Anatomy of a Timeout: Tip #3

In Tip #2, we talked about things to cover when you are trailing in a game with only a few minutes left in a game. Today, we are going to flip the perspective for the same situation. When you have a lead in a game, what items do you need to go over with your team during that timeout situation? Here are some questions and items to consider and discuss with your staff.

Offensive


1. At what point do you go into your delay game offense, if you have one? Motion coaches will probably say that they will continue to stay in their motion set, but will just be more disciplined in their shot selection. How about continuity coaches? Do you stay in your continuity or do you go into some sort of delay offense? I have seen coaches go into a delay to soon and their teams become stagnant, thus turning the ball over and losing momentum. When you are in your delay offense, whatever it is, what are the points of emphasis you need to relay to your players? We emphasize the following items.

2. First, we need to keep high and wide spacing. The defense is going to be in a gambling and aggressive mentality. Therefore, we need to have good driving lanes and cutting lanes on defensive overplay.

3. Second, shorten the pass by meeting the pass. In other words, we want to close the gap when passes are being made to prevent the defense from shooting the passing lane.

4. Third, catch, rip, and triple threat. Again, the defense is going to be in our comfort zone so we have got to be tough with the ball. We tell our kids that we have got to be confident with the ball and if they can take their man to the rim, DO IT. We are happy to get to the free throw line during this part of the game.

5. Fourth, if you are denied, it is an automatic back cut and fill out. Absolutely no standing.

6. Fifth, our best players always need to be 1 pass away. The reason for this is because we our best players to get the most touches and we want them to get to the free throw line.

7. Have you practice a full court, ¾ court, and ½ court special designed to get the ball in when the other team is trying to get a steal or foul?

Defensive items

1. How are you going to handle late game screening situations? Are you going to switch?

2. How are you going to defend drive and kick situations? The offense is going to be aggressive to the rim.

3. Do you know who the weakest player(s) is on the other team? Are you going “dork” defend him in order to help shade towards the other team’s best player who will most likely get the most touches?

4. If you are up 3 with a few seconds left, do you foul to put them in a bonus free throw situation in order for them not to get a 3 point shot off? Do your players know how to properly foul and WHEN?

5. On a made basket, do you want the in-bounder to get the ball in quickly or do you want your team to take their time and get set up in your press break?

6. On a made basket, does your in-bounder know whether he can run the baseline or not?

The answers to a lot of these questions are determined by your philosophy as a coach. As always, it is vital that you work on these situations during practice. It is hard to cover them all, but the more you practice them, the more prepared you are for those situations when they com