How Should the Game Be Played?
How would you utilize Dwight on your squad?Ask any coach on any level of basketball and they’ll almost always tell you the same thing: Their coaching style depends on their personnel. But we all know that’s not true.
Guys like Mike D’Antoni and George Karl will always have their teams run, whether they’ve got Zach Randolph and Eddy Curry playing the 4-5 or Rashard Lewis and Dwight Howard. Likewise, the Jeff Van Gundys and Larry Browns of the world will continually have their teams grind it out, whether they’ve got Charlie Ward and Allan Houston in the backcourt or Allen Iverson and Andre Iguodala. Then you’ve got coaches like Jim O’Brien and Mike Brown, who basically only coach one side of the court (defense) and have playbooks the size of bus passes on the other end. The only coach that comes to mind who is truly versatile is Pat Riley, who had success with vastly different teams and styles. But even then, Riley has always put an emphasis on defense.
If you were a coach — on the Little League, high school, college or pro level — what would be your style? Would you have your guys running or slow it down? Would you be a nit-picker about executing the system or let your guys freelance? Would you focus more on offense or defense? How do you think the game should be played?
July 18th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
shake&bake says:
I would definitely be uptempo like Memphis (college, who the hell would want to play like the Grizzlies?). However, your personel has to dictate your style of play to an extent. You probably wouldn’t be getting up and down the floor if you had Duncan or Shaq (even though the Suns still try) because they are so dominant in a half court offense.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Aaron says:
You need to be like the Spurs and be able to play multiple styles of play. If you need to push tempo, you should. If you need to slow it down and grind it out in a half court set like in the playoffs, you should. Versatility is the key.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Smitty313 says:
I would try a run and gun style. I would also like my team to be good on the defensive side also.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Truth says:
I like the run and gun system especially if you have strong defenders. If I have a dominant big man though. I would have to adjust my system in order for him to be effective, unless I have someone like dwight Howard on the block who is comfortable running. Don’t get it twsited though. I would have designed plays, whether I had a superstar or not. I believe in getting everyone involved.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
Justice says:
You have to adjust ur playbook according to ur personnel..period
July 18th, 2008 at 1:42 pm
GEE...D P G C and tha R O C says:
I agree with Aaron, cause you should always be able to meet and beat someone at what they are doing to have a higher percentage of success.
As for my particular style in regards to the identity of my squad. I would run half-court sets on offense, you know get a good shot, crashin boards and multiple passes.
Run and gun is fun but I think it leaves you to open on a defensive end for a team that run and guns back at you.
But D is my biggest thing more than anything. Dudes got to be able to hold their own man on man, go 2-3 zone, and play excellent team defense in helpin and switchin over and communication. I love old skool slap the floor with both hands and get in your stance and lock a pimp DOWN!
My squad prolly wouldn’t be fan friendly (Spurs) but we would win some ish (Spurs again)
July 18th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Kudabeen says:
I like the Larry Brown/Popavich style of play. Great half court execution, emphasis on defensive focus with team concepts, and using that defensive energy to fuel offense.
If you have the athletes to get turnovers and run it, then let them run, but you have to be able to maximize possessions when it’s winning time.
I guess all considered stylistically it would be more inline with Byron Scott (have to have a head strong lead guard) or even better Nate McMillan. I think he embodies all the best principles of coaching in the L right now.
In the end the abilities of your players will do more to dictate how successful your style is perceived, which is why a Larry Brown is so great. He pulls so much out of so little and he will need to do that this year, because the Bobcats had a horrible draft IMO. That’s another convo though…
July 18th, 2008 at 1:46 pm
fiyaman says:
I agree with Aaron.. u need to be versitile..But I would definetly preach defense. Anyone can hit a layup or an open shot but not anyone can stop the other player.
U cant lose if the other team cant score.. Thats y soccer is so popular ( i know they’re a lot of soccer haters here..lol) defense is the key in any team sport and just about any real sport even volleyball
July 18th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
personnel dictates.
if you have a (star) big, you go slow on offense and become a defensive team.
if you have a (star) guard or wing, you play uptempo and put your emphasis on offense.
July 18th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
fiyaman says:
I would run my team the way the Knicks of the 90’s did it..or the Pistons
July 18th, 2008 at 1:47 pm
fiyaman says:
beat u into submission
July 18th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
i’d like to see a coach (just for 1 season ala bill belichick) run up the score. RUN IT UP!!
