Basketball Scenarios

We get asked all the time, Coach, here’s the situation, what would you do?

Well, right-wrong or indifferent, here is our opinion of what should be done. At any level, male or female. Of course, all scenarios usually have MORE to the story. We are assuming the scenario described is the game situation and it is during a timeout.

• A.) Tie ball game, other team’s ball, 30 seconds left, our team has certainly outplayed ourselves to be in this game. We don’t deserve to even be within ten points. What do I say?

Stick with what got you here. The greatest thing you have to instill in your players at this point is confidence. Team – we can win this! I believe in you. I believed in you at the start of the game, I believed in you at halftime, I believe in you now. All we need is one stop. Defense or rebounding is probably what got you to this point to begin with, so encourage them – ONE MORE STOP. They didn’t think we’d still be in the game at this point, let’s do what we’ve done the entire game up until now and all step up to play some good defense. All we need is one stop. Now, once a shot goes up, everybody block out and go get the rebound. Switch gears and go ahead and let them know what you would like to do on offense.

Quick play for a good shot. Remember, we’ve got to at least get a good shot attempted. Be ready if they plan to go into a stall. Let’s go, Defense on three...

• B.) Our ball, 15 seconds left, we are down one point. Pretty evenly matched teams. Both teams are in the bonus.

Get the ball in your point guards hands and draw a play that gets the ball either inside or movement towards the goal. An official doesn’t want to blow the whistle, on a foul from an outside shot, however, if a player is taking it to the hole and draws contact, it will force the official to make a call. The main thing is you want to get a decent shot early or at least take it to the hole. You want movement towards the goal so you can at least draw the foul or get a good shot. I encourage going to the hole early so if you aren’t able to convert, you are at least able to foul them and get them on the free-throw line in order to give you another shot.

• C.) Our ball, one minute left, up two points. Our point guard has fouled out and my post player has 4 fouls. I’m just trying to get through the last minute and NOT go into overtime. Both teams are in the bonus, Now what?

First thing you want to do is encourage the new ball-handler (s). Let’s take care of the basketball and make good passes. Ok, let’s play this last minute like a tie ball game. Whoever wins the next minute, will win the basketball game. Restate the obvious, ok, we are up two, so we don’t have to force anything. Let’s continue to work the ball and get a good shot at the basket. If anyone has an opportunity to take it to the hole, go for it and play strong. On defense, the most important thing is to not give up an easy basket. Our first priority is to Stop the Ball, then find who you are guarding. The last thing we want to do is give up an easy basket at the other end. Remember, no Silly Fouls! Lets go, defense on three...

• D.) Other teams ball, one minute left, down two points. Both teams are in the bonus.

Remind your team that there is plenty of time left and all you want to do is get ONE STOP. Remind everyone who they are guarding and remind them that they have to get a stop. Once we get a stop, here is what we are going to do on offense. Draw up your play. At the end of the timeout, remind them that the other team may try to stall and what your team should do in that event – pressure them trying to get a steal, then foul if needed. If you are down, you have to become more aggressive or the aggressor, if not, it’s difficult to overcome a deficit.