Post 4200: Tomorrow

All opinions expressed in the blog are solely mine. 

USA Basketball limped away from the 2004 Olympics with a bronze medal. Nobody was happy with that and USABB sought to rewrite the script, from hiring a new Managing Director (Jerry Colangelo) and a new coach (Mike Krzyzewski). Krzyzewski tells the story in "Gold Standard."

Assembling a team of NBA All-Stars isn't difficult. Beating international teams who have played together for years with them presents a unique challenge. 

Both understood the need for sustainability, blending both experienced veterans and the freshness of youth. 

Here are a couple of screenshots from "Gold Standard." 

MVB 24 was a success. Coach Sonny Lane has a saying, "I'm pleased but I'm not satisfied."

Every season creates new challenges. Coach Bill Parcells would take a sheet of paper each season, fold it in thirds and list : MUSTS, NEED, WANT. That format encapsulated his vision for future success. 

Here's a 'sample' for illustrative purposes.

When you graduate an All-Conference setter, she needs to be 'replicated', as replaced is asking too much. 

Similarly, Maggie, Gg, and Alex won't be walking back through those doors again as the defensive specialists. 

Player development is necessary to boost the talent and experience levels of potential returners. There's an abundance of potential in the system. If you're a returning player, adopt the attitude of "that's my spot and I'm doing whatever it takes to earn and dominate it." 

At the same time, there will be 'projectable' returning varsity players who have the potential to be 'game changers'. There are JV players who will be major contributors next season. "Blog blessing" never created stars. 

At the "Banquet," Coach Scott Celli reminds players that no spots are guaranteed. Coaches put the team in the best position to succeed with both people and strategy. Bossidy and Charan write in Execution: The Discipline of Getting Things Done, about the triad of people, strategy, and operations.

Returning players have the responsibility of sustaining the welcoming and competitive MVB culture.  

Multiple ML12 teams will return strong (e.g. Winchester) or rising (Reading, Belmont, Wakefield, Woburn) with strong returning underclassmen.

Remember the 'four legs' of the chair of excellence - talent, tactics, physicality, and psychology. The offseason blog will emphasize development in those areas.

Be confident that Coach Celli and his staff are already planning for tomorrow. Doing the right things, the right way at the right time don't guarantee championships; they guarantee a chance.   

Lagniappe. Hitting "constraint" drill.