Chris Steed

Head Coach @Zenithsbball 🏀 Innovation and development for players and coaches.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

There has been ~ 7000 total playoff games in NBA/ABA history.

Orlando, Houston and Atlanta just accounted for 3 of the top 5 worst offensive halves in NBA history, within a 24 hour time frame.

Houston’s current shooting splits are 27/21/60 and Orlando just finished the second half shooting 10.8% from the field.

We will never see another outlier of basketball this bad in our lifetimes.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

Shooting is the only skill in basketball where 10% deviation from the median puts you at the best or the worst of your class.

10% means JV or Varsity
10% means starter or bench
10% means Juco or D1
10% means drafted or undrafted
10% means All NBA or 6th man

No other skill can be quantified this way.

More importantly, a shooters gravity provides creation without the ball and compounds all skill sets associated with on ball creation.

PRIORITIZE SHOOTING.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

NEED A THREE?

Beautiful tag manipulation by Charles Hantoumakos and @CanBball in the u18 Americup Finals.

This a Stack Out into a Spread PnR, with a push, and a perfectly timed Exit Screen that freezes the low man.

This action is extremely effective with A) a dominant big who commands attention in the paint or B) teams who aggressively hedge/tag.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

NEED A THREE?

Beautiful tag manipulation by Charles Hantoumakos and @CanBball in the u18 Americup Finals.

This a Stack Out into a Spread PnR, with a push, and a perfectly timed Exit Screen that freezes the low man.

This action is extremely effective with A) a dominant big who commands attention in the paint or B) teams who aggressively hedge/tag.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

The causal fans/media are finally starting to understand the power of data. All it took was the big market Knicks to shine a light on it.

Buzzwords like dawg, killer, and hooper are relatable, have broad appeal and they used to signal ‘expertise’.

Analytics/systems/schemes are threatening and narrow because it shatters the dogmas centered around fandom and forces learning to stay relevant.

Mike Brown bringing in a data driven, Princeton (hybrid) based system on offense and analytics based offensive rebounding rules has put the Knicks over the top. It also might be the single biggest leap for ‘analytics’ to date with the mainstream bball community.

Look at how many mid range jumpers the Knicks pass on in this ONE CLIP ALONE.

PLUS here is the data the Knicks system is based on 👇🏼.

[Ball Don't Stop @balldontstop]

This is all Mike Brown right here.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

I full expected Mitch Johnson to put Wemby on the block, around four capable shooters, and EMPTY THE HELP.

In an EOG situation, this means that the defense is giving up a wide open 3, or a 1 on 1 on the low block with 7’4.

Obviously Brad Stevens is the best coach in NBA history at EOG/ATO’s but conceptually, there is no way to prevent a quality look WITH an O Board opportunity in this spot.

In this example, Tatum gets a clean look or Al gets a 1 on 1 matchup, and Al is 6’9. 👇🏼

Brad Stevens
EOG | Triangle Flex | Seal

[Chris Steed @csteed]

If Wemby is built like a 🐐 , this loss will motivate him more than a ring will at 22.

- Kobe 4 airballs against the Jazz in 97’.

- Mike game 7 Pistons in 1990’.

- Bron swept by the Spurs in 07’.

- Steph game 7 Clippers in 14’.

Every all time great player has that ‘fork in the road’ moment after adversity. 🍿

[Chris Steed @csteed]

Have to feel for Mitch Johnson and Co. Just horrific all around EOG management/play calling.

- First ATO in a tie ball game is an ISO 20 footer for Wemby
- No TO on a negative numbers situation leading to a TO on the Brunson miss
- Slow developing PnR leading to no second chance opportunity at the buzzer

Positive is he finally stopped putting two on Brunson and they went on a 13-0 run.

Credit to Mike Brown 💯. This has been child’s play for him in the coaching department.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

Mitch Johnson making the same mistake he did against Shai - putting 2 on the ball. Like OKC, New York is feasting from 3 and on the offensive glass.

They are nexting actions above the nail and the rotation is too slow.

Been about as ugly as it could get for Mitch Johnson through two games. Really poor half court execution offensively, and not finding any of the adjustments defensively.

Definitely a series he will want back.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

The benefit is that your very quick to the first pass. This makes it not only harder to catch and shoot, but to attack long closeouts.

