Saturday, January 4, 2020

Basketball: Fast Five Plus - Lessons from a High School Basketball Game

My friend Ralph and I broadcast some local girls' basketball games. Each game reinforces core truths...alike but different. 

 Scoring in special situations (2)

 The locals led 21-12 after the first quarter and the visitors stayed in the game scoring off a screen-the-screener baseline out of bounds play. 

STS diagonal action. Defending screen-the-screener always challenges young players. 

The locals responded with inside screening of their own. 

 First, look for layups. Second, remember, "bigs away come back into play." 

 Foul trouble. How much is too much? During the second quarter, one team's center got her second and third foul. The coach rolled the dice. She picked up her fourth foul before the break and her team led 25-19 at half-time. Coaches have a feel for the game. The officiating was tight and I would have sat her. 

 Breaking down defenses. Without their center, the locals switched to a 2-3 zone in the second half. The opposition lacked a consistent transition attack to create numerical and basket attacking advantage. Without transition, they relied on struggling perimeter shooting. Necessity was the mother of victory as zone defense created a decisive 15-6 third quarter edge. 

 "Dead man's defense." In both the boys' and girls' games, ball defenders often 'guarded' players from "six feet under." As Frank Herbert wrote in Dune, "fear is the mind killer." Coaches, do we allow our players this neighborly defense? Unwillingness to pressure the ball screams doubt about both the coverage and the protection/help. Watch a team's defensive proximity. 

 "It's not the size of the dog in the fight..." What was the difference? Olivia and Sofia, both under 5'4" dominated the boards in the second half. We talk about defensive rebounding being positioning and toughness and o-boards anticipation and aggressiveness. For some, it's just will to get the ball. Academic study has shown height to account for about half of rebounds. Toughness is a major part of the other half. 

 Lagniappe: We're all teammates...family, work, community, area, nation. United we stand...follow the teachings of Coach George Raveling and Coach Mike Lombardi
A student of legacy presidents (Lincoln, the Roosevelts, Lyndon Johnson), Doris Kearns Goodwin reminds us of critical components for authentic leadership:

  • Humility
  • Emotional intelligence
  • Resilience
  • Self-awareness 
Model these traits for our players and our peers. 
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