1. PLAYER MUST HAVE THE ABILITY TO SHOOT THE SHOT. A shot that is a low percentage shot (for the particular player) is a bad shot.
2. PLAYER MUST NOT BE CLOSELY GUARDED. A closely guarded player should pass to a teammate who is not. An exception is when the player is close o the basket and can make a power move.
3. REBOUNDER MUST BE IN POSITION TO REBOUND ANY MISSED SHOT. Few things are more irritating in basketball than the player "gunning the ball up" when there is no one near the rebounding area.
4. TIME and SCORE are big factors. An open shot early in the game may be a good shot while the SAME shot taken with a two-point lead and 30 seconds left to play may be a bad shot.

"Competing for a position is the best motivator of all "...Rick Pitino  

IT IS EXTREMELY IMPORTANT TO TEACH SHOOTERS THEIR RANGE

Shooters must learn what their SUCCESSFUL RANGE is. Notice that the emphasis is on SUCCESSFUL. If a player cnnot make a good percentage of shots from the distance he is shooting, then he is shooting OUF OF HIS RANGE. Keep this coaching point in mind...players tend to overestimate their range and it is up to a coach to teach them their range. They must understand that it is not important how far out they shoot the ball, but how often they get it in the basket.

WISDOM FROM PETE CARRIL:

* If a guy cannot pass, the ball stops moving. If he cannot shoot, he will always be open. If he cannot dribble, he cuts his value to the team by one third. Furthermore, if he cannot dribble, the defense will attack him.

* Whatever you emphasize and to the degree that you do, you get better at it.

* Try to put a player in a situation where those things he does well can occur. For example, he might not dribble very well, so you have him cut or set screens, and so on. (Ed. Note: Another example, when a poor passing big man is told to come outside to relieve pressure and then throws the ball away, it is the coach's fault. He has put the player into a situation he does not do well. Putting players in situations that they can succeed is a fundamental technique of coaching.)

* Two words to avoid in teaching are "always" and "never".

* Without talent, developing precision and trying to do things 100 percent correctly will reduce the number of mistakes and, therefore, the number of failures.

* When you explain a point to player X, the other players should listen so that they know about the point as well.

BILLY DONOVAN'S ATTITUDE PLAN

Always making today my best day
Taking pride in a job well done
Treating others with respect
Isolating my negative thoughts
Treating tasks as opportunities
Utilizing my talents every day
Doing the job right the first time
Expecting positive outcomes daily
Speaking well of others every day

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