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

Happy Sunday! Welcome to all the newest subscribers from around the world.

ICYMI: Last week, we continued our exploration of the increasingly popular "Slide Cut" action, this time looking at its use when driving middle toward the full side of the floor, along with their value within empty side ball screen actions. Read the full breakdown HERE.

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This Week at a Glance:

🔒 SG Plus Content: Split Cuts, "Hit Aheads" and Random Screening - July Roundtable Replay​

🎧 Slappin' Glass Podcast: Jeff Van Gundy Returns!!

📢 Dr. Dish Amazon Giveaway!

🥇 Best of the Week: Stagger Entry & Horns Entry​

🔒 SG+ Coaches Corner: Developing Guards - The Shooter Trait

📚 Interesting Reads: Resilience, Unique Traits of Introverts, and IU Indy Basketball

Let's dive in...

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Split Cuts, "Hit Aheads", and Random Screening

*Today's Full Deep Dive, normally reserved strictly for SG+ Members, is brought to you for free by our partners at Dr. Dish. See more on their giveaway opportunity below!

This past Sunday we hosted the first session of our Summer SG+ Coaches Roundtable, an open space for coaches from around the world to connect and share what has been on their minds this offseason. These Roundtables have often been quoted by members as one of their favorite aspects of SG+. From concepts and drills, to intriguing systems and teams to study, this month's conversation covered a wide range of ideas from coaches from the pro to high school levels.

What always stands out in these sessions is how similar the coaching journey is. No matter the level, league, or location, so many of us are working through similar questions, challenges, and areas of focus. That shared experience is something we truly value, and are grateful for the opportunity to learn from one another as we all prepare for the season ahead.

Across this month's thoughtful and wide-ranging discussion, three main themes kept coming up that helped drive a rich and reflective conversation. In today’s newsletter, we'll highlight those ideas and offer a few thoughts to keep the discussion going.

#1 - Randomizing Screening Actions

A common theme among coaches this offseason has been the pursuit of two goals: playing positionless and playing faster.

Both aims have led coaches to explore the use of more randomized screening actions, giving players the freedom to reshape the offense by inserting themselves into screening situations, regardless of size, role, or position. This often means empowering guards to become screeners through ghost actions, double drags, or flashes to the elbow to initiate the split game. The goal is to blur traditional roles and create a more dynamic and less predictable offense by finding new ways to play, especially early in a possession.

This randomness gives the offense a way to inject more skill into screening actions. Instead of routinely playing with a rim rolling big in the ballscreen or running splits through a limited presence at the elbow, perimeter players can step into those roles and apply their skill sets in new ways. By blending skill with structure, teams can create more fluid and difficult to guard offensive actions.

"I have too much skill in the action!" – no coach ever.

In our opinion, one the best case study for this style of play this offseason is Cal Poly SLO {🔒}. In a recent "Film Room" session with SLO Coach Kyle Bossier, we highlighted how their positionless approach allows them to generate randomized screening actions, most often in the form of middle third Ghost or "Hot Stove" {🔒} screens.

Zooming In: One key consideration when shifting to a fully positionless offense is dedicating time to teaching screening angles. As Coach Bossier notes in the Film Room Session, the SLO coaching staff were often surprised by how little players understood how to set a great angled screen from a technical standpoint when operating outside of their usual roles. Without defined or "skill-specific" positions, every player must be capable of applying "action-specific" technique. Whether it is setting a screen, slipping, or spacing off the ball, each player needs a foundational offensive skill set to function within the system.

Not ready to fully commit to being completely positionless? Consider slowly introducing randomized screening actions. In last week's podcast with new Radford Head Coach Zach Chu {🎧}, we discussed one simple way to do this: after made baskets, have perimeter players inbound the ball while the big sprints the floor on a hard rim run. This adjustment helps your team flow more quickly into four out spacing and, in turn, creates natural opportunities to play out of drag screens or double drag ballscreens (77), now with more perimeter skill and shooting involved in the action.

By shifting inbounding responsibilities, teams can eliminate the predictability of always having the four or five trailing and involved in the double drag—where the five rolls and the four pops (still hard to guard too btw!). Instead, this adjustment increases pace and adds a layer of unpredictability to the 77 alignment, making it more difficult to guard and allowing for greater variety based on the skill sets of the players involved in the action.

Another consideration? Remove non-perimeter based players—sorry, bigs—from the split game by encouraging guards to flash to the elbow for a catch and trigger the split cuts. When the player at the elbow is a threat to drive, pass, or shoot, the action becomes much harder to defend. Plus, the defender on the ball has likely had very few reps, if any, guarding the split game from that spot on the floor {🔒}.

While every roster has its limitations, one of the central themes from last week's Roundtable was the value of removing more positional constraints within offensive actions. By infusing these actions with as much skill as possible, coaches are finding new ways to stretch defenses and create advantages, no matter who is on the floor.

#2 - "Split-Decisions"

Speaking of split cuts, another lively part of the Roundtable came when the conversation turned to "Split Action", a long-standing way to add randomness to an offense.