RUN IT UP on every opponent. go for like 165pts per night and keep the starters in the game with a 49pt lead with 8 minutes left in the 4th quarter.
thats what i would do as a coach. leave a legacy….
July 18th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
aj says:
Defense and fast break. You’ve really gotta be able to do both. Out-work the offense when you’re on D and run all game long to wear them out in for the 4th Q. Definitely a free-lance offense and a back-breaking, tough-as-nails defense. You can do both.
It’d be a little different in the NBA though. 99% of the players are already firmly entrenched as a specific type of player. If Zach Randolph had a high school/college/early NBA coach that made him run the break, he wouldn’t be where he is today.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Ross says:
I agree with Aaron, Gee, and fiyaman. You need fast guards that can play uptempo (Tony and Manu), yet a strong defensive end (Duncan + which ever center is better suited at that time).
Having Bowen in the middle makes a perfect combination of defense and 3-point scoring that makes the Spurs my perfect choice.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
Austin Burton says:
If you don’t have all the pieces to be versatile, what do you do? Or what if you’re in a position of a college coach where you decide what kind of players you recruit? Example: Georgetown gets guys who can play that Princeton system, Louisville gets athletes, Duke gets shooters, etc.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
some answer on here suck. some of yall bums couldnt even coach/handle a wnba team with ur responses
dleaguers would tune you out after the 2nd game
lame duck coaches yall would be
July 18th, 2008 at 2:12 pm
D says:
Preach defense, constant movement, crashing the boards, and strong one-on-one and help D. Scoring is fun and exciting, and I hate to use the old addage, but defense wins games. It creates more opportunities for your team when the shot isn’t falling, and strong D can frustrate your opponent and mentally wear them down.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Mike says:
I’d coach differently depending on the level I’m coaching.
In the little leagues, it is all about offense. The kids are going to miss the majority of the shots regardless of defense, so I’d focus on rebounds and getting good shots. Also, maybe throw out some full court presses. Kids have extreme difficulty dribbling past that.
At the high school level, you have to treat it like a WNBA game (unless you’ve got a young Kobe/LeBron/etc on the team). I’d go for complete fundamentals and self control. Teach them to make good cuts, find the open man, when to help on D, and stress the importance of good shots over bad ones.
By the college and pro level, you’ve got talent that should know the fundamentals. Now you can open up the game to your particular style. For me, I’d coach the way I like to play, heavy on the D and let someone else figure out what to do on offense (i.e. hire a solid offensive coordinator).
July 18th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Jim says:
Since I am never coaching anything besides LL or AAU, it all depends on my kids.
That means, to me, you either run run run and trap or slow it the hell down and still trap, depending on what you get.
Either way you get jackass parents yelling for their kids to do something else anyway, so to an extent it doesn’t matter…even though those same parents can’t be bothered to help out, of course.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
GEE...D P G C and tha R O C says:
If you ain’t got the pieces to be versatile, I most def. would run a half court set. Cause you gone have to rely on picks and screens on O cause more than likely you may not have that many create their own shot type players. Hopefully you at least got 2.
And most def on D you got to come with it to adjust to what is coming at you. If they running you got to slow it down and if they run same sets as you in a slower tempo then you got to get them out they sets and force them to create, often in what results of bad shots.
As far as players I am recruiting hard nose cats that play D and rebound. Shooting percentage prolly won’t be that hot but will make up for it on the glass and second shot opportunity.
I’d have a finals squad that would prolly live and die depending on foul trouble and containment of the other squads star player. Wouldn’t be blowout games but would win in grind it out style.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Austin Burton says:
Would you encourage or discourage flopping?
July 18th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
GEE...D P G C and tha R O C says:
discourage I can’t stand that. Have to create some type of team fine for that mess. LOL.
Dudes would have to explain something serious in order not to get fined. Beggin like “Coach I got a gash in my head, I wasn’t floppin for real” lol.
I think I would rather be a GM than coach though. I think I can put a squad together better than runnin one.
Ultimate is to be the owner. Yeaaa now you talkin lol.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Ross says:
I’d encourage flopping only if you can pull it off. I’d have to hire Divac and Derek Fisher to coach my team how to do it.
If I didn’t have the right pieces, I could always go for a trade, or just cross my fingers for a high lottery pick.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:35 pm
JA says:
How should the game be played?
