The PGC Blog

When players ask me what they can do to look special, they are really asking me how they can get more shots within their offense. They tend to dismiss this crucial answer, “Identify what your opponent does poorly, expose that, and you will stand out.” What do the majority of players do poorly? Execute their transition defense well.

But when you shift the way you think, the way you play begins to change. Playing this way is hard. It takes superior conditioning & mental toughness. But never forget: Everything worth having is on the other side of hard.

Basketball isn’t like football. You must be able to play on both sides of the ball if you want to stay on the court and excel. Here’s the good news. Tall or short, strong or weak, quick or slow, lockdown defenders are made, not born.

Here are the four keys to becoming a lockdown defender that I wish I would have known while I was still playing.

Lillard and Curry have been great shooters for a long time, but one astounding thing about them is the distance with which they shoot. The reason? A deeper uncontested three is a better shot for them than a three with a defender crowding their space. But here’s the question. How are they able to make so many shots from so far out, and how can you begin to do the same? The answer: efficient power generation, intentional focus on the finish, and thousands of repetitions.

Are you the biggest, strongest, most athletic player at the level you currently play?

If you answered that question with a resounding “NO!”, you’re not alone. I hope to help you avoid some of the pain and struggles I experienced by understanding this one thing…

I want to share with you a problem I have faced. It’s a problem all athletes face, and one that can be extremely frustrating and discouraging throughout a career.

The problem is players put in an immense amount of time, energy, and effort, but struggle to see their improvement.

Athletes, this is for you. We all want to play more minutes, have more fun, and win more games. But there’s a big problem that we all succumb to that’s holding us back from reaching our full potential.

What can you start doing today to win more games?

Join PGC Director Tyler Coston, as he shares four ways to improve your mental toughness, habits and focus necessary for winning more games.

If there was one habit that could transform your game instantly, would you adopt it?

We teach 10,000 athletes each summer and find that a majority of the athletes do not use this one habit (when they first arrive). It’s disappointing because it is so foundational, practical, and game-changing that we believe every basketball player needs it in their game.