Games tell stories through characters, complex interplay of people and situations, random bounces, officiating, and outcomes. Why not break them down with three questions?
Think back to a big game you played in, coached, or watched.
1) What happened?
2) What details (shooting percentage, turnovers, rebounds) explained it?
3) How can we prepare and execute better next time?
In Game Changer, Fergus Connolly argues that more efficient breakdown involves:
- Assess the structure (spacing)
- Analyze the ball movement
- Evaluate the player movement
- Study the resulting spacing and timing
Offenses work to create space and defenses to condense (shrink) it. The sum of numerous possession defines the 'what' happened.
Structure. Unusual spacing choices can define success.
Ball and player movement. In 1973, without a shot clock or three-point shots, we averaged 65 points a game. Here's an example:
Resultant spacing and timing.
Chris Oliver at Basketball Immersion shares how deception with player and ball movement create opportunity.
Last night the Celtics used a predominance of isolation in overtime, yielding poor separation, low shot quality, and defeat. On some plays, the failure to establish a pick-and-roll morphed into isolation. At 6:57 Jayson Tatum gets doubled late in the clock in a bail-out offensive situation.
Lagniappe: Pete Newell reminded players of the triad of footwork, balance, and maneuvering speed. Sports reward "athletic explosion." Here Coach Tony shares three drills to improve first step quickness.