Sit down this weekend and watch the movie Hoosiers.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:37 pm
Jim says:
@AB, with kids I am strongly against it; I just want the kids to learn to play correctly. Seeing 12 year olds doing that is a disgrace. But when the games count I would encourage kids to sell calls, I will say that much.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:39 pm
dc says:
i’ve coached aau & high school and i pretty much let the make up of my team dictate the style of play. in aau, i had more players that could create their own shot so we ran alot. the high school team didn’t have as many so we focused on an inside-out half court game with a real emphasis on d. the ideal style of play for me is to have players that can think the game and be able to play solid defense. as a life-long knicks fan, i’m partial to the defense-first offensive efficiency style of play from the Riley-Van Gundy eras.
July 18th, 2008 at 2:41 pm
Damon says:
it should be played the way they play it in Coach Carter.
hard pressure defense and then running at every possibility after a steal or wide rebound. in the halfcourt lots of moving, cutting and screens. the way jerry sloan lets his teams play in the halfcourt.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
Prof. TX says:
Oppressive defense, clean but absolutely frustrating. On offense, lots of passing until you find the open man or the defense is too slow to rotate and you get a favorable mismatch. None of this ‘give it to the star and watch him dribble for 20 seconds’ approach.
Flops are a quick way to end up on the bench, if you’re lucky, or an embarassing berating in front of everyone about playing with some heart.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
GEE...D P G C and tha R O C says:
Prof. I like ya style.
Basketball would be so much more fun if they let the coaches get away with more complainin at the refs. Granted it probably couldn’t happen cause someone would take it to far.
But do you see the ish they do in baseball. Two funniest moments were last year I think it was when a dude was crawlin on the ground like he was in the military, took some bag and threw it like a grenade. I was losing it laughing.
Then just recently some minor league dude I think went to an umpire and had dude smell his shoe and armpit. That stuff be crackin ya boi up.
Most basketball coaches to classy for all that but still that junk is funny in baseball.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
eyeused2b says:
I’m coaching in a 10-and-under league right now, and I’m going to let them freelance. I have eight players, and only four of them have any experience. Three of them are first timers, and the last one picks the ball up and runs with it like a running back whenever they pass it to him. I’m just trying to teach them basic things like defending, dribbling, passing, and layups, so I don’t want to blow their minds with an actual style of play.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:26 pm
I Do Coach says:
My philosophy as a coach is simple. I am an ex high school coach and I only had 3 sets on the offensive end. 1)Man-set 2) zone-set 3)trap-sets…I believed in basketball IQ not just athletic ability. My teams watched tons of film and became smart-athletic teams. You couldn’t scout us or film us because our system was not x’s and o’s or a to b. It was read and react to what was given and/or open. I hate a coach who has so many “plays” there team becomes robotic and non-self-thinking. “if pass A is not there…then what do I do?” Motion-offense is the BEST form of offense. Takes patience but is more rewarding and fun for the kids as well. I did have out-of-bounds sets and about 5 goto plays for situations but those are easy to teach. My Philosophy – “play your game, within my game”
July 18th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
boba says:
Run and Gun seems nice on paper, but you must take into consideration what physical shape your players are in. Most people who don’t play OFFICIATED basketball, (pickup ball is a completely different beast) don’t realize that Running and Gunning tires you out quickly and your defense can suffer greatly and you will generate more turnovers (of course you should theoretically have more possesions). I’m in pretty good shape and my team will run and gun if we are playing bigger guys who are not in great shape. When we run and gun my defense does suffer and I consider myself the best defender on the team.
With that said, if the teams are pretty matched up in size and speed, I would go with playing a slow paced game with an emphasis on DEFENSE. Defense has less flucuation than offense and as everyone says “defense wins games”.
It’s a combination of your players size, speed and skill set vs. your opponents that should dictate your game.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Miljan says:
I would focus more on offense and have a run and gun style of play a la mike d’antoni. but i would try to get athletic players at all positions so they’re quick enuf to play defense and at least give the other team a hard time on offense.
July 18th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
GEE...D P G C and tha R O C says:
lol go John Chaney style and send in goons to cause havoc and hurt the other players till we win.
Kidding.
Chaney started all this goons mess in hip hop huh?LOL
Whats a goon to a GOBBLIN!
