Everyone 'watching' basketball games sees something different. Some see the big picture, others the granular detail, still others a mixture. What if we watch the game with an eye for what we don't see?
In "Inside Man," a miniseries starring Stanley Tucci, in a pivotal scene, he asks what didn't you see?
Think back to the last high school game you watched. You may have seen many three-point shots, some "bad fouls," and perhaps some transition hoops.
Here is some of what I didn't see:
- Hard to defend actions (e.g. complex screens like Iverson action, screen-the-screener, Spain pick-and-roll)
- Pick-and-roll
- Taking charges
- Urgent cutting leading to give-and-go scores
- Consistent on-ball pressure (saw a lot of "dead man's defense" - six feet under)
- Offensive rebounding with anticipation and aggressiveness
A hard-to-defend system isn’t built on deception. it’s built on sequenced clarity:
Show one problem. Hide the next. Score from the space created when they solve the first. That's what Mazzulla Ball is, seeking 2 vs 1.
For example, consider a high ball screen with a filled corner. If the corner help leaves to defend the driver, "drive and dish" (penetrate and pitch) pass is exposed.
Or, if the defense extends and opens the "short roll," then the defense has to adjust, which is generally not a strength for young players.
More games are lost on Defense because Teams won’t change/ adjust their Ball Screen coverages in a Game when it’s obviously not working.
— Tom Crean (@TomCrean) December 27, 2025
Having 3-4 different coverages in your “Bag” is not a sign of weakness. It’s a sign of preparation.
