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

We'll be out in Phoenix next week for the Final Four! Stop by the NABC Convention, Booth #513 and say hello, we'd love to see you!

ICYMI: Last week, we highlighted how savvy defenders are closing space behind dribble penetration in order to steal the spin dribble. View the full newsletter HERE.

This Week at a Glance:

🔒 SG Plus Content: 2024 1st Quarter Review

🎤 Slappin' Glass Podcast: Jason Hart {G League Ignite}

🥇Best of the Week: Late-Game SLOB & Inverted Ballscreens​

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Let's dive in...

While You Were Coaching...

As many of our basketball seasons come to a close...or are on the verge of hoisting a trophy 🤞, today we'll take a moment to reflect on all the defensive schemes, offensive strategies, and technical details we've covered over the first three months of 2024 in our breakdowns and newsletters. Hopefully, these insights spark a few ideas or inspiration as we head into the offseason.

Stay tuned in the coming weeks for our look back on our podcast takeaways and conversations you may have missed while away too!

Below is a list of the most popular offensive and defensive breakdowns from the first quarter of 2024, as determined by views on SGTV...

Most Viewed Defensive Breakdowns of the Quarter

🥇 "Weak to Next" - Defending Middle Ballscreens {🔒}

"Analyzing how and why defenses can neutralize middle ballscreens by "Weaking" the ballhandler into the "Next" help on certain actions, particularly the Zipper Step Up Screen."

✚ Pair With: Contesting strong-handed runners and midrange shots in the "Weak" Defense.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Learn more on "Next" Defense with our breakdown of the coverage and Coach Gonzalo Rodriguez's "Next" Clinic.

🗞️ Newsletter​

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🥈 On Ball Pressure & Defending Screens - Alberto Diaz {🔒}

"Highlighting Alberto Diaz's defensive techniques in disrupting offensive possessions through his ball pressure, effectiveness in navigating off-ball screens, and demonstrating proficiency in fighting over screens by utilizing his hands."

🔒 SG Plus Content: Euroleague Center Sertac Sanli's footwork and positioning in the Drop Coverage.

🗞️ "No Screen" Mentality​

🗞️ DHO & Off Ball​

🥉 Defending the Spain PNR - Hedge & X-Out {🔒}

"The defensive strategy of aggressively hedging out on the Spain PNR, while keeping the stack defender positioned in the paint and rotating with the corner defender on the perimeter."

✚ Pair With: Our podcast conversation with Indiana State HC, Josh Schertz, on defending the Spain PNR.

🗞️ Newsletter​

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Most Viewed Offensive Breakdowns of the Quarter

🥇 Shooting Under Pressure - The Pro Lane {🔒}

"Exploring how drills can be manipulated by incorporating elements such as time constraints, scoring systems, and defensive scenarios, with the goal of better equipping players to identify and execute shooting solutions when faced with pressure situations on the court."

✚ Pair With: Our podcast conversation with The Pro Lane on developing a practice environment.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our "Modern Game Truths" episode on Finishing Under Pressure.

🗞️ Newsletter

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🥈 Australia's Reverse Offense {🔒}

"Analyzing the Reverse Offense utilized in the Australian NBL, and highlighting its adaptability across various offensive styles."

✚ Pair With: Our podcast conversation with Australian NT & recently hired Sydney Kings HC, Brian Goorjian.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our breakdown on the Argentina Break and the variations within its structure.

🗞️ Newsletter​

🥉 The Sacramento Kings - Get & Zoom Spacing {🔒}

"The Sacramento Kings use of the 45 cut to create rim pressure and downhill drives off their Get and Zoom DHO actions."

✚ Pair With: Cutting the corner behind the space clearing 45 cut of a Zoom DHO.

🗞️ Newsletter​

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Honorable Mention

​Short Roll "Give & Go" - Joventut Badalona {🔒}

"Joventut's effective utilization of the classic "Give 'n' Go" within their short roll attack."

🔒 SG Plus Content: Joventut Badalona "Last" spacing around their late game PNR in order to create short roll catches for Ante Tomic.

🗞️ Newsletter​

​Inside Hand Push Dribble - DHO & Off Ball Screens {🔒}

"Duncan Robinson's use of the inside hand push dribble off DHO's & Screens to improve his advantage and angle of attack."

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our breakdown on how offense's are improving their DHO angles through lateral adjustments and reverse pivots.

🗞️ Newsletter​

​"Drive the Slot" Pitch - Late-Clock Isolations & Spacing {🔒}

"Examining how offenses are adopting the "drive the defender and pitch" concept more organically by organizing their spacing after the switch or in a late-clock isolation, irrespective of the set or entry they use."

🔒 SG Plus Content: Attacking the perimeter mismatch post-switch with the "Drive the Big" Pitch.

🗞️ Newsletter​

Thank you all for your continued support and if you have further questions or want to discuss any of these breakdowns with us please feel free to reach out at info@slappinglass.com.

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Slappin Glass Podcast

We sat down this week with G League Ignite Head Coach, Jason Hart! This conversation was recorded just a couple of weeks before the NBA announced that 2024 will be the last season of the Ignite's existence, and this episode dives into Coach Hart's thoughts on:

• Developing young talent
• Earning more playing time and shots
• Playing in the Syracuse 2-3 Zone
• Defending hostage dribbles
• And much more

Listen to the entire episode 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

📺 Cincinnati - Delayed Corner Pin SLOB​

"A well executed and timed SLOB corner pin screen by Cincinnati to win their first round NIT matchup."

✚ Pair With: Our podcast with Cincinnati HC, Wes Miller.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our breakdown of the "Ghost Flare" and its merit in late-clock/late-game situations.

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📺 Indiana St - Inverted Step Up • Corner Exit​

"Stress testing the defense with an inverted step up screen for their 5-Man with a high quad lift behind and strong side corner exit screen."

✚ Pair With: A well designed ATO to remove the tag with the corner pin and high quad spacing.

🔒 SG Plus Content: Our "Inside the Set" breakdown with Coach Schertz on teaching the Splits & Gaggles.

Interesting Reads

📚 How Alabama Basketball Built Its Best Offense Ever​

"Here’s how he described it: Pannone usually wakes up at 6 a.m. He’s in the office an hour later, viewing film until 8, when the team usually watches film. When other coaches are presenting, Pannone usually looks at his own film. 'It’s inefficient for me to watch it twice,' he explained."

*We were fortunate to release a whole video series with Coach Pannone on the install of Alabama's offense earlier this year. Watch it HERE {🔒}.

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📚 You Can't Hoard Life​

"...we make ourselves miserable, not just by railing against bad experiences, or craving experiences we aren’t having, but by trying too hard to hold onto the good experiences we are currently having."

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📚 Daniel Kahneman: Four Keys to Better Decision Making​

“Optimism is the engine of capitalism,” Kahneman said. “Overconfidence is a curse. It’s a curse and a blessing. The people who make great things, if you look back, they were overconfident and optimistic — overconfident optimists. They take big risks because they underestimate how big the risks are.”

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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