Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Delay Game

Sports provide the highest emotional highs and the lowest lows. These extremes often follow "situational basketball" where teams identify and execute (or not) key strategies. Success in close games demands personnel and strategy implementing offensive and defensive 'delay' strategy. Today, I focus on offensive delay. 

Astronomical differences separate "know that" and "know how." 

1. Play to win, not to lose. Game theory informs that players having a "dominant" strategy should use it. Why choose your second, third, or fourth option if you have Michael Jordan?

2. Use cardinal principles - play hard, play together, play smart



3. Simplify. Get everyone on the same page. This is easier than it sounds. Team A leads team B by eight with fifty-five seconds on the clock (30-second shot clock) and has possession out of bounds at mid court. Warm up the bus, right? Team A throws the ball in to the team captain who misses a three pointer FIVE seconds into the shot clock. The Latin expression is res ipsa loquitur, the thing speaks for itself.

4. Clarify. Players must understand the why and the how, the intent and operations. The best delay games put the ball in the hands of your playmakers. Protect the ball, create opportunities for easy baskets (via defensive overplay), and make free throws. 

5. Options




A. When I think of delay offense (it could be used as standalone offense), I think Four Corners with the inimitable Phil Ford at the controls. After Dean Smith's death, Roy Williams ran "four" in tribute to Coach Smith. 



B. This 1-4 'shallow cut' offense offers simplicity IF you have the ball handlers to operate it. Every good offense starts with adequate spacing. This also offers pick-and-roll alternatives. 

C. Continuity downscreens. 



We ran this "continuity downscreens" forty-five years ago in high school. We had five capable scorers (everyone averaged at least 10 ppg) who could make free throws. Practically speaking, any player could function at any spot. The 5 was available to cut and release to the ball when needed. I can't recall losing a game that we had the opportunity to use this offense. If overplayed severely, you can back cut.

Good teams execute close and late. Find a program and personnel that work for you.