“The Laughing Coach”
In the present moment, offering help for seeing March Madness clearly. A playful guide to enjoying the game from an irreverent view of an experienced basketball coach.
My goal is to help you to see the game from fun new angles and to light – up the Madness for you in the process. May it be refreshing for you to experience a completely different view than those relying on acronyms such as “Quads”, “NET”and what I refer to as “Dumb-Alytics”. (to be further looked at in the future)
Episode two ! – “This did not go well”
A phrase often heard as games are watched by us two coaches is, “This did not go well”, said with a light – hearted chuckle. I cannot help letting this sentiment burst forth as we knew, in all likelihood, this would be the result before this poorly conceived particular basketball action was initiated or the shot was hurled forth after an off-balance pass.
Now , Let’s go ! Let’s leap, let’s fly into the wonderful ways to appreciate the March Madness games. There will be noticed, even if you watch semi-attentively whilst petting your dog, watering your plants or achieving something at work, many suddenly different actions at key moments of the games. There is a particular pattern, repeated over and over as if it has been dictated as a “rule.” Herewith, it is pointed out to watch for this in the final minute before halftime of each game presents itself.
There inevitably comes what I call the “stand and dribble” at mid-court exhibition as the final 30 seconds wind down to halftime. The purpose is to hold the ball for the final shot in the final seconds before the half. Four players stand stationary ; one player dribbles near mid-court. Occasionally this ends with a swish of a long three point, desperate shot attempt made by the dribbler at the buzzer. On rare occasions the dribbler, attacking towards the basket beginning with 8 seconds left until halftime (the defense knows this is going to happen !) scores a sensational leaning shot. Most often this strategy ends in a heaved off-balance shot or an unsuccessful shot taken with two or three defenders gobbling up the dribbler who attempted a Meadowlark Lemon (reference Harlem Globetrotters) imitation. This increases our shared laughter that had already begun and out comes the phrase “Oops, this did not go well ” spoken without surprise. Having shared this excitement, it is hoped that you will be anticipating seeing the gobbling or the sensational rare made basket and joyful celebration on court.. It’s all part of the wild wonderful Madness. And, hey, those once in a while made shots create points that sometimes are the difference in the final score.
Only on one occasion this season (certainly we did not see ALL games) was seen set play for a nice shot done in this situation – Vanderbilt U. executed it well for an open jump shot.
Of course, having seen this extremely popular dribble dribble toil and dribble tactic fail miserably many times, an observer wonders if anyone is paying attention to the result or is this just conformity amongst the “tacticians.”
Now we move to – “Will they do it ?”
Indeed, this is another fascinating permutation of the above moment taken to the thrilling moments of amazing games. Keep a lookout for “Will they do it ?” The anticipation of it is as “fun” as the action itself.
We are watching a game, near the end of the regular season, well played by both teams. There have been well executed plays, super steals, flashy spin moves, some long three point shots made and several air balls. Now we find ourselves swept into the question that inevitably grins at us mischievously – Will they do it?
It’s a story book tale of the underdog (Team C) playing great. They are leading the highly ranked (highly seeded) Team A, by 12 points with only 5 minutes remaining in the game. The crowd is roaring with excitement about the impending upset. A time out is called by team C.
We laugh together at the same time because, from seeing previous games, we know the likely answer to “will they do it?” Team C, underdog, has been unstoppable on offense the last five possessions of the ball ! With great passing and cutting they scored five consecutive easy lay-ups. The time out is over. Team C now has the ball and the lead and we witness that they are “doing it” ! They have discarded the successful method of scoring ! What ? ! They are now employing the “dribbling exhibition” at mid-court. The ball handler dribbles back and forth, others stand still the clock winds down – they fail to score. The Team A scores quickly at the other end. Team C surely will discard the dribbling tactic and return to what was so successful for them. My friend, in these game situations always saying, “Why stop doing what was working so well ?”
Needless to say, the underdog team C fails to score again and again and their confidence disappears (recall, “This did not go well”) while team A roars to a comeback victory. Journalists, will report that the highly ranked team performed a magnificent rally. What we have seen is , in fact, a demonstration of handing a gift to Team A.
There, of course, is an alternative. Some teams with such a nice lead, or even with only a 3 or 4 point lead, run down the clock with a delay game of consistent cutting moving and looking for an easy lay-up at any moment versus the desperate defenders. It’s beautiful when done well. Obviously, it’s an “old school” thing and not as stylish as the current dribbling fetish. All of these possibilities will be fun to spot, fun to see as we all wonder “ will they do it?”
May you bathe in the Madness spirit and enjoy your bracket victories or the victory of your alma mater !
The author is a graduate of UCLA during the John Wooden era who has five decades of coaching experience. This includes coaching high school young men’s championships in Southern California to coaching winning club teams in Germany including pro-players and, in between, also building winning teams from previous losing teams wherever he coached. He and his good friend have 80 years of combined coaching experience.