Basketball: Winning Close and Late

Coach: "Our average margin of victory was twenty-seven points." 

Reporter: "How did that translate in the playoffs?"

Coach: "We won a few games but lost a close one in the States." 

Teams win big during the regular season for many reasons.

• Overwhelming talent and recruiting
• Player development
• Weak opposition
• Limited use of bench 

There's nothing "wrong" there, but few close and late (e.g. one and two possession games in the final four minutes) means less experience closing out tight games. Winning close games involves good decisions, superior conditioning, and some factors listed below. Traffic in specifics. 

• Ability to make free throws
• Controlling tempo with offensive and defensive delay games
• Limiting fouling (opponent scores without using time)
• Half-court offense
• Controlling the defensive boards
• Valuing the ball (few turnovers against pressure)
• Comeback game
• Special situations

Pressure free throws.

• Practice under pressure (free throw harassment in practice, teammate can say or do anything but not physically alter the shot)
• Confirm scrimmage wins with a free throw
• Practice under fatigue conditions (blend in conditioning with free throw practice)

Delay games.

• The classic delay game is "Four Corners" 
• Offensive - use time, avoid turnovers, get good shots
• Defensive - each player must be capable of tight on and off-ball defense
• Both require realistic practice. Consider putting 3 minutes on the clock with the team up 6. Start play on defense. If you get a stop, run clock ten seconds and give defense the ball again. Offense, put 2:00 on the clock, trailing by four, five team fouls. Start on defense and play out the end of the game. 

Limit fouls. 

• Emphasize good technique. "Show your hands, don't block shots with swatting down."
• Prioritize contesting shots without fouling. 
• NEVER foul jump shots or threes.

Half-court offense.

• Have a list and practice best ATOs, BOBs, SLOBs, action versus 'man' and versus zone defense.
• Tight 'man' defense is vulnerable to screens and back cuts
• Delay game must be able to generate late shot clock offense

We had a dynamic five who could put the ball on the floor and score in many ways. We used continuous screening off the ball with option of returning the ball to 5 for isolation. When defenders 'cheat' back cuts are exposed.

Defensive rebounding. 

• Can't allow second shots. 
• Favor results over technique. Block out or 'hit and get'? 
• Emphasis on positioning and toughness on D boards. 

Limit turnovers. 

• Practice advantage vs disadvantage (e.g. 5 versus 7)
• Practice pivoting footwork to limit traveling. 
• Practice "no bounce" basketball as an offensive constraint.

What's your "comeback game?"

• Might not be "core personnel" (? more speed and quickness)
• Has to involve some "intelligent trapping" without fouling
• "Stops make runs." There's no comeback without stops. 

Special situations. 

• Versus man, emphasize cutting and screening.
• Versus zone, emphasize overload.
• Cultivate an in-bounder who makes good decisions. 

Lagniappe. "Embrace the contact." I coached girls who didn't embrace the contact. Many ended up in volleyball or soccer.