"Basketball is a game meant to be played fast." - John Wooden
Pete Newell explained a coach's job, "help players to SEE THE GAME." When players see the game, it slows down.
Consider other sports. When players get sped up, they underachieve, no matter how great. Elite pass rushers speed up both quarterback processing and mechanics. In baseball, pitching scouts look for 'velo' which reduces hitter reaction time.
In basketball, teams speed up opponents with pressure defense, trapping, unfamiliar defenses, and athleticism.
Return to offensive first principles of spacing, player and ball movement, and execution.
Defensively, "shrink space" by dropping to the level of the ball, loading to the ball, and helping so that offensive players "feel" a change of space which impacts cutting and ball movement.
Ball pressure speeds up ball handlers who concern themselves with ball security. It distracts from their vision and passing freedom. But sometimes players speed themselves up by forcing drives or passes into traffic.
Slow the Game Down.
- Play. Build skill through repetition and competition. There is no substitute.
- Practice situational basketball - time and score, end-game situations. On defense, 8 seconds left, up by three, SLOB. Do we foul?
- Small-sided games condense experience with more touches.
- Watch video. Study great teams, great players, and personal growth by watching games, film, and even cellphone video. Note how to separate and prevent separation.
- Play against better players. Consider women's teams practicing against men.
- Get a coach. "Great players want to be coached."
- Add constraints. Tracking results, playing against time (e.g. shooting practice), and in disadvantaged situations (e.g. dribble tag with non-dominant hand dribbling) build skill and confidence.
- Enhance focus (consider mindfulness, like great players and Olympians).
- Investigate software to improve cognitive spatial recognition
Summary:
- Speeding up offensive players degrades offense across sport
- Strong defense shrinks the court
- Ball pressure speeds up dribblers
- Experience is the best, but not only teacher
- Get a coach
- Play "up"
- Study great teams and players and your growth on video
Lagniappe. Dribble drive attack drill
Lagniappe 2. Ball and player movement stress defenses. Combine ball reversal and paint touches via urgent cutting, passing, and finishing. (17 second video).
