Friday, December 09, 2011
Countdown to the Season
Melrose has had a couple of scrimmages as the girls prepare for the upcoming season.
Basketball is a game of mistakes. Defense is about forcing offenses to make errors, which could include drawing charges, creating turnovers, getting deflections and steals, and above all forcing bad shots, preventing easy baskets, and rebounding relentlessly. Players unwilling to make maximal defensive commitment, regardless of offensive ability, will lose opportunities to contribute.
Conversely, solid offensive players will maximize their chances to create scoring chances for others and themselves by integrating spacing, player, and ball movement. Spacing allows dribble penetration, clears passing lanes, and makes help defense and trapping more difficult. Good offensive players move to open spots, cut to the basket, and set screens. They are NOT magnetized to the ball. Ball movement creates defensive malpositioning, sets up easier shots, and deforms zone defenses.
The best coaches teach their players to see the game. And as players see the game, opportunities arise consistently. Coach Bob Knight says that the mental is to the physical in basketball four to one. I couldn't agree more.
I saw a lot of good things reviewing the scrimmage video, particularly a lot of unselfish play.
Basketball is a game of mistakes. Defense is about forcing offenses to make errors, which could include drawing charges, creating turnovers, getting deflections and steals, and above all forcing bad shots, preventing easy baskets, and rebounding relentlessly. Players unwilling to make maximal defensive commitment, regardless of offensive ability, will lose opportunities to contribute.
Conversely, solid offensive players will maximize their chances to create scoring chances for others and themselves by integrating spacing, player, and ball movement. Spacing allows dribble penetration, clears passing lanes, and makes help defense and trapping more difficult. Good offensive players move to open spots, cut to the basket, and set screens. They are NOT magnetized to the ball. Ball movement creates defensive malpositioning, sets up easier shots, and deforms zone defenses.
The best coaches teach their players to see the game. And as players see the game, opportunities arise consistently. Coach Bob Knight says that the mental is to the physical in basketball four to one. I couldn't agree more.
I saw a lot of good things reviewing the scrimmage video, particularly a lot of unselfish play.
// posted by Ron Sen, MD, FCCP @ 11:20 PM 
