Basketball strategy question

**wesley_w** · 02-09-2008, 09:21 PM

I apologize if this has been discussed, I haven't read every thread completely. I don't understand letting an opponent run the clock down to be able to take the last shot with the game tied in regulation. It winds up being at best a tie and at worst a loss. Why not play defense and force them into their offense. If they score with time left we still have a chance.
I'm NOT second guessing GMac, everyone who knows me knows I love the guy, I'm just asking the bball experts what the reasoning is.

**wartknight** · 02-09-2008, 09:24 PM

The only thing I can tell you is it worked twice today.
Its a very common strategy though. Probably has something to do with forcing a team into taking a lower percentage shot from the outside.

**jtd9046** · 02-09-2008, 09:32 PM

The team with the ball is the one that dictates this situation. Even if you decide to pressure, they are not going to run their actual play until they decide to. It's that teams decision that they want the last shot.

**isuno1fan** · 02-09-2008, 09:35 PM

I tell you what..if DJ would have driven right by BP for a score at the end of regulation there would have been an implosion here.

I was watching him dribble down the time and just looking that we had BP guarding him...I just shook my head and thought...this isn't gonna be good.

Luckily he passed to Abrams who missed the shot, but I really thought to myself...why is BP guarding DJ one on one with the game on the line?

**balken** · 02-09-2008, 09:36 PM

The only way you are going to disrupt their offense is pressure the ball and trap or overplay passing lanes. You are then more vulnerable to a breakdown leading to an easy bucket. That said, I do like it when there is some token pressure on the ball.

**wesley_w** · 02-09-2008, 09:37 PM

Originally Posted by jtd9046

The team with the ball is the one that dictates this situation. Even if you decide to pressure, they are not going to run their actual play until they decide to. It's that teams decision that they want the last shot.

Yeah, but if you force them to at least make passes and dribble there is the possiblity of a turnover. I don't see any upside to letting a team stand uncontested at halfcourt for 25 seconds. Anyway, I see it all the time so I know it's a common strategy and must have sound reasoning behind it.

**iowast8fan** · 02-09-2008, 09:45 PM

If you start playing a stronger defense at that point, you take the risk of fouling and giving them the game on a freethrow. This is even more dangerous when we have 10+ fouls and the refs are not calling things our way.

**CTTB78** · 02-09-2008, 09:45 PM

I was not surprised that we let them hold the ball, but you can not give the guy a 10 foot cushion to blow by you when he decides to drive the ball. Luckily it worked for out for us in regulation.