2014 Nike Cleveland Basketball Clinic Notes by Aaron Blatch

Keith Dambrot  |  2014 Nike Cleveland Basketball Clinic Notes
• Spend time with your weakest players
• Use false movement before you run your set – move the defense before you get to your key action
• “Think like a football coach” – use play progressions
• Transition cycle: Run a play, then transition, then a play – 6 minutes a day
• Always build in a pressure release in case you can’t make the passes you want
• It is important to have plays that can work vs. man and zone at the end of a game
• BLOB: He runs the same play out of four different looks (1-4 low, line, middle line (under the rim), line on the opposite side)
• When trapping, always take away the obvious pass
• Interceptors in traps should be in an open stance because they can cover multiple people
• He prefers to trap off the dribble from behind
• Players must know when to retreat back in the press – don’t trap if you have to cover too much space
• UNLV doesn’t allow any entry passes. They chest up the offensive players and trap all ballscreens. This makes it a 1 on 1 game, which is great if you are more athletic.

Roy Williams |  2014 Nike Cleveland Basketball Clinic Notes
• Stop/Score/Stop Drill – they end practice with this
o Start in half court and transition to full court
o Must get a stop/score/stop to win
o Can’t allow offensive rebounds
o Helps them focus on shot selection
• If you play fast, you must emphasize shot selection – the team who takes the best shots usually wins
• They identify “green light” shooters – if their feet are set, they can shoot
• He always wants to outlet to the 1. The 1 looks to pitch ahead to the wing; if not, he will slash to the other side of the floor.
• If two or fewer defenders are back, they want a shot in two or fewer passes.
• If more than two defenders are back, they will run their secondary break.
• Their progression is primary break into secondary break into freelance offense into a set.
• Their number one objective defensively is to steal the ball. Their second objective is to take the other team out of its offense. Their third is to speed up the other team.
• Offensive rules vs. a set defense:
o 3 passes unless they have a layup
o Change sides of the floor
o Give the defense a chance to make a mistake
• Their goal is to get a layup in less than five seconds after giving up a score. To do this, they practice inbounding the ball as quickly as possible.
• Off an opponent’s make, the 5 will rimrun and the 1 looks to get the inbound pass. As the 5 starts to sprint, he looks over his shoulder to see if 1 has the ball. If not, he sprints back to the ball to receive.
• 5 Minute Shooting: One person shoots for five minutes with one rebounder. They shoot three 3s in a row, then one shot inside the 3-point line. They must move after every shot. Count their makes.
• He uses whole-part-whole teaching method.
• Offensive rebounding philosophy: 1 gets to half court, 2 gets to the foul line for a long rebound, 3,4 and 5 crash

John Betonte (Shot Doctor)  |  2014 Nike Cleveland Basketball Clinic Notes
• Focus on the inches of the game – one inch can cause a miss
• It is important for kids to stop shooting from their hip – “Your two legs are stronger than one arm” – jump into your shot
• You should have a pocket between the ball and your fingers – this is true on both hands
• He gives players “homework” assignments to improve their shooting
• He wants to have light grip pressure on the ball
• Exaggerate your shooting arc in practice
• One-foot layups should be shot underhand
• Do not dribble at the foul line – dribbles are a variable
• The only difference between a free throw and a 3-pointer is the jump
• “Work with the kids who deserve it”

Bob Knight  |  2014 Nike Cleveland Basketball Clinic Notes
• What can I do that is different that will help us become a better team?
• 5 on 5 Change Drill – half court or full court
o Play live, trying to score
o When coach says “change,” drop the ball and switch offense/defense
o Knight did this every day
• Always wants to incorporate advantage/disadvantage drills to make practice difficult
• He plays a lot of 5 on 4 – transition out of this to switch who has the advantage
• “Let the players decide everything that you don’t care about”
• 3 on 3 is great for player development, especially on defense. He likes to have a 3 on 3 game on both ends so that 12 players are playing at the same time.
• In scrimmages, he constantly changes the rules in the flow of the game – change, no dribble, 5 on 4, 4 on 3
• He liked to have a manager on each basket to rebound for players
• Shooting drill using managers: Manager passes to a player and calls out a move (catch and shoot, shot fake, fake left/go right, etc.)
• “If you’ve got to have a girlfriend, make sure you get one who rebounds”
• He eventually played zone in BLOB situations – was tired of scouting and working on so many different inbounds plays. When the ball was in the air, they matched up man to man.
• Coaches must teach kids how to concentrate. He gives notecards during practice and asks players to write down what he has talked about.
• Use the dribble vs. a zone defense. The point guard must make a guard defend him, so that a wing defender takes your wing. This opens up the baseline for a short corner cutter.
• Vs. zones, never pass the ball back to the person who passed to you