But...not all splits are created equal. A shared observation among several coaches was that while high splits remain effective, low splits are being defended with much more consistency.

To be fair, Low Splits (splits happening below the wing with a player in the corner) are still a highly effective action run within many top offenses, but one of the main drawbacks can be the slower pace at which the action develops. With more ground to cover to enter the screening area, the low split naturally takes a little longer to develop. That delay can give the defense time to drop into shell coverage and pin the ball to a side, making it harder to generate clean advantages.

The geometry of the action does not always help either. The North to South nature of low splits makes it easier for defenses to zone up and identify clear responsibilities. Often, one defender stays high and another low, absorbing whichever cut goes toward the rim and whichever pops to the perimeter. In contrast, the more "East to West" nature of high splits can create more confusion, and it's often in the middle of the floor. The roles of high and low defenders can blur, making it more difficult to communicate and switch cleanly.

Lastly, a third strike against the low splits is that they often result in empty-side ballscreens, which leaves the offense susceptible to the ICE coverage...

Zooming In: While this isn’t a split game or empty-side PNR, the "Switch to ICE" {🔒} concept applies here. When coordinating a low split, it becomes easier for defenders to switch, especially as the action moves lower on the court. The defender switching out can stay on the high side of the player cutting into the ball, putting them in an ideal position to ICE or down on the catch.

#3 - Studying the NBA Finals

Much admiration was expressed for both the NBA Champion Oklahoma City Thunder and the runner-up Indiana Pacers for their success at the highest level of the sport. Both teams played styles that resonate deeply with the values most coaches hold—unselfishness, attention to detail, and precise execution. Here are some key takeaways coaches shared from watching these performances:

Indiana Pacers

Tying it back to our earlier discussion about increasing randomness and variation in offense, Indiana was held up as a perfect example of unscripted plays being generated through the willingness of the guards to throw the ball ahead in transition. By simply using the advance pass up the floor, Indiana routinely put themselves in situations where they could attack a broken floor.

Zooming In: At last summer's Slappin' Glass Socal Coaches Summit (more on this year's Summit announced soon!), Coach Tom Bialaszewski {🔒} discussed the benefits his team derived in Italy playing through the throw ahead pass and the habits they drilled to attack a broken floor.

The Pacers' use of the throw-ahead pass consistently created mismatches, unbalanced alignments, and general confusion—all of which opened opportunities to pressure the rim, trigger cutting and relocation actions. While the NBA Finals are often known for a slower, more methodical pace, Indiana stuck to the tempo and style that defined their regular season success. That commitment made them a universally respected runner-up and a model for playing fast with purpose.

Oklahoma City Thunder

Anyone who watched the NBA Playoffs knows that Oklahoma City's ability to turn their opponents over was nothing short of astonishing. One of their methods of creating steals that a lot of coaches picked up on was the back side steal on outside slot drives.

Zooming In: In the middle third of the floor, if a player drove the opposite slot, the Thunder would send the top player on the weak side to sprint in from the ballhandler's blind spot to make a play on the ball, often resulting in steals before the ballhandler even knew he was under duress.

Additional Resources: For a further look into these backside steals, or the "Steal the Spin" {🔒} concept, view our breakdown video on the coverage or UCLA Associate Head Coach, Darren Savino's {🔒}, Socal Coaches Summit clinic on their application of this philosophy.

Steals created by Oklahoma City were loud plays that changed the momentum of the game and often turned into layups on the other end, but it wasn't just their aggressive steals that made their defense so stifling.

Appropriate Helps

Understanding when and how much to help is something that the Thunder seemed to grasp better than anyone in the NBA last season and it made every one of their defensive possessions a tremendous study. On some possessions, or at some points in possessions, you could notice how heavily OKC would be loading to the ball. While on the very next possession, they remained dedicated to sticking to shooters and offering very limit gap presence. This ability to diagnose when to be aggressive and when to trust their shell was a huge part of Oklahoma City's success, and a lot of coaches are looking at this through the lens of how it could help at their level.
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The play of the low rim help was a particularly interesting point of discussion. The defensive decision-making required from that position, processing the angle of the drive, factoring in the player-specific scout, and weighing the desired shot outcome, was remarkable.

Even though we all train our shell rotations—with the low help rotating over and the second helper splitting two on the weak side or cracking down on the dunker—a blind application of this coverage can lead to unnecessary over-helping. Without enough emphasis on reading driving angles and developing situational awareness, these rotations can become automatic rather than intentional, often doing more harm than good.

One key takeaway from watching Oklahoma City was the importance of drilling defensive decision-making. Helping players distinguish between a threatening “line drive” and a non-threatening “wide drive,” or recognizing that a left-hand drive may require less help than a right-hand one, can lead to smarter, more efficient rotations that protect both the rim and the second side.

