PREPARE YOUR TEAM FOR THESE 20 LATE GAME SITUATIONS

I have put together a list of late game situations that coaches need to prepare their team for.  You may not even encounter some of these situations during the season, but don't get caught off guard, and prepare for them. These are situations that as a coach you need to think about so you at least know what your choices will be if you are faced with them.

1. Score is tied or you are behind. Full court. Baseline OB. Dead Ball. Less than 3 seconds on the clock.
2. Score is tied or you are behind. Full court. Baseline OB. Dead Ball. More than 3 seconds on the clock.
3. Score is tied or you are behind. Full court. Baseline OB. Clock is running.  Less than 3 seconds on the clock.
4. Score is tied or you are behind. Full court. Baseline OB. Clock is running. More than 3 seconds on the clock.
5. Score is tied or you are behind. Sideline OB near half court. Less than 3 seconds on the clock.
6. Score is tied or you are behind. Sideline OB near half court. More than 3 seconds on the clock.
7. Score is tied or you are behind. Sideline OB near free throw line extended or lower.  Less than 3 seconds on the clock.
8. Score is tied or you are behind. Sideline OB near free throw line extended or lower. More than 3 seconds on the clock.
9. You are behind 2 or 3 points with a few seconds left and your player is at the free throw line with one shot. 
10. Tie game with one minute left to play. Your team has the ball.  When do you attempt to score?
1. Do you hold the ball for one shot?
2. Do you take the first available shot?
11. Tie game. Your team has the ball with 10 seconds to play. No timeouts. What do you want your team to run?  Do you want them to attack the rim? Get the ball inside? Run a specific set play? Who do you want to take the shot?
12. You are down 3. Opponent has the ball with 10 seconds left.  Do you foul or play it out?
13. You are down 3. Opponent has the ball with 4 seconds left. Do you foul or play it out?
14. You are down 3 and on defense. If you decide to not foul on a big possession late in the game, how will your team defend ball screens?
15. Your team is on defense. You are behind by 1 point with 30 seconds left in the game.  The offensive team is in the bonus. When, if at all, do you foul?
16. You are ahead by 2 with 10 seconds left in the game.  You are on defense.  Offense will take the ball out baseline OB and has to go the length of the court. Offense is in the bonus. How do you defend them? 
1. Do you apply a full court press?  If so, what type?
2. If you don't apply full court pressure, where do you start defending the ball?
17. You are on defense.  Your team is ahead by 4 points with 20 seconds to go.  You have two fouls to give.  Do you have your team commit non-shooting fouls?
18. You are down 10 points with three minutes to go in the game. At what point to you start fouling and put the other team on the free throw line?
19. You are ahead in a one possession game (1, 2, or 3 points). Your team is on defense. The opposing team calls a timeout with 8 seconds to play.  You've played zone defense the entire game.  Do you play man-to-man on this last possession if it is something you have in your team's arsenal?
20. Do you have a delay game on offense when you are attempting to secure a lead late in games? If so, when do you start using it?

CATCH & ATTACK 1-ON-1

SETTING UP THE DRILL

Form two lines along the baseline; one offense, one defense. The offense line is along the sideline. Place two cones near the half court line with the cone for the offense being a shorter distance than the defense.

EXECUTING THE DRILL

Coach has the ball. When Coach yells "Go!" Player 1 and x1 sprint around their respective cones. When 1 (offense) gets around their cone Coach throws them the ball and they attack the basket attempting to score while x1 tries to stop the score. Players rotate lines when rep is completed.

SCORING: 1 point per basket made. First player to 3 points, wins. Can also give points for stops. First player to get 3 stops, wins.

VARIATION: Divide the players into two teams. Give each player on each team three chances to play offense. Team with most points wins.     

HORNS SET FROM NEW ZEALAND 2013 OCEANIA CHAMPIONSHIP

The following is a Horns set that New Zealand ran in the 2013 FIBA Oceania Championship For Women.

Diagram A

Diagram B

Diagram A
1 passes to 4.
1 sprints and screens for 2.
2 cuts up the three point line.
5 sets a ball screen for 4.












Diagram B
4 uses the ball screen and is looking to either get their own shot or hit 5 on a roll to the basket.

Diagram C

Diagram C
If 5 is not open, 4 will pass back to 2.
2's first option is to get their shot. If not they look for 5 sealing their defender in the post.

