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Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Basketball - Bad Possessions

Bad possessions are the cockroaches of basketball. They annoy and frustrate. "There's never just one cockroach." Coaches want to "edit out" the bad possession. Celtics Coach Joe Mazzulla emphasizes film study of the 10-15 bad possessions that could change a game. 

Bad possessions inhabit both offense and defense. They generally result from failures of decisions (reads), execution, or communication.

Players need to hold themselves accountable in real-time and coaching illustrates where changes must happen. Halfway through a season is too late because games and perhaps playoffs have slipped away. 

Bad Offensive Possessions (examples)

  • Poor shot selection - low quality - shooter, shot (range, openness, balance)
  • Turnovers (zero percent possessions), worse = live-ball turnover
  • Poor execution (cuts not set up, not urgent, bad screen set/use
  • Missed free throws
  • Delay in offense initiation becoming "bail-out" shots during shot clock

Bad Defensive Possessions (examples)

  • Miscommunication, missed assignments
  • Poor transition defense = easy shots (numbers, layups)
  • Bad ball containment = layups, drive and dish
  • Poor shot closeouts and shot contests
  • Weak technique resulting in fouling (highest point/possession)
  • Defensive rebounding lapses (high percentage scoring)
Film examples: 

Remind players what their parents said, "Don't play in the traffic." Jaylen Brown gets swarmed in the paint. A live ball turnover follows and the Pels turn it into two points in transition. Live ball turnovers turn into high opponent points-per-possession. 


Another example: loss of focus and failure to value the ball. 


A possession can break down at any point. A failed blockout or unalert rebounding can translate into a high percentage opportunity.
 


The Hornets are second in three pointers attempted per game and third in percentage. Limiting the Hornets means defending the three. The Heat clog the middle and tag but the Hornets "lift" from the corner and score. A defensive possession they might want back... 


When the Celtics won the title in 2008, assistant Kevin Eastman wrote they allowed over 30 points in one Finals game through defensive mistakes. Charlotte loses Larsson and worse fouls after the layup. 


Individual defense is hard. Bad closeout/subtle fake by Jaquez and no help from Charlotte leads to a layup. Charlotte ranked 11th in defensive rating.
 

Summary

Bad possessions come in multiple flavors. Although over fifty years have passed, I remember us getting lambasted for $hitbird defense or $hit shots showing up on grainy black-and-white 8 mm film. "The truth machine" makes you want to be better.

Lagniappe. Be a mentor. Look for a mentor. 
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