Two vital points about the past week. We were very competitive in four games, lost three. A big reason: we were a bit short on heart and a bit short on teamwork. These issues can be hammered out through practicing together and by thinking team first.
> HEART. Today, we had a 10-point lead or something like that against the Raiders. Then we broke away from our game plan and started letting them shoot open shots for the rest of the game - until the fourth quarter. Defense has always been a strength for our Thunder teams since the beginning in 2010. Today was an eye-opener, to see guys stand there and not even attempt to get out and play defense often times.
Defense isn't just part of our game. It's our DNA. We've usually been a small team no matter what age group, but our hustle and heart on defense has been part of who we are. So I ask and challenge our Thunder players to step up to the standard. If it can't be done by our Intermediate team, I won't tolerate it. I never have and never will.
No heart, there's no point. I will not hesitate to shut down this age-group team. That is NOT Thunder Basketball and what I saw out there by some of our players today was something that has nothing to do with what we teach and it has nothing to do with our history.
The standard will never be lowered, and if that's a problem, I suggest the player(s) go somewhere else where basketball without heart and teamwork are tolerated. And no, I am not going to use Colin's injury or Josh D's family time, or Josh R's absence as an excuse. We are a team, period. Time to play with guts and put heart on the court on every play.
> TEAMWORK. There are two definite aspects to this. One is sharing the ball and moving it to the open shooter, which requires court vision, quick execution and TRUST. In the past four games, we've had at least four or five instances where we didn't swing the ball to open shooters on the corner or wing. I don't mind an aggressive player who drives to the basket. I embrace it. But the point of reversing/swinging the ball is to get the ball to our most open shooter (provided he or she is a good shooter).
Teamwork also means turning those blaming fingers toward ourselves. One of our guys chastized a teammate recently for not kicking the ball out after he drew a double team. Yet, after I edited that game video, that same player was guilty of the same thing just a few minutes earlier. Look, we all make mistakes. EVERYBODY. It's OK to talk with each other after a mistake so we can improve on it next time. But let's not point any fingers at each other. I'll keep everyone accountable and that's plenty enough.
The other aspect in teamwork that is churning away in my mind is defense. We have some of the chattiest people on earth playing for H1 Thunder. Yet, on the court, they go silencio mode. If you are a chatty person, PLEASE use that gift to communicate and direct your teammates, to call out screens and switches. It is a gift, no joke, but if you don't open it and use it at the right time, it's useless. Put it to use, Thunder, we need more talking on defense whether it's fullcourt or halfcourt or even on the offensive side.
Coach Paul
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