“When I watch films, I’m always looking at not just what is happening, but what could happen, good and bad. It would take me 4.5 hours to watch one game, just because I was curious and trying to figure new things out.” ~ Kobe Bryant

Hey Reader!

I used to cringe watching my game film.

Seriously. My mom recorded basically every game I played growing up, and for some reason, I could hardly ever get myself to sit down and watch them. I’d rather get shots up, lift, or play pickup. Especially if I had a bad game. I never watched those. (Sound like you?)

Which is kind of funny now, because if I could go back and give high school Tucker one thing, it wouldn’t be a new drill or some complicated workout. It would be the confidence and the ability to really watch his game. Not like a fan. More like a student.

That shift changed my game after high school.

When I got to Colgate, I wasn’t blowing by people or jumping out of the gym. But my basketball IQ kept improving, and that’s what helped me stay on the floor and eventually thrive. A huge part of that came from sitting down after every game with one of our assistants, Dave Klatsky, and going through my minutes. We’d look at what I did well, where I struggled, and what I needed to improve. Then we’d use that to shape what I worked on in my daily workouts before practice.

That’s why film matters so much.

It shows you what actually happened. Good and bad. The shots you forced and the ones you passed up. The reads you missed and the defensive mistakes you didn’t notice in the moment. Film also shows you what you did well, and that matters just as much.

Watching recordings of your games helps you figure out who you are as a player right now. And once you know that, you can start studying players who are similar to the player you’re trying to become.

If you’re a smaller guard who can really shoot it, study guards built like you who move well without the ball and make quick reads. If you’re a lanky wing who needs to get more physical and more decisive, go watch somebody with a similar frame and role. And watch full games, not just highlights. Highlights entertain you. Full games teach you.

And if you don’t know how to study film that way, that’s something I can help you with.

To be honest, if high school me had the chance to have a pro break down my game film and show me exactly what I was missing, I would have jumped at it. No question. Who knows how that might have changed my training or my game?

So if you want help seeing your game more clearly, I’d love to work with you.

And if you’re not there yet, keep watching the YouTube channel. I’ll keep showing you how to study the game, break down film, and think at a higher level.

Overseas Pro Player

P.S. Here's what a parent said after I broke down his son's game: “I didn’t expect the level of detail Tucker gave us. It was way more thorough and personalized than I imagined, and there were things he noticed that I hadn’t even seen as my son’s coach. My son hasn’t stopped smiling.”

Ready to have me break down your high school, middle school, or AAU game? Check out the details here.

3 Hacks From Me

Hack 1: Watch one of your bad possessions five times.

Not the clip where you hit back-to-back threes and stared down the bench like you’re Kobe. I mean the ugly ones. The lazy closeout, the turnover in transition, the drive where you left your feet with nowhere to go. Ask yourself what really caused it. A lot of players avoid film because it’s uncomfortable. I did too. But to get better, you’ve got to be willing to look at the stuff that still needs work.

Hack 2: Steal ONE thing from ONE player.

Find one high school or college player whose game actually makes sense for YOU and steal one thing. Not ten things from ten different players, just one thing you can really use. Maybe it’s a finish, a read, a defensive habit, or the way they move without the ball. That’s how real skill development works. Small things added over time are what change your game.

Hack 3: Keep a “same mistake” note in your phone.

After every game, write down one mistake that keeps showing up. Maybe you leave your feet to pass. (I did.) Maybe you die on screens. Maybe you catch the ball and freeze instead of making a quick decision. If the same mistake keeps happening, that’s not bad luck. That’s a pattern. And, once you spot a pattern, you can start fixing it.

*View all of our past emails at hackinghoops.kit.com/posts​

2 Questions for Growth

1. What’s one mistake that keeps showing up in your film?
2. Which player actually fits your game/style that you should start studying more?

Reply to this email and let me know!

1 Video to Watch

Learn THIS SKILL To Increase Your Basketball IQ | My goal in this video is to teach you how to watch film and show you a few things you can incorporate into your next basketball game right away!

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