Despite losing to the LA Lakers in a nationally televised game on Christmas Day, the New York Knicks are off to their best start in years and may have many casual fans wondering why. It’s fairly easy to think “They are just playing better,” and while that is partly true, there are four very specific reasons behind the Knicks success so far. The best part is that if you happen to be a coach, these four factors can help your team win more games as well.

1.       Guards are better.

Last season Jeremy Linn and “Linsanity” took New York by storm but what did it really accomplish in the long run? Sure, it was fun to watch at times, the Knicks did sell thousands of Jeremy Lin game jerseys, and even Lin eventually ended up with a fat $25 million contract over three years. However, none of those things really translated into more wins.

This year, on the other hand, Jason Kidd and Raymond Felton may not sell a single jersey between the two of them but both have been spectacularly solid game in and game out. Their contributions don’t always show up on the stat sheet but passing the ball quickly ahead on the fast break, getting the ball to whomever happens to be the current “hot hand,” and delivering passes right to the shot pocket of a shooter all silently influence the outcome of nearly every game.

2.       Fewer turnovers.

Not only have the Knicks decreased their number of turnovers but they are currently on pace to set the all time NBA record for fewest turnovers in a season! That means that everything else being equal, the Knicks are getting more shots than their opponents and are also reducing the number of opportunities that those opponents have to get a quick steal and transition layup.

When Paul Westhead first introduced his fast break to the Lakers back in the 80’s he used to say that if his team could get 100 shots a game they would win. They didn’t even have to be good shots, just 100 shots! Reducing turnovers gets a team more shots and if that team gets a lot more shots than its opponent then they don’t have to shoot quite as good of a percentage in order to score more points.

3.       Increased 3 Point Shooting Percentage.

 Not only have the Knicks increased the number of three point shots they are attempting but they have increased their three point shooting percentage as well. In fact, they are currently on track to set NBA records in both of these areas! Combine their number of three point attempts with a great shooting percentage and a miniscule number of turnovers and it’s easy to see how the Knicks are winning games possession by possession. In other words, they are getting more shots, making more shots, and more of those shots are threes!

4.       Have a Defensive Stopper.

Namely Tyson Chandler, who might be the most underrated player in the NBA. Chandler, the reigning NBA Defensive Player of the Year does all the necessary dirty work in and around the paint and can positively impact the game without ever touching the ball. However, this year Chandler is also shooting field goals at an amazing 70% which makes him a legitimate scoring threat inside and helps open up the outside for the Knicks three point shooters. On top of that, he has an uncanny ability to tip errant rebounds out to the perimeter and into the waiting arms of his teammates. There’s no official stat for that but some games he is giving his team an extra four or five offensive possession.

 So let’s sum this up – better guard play, few turnovers, increased shooting percentage, and a defensive stopper that can get your team even more offensive possessions to work with – and you have the New York Knicks formula for success.

If you’re like me, it seems like nearly everybody on your schedule is now running some sort of dribble drive motion offense where ball handlers are relentless in trying to get to the rim. If that’s the case here’s a competitive drill you can use to help stop dribble penetration:

1. This drill can be run 5 on 5 or 4 on 4
2. The defense must not let any offensive player with the ball get both feet in the lane
3. If the offense gets two feet in the lane, the defense loses that possession
4. If the offense scores by any means the defenses loses that possession
5. The defense must pressure the ball handler and cannot just sag back into the lane
6. Each possession only lasts 15-20 seconds depending on the age group of your players
7. The defensive goal is to get three consecutive stops

Variation: this drill can also be adapted to defend those offenses that try to jam the ball inside to a dominant post player

While Christmas shopping the other day I saw a Christmas card that I thought was really funny.

The card said, “The Four Stages of Santa.

Stage 1: You believe in Santa

Stage 2: You don’t believe in Santa

Stage 3: You are Santa

Then on the inside it said -

Stage 4: You look like Santa

Even though it’s not exactly alike, the card reminded me of the four stages of coaching:

Stage 1: You are excited about your team and really believe that you are going to have a great season.

Stage 2: You no longer believe that you or your team has what it takes to be competitive.

Stage 3: You are working your team hard every day but aren’t making any progress and you feel like you are stuck in a rut. You want to achieve so much more for your players and for yourself, but you just don’t know how to do it.

Stage 4: You discover a secret, a formula, a philosophy and/or a mentor that points you in the right direction and improves not only this season but ultimately changes your career.

The challenge is to get to stage four as quickly as possible where you not only believe in your team, but have all the tools necessary to run a highly successful program.

For many coaches Stage 4 is so close that they can see it, smell it, and almost touch it – but it’s just out of their reach – and they are frustrated.

Give yourself (or someone on your staff) an awesome Christmas present and enroll in Basketball Classroom and get to Stage 4 quicker than you ever thought possible!

1. Divide the team into three groups of 4 players each.
2. The drill is run for 12 minutes. (Use less time for younger players)
3. Two teams play at a time while the third team does a shooting drill on the sideline. The two teams will play for 4 minutes and then the third team will rotate in for the “winner.”
4. Put 20 seconds on the clock.
5. If the offense scores the defense sprints to the opposite free throw line and back and is now on offense. The ball is passed to them after touching the free throw line. There are only 20 seconds each possession so they must sprint!
6. If the defense gets a stop the offense sprints to the opposite free throw line and remains on offense.
7. Teams get one point for every defensive stop.
8. A foul called by the coach results in the defense going on offense.
9. At the end of four minutes the team with the most points rotates off and another team comes on.
10. The drill continues in this manner for the entire 12 minutes.
11. This is a great conditioner – especially for the losing teams that don’t get to rotate off.