3 STEPS TO HELP YOU ENJOY COACHING

3 SIMPLE STEPS TO HELP YOU ENJOY WHAT YOU DO

Step 1: Surround yourself with good people.

Step 2: Serve others.

Step 3: Repeat.

4-ON-4 TALK & STOP DRILL

The 4-on-4 Talk & Stop Drill forces your players to work on communication, defensive positioning, closeouts, and executing your defensive philosophy.

SETTING UP THE DRILL
Four offensive players align outside the three-point line.  Four defenders line up in a vertical line inside the lane area.  Coach starts with a ball under the basket area.







EXECUTING THE DRILL
The coach calls out the name of one of the defenders and passes the ball to one of the offensive players.  The player whose name was called will closeout on the the ball, while the other three defenders match up with the other three offensive players.  On the flight of the ball the three defenders must communicate, call out the name of the person they are defending, while getting to the proper defensive position based on where the ball was thrown.

They play out the possession until the offense scores or the defense gains possession of the ball.

SCORING THE DRILL
+2 for the defense if they get a *clean stop.
+5 for the defense if they take a charge
+1 for the offense if they draw a foul or for any made shot
+1 for the offense for all offensive rebounds

*A clean stop for the defense is when they prevent the offense from scoring without giving up an offensive rebound.

THE IMPORTANCE OF "GLUE" PLAYERS

Glue players are needed.  They are vital to a team's success.  They contribute things to your team that don't always show up in a box score; things that can't always be measured with a stat. 

SOME CHARACTERISTICS OF A GLUE PLAYER

• Sprints the court in transition
• They might night receive a pass in transition, but the fact they sprint could draw a defender to them and open up a teammate for a score
• Talks on the court
• Call out screens on defense
• Makes sure the team is in the correct offense or defense
• Makes sure the team is matched up on defense
• Motivates their teammates
• Dives for loose balls
• This can be contagious 
• Forces the person they are defending to give extra effort just to get open
• This tests the will of the person they are guarding.
• Makes the extra pass on offense
• Pass up a good shot for a great shot
• Forces the defense to work extra hard
• Follows the game plan.
• They understand the game plan.  
• They execute the game plan. 
• Takes care of the ball on offense
• They aren't careless with the ball.  They are poised with the ball in their hands.
• Genuinely cares for their team
• Speaks positively of their team, teammates, and coaches
• Represents their team to the best of their ability on and off the court
• Serves others

SUCCESSFUL TEAMS NEED GLUE PLAYERS

Any player can be a glue player.  I think some coaches see glue players as players on their roster who maybe aren't the most talented.  This can be the case, however your most skilled players can be glue players as well. If your most talented players are glue players then chances are your team has a great chance to reach its full potential.

The average fan sitting in the stands watching a game might wonder why certain players are getting so many minutes if they aren't scoring, rebounding, or filling other stat columns.  Most likely those are glue type players they are wondering about.  In a team sport like basketball we have to remember that we don't always play our five best, we play our best five. Your best five are the five players that play best together.  Many times a glue player or two are part of that best five.

CELEBRATE YOUR GLUE PLAYERS

I encourage coaches to celebrate their glue players.  In a film session point out an example of a player running the court in transition, setting a great screen, or making the extra pass. Stop play on the practice court to point out an action of a player that makes them a glue type player.  While in a huddle during a timeout you can let your team know how important a dive on the floor for a loose ball was for your team because it gave you an extra possession.  While talking to the media you can highlight players that do these glue player type things that are keys to your team's success.  Your glue players need to be celebrated so let them know how important they are to the team.  

REMEMBER:  Not all of the players on your roster are going to have the same skill, BUT they can all be glue players.  

SHARE YOUR IDEAS

I'd enjoy hearing from other coaches on how they celebrate glue type players.  If you have suggestions, please share with me.  You can reach me by email at dietelgreg@gmail.com

BASELINE OB PLAY FOR A SHOT IN THE POST

1 sets a cross screen for 5.
5 cuts to the opposite side of the rim, looking for a pass from 3.
2 cuts to an opening near the top of the key to give 3 a passing angle.

Immediately after setting the screen for 5, 1 sets a screen for 4.
4 cuts toward the lane area looking to receive a pass from 3.
1 then pops out to the three point line.
5 continues to pin their defender looking for a pass from 3.