI: Last week we were joined in the "Film Room" by Bob Jones University AC Tony Miller to detail their extended, pressuring 2-1-2 Zone Defense. View the full video HERE.

This Week at a Glance:

🔒 SG Plus Content: Switch Defense - "Hit" on the Roll​

🎤 Slappin' Glass Podcast: Frank Haith {Texas}

🥇Best of the Week: Punch RIP Screen & Drive the Flip​

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Mismatch Prevention - "Hit" on the Roll

Two weeks ago, we released our "Switching Primer" newsletter, exploring key considerations and various defensive concepts for effectively executing a Switching PNR defensive scheme. Within the newsletter, we highlighted strategies to prevent mismatches, including "Loaded Side Hits." {🔒} This strategy involves, after the switch, sending a double team to the perimeter mismatch from the top defender on the 2-Man Side, or Loaded Side...

Zooming In: After the "Hit," the big recovers to the rim and returns to their original matchup. Meanwhile, the guard involved in the switch rotates off the big and out to the corner, as the corner defender rotates up. This rotation aims to neutralize any size or speed mismatches created by the initial ballscreen switch.

We also discussed an alternative "Hit" scheme, where the double team comes from the guard who has just switched onto the rolling big...

"Hit" on the Roll

Similar to a "Loaded Side Hit," this strategy aims to force the ball out of a primary scorer's hands while mitigating potential mismatches. In this variation, the "Hit" comes from the initial on-ball defender, who briefly tracks the roller before releasing to double back onto the ballhandler.

Upon examining this strategy, the first question that arises is: if you're going to double with the guard off the roller, why not simply trap the ballscreen from the outset? The decision to avoid an immediate trap lies in the ability of your opponent to play through the short roll...

If the opponent excels at exploiting the short roll, trapping can lead to easy opportunities for them to create open looks for teammates. However, by having the guard momentarily plug the short roll before doubling the ball, the rolling big is more likely to continue to the rim, expecting to capitalize on a perceived size advantage.

Zooming In: Examining the rotations behind the trap, the defense can position their next-largest defender at the rim to contest the roller, while the remaining players step up to deny passing lanes. This alignment ensures that the roller is challenged at the rim, while perimeter defenders disrupt potential outlets, forcing the ballhandler to attempt a difficult skip pass under pressure.

Ultimately, scheming against elite players and primary scorers is never a perfect science. Great players thrive on exploiting predictable strategies, especially in late-game scenarios when mismatches are hunted and defensive schemes are tested. The key to sustained success is variety—shifting between strategies like the "Hit" and other ballscreen coverages to keep opponents guessing and prevent them from finding a rhythm. By forcing scorers to adapt, defenses can maximize their chances of success in critical moments.

To learn more on sending "Hits" off the roller and "Hits" from the loaded side view both breakdowns now on SGTV!

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Slappin' Glass Podcast

We sat down this week with the Assistant Coach of Texas MBB, Frank Haith! In this highly interesting conversation we dive into Coach Haith's thoughts on building teams that can win late in games, pressure free throws, and discuss internal program measures on defense, and "trick traps" during the always fun "Start, Sub, or Sit?!"

Listen to the entire conversation here...

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.

Tactical

📺 Fenerbahce - Punch • Elbow RIP Screen​

"Entering the ball into low post off the stagger cross screen followed by a RIP Screen on the weakside elbow."

✚ Pair With: Using the Post as the "Trigger Man," slip to post the first screener at the rim off the weakside staggers.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our breakdown on how European clubs are spacing and creating advantage around the post.

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📺 Creating Gaps - Drive the Flip​

"Using the Flip Screen to open up a driving gap on the reject."

✚ Pair With: Useful strategies to punish or prevent a weakside big from protecting the rim.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our breakdowns on attacking mismatches or generating late clock opportunities by driving gap defenders to pitch the ball.

Interesting Reads

📚 The Warriors Are Going Deeper Than Any Team in NBA History​

"Golden State is boldly going where no NBA team has gone before: a 12-man rotation. Can Steve Kerr’s experiment give one last gasp to the Dubs’ dynasty?"

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📚 Curt Cignetti's Viral Rise to Making Indiana a College Football Playoff Contender​

"I told them, 'We're going to win. We've won everywhere we've been. There will be no self-imposed limitations on what we can accomplish. They were listening. They were kind of slouched down in their chairs. They were probably beaten down a little bit."

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📚 The Problem with Making Health and Happiness Your Central Aims​

"Life is hard. It’s certainly not supposed to be perfect. Progress is slow, non-linear, and full of frustrations. Long-term satisfaction always includes short-term challenges. So many lifestyle gurus are like swans: they appear calm and put together above the surface, but underneath they are paddling frantically. Happiness is largely a function of your reality minus your expectations. If you are comparing your real life to a staged, highly-processed, and sometimes unrealistic benchmark, you’ll never be happy."

Quote of the Week

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Thank you for reading and have a great week coaching,

Dan and Pat

info@slappinglass.com

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