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 were joined by Adelaide 36ers' Head of High Performance Nik Popovic for a special "Film Room" video on exercises and insights to better prepare athletes for the demands of a practice. View the video HERE.

This Week at a Glance:

🔒SG Plus Content: 3-Men Side "Zone Up" - Defending Empty Side Ballscreens {Igor Milicic}

🎤 Slappin' Glass Podcast: Cecilia Craft {Philadelphia Phillies Director of Mental Performance}

🥇Best of the Week: DHO Keeps, Shallow Cuts, and Backdoor Peels​

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Let's dive in...

The "Triangle Zone"

In this edition of our newsletter, we're revisiting the tactical expertise of Coach Igor Milicic with his latest club, Napoli. Following our previous podcast conversation and our study of his 2-3 matchup zone {🔒}, today we focus our attention on his latest innovative defensive approach: the "triangle zone" he uses on the 3-man side in front of an empty side drag screen. Here's an example...

Whether it's through a Drag Screen, part of Euro Flow Motion {🔒}, or the endless variety of ways a team can get into the action, empty-side ball screens can present various challenges to the defense. With no defender in the corner on the strong side, the offense has space to execute either the roll or the pop with more space. As we recently discussed on the podcast with New Zealand Breaker Head Coach, Mody Maor, the offense can also manipulate the space by driving the ballscreen below the free-throw line, opening up the nail for the ball handler and stretching the defense out on the 3-Man Side. Here's an example where that ballscreen below the Free Throw line, coupled with great spacing creates an open pocket for the ballhandler to get a clean look...

The empty-side ballscreen prompts the question of how best to disrupt the screen effectively without leaving the defense susceptible to attacks on the 2nd side ball reversal. What's particularly intriguing about Coach Milicic's strategy is the high level of aggression they employ in loading to the ball at the rim and the nail, with the third defender positioned high and wide on the 3-point line, creating something that looks a bit like a "triangle zone". This defensive alignment setup aims to be disruptive on the initial ball screen and with any second side action to the ball, challenging the offense to attempt backdoor passes into a defense already loaded in the paint.

The jobs of the three defenders in this "zone" look become fairly simple:

1. The Nail Defender - Helps plug the ballscreen and takes the ball on the pass to the slot
2. The Wing Defender - Prevents a quick reversal into another ballscreen by being WAY out into the passing lane
3. The "Tag" or Rim Defender - Loads to the ballscreen to help on any roll/pop while also taking the backcut once the ball is reversed.

This defensive strategy is willing to risk giving up a well-timed backdoor pass into traffic in order to be more aggressive in the drag screen, gaps and 2nd side DHOs.

For much more on Coach Milicic's interesting "triangle zone" to guard 3-Man actions, please enjoy this week's newest Deep Dive on SGTV...

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Slappin' Glass Podcast

We sat down this week with the Director of Mental Performance for the Philadelphia Phillies, Ceci Craft! In this highly insightful conversation we dove into the areas of performance under stress and pressure, "balance vs. priorities" in coaching, and discuss promoting confidence in players, and the art of giving feedback 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

📺 DHO Keeps & Shallow Cuts - 3-Man Side Actions​

"Attacking the "Low Man" on the 3-Men side within the ballscreen continuity offense."

✚ Pair With: Our podcast conversation with Colgate HC Matt Langel on 3-Man Side actions.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our breakdowns on various 3-Men Actions within the Euro Ballscreen Continuity, view Part 1 & Part 2.

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📺 Backdoor Peel Switching​

"Taking another look at the peel switch and how it can be an effective tool in picking up backdoor cuts and avoiding "two on the ball" scenarios."

✚ Pair With: Our podcast conversation with Coach Will Voigt on the Peel Switch.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Understanding the Peel Switch Defense and how to implement it with Coach Paul Kelleher.

Interesting Reads

📚 Every Championship Contender Needs a Mike Conley​

“The guys trust me, both players and coaches. I’ve got all those guys’ best interest at heart and I think I put myself aside for the betterment of the team and they know that. So anything I say or do or have a message to speak on, they know it’s coming from a good place and that I don’t have any other agendas behind it.”

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📚 Jalen Brunson Is the Knick Who Was Promised​

"The numbers and wins speak volumes about Brunson’s ability to put the team on his back, but it’s his singular aesthetic, his specific vintage, that makes him such a show. He’s an escape artist. Drives to the basket with a bald face and silver tongue. His pants are on fire. Every stutter a tall tale. Every lift fake a yarn spun."​
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📚 Now Or Never: Why Your Next Action is Everything​

“A bad goal makes you say, ‘I’m not sure how to start.’ With a great goal, you know exactly what needs to be done next.”

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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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