July 18th, 2008 at 4:00 pm
dukesman2000 says:
If I coached little league I would definitely use freelance style. Let the kids play and have fun. But any thing above that level, then I think I would be a more defensive minded coach.
July 18th, 2008 at 4:28 pm
karizmatic says:
I would be a stickler for my game plan. My Game plan would have an emphasis on defense and we’d get out and run on steals and blocked shots. In the fastbreak I’d let my guys freelance. Otherwise in my halfcourt system I would insist on finding a size mismatch and pounding the ball inside. If I didn’t have a post player I’d run a looser system with a lot of pick and roll or drive and kick action. But I’d generally be a “play the right way kind of coach” ala Larry Brown or Riley, hopefully with better interpersonal skills the Brown. My system wouldn’t necessarily be about personnel for instance I don’t care what anyone says to this day I think AI should run point. He’s shoot first whatever I don’t care 6′0 165? You’re running point.
July 18th, 2008 at 4:29 pm
Talented says:
If i was i coach i would def. let em play a lil, everybody plays better when their havin fun. But we would be gettin points off of tough D and steals then runnin n gunnin a lil. In the half court jus work from the inside out, attack the basket and just play within ya game….i would be a G ass coach lol
July 18th, 2008 at 4:36 pm
Bartman says:
I would only have set plays on offense coming out of time-outs or if I had a big man a-la Shaq, Duncan, Ming….the rest would be freestyle as it is both fun for the players and entertaining for the crowd. Defense would be the foundation of my system. Boxing out, rebounding, and putting a hand up WHEN-EVER and WHERE-EVER someone is shooting, failure of any of these puts you on the bench for someone who cares. No easy layups, intimidation and fear is the name of the game…I don’t care if 7 of my players are on the bench with 6 fouls while the remaining five on the floor have 5-a-piece, KG will be scared to drive it 10 to 15 feet out, PERIOD.
July 18th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
karizmatic says:
Ashton, college is a different game an I’m more interested in the pros, but if I could recruit players, I’d want a strong post up center of power forward to command a double in the post. Who ever wasn’t the go to post man would have to be able to knock down a 10-15 ft jumper and rebound. On the perimeter my 3 should be able to shoot the three and play Defense ala James Posey. My two would ideally be a slasher. And my 1 doesn’t necessarily have to be the best I like big point guards maybe a 6′4 or 6′5 guy who can shoot. OJ Mayo type maybe? I’d also discourage flopping…that’s some bull, get in defensive position and hold your position if the guy runs you over that’s an honest charge but don’t invent a charge. I’m not with that. Although you got some players that are going to do it…and if they get the calls can I really be against it? If Manu was on my team he’s gonna do what he does…same for D-fish, but I don’t think I’d appreciate guys like Shaq floppinng (which he does these days) block a shot or something I’d rather see you get a hack trying to block a shot than get a blocking foul trying to flop and draw a charge. Matter of fact I’d rather you gamble on a steal and get a foul reaching in than try to draw a charge. I like aggressive attacking defense. So theoretically I’d discourage flopping, but in practice certain players are just really good at it. I hope the league finds a way to really get rid of it.
July 18th, 2008 at 4:44 pm
karizmatic says:
My bad Austin I mispelled your name my mind is gone…4 hours of sleep after watching Dark Knight last night lol.
July 18th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
Brown says:
You need to have interior defense and rebounding. If you don’t have that, it doesn’t matter what style you play, you’re gonna get beat more often than not. Some coaches/GMs don’t understand this, and you can see how their teams have faired (i.e. Phoenix pre-Shaq, Golden State, Toronto, New York, etc.).
Coaching pros is a lot different than college, high school or little league, but I believe you should teach amateurs how professionals succeed at basketball. Look at the past 20-30 (or more) NBA champs, they could all play tough in the post.
I know this sounds cliche, but I’d coach them to play the right way, and that’s not cuz Larry and I share the same last name. Basically, if you don’t have the right personnel, it won’t matter how you coach.
I’d preach defense first, then use the talents you have to find the best offense suited to your personnel. Versatility to play up-tempo and half-court offense is ideal, like someone mentioned earlier.