The issue is you can’t allow the one more pass to be straight line, which the Spurs have given up all night. Very similar to when they put 2 on the ball against OKC.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

Mitch Johnson making the same mistake he did against Shai - putting 2 on the ball. Like OKC, New York is feasting from 3 and on the offensive glass.

They are nexting actions above the nail and the rotation is too slow.

Been about as ugly as it could get for Mitch Johnson through two games. Really poor half court execution offensively, and not finding any of the adjustments defensively.

Definitely a series he will want back.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

‼️ Players need equity on the team beyond performance ‼️

Performance is exhausting IF that’s what defines your self worth.

Humans are happiest when solving problems. Every player on the roster has to feel as though they they are part of the problem solving mechanism.

This is why PLAYER’S LED TEAMS are superior to coach centric teams.

Dynamic CATEGORIES on every roster:

1. High talent/low character - the PROBLEM

2. Low talent/low character - CUT

3. Low talent/high character - CAPTAINS/CONNECTORS

4. High talent/high character - STARS

CATEGORY 3 will lift the floor.
CATEGORY 4 will lift the ceiling. CATEGORY 1 will lift stability.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

@DrFloater11 A controlled/delayed trap.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

Most NBA chess matches simply come down to PnR coverage + PnR coverage solutions. ESPECIALLY against a helicopter big like Wemby.

This is an extremely important proposition for all coaches to answer. 👇🏼

Do you guard PnR with 3 or with 2?

What does it mean and what does it change?

Guarding ball screen actions with 3 is :

- Blitz
- Hedge
- Corral

Guarding the ball with 2 is:

- Switch
- Drop
- Ice

Guarding with 3 will engage the low man (tagger) on any roll, so it can add another element to rotations.

Guarding with 2 can keep you out of rotations but opens you up to mismatches and gaps.

The higher the level of play, statistically, aggressive coverages (3 man) will get beat at a higher frequency.

The lower the level of play, this forces ball handlers into tougher decisions at a pace they aren’t comfortable with (3 man coverage) can yield larger rewards.

Whatever the coverage you choose, understanding the relationship with the tagger, ‘got 2’ defender and rotations, as a whole, is vital for TEAM DEFENSE.

Furthermore, ITS ALWAYS BETTER TO NOT HAVE TO USE COVERAGES.

Blow up the action.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

‼️ Players need equity on the team beyond performance ‼️

Performance is exhausting IF that’s what defines your self worth.

Humans are happiest when solving problems. Every player on the roster has to feel as though they they are part of the problem solving mechanism.

This is why PLAYER’S LED TEAMS are superior to coach centric teams.

Dynamic CATEGORIES on every roster:

1. High talent/low character - the PROBLEM

2. Low talent/low character - CUT

3. Low talent/high character - CAPTAINS/CONNECTORS

4. High talent/high character - STARS

CATEGORY 3 will lift the floor.
CATEGORY 4 will lift the ceiling. CATEGORY 1 will lift stability.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

Most NBA chess matches simply come down to PnR coverage + PnR coverage solutions. ESPECIALLY against a helicopter big like Wemby.

This is an extremely important proposition for all coaches to answer. 👇🏼

Do you guard PnR with 3 or with 2?

What does it mean and what does it change?

Guarding ball screen actions with 3 is :

- Blitz
- Hedge
- Corral

Guarding the ball with 2 is:

- Switch
- Drop
- Ice

Guarding with 3 will engage the low man (tagger) on any roll, so it can add another element to rotations.

Guarding with 2 can keep you out of rotations but opens you up to mismatches and gaps.

The higher the level of play, statistically, aggressive coverages (3 man) will get beat at a higher frequency.

The lower the level of play, this forces ball handlers into tougher decisions at a pace they aren’t comfortable with (3 man coverage) can yield larger rewards.

Whatever the coverage you choose, understanding the relationship with the tagger, ‘got 2’ defender and rotations, as a whole, is vital for TEAM DEFENSE.

Furthermore, ITS ALWAYS BETTER TO NOT HAVE TO USE COVERAGES.

Blow up the action.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

THE THREE HORSEMEN OF HALF COURT OFFENSE 👇🏼

The first thing we see from poor/inexperienced teams in the half court is PRE-DETERMINED READS instead of reading the low man.

What this looks like from a fans perspective is being ‘sped up’.

The second thing that goes is SPACING. Players working off ball stop trusting the read and start crowding the ball or cutting ‘just to cut’.

