"The Coaching Staff" Presented by Ruiz Auto-Episode #133 Attacking Aggressive Defenses

"The Coaching Staff" Presented by Ruiz Auto-Episode #133 Attacking Aggressive Defenses

Author: Martin Plum June 9, 2025 Duration: 1:11:15

Both teams in the NBA Finals, the Pacers and the Thunder, have really built an identity on their aggressive defensive systems. In this week's pod, Tony and I discuss various methods and philosophies to attack defenses that are really aggressive, from both a program point of view to a daily expectation. In addition, we have our weekly trivia, a discussion of the Finals to this point and did the Knicks do the right thing firing Thibs?


Imagine a whiteboard session after a big game, the kind where strategy gets scribbled on whatever's handy. That's the spirit of A Pen And A Napkin. This weekly conversation lives at the crossroads of sport and creative thinking, diving deep into the art of coaching basketball. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair in a gym office, listening to the nuanced discussions about player development, offensive sets, defensive adjustments, and the philosophy behind building a team. It’s less about Xs and Os in a vacuum and more about the why-the human elements and the creative problem-solving that define the craft. You’ll hear authentic breakdowns of game situations, reflections on leadership, and practical ideas that often start with a simple sketch. Think of it as a portable mentors’ roundtable, a clinic distilled into conversation, offering perspectives that resonate whether you’re on the sidelines or just appreciate the deeper layers of the game. Tune in for a podcast that captures the ongoing, ever-evolving dialogue at the heart of coaching.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

A Pen And A Napkin
Podcast Episodes
Basketball's Greatest Teams-Episode #1 The 1982-83 Philadelphia 76ers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:43:19
NEW PODCAST ALERT!!!!!!!The game of basketball has been around since December of 1891, but have we ever really settled this question . . . what team, at the game's highest levels, has been the most dominant single season…
A Pen And A Napkin-Episode #290 John Thompson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:28:37
John Thompson, the longtime men's HC at North Carolina Wesleyan, comes on the pod this week to discuss a variety of topics! Coach talks about his career, his influences, the importance of basketball to his state of North…
A Pen And A Napkin-Episode #289 Brandon Henderson [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:22:46
Really excited to have on the "Guru of the Post", Coach Brandon Henderson from Riverside Prep (CA) high school! Coach Henderson goes through alot of stuff in this podcast, including his journey as a coach, taking over th…
A Pen And A Napkin-Episode #288 Matt Thomas [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:24:05
Really excited to have Matt Thomas, the new boys HC at Highland (MO) high school! Coach Thomas is a veteran coach who is looking to get the Highland program back to where it was in the recent past, so we will discuss tha…
A Pen And A Napkin-Episode #287 Derek Keizer [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:22
I'm really excited to bring to the world episode #288, which features Derek Keizer, the head boys basketball coach at perhaps Iowa's most storied boys program, Western Christian (Hull). In this episode, Keizer details hi…
Episode #286-Summer Roundtable [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:24
It was a great night at Wine 121 with new Ralston boys HC Tom Krehbiel, Omaha Roncalli boys HC Chad Mustard and Elkhorn boys HC Nick Thompson to chat about a bunch of different topics, including summer goals, things that…