Oklahoma City's ability to apply the appropriate level of help on drives played a key role in avoiding breakdowns on the second-side X-out. By not over-helping, they stayed out of long closeout situations, which meant fewer rotations and less scrambling. One solid closeout was often enough to level the ball and neutralize the drive, keeping them out of the blender and maintaining their defensive structure.
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Certainly some of the Thunder's success came from having the athleticism, length, and IQ we wish we could have at all levels, but much of what they did defensively are things that we could all learn from and implement with our respective teams. You can bet a lot of us will be going back for further study on their title-winning defense.

A big thank you to all the coaches who took part in the first Summer SG+ Coaches Roundtable. These conversations sharpen how we see the game, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to keep learning and growing together.

The full video replay of the session is now available on SGTV for those who want to revisit the discussion or catch up on what they missed.

We’re already looking forward to the August Roundtable and the next opportunity to connect, share, and challenge ideas. Date to be announced soon!

Together with Dr. Dish

Our friends at Dr. Dish Basketball want to hear from you! Share your coaching philosophy and thoughts right now and get entered for a chance to win a $100 Amazon gift card.

Slappin' Glass Podcast

🏀 Top 3 Takeaways from Jeff Van Gundy on the Slappin’ Glass Podcast

Jeff Van Gundy returns to the podcast this week after his first year back on the bench in the NBA and gives another powerful, insightful, and humor-filled interview exploring a variety of topics. Here are some of the top takeaways from the show:

🔑 1. Fundamentals Still Win – Even Against Stars

Van Gundy emphasized that defending elite players doesn’t start with complex schemes—it starts with mastering the basics.

Transition defense, defensive rebounding, and avoiding reckless fouls are the non-negotiables.

🔑 2. Use Language That Matches the Action

Great coaching starts with precise communication.

Honest, calibrated feedback earns trust and helps players improve faster.

🔑 3. Offensive Rebounding is Back—and It’s Strategic

One of the biggest shifts Van Gundy noted in his NBA return: elite teams are once again crashing the glass with purpose.

The key? Crash top-side on threes, never from the baseline—and never backpedal in transition.

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For much more from Coach Van Gundy, listen to the full episode here...

Together with Hudl

Hudl Powers Every Possession

If you’re already using tools like FastDraw, FastScout, or FastRecruit—you know how essential they are to your workflows. And now that they’re fully part of the Hudl ecosystem, they’re more powerful than ever. From film and play diagrams to scouting reports and custom recruiting boards, everything flows together. One system. Built for high-performance programs.

​Learn more about Hudl and their variety of products or subscribers to Slappin' Glass can also directly email Winston Jones of Hudl at winston.jones@hudl.com.

Tactical

📺 Stagger Entry - Iverson • RIP Series​

"A few different options playing off the RIP screen within the stagger entry alignment."

✚ Pair With: Monaco's "Stagger Touch" entry to create space and punish a low tag with a pin down screen.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our breakdown on Liektabelis' Iverson Loop series.

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📺 Horns Guard Alignment - Shallow Roll • Exit Screen​

"Using a guard in the horns alignment to shallow roll them directly into an exit screen."

✚ Pair With: Lining up the guard in the horns entry in order to get their defender chasing on the zoom action.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our breakdown of Tenerife’s clever screening sets designed to free up their shooter.

Join the conversation, gain insights from others, check up on previous newsletters and help your fellow peers! As we use this community of SG+ coaches to make ourselves and our teams better, get caught up on some of the latest conversations in the ​Coaches Corner​.

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📋 Developing Guards: The Shooter Traits, Habits & Scouting Insights for Building Elite Spacing Weapons

Coach Mays continues his ongoing series on Developing Guards by Types... turning his attention to the Shooter — the player whose gravity without the ball stretches defenses, warps help responsibilities, and turns every drive or post-up into a higher quality look.

At the elite level, success comes from maximizing what players do exceptionally well. For Shooters, it’s about leveraging spacing instincts, cutting energy, and ruthless shot efficiency to force constant defensive dilemmas.

Here’s how we break down the traits, habits, and reads that define high-level Shooters — and why they matter whether you’re building them in your program or scouting them for the next level.

Interesting Reads & Stuff

📚 Resilience Is About How You Recharge, Not How You Endure​

We often take a militaristic, “tough” approach to resilience and grit. We imagine a Marine slogging through the mud, a boxer going one more round, or a football player picking himself up off the turf for one more play. We believe that the longer we tough it out, the tougher we are, and therefore the more successful we will be. However, this entire conception is scientifically inaccurate.

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📚 IU Indy Embraces Ben Howlett and "The System"

It all started with a kid who was drawn to something different. Crutchfield’s system was unlike anything that anybody else was running in college basketball. He gave players freedom to make decisions, didn’t pigeonhole them into positions, and emphasized a high-pressure, fast-paced press that would take teams out of their element.

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📚 Psychology Says Preferring Solitude Over Constant Socializing is a Subtle Sign of These 7 Unique Traits​

Recent reviews in Social and Personality Psychology Compass emphasize that “positive solitude” lets people engage in activities aligned with personal meaning—reading philosophy, refining a hobby, spiritual reflection—without external applause. This alignment boosts long‑term well‑being by reinforcing intrinsic motivation (doing something because it matters to you, not because it earns likes).

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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