What are you watching and how are you watching? Just as you play with purpose, learn to watch with intent.
Identify "big picture" themes by using wide focus. See how teams intend to wear down their opponents. Discover the offensive and defensive tactics of both teams but remember that "technique beats tactics."
Offensively, what role does transition play versus half-court offense? Do they mostly use a motion offense, or sets and quick hitters? Do they dribble drive and pass or use more on-ball and off-ball screens? Sometimes watching informs "newer" concepts like "pindown pick-and-roll." See the video below. This is an ideal concept to develop with a SLOB.
The action can trap 1's defender in the wash.
Do they look to pound the ball inside or exploit perimeter scoring? For example, the UCONN women look to score a third in transition, a third on sets, and a third on three-point shots. Shooting trends are unmistakable (below).
How is the spacing? Does the offense get paint touches and ball reversals or are they hunting early shots?
Do the cutters set up their cuts and read defenders? Do they wait for screens and read the defenders well? Do screeners function as second cutters? Do players move well without the ball? Watch D-Wade...first, without the terrific comments of Coach Castellaw.
Does the team pass well? Do they look ahead in transition? Are passes on time and on target or late? Can they enter the ball into the post?
Personnel. Pay attention to how the effective players operate. Do they use a lot of ball fakes and shot fakes or make quick moves off the catch? Do they prefer their strong hand or non-dominant? Are there "signature moves?" Great players have GO TO and COUNTER moves. Again, Wade has a vast arsenal of scoring tools (below via BBall Breakdown).
Does the defense look to extend (e.g. pressure and extent of court...full, three-quarter, half)?
Does the defense arrive in close proximity to arrival of the ball? If so, they're obviously moving on the pass. Do they sag or overplay, becoming vulnerable to screens and back cuts?
How do they approach special situations? Are they aggressively looking to score or are they content to get the ball in and run their offense?
Lagniappe: via Coach Liam Flynn
Part of the reason teams extend their defensive is to 'speed up' the offence (especially the lead guard) into taking a quick, early shots. When the defence is poorly organised AND there is space available to drive, taking an early layup can be an effective way to release pressure pic.twitter.com/P59RZwWz6V— Coach Liam Flynn (@coachliamflynn) March 28, 2019
