Month: March 2019

By Kevin Sutton

1. Championship teams have balance on offense. Points must be spread around to several players, not just one or two players. The balance in the offense also comes from ball movement and player movement, as well as a balance of inside and outside productivity. There needs to be a balance in the productivity of the starters, as well as the nonstarters.
2. Championship teams play tough defense. Tough defense is played from both an individual, and more importantly from a team standpoint. Close out defense enables a team to be in rotations instead of scramble situations.  Proper one-on-one defense does not allow for dribble penetration, (which can and does lead to short 2 on 1’s) or pass penetration (which leads to the team digging the ball out of the post or doubling it). Communication and making multiple efforts on defense are key to winning games.
3. Championship teams rebound. The team that owns the glass on the defensive or offensive end of the court, or better yet both ends, will usually wins the majority of their games. Rebounding is a tone setter, and it sends the message that the possession of the ball is so important! Having control of the ball increases the number of possessions that a team has, and the team that has more ball possessions increases their number of opportunities they have to score.
4. Championship teams get productivity from their bench. The productivity of the bench players effects the team in a positive way. This productivity comes in all forms and it must be positive.  The minutes that the bench players clock in a game is a direct reflection of how productive their contribution is to the success of the team.
5. Championship teams make their free throws. First and foremost, championship teams know how to get to the free throw line, and then they make a high percentage of their shots. Free throws put a tremendous amount of pressure on the defense. By attacking the rim, the defense has to make adjustments, and this can often get the defense into foul trouble. If the defense doesn’t make the adjustments, it becomes very easy for the offense to score while not be effectively defended. Championship teams try to get to one & one and the double bonus first in each half. Finally, the close games come down to a “Free Throw Shooting Contest”!
6. Championship teams make tough shots late in the shot clock. Tough shots that are made as the shot clock in running down are demoralizing to the defense. These types of plays are energy boosters for the offense.
7. Championship teams know how to close out games: Championship teams have confidence in themselves, and believe that they will win. They never panic and they play with a sense of poise. Having experience in these types of situations gives championship teams the confidence they need to win.
8. Championship teams know how to withstand scoring runs. The game of basketball is a games-of-runs. The team that does not handle this type of adversity will find themselves in a deep hole. Scoring runs can be momentum shifters.  Coach and player composure is so important when dealing with a run. Believe it or not, an offensive run can be a negative thing, because when the shots are falling, the flow of the offense can suffer. Players will start to look for “their shot”, take bad shots, take quick shots, and stop doing the things that enabled them to get on the run in the first place.
9. Championship teams make fewer mistakes than their opponents. It is a plain and simple fact that championship teams make fewer mistakes than their opponents. They do not beat themselves, and mistakes that are either forced by their opponent or not, are not acceptable.  The elimination of physical and mental mistakes increases the team’s chances of winning.
10. Championship teams impose their WILL on their opponents. Imposing your will on your opponent is controls the momentum of the game. A great example of imposing will is when a team dictates the tempo of the game, deciding when to run and when to slow down the pace. Another example of imposing a team’s will is on the defensive end is being “legally physical” when a player cuts through the lane.
11. Championship teams get easy baskets. Championship teams convert scoring opportunities into made baskets at a high level in transition. They run the floor for rim-runs by their post players, or get deep, early post-ups. They create offense from their defense by getting “live ball” turnovers. They also get points on the offensive glass by offensive rebounding. Championship teams are good at ball reversal and attacking the offense.
12. Championship team’s best players have to show up. The best players must show up and play like the BEST PLAYERS! They have to make their teammates better. They have to rely on, and believe in their teammates. It takes the whole team to win championships!