Friday, April 26, 2024

Basketball: Differences of Opinion





Screenshot from LinkedIn

Consensus isn't always correctness. Vive la difference! Consensus doesn't always mean good policy or decision-making. Consensus included slavery, women unable to vote, fascism. 

Basketball doesn't have 'universal' rules. Men and women use different basketballs. Three-point distance in high school, college, and the NBA differ. FIBA rules differ from American basketball rules. That's okay. 

Coaches extol a variety of offenses. The triangle offense once ruled the NBA - thanks to Jordan and Kobe. No day passes where we don't receive offers for training and implementation of Princeton offense. With UCONN winning consecutive championships, expect bombardment for sales of Danny Hurley's playbook. 

Coaches favor different defenses. John Thompson and Nolan Richardson favored high intensity fullcourt defense. Jon Chaney liked matchup zones. Jim Boeheim's clubs mastered to 2-3 zone. Virginia won a title with pack line D. Whatever you do, do it well. 

Some players and parents choose prestige over finding the best fit. When the fit doesn't work, both institutions and players end up dissatisfied and players leave. 

Lagniappe. Don't allow sport to become misery. 

Lagniappe 2. Some say that a shot fake is "a shot not taken." Sometimes it's far more. 

 Lagniappe 3. A lot goes into successful shooting:

  • Ability to get open / "contestedness" 
  • Quality of the pass
  • Quality of shot / range 
  • Ability of shooter
  • Shot selection