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 week, we released our latest "Modern Game Truths" episode with The Pro Lane on Finishing Under Pressure. View all the drills HERE.

This Week at a Glance:

🔒 SG Plus Content: Steal the Spin - Backside Helps​

🎤 Slappin' Glass Podcast: Trevor Gleeson {Milwaukee Bucks}

🥇Best of the Week: Transition Screens & "Vertical Shows"​

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Let's dive in...

"Steal the Spin" - Closing Backside Gaps

In early February, we had the pleasure of hosting Pro Player Development Coach, Noah LaRoche, on the podcast for a captivating discussion on "Chasing Space." During our conversation, we dove into the perpetual struggle within the game, wherein the offense relentlessly seeks out space to exploit while the defense endeavors to limit it. In this regard, today's deep dive sheds light on how astute defenders, as well as tactically savvy teams, can position themselves in gaps to capitalize on "low-risk, high reward" steal opportunities, like attacking dribble spinbacks or changes of direction, by effectively closing off backside space on drives going away from them. Here's an example...

On a penetrating drive, either towards the baseline or the middle, a space often opens up behind the ballhandler, as backside defenders stay in gap or deny responsibilities. In the battle for space, if a ballhandler's initial drive is cut off by the defender, the offensive player will typically seek out the next available open space with a counter move to keep their attack alive. This often comes in the way of spins or crossovers...

Zooming In: Above, a frustrating scenario for the on-ball defender unfolds as their initial efforts to cut off the drive are countered by the offensive player finding another open pocket of space to complete their attack, resulting in a foul.

However, this scenario could have been avoided if the backside defender, #2 in this instance, had filled the open space behind the drive to deter the ballhandler or aggressively attack the counter dribble.

Though there is some risk involved in leaving a player to steal a spin or crossover, these risks are mitigated by savvy teams who do a couple of things well 1) knowing "when to go", and 2) rotating/defending on a string with the other three defenders. We realize those two things are foundational pieces of any good defense, no matter what the scheme, but they are especially important in these help situations.

In today's video we look deeper at how teams utilize this tactic to be aggressive on baseline and middle drives, often winning the battle for space the offense has initially created.

For much more on the "Steal the Spin" concept, including how this works for Post Catches as well, become an SG Plus Member and view this breakdown, along with more than 750 others on SGTV...

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Slappin Glass Podcast

A terrific conversation on the podcast this week as we were joined by 5-Time NBL Champion with the Perth Wildcats, and current Milwaukee Bucks' Assistant Coach, Trevor Gleeson! Coach Gleeson was one of our favorite coaches to study a couple years ago, breaking down his Modern Flex Offense, and we had a blast diving into a variety of other topics including:

• Preparing for the Unexpected
• "War Games" and winning down the stretch
• Flex Offense Counters
• And much more

Listen to the entire episode here...

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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.

Tactical

📺 New Zealand - Early Step Up • Double Drag​

"An early step up screen to empty side double drag in transition. New Zealand utilizes this early movement to set up the Stampede attack following the single side shake."

✚ Pair With: Double Drag RIP Screen the Screener.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our Breakdown on the "Loop" Step Up Screen.

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📺 "Vertical Show" Finish - At Rim Finishing​

"Effective use of a ball fake in order to throw off the timing of the shot blocker or get them up in the air."

✚ Pair With: The use of the "Drop Off" Pass in the DHO

🔒 SG Plus Content: Real Madrid's High Collapse Tag behind Walter Tavares Drop Coverage.

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Interesting Reads

📚 Success Requires 'Ample Does of Pain'​

“Greatness is not intelligence. Greatness comes from character. And character isn’t formed out of smart people, it’s formed out of people who suffered...”

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📚 March Madness Upsets Reflect Deeper Changes in College Landscape​

“It’s changed on us. All of a sudden [the sport has] gotten really old,” Calipari said. “So we’re playing teams that our average age is 19, [and] their average age is 24 or 25. So do I change because of that?”

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📚 The Top Five Regrets of the Dying​

"1. I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me...."

Quote of the Week

Thank you for reading and have a great week coaching,

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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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