July 18th, 2008 at 8:36 pm
sans says:
Personally, I always preach positioning and hustle. Getting gritty on the court. Beating people to the spot, both defensively and offensively, establishing yourself in a manner to exploit and control your opponents. I think offensively you really have to rely on your personnel: you got a big guy that you can dump it down to, do that, run High/Low and various means of pick and rolls all day. You got a point that create for himself and others, just keep feeding him cutters and screens all day. Attack the basket, get to the free throw line, and be respectful to the refs regardless of the call. As an official, I won’t say that refs become prejudiced against mouthy players, but they are definitely aware of them at all times, pretty much waiting for a reason to T them up. Same goes for dirty payers.
It’s all about playing to your strengths and getting you kids to work out there, relying on the fundamentals of the game. But I like what everyone said about being versatile, like the spurs and play in many styles depending on your opponent. You have any opponent that like to grind it out, then you have to speed it up to take them out of there rhythm, frustrate them.
I like Larry Brown because his teams are always disciplined (not including the Knicks). Same for Pat Riley. I think thats the key to successful basketball.
July 18th, 2008 at 9:17 pm
doc says:
Pressing after makes.
July 19th, 2008 at 12:37 am
the mamba says:
I most def would push the tempo. There are exceptions but few. If I had yao ming I would run the ball through him in a half court set all day. I think fisher, kobe, odom, gasol, and bynum will kill in a half court set all day 2.
As far as me being a coach or a gm. I would love to run my offense through a tall point gaurd or point foward that can create and cause match up problems. Shooters on the wings that that run and have confidence to shoot in transit and with good size. althletic bigs that love to rebound and run the floor. Have the pg off and running cross the court on every rebound, push the rock and give players the green light to take a shot if they got one.
Guys I would like to see run point for me
Lamar odom
Darius miles
Shaun livingston
Kobe
Lebron
Tmac
July 19th, 2008 at 12:50 pm
Jose says:
I would put more emphasis on defense. If you look at the nba, most teams that have won championships are defensive minded teams. I would however would like my team to run when they get the chance. I would teach my team if ever to be selective when they run. It would be best if a team would stick to the game plan of the coach but i wouldn’t mind if the players have suggestions like Isiah Thomas who spoke his mind.
I think the game should be played in a variety of ways. It would be fun to see different kinds of strategies in the NBA. It would be boring if all teams were defensive (think Cavs vs Spurs in the NBA finals 2 years ago) or offensive minded (All Star Games of late).
July 19th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Mugen says:
How should the game be played? What kind of dumbass question is that?
only one way, play to win.
it’s like asking, how the ball should be dribbled.
July 20th, 2008 at 3:07 am
Steve says:
With me, it is defense first. Everyone is accountable for their own man, and when you play D, you give 100%. Man to man, pressuring the ball all the time.
Only exceptions is 1) when up against an incredible big man. Then go into 2-3 or 3-2 zone. 2) If I know the other team’s ballhandlers will have trouble beating a press.
Offense is flowing, it doesn’t need to be half court or have a lot of set plays. Basically, push the ball up the court fast, take the first open shot. I require all the players to be doing something – nobody gets to stand around. If you don’t have the ball, get open or set a screen for the guy who does.
I don’t like over-complicated offenses with tons of set plays. It isn’t fun to play like that and a slow, halfcourt game is bland, boring and requires the opposition defense to do much less than if my team was running.
July 20th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
Luigi says:
mine would be simple. i play like i do in NBA 2k8
Lockdown D + Run n Gun.
so basically. my team would start out playing D. n when we get a steal or somethin a player on my team should run down court 4 an easy layup as 4 a Halfcourt Game. wait patiently for the open shot if not drive the lane n hope u get fouled or your big man rebounds. oh n cuts n screens. dont 4get that.
oh n D-Fense n Threes are a MUST in my systems my lineup in the NBA or College would be like this
PG. Score/Assist [CP3]
SG. 3pt shooter/Versitile dunker [Nick Young]
SF. Dunker/3pt shooter [J-Smoove (yes he can make a few)]
PF. Player that compliments the C/Rebounder n Finisher/Shooter [Jamison]
C. Player that compliments the PF/Rebounder/Finisher/Post-D! [D-12]
that would be a good team if it could happen i mean my team needs shooters on the wing who can dunk and 2 post players who can shoot from 3 n midrange that can rebound.
the 1st 3 are solid defenders n J-Smoove is the best defender[duhhh!] n the last 2 compliment each other well. Jamison can shoot the rock. n is a scorer while Dwight is a banger inside n posterizes ppl not alone play D n let Twan do his thing on D.