Partly due to analytics, the game has and is changing.
"Can we say "rejection"!
The most impactful thing that has influenced sports recently seems to be the field of analytics. Baseball coaches can find out how well their left handed hitting second basemen hits left handed curveball pitchers on Wednesdays before dark. Some college and professional football coaches have decided to go on fourth down rather than punt if it is 4th and less than 5 yards. And in the game of basketball, coaches have embraced increasing three point shot attempts. Some coaches have developed an offensive concept of either shooting threes or taking lay ups. No other shot attempts should be taken. Most of these decisions are based on analytics. You now see what are commonly referred to as "stretch" fours and even a few "stretch" fives. Now some programs want to put on the floor at least 4 players who are legitimate three point shooters (makers). I recently watched a college game in which both teams were a combined 0 for 21 in three point field goal attempts in the first half. It was early in the second half before a three point attempt was made. This is the current trend and in time the offensive pendulum will probably swing back to a more balanced approach.
Now I have no issue with analytics and I understand the one constant in basketball and life is change. I do have a question about SHOT SELECTION. One thing I do have a problem with is what's a good shot attempt regardless of whether it is a two point attempt or a three point attempt. I know in college and in the pros the shot clock can influence shot selection negatively but it is not an issue in most high schools. Some high school coaches, and even college coaches, grade the shots taken by assigning
a numerical value to each shot taken. One example of this grading method is: 4 - For a lay up or put back, 3 - Wide open shot within their range, 2 - A contested shot within their range, and 1 - is a bad shot. Now for this type of system to work you will need to clearly define what is meant by each number. The educational process can be a challenge because most players have only one criteria for whether the shot they take is a good one or not .....
did it go in!
I do believe as a coach what you allow in practice you have no right to criticize when it happens in a game. If you have no problem with your players taking any shot at any time, then don't be critical when it happens
in a game. To me a bad shot is the same as a turnover. One of my issues was about the timing of a shot. I was never a big fan of transition 3's or one
pass 3's if we had no one in rebound position. I also believe your team
needs to understand how much less time your opponent is spending on
defense when your team takes quick shots. I have witnessed many times teams who took shots in the first 10-15 seconds of possession then make or miss their opponents would go down to the other end of the floor and burn
30-35 seconds of clock. Now I am not a mathematical genius but if this type of time disparity continues your team is going to spend a lot more time on
defense than your opponent. If your team lacks depth, this time issue can
have a negative impact on your team's performance.
You have to make sure your team understands what is a good shot and
what is not. Each player on your team needs to understand what is a good
shot for them! You need to talk about and teach it.
One of the frustrating experiences of in game coaching is to see your team
get blown out because they get caught up in an offensive run against them
and the team you are coaching reacts by going down to the offensive end
of the floor and force up shots. I call that adding gasoline to the fire!
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