It's no secret that playing your best players and combinations the most time is a better recipe for success. But everyone needs a chance to grow, to succeed, and to learn from failure. Let's examine - warts and all - the before, during, and after our playoff loss.
I had prior video and a statistical breakdown...leading to the following communication to parents.
Why should we have success this weekend? We clean up mistakes and make some more plays. WE WILL REVIEW (Zone offense) at PRACTICE. This is representative of GAME PLANNING which is a skill for young players to learn...
I've studied the Wakefield game (thanks to a parent for posting the video on YouTube). Here are my observations and keys. I do not encourage players to watch the video. Please share the info with the girls.
First, we will win the tap, so we should score off the tap with a tap and cut action.
Personnel: Wakefield's best players are 24/15 (shooters) and 2 is a driver. Better defensive focus should hold Wakefield in the 20s.
Keys to the Game:
1) Take care of the ball. 80% of turnovers occur during passing/receiving. Pass away from the defender and avoid the traffic.
2) Transition defense. Wakefield had at least 10 of their 37 points on transition OPEN layups. We have to SPRINT not JOG back. "Basketball is a SPRINTING GAME." Defense never rests.
3) Rebounding. We need toughness on the boards, especially the defensive boards.
Our Defense:
EAGLE (1-2-1-1 = Diamond) DIDN'T work...we won't repeat what didn't work.
Against full denial Man (HAWK) they tried FOUR ACROSS (above) and THREW DEEP (over the defense), we're athletic enough that EFFORT defines results...
I'm simplifying the offense more (above)
Offensively:
We can fast break against them (beat the zone down the floor).
Wakefield consistently attacks anyone whom they think will turnover the ball...especially smaller guards...they trap out of the 2-3 zone (top and wing)
Cannot attack the middle of zone with the bounce
LITTLE GUARDS...DO NOT CUT INTO THE LANE, you WILL BE BLOCKED...you can't win among the trees
On the Baseline Out of Bounds plays (BOB above)...they send the low (ballside) x4 defender with the cutter. That will open the middle
they also struggled to defend the 15 (above)
Our offensive execution:
We dribbled too much against zone
Can't IMMEDIATELY put ball on the floor
Can't force ball into POST
Wakefield Offense: WE MUST STOP THEIR SIDELINE BOX for a SHOT FOR 24 (above). THIS IS HUGE for THEM (as they scored multiple 3's off it)
What actually happened during the game? What went well? What went badly? What could we have done differently?
- We mostly stopped their transition game...
- To his credit, the opposing coach pressed against our reserves and attacked our interior defense when our primary rim protector was out. Both tactics had success...critical in a one possession game into the final minute.
- We seldom ran the zone offense that we spent extensive practice on.
- We had fewer turnovers (occasionally forcing post entry) but took more undisciplined, lower quality shots (shot turnovers) - exactly why teams play zone
- We got punished on the boards, a physical mismatch
- I predicted that we should hold the opposition in the 20s and they got 31, 2 on a late layup against pressure but we cost ourselves with shot selection and shooting.
What next? What does the team need now? Improve our attention to detail...along the arc of possession (rebounding) and possessions (finishing). Develop physical strength and toughness as we struggled against physical teams. Some will come with maturity but the players can benefit from organized strength training that will help all their sports. I think this is available at no charge via the school. I have reached out to the AD for details.
We also need to improve our shot selection and efficiency...every player needs an individual program that she follows. I will provide off-season skill-building opportunities for those interested. I may open it up to other grades depending on participation.
James Naismith wrote, "basketball is an easy game to learn but a difficult one to master." Every season echoes that lesson.
Lagniappe: "Challenge your balance."
