09/21/2026
A GOOD CUT DOESN'T HAVE TO GET THE BALL.
This is something young players have to learn.
If an athlete believes the only reason to cut is to get the ball back for a layup, what happens after they cut hard three times and never get the pass?
The fourth cut becomes a jog.
Because in their mind, the first three didn't work.
But they may have worked EXACTLY AS INTENDED.
A hard cut forces the defense to react.
A help defender may take two steps toward the paint to take away the cutter. Now they're two steps farther from the player they're responsible for.
The ball swings.
Longer closeout.
Your teammate attacks it.
Advantage created.
You never touched the basketball and you helped create the basket.
That's BASKETBALL IQ.
It's also why I believe we have to teach athletes the WHY, not just the WHAT.
Don't just tell them"
'Cut harder."
Show them what their cut did to the defense.
Show them the space they created.
Show them the the teammate who got an advantage because they moved with purpose.
And when you see it happen, recognize it.
"The basket happened because of your cut."
Young players naturally notice who scored.
Our job as coaches is to teach them to recognize who helped create the score.
The game gets a lot easier to understand when you stop watching only the basketball.
- Coach Will
