Del Harris 2012 SMU Basketball Clinic Notes

Intro: the fact that you have a coaching tree represented here, though John Calipari is not here
due to attending the funeral of the father of a former player, is proof of the caring that goes on
in a successful coaching operation. While I am not directly a member of the Larry Brown, Cal, Bill
Self and Mark Turgeon tree, I have been privileged to be grafted in several years ago and consider
that a true blessing.

I will present bullet points for the most part on various topics to stimulate your overall thinking
as you begin a new season. Will start with a few X and O items because coaches always want those,
but will also end with some more important items relative to winning coaching techniques.

Zone Offense automatics regardless of the set offense used.  |  Del Harris 2012 SMU Basketball Clinic Notes

•   Avoid having 3 men in the middle lane after the initial entry pass.

No continuous point, high post and low post.
This opens up the lane for high/low passing and for cutting.
This puts three potential shooter/penetrators in good angle spots.
Look to shift the defense and then swing it to look for attack spots.

• Use high wing entry passes—make it harder for the bumps to corner.  |  Del Harris 2012 SMU Basketball Clinic Notes
• On a wing pass to the corner, the wing should cut through to the weak side, but look for quick
  return pass on cut. Fill cut behind it.
• On wing pass back up to the top when a man is in the corner, he should run the baseline.
• On any high post pass, the post man must pivot immediately and look for a pass to the low
  post, who must work to get open on a seal or by crossing under the goal; second look is to the weak
  side.
•  On a high post pass the point guard must drift or cut opposite the pass and the wings must
  drop toward the corners.
• Perimeter players must always have hands and feet set at an angle to the ball to be ready to
  catch and shoot. Two-foot catches are good, but the 1-2 is good as well. Be active as a receiver
  is key.
• Use the high post fill cut (inside fill) as opposed to the wing fill cut when the point guard
  passes and cuts through.
• The high post area is not limited to foul line—extends beyond 3 point line with only two men
  in it after the start of the offense.
• Use the dribble pulls to pop a post man up and to distort defenses.
• Use corner penetrations after wing cuts or corner dribble ups and fill in behind for
  throw-back option.
• Be sure the posts open up opposite the penetration towards them
  from wing and relocate to the opposite block on front penetration.
• X the wing players on the reversal of the ball; use short corner too.
  Use Random pick and rolls at any time once the ball has been rotated. Get to proper spacing
  on the weak side; roll up behind.

Two basic zone sets, among the many that can be used. (But knowing the basic automatics above
are more key to effective zone play. Obviously, the basic spacing techniques that apply to
the principles of dribble/drive must be a part of any offense, whether man to man or zone.)

• Use the high 1-4 set as a basic bailout offense regardless of the other offensive sets or quick-hitters that you will use.
• Only the basic 3 moves need be taught, but can go deeper if you wish. Good vs matchups,
• traps, changing defenses and SOBs.

o Wing pass to either wing—pop the post, point guard drift opposite the pass
o Pass to either post—point fades to opposite high wing or to corner
o Double high post picks right and left for point man and roll one, pop one.

A basic set we have used that utilizes the Automatics will be demonstrated briefly at this time.
Call it any name you wish. Also use some quick hitters.

Some Zone Defense suggestions. (First of all TALK or forget it)  |  Del Harris 2012 SMU Basketball Clinic Notes

• Utilize the simple initial matchup rules regardless of lineup— matchup off of the ball, taking
• the first men right and left of ball on the perimeter and matching up the post areas.
• Know the concept of primary and secondary zones—if no one is in your primary, drop to the
• secondary until he finds one.
• Air is not the enemy. Drop until you can find a man
• If 2 are in your prime area, take the farther away man.
• Do not bump a wing to an open corner—hold.
• Bump when a wing is covering the ball and a man is in corner.
• Bump to the short corner on call–usually bump X4; decide on X3.
• Weak side low man must defend in the post whatever X5 leaves him. If X5 is high, X w/s takes
• high area and vice versa.
• Front men turn the wing PNRs out/down and keep X5 in middle.
• Switch the middle and elbow PNRs.

Emphasize on Defense of any kind  |  Del Harris 2012 SMU Basketball Clinic Notes

• Transition defense—practice a lot of it. Use 3-4 or 5 possessions games. That is the rhythm of the game itself.
• PNR defense vs. various angles and abilities of the offense.
• Contain the ball in the frontcourt—prevent the dribble drive.
• Pressure, but contain is the mantra.

Rebound the ball—reward it.  |  Del Harris 2012 SMU Basketball Clinic Notes

• Communicate.
• Emphasize on offense of any kind
• Movement of the ball and players. Stagnation is easy to defend
• Penetrate intelligently–Not on first side of entry often
• 1. Have the ability to make play off dribble or else give it up.
• Have the movement of perimeter and post players ruled so that the ballhandler always has 4
• outlet options.
• Utilize proper spacing–high at point, wide at wings, open in middle area.
• Plan for the second shot with defensive balance.
• On using PNRs

Set a pick on the potential picker to start the play often.  |  Del Harris 2012 SMU Basketball Clinic Notes

• Use random PNRs after a play is broken—harder to set defense
• Use multiple PNRs on a possession from time to time—the first one sets up the second one.
• Slip one and then pick one when the defense is very aggressive—if the slip man is open, hit him; if not look for the second on a pick and pop or a roll, if the strong side corner is filled or he is non-shooter.

• Use the short roll and quick, hard bounce pass (“pocket pass”) vs. hard show and with good shooter/passer. Ball must come up quickly to the picker.
• Use the roll ups behind the roller—either the other post or a corner man.
• Teambuilding and teaching techniques to think about.
• Suggest reading my book On Point—4 steps to better life teams
  and Daniel Coyle’s book, The Talent Code—great on teaching.
• On Point uses many sports stories and analogies that apply to all
  life-teams and basketball is certainly a focus in it.
• The characteristics of a good point guard are defined in Chapter
  One and then it is shown how these can be brought out in all of us.

Briefly these are some of the points I emphasize:
o Must clarify the mission that all can commit to with enthusiasm that leads to endurance
through obstacle.

o Must establish that caring will be a basis for all that goes on. And that must be proven daily.

o Must create a great positive environment based on acknowledgement and validation of the
value of the person.

o Have continuous building up and encouragement that leads to a chain of trust, loyalty, unity and
enduring relationships.

The book acknowledges that we all have an Influence Quotient that can be improved. The book honors
the role player. It is the opposite side of the leadership coin. 85% of NBA players are role
players. The winners are the ones whose role players do the best to do their roles. Of the 3500-
4000 games I have coached, I can’t recall any of most the games and only
little of some of them. I remember best the relationships.

{5-possession drills will be noted as well in honor of John Calipari}

Click on the pdf link to download the basketball coaching clinic notes:

Del Harris 2012 SMU Basketball Clinic Notes