What That ACB Coach Saw in My Game (That I Didn’t)

In my last article I told you I had just signed to coach in the CIBACOPA League here in Mexico. Seven weeks after my arrival we already have 2 preparation tournaments and 14 official games in the books (!).

We’ve had more than our fair share of injuries, and yet we’re holding 2nd place in the standings for now.  I’ll keep you posted on how this adventure unfolds.

But today, I want to take you back to my time at Valencia Basket.  In particular to a game that has stuck with me for reasons I didn’t expect.

I was coaching Valencia’s U16 team during the final phase of the Jr NBA European Finals.  A good performance.  A solid win.  Nothing that unusual, I thought.

Until after the game.

A coach with years of ACB experience — someone I genuinely respect — came up to me post-game.  He looked serious.  And curious.

“Pascal,” he said, “I want to know what you’re doing with your players.”

I looked at him, confused. “What do you mean?”

“I’ve been watching closely,” he continued. “Are all your players left-handed?”

I laughed. “No, not at all.  I don’t have any lefties on the team.  Why?”

“Because the number of left-handed finishes at the rim I saw was unbelievable. I need to know how you’re training that.”

We grabbed a coffee. I tried to explain what we work on in our daily sessions. But to be honest, I was still a bit puzzled. It hadn’t really stood out to me.

Later that night, back home, I pulled up the game footage. And there it was: half of our field goals in that game (!) were made with the weak hand.  (Ok, maybe I should start calling it the “other” hand.)

I hadn’t noticed.

But I should have.

Because it’s something I’ve always emphasized in player development.  Making sure players are able to finish with either hand, depending on angle, timing, and defensive positioning.  Not because it looks fancy.  But because it makes sense.

And apparently, it had become so natural in our habits… I no longer even noticed it.  And neither did one of our players.

I get this question more often.  How I work with my players on a daily basis to improve their skill set.

About a year ago, I gave a clinic in Thessaloniki (Greece) entirely focused on finishing at the rim.  I might share a few practical clips and ideas from that clinic in one of the next newsletters — if there’s enough interest.

Fast forward to a few days ago: I’m watching Valencia’s EuroCup semifinal when I catch myself noticing how many inside-hand finishes I see at the rim. And suddenly, I understand why that ACB coach’s comment never really left me.

Finishing “with the inside hand” — the one closest to the rim — is another one of my focal points during individual skill work.  Because sometimes it is the smartest, quickest, and most protected option. Regardless of whether it’s the strong or the weak hand.

Here’s a breakdown of Valencia’s 10 inside hand finishes in a single game, which I thought is pretty exceptional (even when they’re not all successful):

Later today, I’ll be tuning into Game 3 of Valencia’s EuroCup run — hoping they make it to the final.

Talk soon, I’ll keep you updated on our own journey here in Mexico.