I have heard a lot of coach’s talk about their athletes shooting woes this year. I have also talked to a lot of “traditional” coaches whose athletes are shooting a poor percentage.
A couple of observations, first off the system teams are putting themselves in a position to win because they are getting more shots in a game and have more possessions. The traditional folks are losing a larger amount of their games because they do not have the opportunities.
A couple of theories why both groups are not shooting so well; 1) Investiture; I am not convinced that players shoot as much in the off season for two reasons, In smaller schools like mine all sports want a cut of the athletes time and they are so divided with their time that they do not shoot in the off season, also with all of the other things to use their time on such as computers, cell phones, cars, and jobs, they do not take the time to shoot in the off season. 2) You are playing at a pace that few of the athletes have ever played at. I know when I was a traditional coach I thought “wow my kids play hard. “ But until you see and coach system everyday as a coach you do not understand what hard is.
Does this answer their shooting problems? Let me answer my own question- NO. But go back to the original reasons the system was set up, to give teams that are not as talented opportunities to achieve goals, to give them the advantage of surprise in the press, to give them a better chance to win with better effort and not necessarily better talent.
Look at the goals of the system, depending on the level of play you are at you want more shots, more three’s shot, more offensive rebounds, force your opponents into more turnovers, and get more shots than your opponents. Nowhere does it talk about a better shooting percentage. Again, does this answer their shooting problems? Let me answer my own question- NO.
Coaches I am interested, would you be shooting a better percentage playing traditional? Have I helped you at all with this post? Probably not, but I hope it helps you understand that the system does not promise a better percentage. If I annoyed you with this post it was not my intention. Good luck! Keep firing, that is system.
G-
ReplyDeleteLet me throw in my two cents- I bet most traditional coaches would say that their offense is designed to a) get more higher percentage shots (ie closer to the basket) or b) get more shots from a higher percentage shooter.
You and I both know that basketball is a give and take game- do you take away the high percentage shots, or high percentage shooter? This is much more of a problem decision at smaller schools.
Like you, I also think that system ball may allow plenty of low percentage shots early, but it also opens up those offensive rebound and lay-up opportunites late. I feel many traditional coaches would rather play "chess" where they control all the pieces all the time, than "army" where the general allows the soldiers to make on the fly decisions based on an overall goal. Sure, you may take some hits early but trusting your soldiers to make great decisions based on their training always gives you an advantage at the end. Nice question!