How to Lose Basketball Games

There's a saying about football that "three out of four games are lost not won." That means that turnovers, field position, and errors (e.g. missed blocks and tackles) often define team performance.

If we understand how games are most often lost, then we can "invert" and reduce those tendencies. "Thou shalt not..." 

Start with the Four Factors. 

1) Effective field goal percentage (net)

• Take lower percentage shots for YOUR team. Apply NBA statistics to your team although your team shoots under 25% from three. 
• Don't use hard to defend actions (pick-and-roll, urgent cutting, simple and complex screening). 
• Allow opponents the shots they want from the shooters they want.
• Have no plan and get crucified in transition. 
• Allow middle penetration and don't pressure the ball.
• Have weak shot contests and allow second shots. 

2) Turnovers (net)

• Execute poorly via decisions and/or execution. 
• Pass or dribble into traffic. Throw through hands. Pass to lower-skilled bigs moving in space. 
• Don't pressure the ball or receivers. 
• Struggle inbounding the ball against pressure. 
• Don't emphasize pass and cut against pressure. 

3) Rebounding

• Don't block out. 
• Lack physical toughness and strength.
• Be unaggressive without anticipation on the o-boards.

4) Attacking the basket 

• Don't worry about getting layups and free throws.
• Have a low percentage (below 70 percent) at the line. 
• Foul relentlessly. Reach in. Slap down. Lean on players instead of moving your feet. 

And most of all, quit under pressure and don't worry about closing out games. 

Losing is easy. You may argue, "everyone knows that." Watch high school and youth games and they assuredly do not. 

Lagniappe. Cover 1.5 (your player and half of another) by North Texas. 

Houston is the #1 Scoring Defense in CBB the last 5 years & this year. #2: North Texas!

No Middle Principles. They do a great job of ball pressure & forcing Baseline without blow by's. Any Post Catch/BL Drive, they take away Middle & trap with the Goalie. High Hands &… pic.twitter.com/gL89vTPbxA

— Film Room Breakdowns (@FilmRoom_XsOs) February 23, 2025

Lagniappe 2. Food for thought. Better mice, better mousetrap.  

‼️ X and O's HACK for all the tactical junkies out there ‼️

There is a big rise in 3 man actions due to the propensity for teams to play drop.

👇🏼

Any time you run a zoom, stagger, Spain PNR etc. good basketball teams are switching the FIRST and the THIRD against you.… pic.twitter.com/IoOaLaZgHd

— Chris Steed (@steeder10) February 22, 2025

Lagniappe 3. Basketball is a game of...separation and finishing. Don't get paid by the dribble.  

Scoring Spots Breakdown

Basketball is a game of angles and separation. The more consistent you can create angles and generate separation in less than 4 dribbles the cleaner your looks are. Efficient footwork is the foundation. Jab, Pivots, Spins.

Its been an essential part of… pic.twitter.com/ysZ7texGZu

— Nick Jones (@CoachJonesACS) February 23, 2025