Saul Phillips  |  2014 Nike Cleveland Basketball Clinic Notes
• Move and Counter Drill: Offense/defense on the wing. The defense flips the ball to the offense and fouls as the player pivots through contact. The player rips through and attacks a defender/coach at the rim. Work on different finishes.
• 2 vs. 1 ½ Drill: A coach starts with a ball at the top of the key. Offense/defense on the weakside block and near the coach. The offensive player on top takes a handoff from the coach. His defender must trail the play, creating a quick 2 on 1 situation with the inside player. Attack the rim until the defender stops you.
• Chris Paul has boring assists – simple, catchable passes
• Dribble Split Drill: Two coaches/players serve as defenders at the top of the key. Offense/defense on the weakside block. A ballhandler on top splits the defenders, simulating splitting ballscreen defense. He now has a 2 on 1 situation.
• He wants guards to shoot reverse layups to lose shot blockers in the net.
• Kill the Grass Drill: A group of five defenders form a circle just outside the paint with one ballhandler inside. One other defender guards the basket. The defenders forming the circle stay stationary but reach for the ball. Offensive player must dribble in and out of the circle keeping control of the ball. When the coach says “go,” the ballhandler busts out of the circle and finishes on the defender under the basket.
• Floater Drill: This drill simulates splitting ballscreen defense and finishing at the rim. The dribbler splits two defenders and finishes on a third defender guarding the basket.
• He plays 2 on 2 inside the volleyball lines with the goal of making ten consecutive passes. There is a one dribble limit. The offense must make the defense move, then plant and explode back to the ball. Avoid catching the ball near the out of bounds lines.
• They also play 3 on 3 with the goal of making ten consecutive passes on or near the 3-point line. Offense cuts and screens. One dribble limit.
• Defensively, charges come when you trap foot to foot. It is difficult for a big to take a charge when a guard can beat him in either direction.
• He likes to divide his best players in practice, creating more competition.
• “Be responsible for the good things that happen in your program.”

Cleveland State Practice (Gary Waters)  |  2014 Nike Cleveland Basketball Clinic Notes
• CSU does playbook review in the preseason. He needs his players to understand the game.
• Although they press a lot, he always starts by teaching half court defense and builds into the press.
• Everyone (even bigs) does stationary ballhandling to begin practice.
• They use agility ladders while dribbling.
• Every day you must make free throws and layups. They stop practice for missed layups.
• CSU only plays full court for about 20 minutes each practice.
• Jump rope for two minutes each day. He wants his players to get 100-120 repetitions in 30 seconds.
• Transition is the easiest time to get a 3 or to offensive rebound. The first shot is only made 33% of the time.
• They really work on playing fast. They do several variations of transition cycles and incorporate post players rimrunning into many drills.
• Running the floor: Wings run the “sprint lane” along the sideline. Point guards push in the “advance lane.” Bigs sprint up the middle of the floor.
• Circle Rebounding Drill: Four offensive players on perimeter and four defenders in the paint. A coach stands near the foul line with a ball. The defenders circle the paint, practicing closeouts as they approach the coach. The coach passes to an offensive player, who shoots. Defense must find the closest players and box out/rebound.
• Very difficult to help and recover from the wing in college basketball.
• CSU traps baseline drives.
• Small guards must be strong
• Closeout on the offensive player’s top shoulder – no middle. If you get beat to the middle, ride the ballhandler across the foul line without giving up a straight line drive. Do not help from the other wing.
• He picks a leadership council each year (two seniors and two middle classmen). They met once a week to discuss leadership.