The last thing that goes is SHARING THE BALL. Players take it upon themselves to create AND score.

The Spurs checked all of this boxes tonight ⬆️, as predicted, because of their inexperience.

Mike Brown and Co. with an absolute clinic on speeding up the half court offense tonight.

This clip encapsulates all 3 ‘horsemen’ of half court offense:

[Chris Steed @csteed]

Very apparent that if the Spurs dictate tempo, they win this series easily. No one turns defense into offense better.

Their question mark is in the half court, where they will have to simplify their actions - go heavy Spread PnR - to simplify reads for their guards. Very few young teams are really good in the half court, and the Spurs are no different. Knicks will sellout to the slow the Spurs down moving forward, which will likely hurt their rebounding ability. 👇🏼

Knicks only path to the Championship is similar to the Spurs against OKC - finding a way to dominate the O Boards. They won’t have the shot making ability to put up 110 PPG, organically. This is assuming Mitch doesn’t go back to Bryant on Brunson, which was Johnson’s only hiccup in the first half.

**pretty wild that Knicks fans have turned San Antonio into a neutral site.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

One of the simplest changes that Mike Brown has implemented this season, versus last season under Thibs, is optimizing MINUTES PER GAME.

Last season:

Bridges: 39 MPG
Towns: 35 MPG
OG: 39 MPG

This season:

Bridges: 31 MPG
Towns: 31 MPG
OG: 34 MPG

There is a TON of research around this. In the NBA, 32 MPG is the ‘sweet spot’. This decreases game to game fluctuation and tapers decline late in game/late in season.

FOR YOUTH/AMATEUR:

22-28 MPG is optimal, depending on the specific age.

This is a very underrated, but very researched, aspect of coaching. It’s also one that most youth/amateur coaches have never looked into. (Hollinger production curve is a great player to start).

Understanding this kills two birds with one stone- players play more minutes (happy parents) and performance/injury prevention is optimized.

[Chris Steed @csteed]

‼️ Steve Kerr accomplishes more in two conversations than some coaches accomplish in a full season ‼️

1. Connection - without trust, value/criticism can’t be properly received.

2. Reminds Steph that impact is much much more than the box score. Stat’s show ONE FACET of winning.

3. Reiterates the importance of building and nurturing confidence. Confidence is arguably the most valuable thing a coach can give a player, at any level.

ELITE STUFF

Bonus:

Explains gravity to fans/media.

“It’s not about the X and O’s, it’s about the Jimmy’s and the Joe’s.”

[Chris Steed @csteed]

🚨 Concepts that KILL IN HS 🚨

👇🏼

Three ELITE ways to attack 2-3

1. SCREEN the inside guard on the top of zone. This forces an overload on the switch, allowing the middle of the zone to be pinned on the roll without wing help.

2. To counter this action, GHOST the inside guard on the top of the zone. This creates a strong side overload with the wing defender.

3. 77 action with a SHALLOW cut from the second screener will overload the weakside wing defender creating a 2 on 1.

Magrath Zeniths
Power, Power | Ghost, 77 action

[Chris Steed @csteed]

The Knicks lead the entire playoffs in:

• Restricted-area attempts (29.6 per game)
• Restricted-area FG% (68.1%)
• Points in the paint (53.3 per game)
• Second-chance points (17.7 per game, driven by a league-best offensive rebounding rate)

Mitchell Robinson is one of the best offensive rebounders in NBA history. With him on the floor the Knicks O Board rate is 39%, absurdly good. Without him it falls to 28%.

Everything they do is built around dominance inside.

The problem? 👽

With Wemby on the Floor:

• Opponents’ rim attempt rate drops from 36.1% to 24.2%
• Rim FG% drops from 59.1% to 55%
• Teams are forced into more 3s (41.7% rate vs. 33.9%), but shoot worse (30.9% vs. 36.4%)

KAT is notoriously always in fouls trouble, which Wemby should compound.

The Knicks will likely start OG on Wemby, sprinkle in some matchup zone, and ultimately settle with a ‘hat on hat’ big vs big matchup. Mitchell Robinson has virtually no chance against Wemby on an island, so the dominoes will be dropping in the half court when they bring two/aggressively tag.

Unlikely this version of the Knicks will do any better than the 99’ team, but how can you not love Mike Brown and the Nova Trio.