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
- 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
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.