Foundation
Champion building
Over the span of his career, Coach Nichols has built offensive and defensive philosophies that have built champion programs. Below are some clips of both philosophies in motion.
Ball Movement
Getting the ball to multiple sides in a possession greatly increases your team’s scoring percentage. The speed of the ball is the speed of the game. The ball should always be delivered with pace. Ball reversals allow the defense to break down and make a mistake.
Offensive Philosophy
Zone Offense
In the dive and fill zone offense, off-ball movement and multiple passes are key. Against any zone defense, you want to make the zone shift and move as many times as possible.
Ball Screens
There are a variety of ways to attack a man defense with ball screens. From the wing, you can attack with a player in the corner or with an open corner. You can also initiate the screen from the middle of the floor. When the screener rolls hard, it forces the defense to make a decision on how to guard the ball handler vs the roll person.
Horns
Horns is a common setup for many teams. There are several ways to attack a defense in the horns formation. The ball handler can come off and attack, use the elbow person as a screener and throw back, or the two elbow players can flare for each other.
Take Open and Uncontested Shots
Passing up a good shot for a great shot can make the difference in a game. For an individual player shot selection is their ability to recognize time, score and place on the floor. A key to shot selection is understanding a particular concept or tactic that requires quick decision-making. It usually takes place when you are ready to shoot (on balance, square to the basket, etc.)
Own the Paint
It is important to get in the lane as much as possible, either off a drive, post up or controlling offensive rebounds. The most efficient shots are free throws, layups and kick out 3’s. Ball and player movement, reversals, tempo, decision making chemistry and spacing are areas that are critical to owning the paint.
Defensive Principles
Ball Pressure
It is essential to take the opponent out of their comfort zone and not allow them to do what they want. It starts with intense pressure on the ball.
Guarding a Variety of Screening Actions- Scout Driven
Ball Screen Defense
There are several ways to guard a ball screen based on the opponent personnel and your own team capabilities. It is important to practice different schemes (Drop, Switch, etc.) in order to be prepared.
Transition Defense
It is important to limit the opponent’s easy scoring opportunities in transition. Communication plays a large role in a teams success in this area.