Open Practice with Jerome Tang: Details Matter + Winning Offensive & Defensive Foundations!

Focus on Details
To Coach Tang, details matter a great deal in practice. His first drill, "Perfection Passing Drill" is an example of how paying attention to the little things will pay off in the long run. In the drill, players must successfully complete 78 passes by being able to pass and cut and paying attention to make sure the basics are followed.

Coach Tang follows up this drill with "Full-Court Speed & Direction Drill." The defender is tasked with guarding the basketball in a full-court setting and to force three backcourt turns of the dribbler. The little 'detail that matters' is the defender to do this without using his hands.

Tang also gets his players to understand responsibilities and details with transition defense. In "Bucks Transition Drill," his players work on how to defend in a 4-on-3 situation and how to attack with numbers. While the defensive emphasis is on protecting the ball and rim, the offensive emphasis is on being able to attack with numbers before a defense gets set.

Details on Defense
Coach Tang's approach to defense is proven and effective. Mostly, this comes due to the attention placed on doing all of the little things consistently and correctly. Examples include working on switching on defense in defensive drills with the emphasis on "touch, talk, take." Tang extends this attention to detail on how to jump to the ball on defense. In a station drill, Tang places an emphasis on proper closeouts, being able to get deflections, and keeping "chest to the middle" one pass away from the ball.

Hands are also important as high hands and a swipe are part of a closeout as well as trying to deflect the pass when guarding the ball.

Another drill that is used to develop better individual defense is the "Chest Drill." This drill teaches how to keep the ball in front and how to draw an offensive foul when guarding the ball.

Defenders work on how to keep the ball in front of them on defense, force a change in direction, and how to take a charge as an on-ball defender.

Detail-Oriented Offense
Team offense is based around Coach Tang's 4-Around-1 offense that requires sound spacing and "Point 5." To develop the basics of ball movement on offense, the coaches work on getting the team to make four passes and get two paint touches during 12-second rounds with players on the court in a 4-on-0 situation before a shot is taken.

Even when it comes to building transition offense the details matter. Coach Tang continues his detail-oriented approach with "Full-Court Laker Passing Drill". The big point of emphasis other than finishing at the basket is to lead teammates with good passes up the floor and to do so without the ball touching the floor.

When his teams run their offense, Coach Tang places an emphasis on being able to attack quickly, get the ball to move, attack the paint, and to convert from offense to defense. When working on their offense in a 5-on-0 setting, Tang places an emphasis on ball reversal, getting paint touches, shooting the ball in a timely manner, and getting back on defense.

Coach Review: 5 Out of 5 Stars!
"The drills in this video are something that every coach can use and can help their players develop a mindful and fundamental approach to the game. Coach Tang runs a great practice!" 

108 minutes. 2024.