Here is an extremely simple, two hour practice template that can be used when coaching youth or middle school teams:

1. Active warm up – layups, 3 man weave, 3 on 2 break, etc (8 mins.)
2. Fundamental skill work – shooting , passing, ball handling. (30 mins.)
3. Free throws (2 mins.)
4. Defense – individual and team (30 mins.)
5. Free throw (2 mins.)
6. Offense – break down drills and 5 on 5 (30 mins.)
7. Free throws (2 mins.)
8. Scrimmage (16 mins.)

When coaching these age groups it’s important to remember that developing complete players should always be a priority. Completly neglecting one or more areas may help you win a few more games in the short term but is not going to help your players in the long term.

1. This drill works best with three teams of 4 players each. (Older teams can go with groups of 3 but it is much more difficult)

2. Defense must get 3 stops in a row to win.

3. If the offense scores they get to play defense. The defensive team rotates off and a new team comes in on offense.

4. Any foul called by the coach is treated like an offensive score.

5. Offense starts at the top of the key.

Variation: Set up the offense to simulate your next opponent’s offense. For example, a flex cut followed by a down screen. If necessary use a coach or manager as an undefended passer

Here are some extremely insightful thoughts on motivation for Steve Chandler, author of 100 Ways to Motivate Yourself, and 100 Ways to Motivate Others.

Most people we run into do what doesn’t work, because most people try to motivate others by downloading their own anxiety onto them. Parents do this constantly; so do managers and leaderts in the workplace. They get anxious about their people’s poor performance and then download that anxiety on to their people. Now everybody’s tense and anxious!

Downloading your anxiety onto someone only motivated that person to get away from you as quickly as possible. It doesn’t motivate them to do what you really want. It doesn’t help them get the best out of themselves.

Coaches do this all the time! We become stressed when our players don’t perform well and so we tell them “If you don’t start shooting well we are going to get thrashed on Friday!” or “The way we are playing now we might not win a game for a month!” And what happens? We don’t shoot well, we don’t play well, and we don’t win. Then we become more anxious, dump more of that anxiety on to our players, and the downward spiral continues.

Constructive criticism and correction is absolutely necessary but when doing so make sure it’s specific and as productive as possible. Give your players solutions instead of just only harping on the problems. Exude confidence. Remember – your anxieties will become their anxieties and that almost never results in improvement.

There are hundreds of coaches, including the legendary John Wooden, who believe that drills should be run for a predetermined amount of time. If the drill is being executed extremely well it can be cut short but if the team or individual involved is struggling, the length of the drill should never be extended.

However, there has recently been a new train of thought when it comes to drills and holding players accountable for executing them properly.

In his book, Develop Relentless Competitors Drillbook, sports leadership expert Jeff Janssen says that High Standards Drills can be set up with virtually any kind of physical drill by making a specified number of consecutive plays in a row or they can be set up by achieving a certain number of successes in a specific period of time.

According to Janssen, “The key concept with High Standards Drills is to establish a specific high standard of performance that your athletes must achieve or surpass before they can complete the drill. If the team achieves or surpasses the goal, the drill is over.

If they fall short, they must keep doing the drill until they achieve the standard. Obviously the drill typically becomes tougher over time as the athletes get more and more tired. Not only will you see Competitors emerge when you do these drills because they want to get them over and done, you will also see leaders attempt to step up, motivate, and refocus the team.”

Before completing ignoring this idea, consider the words of Michigan assistant coach Jeff Meyer who says “You can’t beat opponents if you can’t beat drills.”

1. This game is run 5 on 5 half court (could also be run 4 on 4 if you have 12 players)

2. Put 30 seconds on the clock

3. White starts with the ball and Green must successfully defend them for the entire 30 seconds

4. If Green gains possession of the ball by turnover or rebound, they give the ball back to White and continue to defend for the remainder of the 30 seconds.

5. If White misses a shot but gets an offensive rebound the clock goes back to 30 seconds but Green remains on defense.

6. If White scores they get to play defense.

7. This drill can be a great way to end practice and can be very difficult and competitive. You could play this every day (Juniors vs. Seniors; 8th grader vs. 7th grade; Varsity vs. JV, etc.) and keep a season long running score and then give some type of award or recognition at the end of the year.

Long time head coach Ralph Willard, who is currently an assistant at Louisville, once talked about the “Circle of Opportunity” at a coach’s clinic in Myrtle Beach:

If we execute these 8 things we will win 95% of our games and have a chance to win the other 5%.

1. Deflections – our goal is 40 a game. 40+ deflections equals a .900 winning percentage
2. Block outs – we go back through game video and chart everyone on this
3. Shot Contest – every shot the opponent takes needs to be contested on the ball side of their shot. Does no good to contest a shooter’s left shoulder if he is shooting with his right hand.
4. Offensive Rebounding -  everyone who can get to the glass needs to get to the glass
5. Charges – chart how many times guys step up and attempt to take a charge and how many times they shy away
6. Ball Pursuit – all 50/50 balls are ours! Great rebounders get in proper position and then pursuit the ball. Chart “Out of Area” rebounds and reward the leader
7. Confidence – players must have confidence that they can win every game
8. Transition Defense – no layups and no open 3’s in transition

There is nothing in this circle that we can’t do as a team and so I’m not asking you do anything that you are not capable of doing.