Gannon Baker  |  2014 Nike Cleveland Basketball Clinic Notes
• Make the defense think you’re going to your weak hand. Some players are so good at getting to their strong hand, it doesn’t matter they only have one good hand.
• Options when cut off:
o Shoot
o Pass
o Retreat
o Change direction
• How low is “low enough”? Your shoulders must be lower than the defender’s shoulders.
• Decision Making Drill: Everyone has two balls at the top of the key. A coach plays on the foul line. Off the dribble, the first player passes one ball to the coach and drives at him with the other ball. The coach may or may not pass the first ball back. He may also cut the handler off, forcing him to make a decision. Offense finishes at the rim (if he has both balls, cup one and finish with the other).
• Four types of floaters:
o Quick step
o Slow step
o One step
o Euro step
• Chris Paul 1 on 1: Have groups on each wing and at top of the key. Defender turns his back to the offensive player. Offense puts the ball on the defender’s back. When the ball is moved, they play 1 on 1. This is good for giving an offensive player confidence in his driving ability.
• Steve Nash’s rule for finishing: Defender-You-Ball
• Key to coaching: Having a childlike heart but an adult mind
• Great offense is consecutive actions; great defense is consecutive efforts.
• Engage your defender when you have the ball, even if you are just trying to reverse the ball
• Switch cut: Come off a downscreen and curl back to set a screen for the original screener – use when teams switch
• Change speeds coming off pindown screens
• “Twist”: rescreening on a ballscreen
• Self-esteem comes from being the best you can be every day.
• He encourages coaches to play 1 on 1 with their players
• If the defense forces you one way, jab hard toward the way they want you to go and go the other way
• On a post catch, play with your feet to the sideline. This forces the defense to play behind you.
• Follow post feeds into cuts

Eric Flannery  | 2014 Nike Cleveland Basketball Clinic Notes
• He meets with the team in a classroom before every practice. Could be 5-30 minutes where they take notes on his message. He feels this keeps the team focused.
• “Mind candy” – quotes to get players thinking
o “Worthy of the jersey”
o “A player who makes a team great is better than a great player”
o “The thing that drives all real success is passion and enthusiasm for what you do”
o “It doesn’t take any ability to hustle”
• “You are what you stress to your team”
• Principles of attacking a zone:
o Beat the zone down the floor
o Get the ball inside
o Attack the gaps
o Come from behind the zone
o Use ballfakes
o Ball movement/body movement
o Rebound
• He doesn’t love motion offense, although he runs it at times. He wants to know his best players will get shots.
• He likes ballscreen offense against zones because it stays with his attack philosophy
• They view zone as a pack line man, so they run similar actions against both
• Your best passer must inbound the ball
• Keep running a set until the other team stops it
• As he has gained experience, he delegates more responsibility to assistants. He has an assistant run his “special teams.”
• 4 C’s of Success:
o Communication
o Compete
o Choices
o Comfort zone

Mike Moran  |2014 Nike Cleveland Basketball Clinic Notes
• He uses a football philosophy – they platoon five players at a time
• Platooning keeps more players engaged and makes opponents prepare for several playing styles
• Assistant coaches should be assigned to specific players during drills. They watch them and give them feedback. The worst thing you can do is not use your assistants.
• He wants 75% of possessions to be attacking a backpedaling defense.
• His goal is to get a shot in 7 seconds or less
• They never want to draw up plays during games – this should be covered during practice
• They use a transition cycle to start practice that lets them work on special situations (4 seconds left, 5 seconds left, free throw play, press breaks, inbound plays)
• With five seconds left at the end of a game, they want to drive straight to the rim.
• If they want a last shot, they dribble the ball below the foul line and call timeout. He feels they have a better chance of scoring off an inbounds play.
• With four seconds left, they prefer to throw the ball to half court and call timeout, then run a sideline out of bounds play.
• He uses green light/yellow light/red light system to indicate pace/shot selection. They use this as a verbal from the bench.

Coach Aaron Blatch is entering his 9th season as assistant coach at his alma mater, Southern Local High School in Salineville, OH. Coach Blatch has coached junior high and junior varsity teams, and runs the school’s K-6 program. During his tenure, the Indians have achieved the three best seasons in school history, and his youth program has allowed players to develop their skills throughout the year beginning in kindergarten.

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2014 Nike Cleveland Basketball Clinic Notes