GOLD STANDARD COACHING @CoachLok

Thank goodness for Tivo. I just got finished watching the US/Greece debacle again. And repeatedly "rewinding". First time put it on in the background during some work. It was not necessarily the US inability to guard the P&R as it was Greek proficiency at executing it. The US mixed up the manner in how they defended it (or couldn't decide-not sure which) The screeners defender would step out-the screener would slip it and be open in the middle of the lane The on ball defender would go under-the dribbler would pull and hit a 3 The defenders would switch-the Greeks would exploit the mismatch and go inside The defenders would double the ball-the dribbler would back dribble to avoid pressure and hit the roll The screener's defender would help until the on ball defender could recover-then the screener would Pick & Pop to hit a 3 The USA off ball defenders would help on the driver-and the open man would hit a 3 They'd try to deny-and get beat with a backdoor At ...

I guess that Bronze is better than the 6th place finish in the Athens 2004 Olympics. As an end result-a little disappointing. However, looking at this as the first step in the journey to the Olympics in 2008, it may have been progress. The need to play in the qualifying tornament next summer may turn out to be a blessing, giving us another handful of games to come around. Taking the step to a "National Program" of 20 players making that 3 year commitment may, over time, enable us to adapt to a different style of offense that we face in international play. In the 3rd place game, Argentina played a little more "American "style of offense with some staggerd screens, penetration and isolations. We handled the "short term offense" much better than the continuous moving, screening and cutting that other international teams play. Our defensive deficiencies are pretty easy to trace - but more difficult to fix. The players that we have are young NBA players and we...

The sport of basketball in the USA has changed. The game that is being played is some spiced up, yet watered down version of what Dr. James Naismith invented. Try that with a favorite soup recipe. Add a whole bunch of spices - then throw in an extra quart of water. Not too good, is it? The United States developed this game, and now they are destroying the game as we knew it. Maybe it is just evolving into something different. Something more resembling that old made-for-TV "SlamBall" than the game of skill, finesse and accuracy that Naismith`s game required to become successful. But ancient Greco-Roman wrestling evolved into WWF professional wrestling. That doesn`t make it better. Maybe it is more "entertaining" if you are not a thinking man. More "action" around the ball (I see less action away from the ball)and more "spectacular" plays (I see less intelligent decisions). I have to believe that their are still some people that appreciate the 2-1 ...