Friday, March 29, 2024

Basketball Gravity, It's More Than Physics

Basketball uses and defies gravity. 

Gravity appears in many contexts. Mediocrity has gravity. It takes considerable effort and time to achieve "escape velocity" when taking over a losing program. 

Plyometric training overcomes gravity. Jumping rope is one of many exercises that tame gravity. Weighted vests help build strength leading to increased vertical without redistributing center of gravity. 

Great players have gravity on the court, attracting defensive attention. 

Great players have gravity in team building. Stars seek other stars in the 'superteam' space.  

Some coaches have the gravity to attract players. "In a recent anonymous survey conducted by The Athletic, 25.3 percent of 95 players chose Popovich as the coach players would like to play for apart from their own." Tom Thibodeau was the coach players least wanted to play for. 

The ball has gravity as defense loads to the ball (above) and 'shrinks space'.

Ideally offenses defeat gravity with spacing, ball movement (above) to create long closeouts for open shots or basket attack. 

Of course, the greatest gravitational grab has emerged, attracting players from everywhere, NIL, legitimizing player payments. 

Lagniappe. How are you impacting winning? 

Lagniappe 2. Speak of the devil. Attacking the closeout.  

Lagniappe 3. Meyerisms.