with Marvin Menzies,
University of Nevada-Las Vegas Head Coach;
former New Mexico State University Head Coach;
3x Regular Season and 5x Western Athletic Conference Tournament Champion; 2015 Western Athletic Conference Coach of the Year
Having built success at New Mexico State University where he led his teams to five NCAA Tournament appearances, Marvin Menzies demonstrates practice drills for individual skill development within his team's strategic framework. With an emphasis on quality shooting, individual skill development, defense, and rebounding, Menzies uses this on-court demonstration to show ways in which he has improved player performance with his teams.
Pre-Practice Fundamentals
Menzies uses a series of shooting drills at the start of practice to instill confidence into his players when shooting the basketball. Starting with simple form shooting, players work to make five shots in a row while working on basic shooting form.
After the guards and the bigs work with assistant coaches on their individual moves and shots, game-like shooting drills become the next point of emphasis. The main concentration is on rhythm and technique.
In-Practice Shooting Drills
Shooting is a point of emphasis once practice begins for Coach Menzies. He presents two main shooting drills that his players execute on a daily basis.
Working on shooting off of dribble penetration, 3 Game Shooting is the first drill utilized. The drill simulates a guard beating a primary defender off of the bounce and reading the secondary defender. Depending on what the secondary defender does, the guard can pull up for a jump shot, shoot the floater, shoot a runner, or execute a pass to the big man for a lob or a post-up opportunity.
The second shooting drill is 3's, 2's, and 1's. This drill has the players starting from seven spots behind the perimeter. The scoring for the drill is three points for each made 3-point shot, two points for each pull-up jump shot, and one point for a lay-up.
Defense and Rebounding Drills
These drills build the mentality of getting stops on defense and being able to shut down defensive assignments. To teach defensive stance, Menzies teaches the Defensive Shadow Drill. This drill is used to teach how to execute defensive step slides and correct stance. An emphasis is placed on pushing off the leg opposite the direction the offensive player is going, keeping eyes on the midsection, keeping hands out, and keeping the butt down when in a defensive stance.
To work on defensive closeouts, the 3-on-3 Baseline Closeout Drill is used to get players out to guard their man and subsequent players into the proper defensive position.
Rebounding becomes a point of emphasis in practice and a challenge. The Circle Blockout Drill has five defensive rebounders working around in a circle, keeping an eye on five potential offensive rebounders. On the shot by the coach, the five defensive players must communicate and make sure each offensive player is boxed out and go get the rebound.
Need some quality practice drills for your team? You'll get them in this video from Coach Menzies!
Produced at the Spring 2017 Las Vegas (NV) Nike Championship Basketball Clinic.
74 minutes. 2017.