The goal of this message is to help young coaches and young players understand the value and technique of spacing. How I teach may not be relevant to how you do.
The basketball is a magnet. But remember the experiments at school, where a magnet can attract or repel another magnet?
How do magnets know? How do players know?
When we watch youth basketball, most players DO NOT UNDERSTAND. They want the ball and don't understand that better spacing helps.
Why does spacing work?
- Spacing opens up driving.
- Spacing opens up passing lanes.
- Spacing makes double teaming difficult.
- Poor spacing allows one to cover two.
In other words, spacing facilitates driving, cutting, and passing.
Better spacing allows offense to penalize poor defensive positioning, help, and rotation as defenses forget "the ball scores."
The Pistons' pick-and-roll goes south immediately. The defense does an adequate job re: ICE but notice -
1) The help side guard is below the ball and in position to 'tag' the roller
2) The big has some containment on the ball
3) LeBron is in excellent position to handle the roller
4) The helpside corner defender is positioned to help on LeBron's assignment
We have to presume that the Cavs aren't worried about the big at the top of the key.
Why is spacing harder for younger players? In addition to lack of understanding, most young players have poor shooting range and view themselves as "out of the action" when properly spaced.
Teaching point. "The three-point line is the spacing line."
Optional teaching point. Defenders violating the three-point line trigger a cut.
Another way to help students visualize is spacing 'zones'.
Players are taught not to cluster in one zone.
Highlights from Spurs' assistant Etorre Messina:
1. Determine what information works for your system.
2. Players want us to add value.
3. Optimize the degree of difficulty.
4. His basic system is about 'spacing and timing'. 5. He demands spacing "corner to corner" and to the baseline.
6. Spacing plus ball reversal challenges defensive movement.
7. Open threes demand penetration to force defenses to collapse on the ball.
8. Timing means something is happening while something else is finishing.
9. You lose the advantage when you wait for one action to complete before starting another.
10.He discusses the symmetry of defense acting to disrupt spacing and timing.
11.We are better coaches when we correct to our priorities.
12.He analyzes defense by examining space and time defense arrives relative to the ball. When defense arrives WITH the ball, then offensive timing is broken.
13.You may not have the treatment, but you have the diagnosis based on spacing and treatment.
14.Everyone must have the same vision within that team.