The Help Side: Basketball Coaching and Analytics Podcast

In Episode 36 of The Help Side: Basketball Coaching Strategy and Analytics podcast we talk about the end of the NBA season. We go team by team and talk about the relevant teams end of season and what they need to do going forward. PLEASE NOTE: This was recorded right after the NBA finals and before the Chris Paul trade. In the analytics section we talk about instilling system and culture to your team during the summer and what that looks like. In the strategy session we are going to talk about repetition in the summer and how important it is to turn your repetitions into winning habits.

In Episode 34 of The Help Side: Basketball Coaching Strategy and Analytics podcast we talk about the end of the college basketball season. We go in depth into all the storylines of March Madness and the marquee teams who made exits earlier than they expected. We preview the NBA playoffs and make picks for the East and West and an overall champion. In the analytics section we talk about Jeff Van Gundy at the Sloan Analytics Conference talking about how there is never a time when a player should take a bad shot. We break down that idea and why it is so important for the chemistry and balance of a team. In the strategy session, we pair that concept with knowing time and score situations. We look at the importance of understanding time and score at every point in a game, or even a pick up game, if we want to win. As always check out The Help Side YouTube channel where we break down clips from college basketball games.

In Episode 34 of The Help Side: Basketball Coaching Strategy and Analytics podcast we talk about the progress of my team's season with two and a half weeks to go before conference tournament. We talk about Kyrie Irving requesting a trade as well as load management in the NBA. We also talked about the missed call against Lebron James at the end of the Boston game and how coaching challenges should be changed for the betterment of all teams. In the analytics section we talk about the value of a 20 point lead at different points of a game. In the strategy session we discuss the value of running set plays if your coaching at a level where there is little to no scouting done on your team, and how that can give you a huge competitive advantage over other coaches. 

In Episode 33 of The Help Side: Basketball Coaching Strategy and Analytics podcast we talk about basketball season which is now underway. We talk about Adam Silver listening to this podcast and finally broaching the subject of tanking, and my idea of promotion and relegation. In the analytics section we talk piggy back on a conversation from a previous podcast where we talked about Draymond Green passing up a wide open lay up to pass to Steph Curry for a wide open three. In that episode we made a hypothetical percentage for Steph to shoot for it to be better for the Warriors to take the three than to take the two. Here we take that a step further and talk about the implications of Steph missing the three and how the possible transition opportunities for the other team change the math on whether or not its still the right play. In the strategy session we talk about motion offense in terms of your offense being scouted by opponents. What are the positives of running motion in terms of your opponents preparing for what you do offensively in the motion. Please visit our youtube page, The Help Side where we break down college plays and look at what teams did well and what they could do better. 

In Episode 32 of The Help Side: Basketball Coaching Strategy and Analytics podcast we talk about the just concluded NBA finals. We talk about what this result means for both teams going forward. In the analytics section we talk about dealing with first half foul trouble for one of your best players. We discuss the pros and cons of sitting a player with two fouls in the first half as well as when to play them with those two fouls. In the strategy session we talk about changing defenses for the last possession of a game, as in, switching to a zone from man during a crucial late game possession. We talk about why or why not to do it in the first place. Then we switch sides and think about it from the perspective of it happening to us. How we prepare for that situation and how to be ready for when it happens. As always, you can see video breakdowns of college basketball plays on YouTube at The Help Side, and Twitter and Instagram are The Help Side as well.

In Episode 30 of The Help Side: Basketball Coaching Strategy and Analytics podcast I go on two rants about the current state of the NBA. We talk briefly about the playoffs and who I think will win the championship this year, then I talk about two things I see in the NBA that are very concerning to me. In the analytics section, I am very excited to talk about the analytics side of the Golden State Warriors offense. They appear to be very analytics oriented when they run their offense, and look to find the highest percentage shot on each possession. I call this "Unlocking the best shot" on each possession and we take a deep dive into exactly how the Warriors do this, and how this can translate into something valuable for your teams.

In Episode 30 of The Help Side: Basketball Coaching Strategy and Analytics podcast we talk about the big NBA trade between the 76ers and Nets, we talk about the first four days of March Madness and the teams that are left in the field. In the analytics section we talk about a cool little trick at the end of a half to take away your opponents try to get a two for one. And in the strategy session, we break down the dribble hand off. We look at when to use it, specifically against which types of ball screen defense, how to execute it, and what you are trying to get out of it. Follow me on Twitter and Instagram at The Help Side. We also have a Youtube channel where we break down plays in the world of basketball. You can find that on Youtube at The Help Side.

In Episode 29 of The Help Side: Basketball Coaching Strategy and Analytics podcast we talk about the beginning of my teams college season. We took a bad loss to start the year, on a night when we couldn't make any open shots and were dominated in all areas of the game. In the analytics section we talk about a first coaching job and the things to do to make that first job successful. We also briefly talk about the learning to get to that first job and be prepared. In the strategy session we talk about leaving your comfort zone. The reason we played poorly in our first game is the opponent played faster and harder than us, and to compete we had to leave our comfort zone and in doing so, we weren't able to make shots and compete where we needed to. We talk about how to recognize that in your own team, and how my team is changing that and hopefully raising our comfort level as we progress.  You can follow my on twitter and instagram at the help side, would love to hear questions, or topics to talk about in the future.

In Episode 28 of The Help Side: Basketball Coaching Strategy and Analytics podcast we are back and have lots to talk about. We start with our basketball roundup where we talk about the college season just two weeks away as well as what happened in the offseason in the NBA including trades and signings. In the analytics section we begin a two part series talking about making teammates better. A look from a coaching perspective on what should be instilled in players as they try and make their teammates better. In the next podcast, in part two,  we will talk about getting your teammates engaged. And then in the strategy session, we talk about the concept of tagging. Its something I stress in my practices and something coaches at all levels should be making their players aware of.

In Episode 27 of The Help Side: Basketball Coaching Strategy and Analytics podcast we are back and take a look at the major players in the NBA playoffs, taking a deeper look into a team like the Utah Jazz, where I think they made some bad coaching decisions and could have made adjustments and beaten the Clippers. We take a look at the Bucks and Suns in the NBA finals as well. In the analytics section, we look at the NBA play in tournament and how the math doesn't make sense for something like that and how it devalues the regular season. Finally, in the strategy session, we look at managing and being efficient during timeouts and halftime. There is a finite amount of time in both settings, and utilizing that time is important for your team to be on the same page for the rest of the game.