Lopsided Scores

Comments

great point, no need to humilating the opposite team.

I've stumbled on this comment and I agree somewhat. I don't agree with humiliation...but what if your perimeter game is just that good. Your team has worked the shot clock for 25 seconds and they shoot a perimeter shot and it goes in. The score could still be a misrepresentation of your intent. I know this because I've been on that side of the competition. We won by 50 points. We never pressed, never ran transition, but we played solid defense, rebounded, and the other team rushed their offense.

I think a better idea is to speak with the commission that schedules your team's games and ensure a gross mismatch of talent does not occur. It might mean a change in your division level.

It's very difficult to teach athletes to give 100% at all times, and then tell them to back off based on the opponents talent level. I'm not just saying this because I coach talented teams. I volunteered to coach a highschool team this year that lacked natural talent and they were 4-13 this season. We taught them to give it their all and we set team/individual goals when we knew we were outmatched. One of life's most valuable lessons that can be taught on and off the court is to measure success based on your own abilities and not the abilities of your opponent/peers. If this is the foundation, no one fails unless you fail to give 100%.

There is no such thing as 110%. If an athlete demonstrates an ability that appears to be subjectively measured at 10% above his/her normal performance level, then that is what defines 100%.

I know this is a long comment, but I had a lot to say.

I agree with your post. In a shot clock situation, the only thing you could do is call off the press, and if the score gets out of reach, take out your starters. Beyond that, the players on the court should play to best of their abilities. The problem occurs when Coach's continue to press, or keep in their starters for an extended period of time.