How Would We Respond

As stated in my last blog, the local basketball season is underway and the team that I coach had it's first game and it was a loss. The practice after was a hard one but one spent working on weaknesses I saw when I reviewed the game footage.

Due to weather and some scheduling conflicts (BABA SERIOUSLY needs to get their act together...but I digress) our next two games were rescheduled. We finally got back on the court after nearly two weeks on Monday, April 18th 2011 and the team was anxious to get back on the court and show that the first game was not who we are.  I must say that the guys represented themselves much better this time around. Nerves were replaced with aggression. Uncertainty gone. Purpose fully in sight. Unfortunately we fell short of the goal, losing 48 - 42.

With injuries sustained in our first game, I had to tinker with the starting line up. This unit got off to a slow start allowing the opposing team to score the first four points of the game. This didn't last long as the defense clamped down, taking away the other team's most effective weapon and forcing them operate in a half court setting. With the defense in gear, it was time for the offense kick in. We went on a 9 - 0 run. The rest of the first quarter got a bit sloppy for both teams and ended with a score 13 - 12 in our favour. 'We won a quarter...let's keep it going' was what I told the guys during the break.

The second quarter saw the sloppy play continue. Rushed shots. Missed lay ups. Turnovers. To be honest...there isn't much to really say about this quarter because it went so quick. We lost this quarter 6 -5. Yes...it was that sloppy lol. Although we didn't win the second quarter, we were still in the game. Tied at half. 

Now if you read the last blog, you would know that third quarter was where we lost our first game. I decided to forgo any long half time talk in favour of the team getting properly warmed up to start the third. Before the team took to the court, I reminded them that the first game is gone and that we are a better team than what we showed. Told them to forget about it and put their minds to the task at hand. This seem to work as the different units on the court did their job. Not all the units on the court contributed offensively but they sure did defensively. It got sloppy at different intervals for both teams but a quick time out got the teams back in the right frame of mind. 34 -33 at the end of three. We're taking a one point lead into the fourth.

The fourth started with the opposing team hitting a 3 pointer to take the lead. We responded with a potential 3 point play but the ensuing free throw was missed. For the next ten minutes both teams tried to gain control of the fourth. It seemed that experience of our opponents would see them gain control of the quarter as they held a five point lead with under two minutes to go [44 - 39]. A rushed (or was it a missed shot...can't remember right now lol) by the opponent lead to my point guard getting the ball, pushing in transition and finding the shooting guard for a wide open three. ALL NET!!! Within two. [44 -42] (I think to myself...a stop and a solid offensive possession and we are tied). They inbound the ball and they get a lob pass over our defense for an easy two. [46 - 42]

[I know what you are thinking...how did they get an easy two at this point. Well, I am not a big fan of Press Defense but I do know the uses of it and if I do employ it, it is merely to take time off the clock and not to create a turnover. For the Press Defense to work effectively it has to be set from the time the ball is scored. Normally if the Press Defense is going to be used I would alert the unit on the floor prior to the score but I also allow the unit on the floor the right to implement it if the conditions are right. The mix up here was that the unit on the floor 'put on' the Press after the ball was inbound and in the rush to get to a man, a couple of the opponents got behind us and scored easily]

Despite the easy score the guys on the court didn't hang their heads, instead the once again pushed the ball in transition looking for the early offense. It worked...well kind of. We got what is an easy lay up but the ball didn't go down. Rebound opponents and another lob down the court and yet another easy score [48 - 42]. We attempted a whole court inbound in hopes of getting an easy score but this pass was intercepted and with just seconds left in the game I instructed the guys not to foul.

Like I said earlier, the end result might be the same but I am damn proud of how my guys responded. We may have let this game slip away but this is all in the learning process. We took steps forward. While we may have had our lapses, they were for extended periods of time. As I told the team after the game, there are positives that we can take from the game. Don't dwell on the end result.

The first win for Melrose Thunder is getting closer!!!