"Victory favors the team making the fewest mistakes." - Bobby Knight
Inattention is a root cause for basketball failure. Each of us knows the sting of "would have, could have, should have." Inattention manifests in myriad ways. Examples illustrate the plethora of potential pitfalls. I will not address the player with attention deficit disorder, as a separate discussion fills pages.
Often the failures occur WITHOUT THE BALL. Players invest the bulk of their time in ball skills, but spend 90 percent of the game without the ball.
The 1993 NCAA Championship game "timeout that didn't exist" immediately comes to mind.
In the top frame, the right post will come to receive the ball at the top, creating space.
In the bottom frame, the defender gets caught in-between "ball watching", leading to the patented Princeton back cut.
Our high school lost a sectional championship, partly because of failed rotation. I saw the handout of the game plan, emphasizing doubling the post with rotation as one "key to victory". The help cannot get beaten. In a one point game, our team allowed three layups on non-rotation. It's a reason why I will NEVER double the post with two bigs.
Years ago we had a player who became a college standout and still plays in Europe. The coach didn't want to use a timeout to get her back in the game. During the time she was at the table, the opposition scored ten points (ultimately winning by two). "Time waits for no man."
Years ago our high school had a ten year streak of winning the league championship including two streaks of over 50 consecutive league wins. In the first game of another season, the first two defensive possessions, the weak side post didn't block out leading to putbacks. We lost by one. The victors rightfully acted as though they had won the state championship as they hadn't beaten our team in "forever". Games are lost on the first plays of the game as well as the last.
I hate "my turn" shots. Years ago, a local team led by eight with about a minute left with the ball and a full thirty seconds on the shot clock. The ball was inbounded and a senior took a three pointer with 25 seconds on the shot clock. Although the outcome didn't change, it was terrible basketball, selfish play, identity-crushing, soul-destroying basketball. That is not why we coach youth basketball.
Some players have the attention span of a gnat. It is our job to solve problems.
