Monday, April 17, 2006
The Difference Between Winning and Losing
Just a quick reminder to let you know that we DON'T play this weekend due to the Easter holiday. Our next game is next Sunday, 4/23, vs the 'The OC', at 2 pm on Court C.
Because this is the first game on the schedule, you can come as early as you want to warm up. But let's try to arrive at least a half hour early. And remember to bring a white and dark blue shirt.
***
I was reading my copy of 'Stuff', by Dick Devenzio, last night, and I came upon a section I thought you might enjoy, and would be useful to read.
It's about a key factor of winning basketball, and is called 'Bad Shots', but is more about the critical importance of taking Good Shots!
Here it is:
***
'Bad Shots
***
Bad shots, probably more than anything else, lose basketball games, yet bad shots are ridiculously common. Go to any playground and you will see more bad shots taken than good shots.
Players seem to love taking bad shots.
***
Do YOU understand what a bad shot is?
You probably THINK you do, but you probably don't. It might be easiest to illustrate this with a question or two.
Each time you come down court, why don't you let a shot fly from midcourt? Most players readily understand why that is stupid. A midcourt shot is NOT a very high percentage shot. It is SMARTER to get closer and take a shot that has a BETTER chance of going in.
This makes good sense, and it seems like the whole world should agree on what is and is not a good shot.
But agreement usually ends at midcourt, because for some strange reason, players routinely think that all sorts of hooks, fade-always, far-off jumpers and quick
flings are good shots.
***
A coach will ask, 'Why TAKE a quick twenty footer?' And the player will answer, 'I can MAKE that shot, Coach.'
And yes, he can.
A BIT more often than he can make a fling from midcourt, but a lot LESS often than he can make a right hand layup or an OPEN fifteen footer.
***
So, why EVER take a quick twenty footer? Maybe you NEVER should.
The point is, if there is no shot clock, what excuse is there, ESPECIALLY in the first half when obviously there is plenty of time left, for taking a quick twenty
footer?
Why not wait for a BETTER shot?
***
To some players, even good ones, these kinds of questions often sound ridiculous, yet WINNING TEAMS are most often the team who PASS UP SHOTS and wait for BETTER ONES. Only teams which have no confidence in their ball handling should 'jack up 20 footer' in the first half of a game.
Otherwise, it makes sense to EXPLORE the defense and see if it isn't possible with a bit more movement and a couple more passes to get a fifteen footer or even a layup.
***
For players, the toughest thing isn't so much to learn NOT to take fade-always and hooks and flings, but to learn the DIFFERENCE between a 45% shot and a 60% shot.
There isn't a great DEAL of difference. Both FEEL good, and both feel like they are GOING to go in.
Both do go in rather often, yet 60% shooting wins games while 45% often loses them.
***
What IS the difference between a 45% shot and a 60% shot?
Not much....
A bit more time....
A step closer in....
A bit more confidence and certainty about the ONE....
A bit of this and a bit of that - -not much, and not easy for a coach to make into a hard and fast rule. Yet again, the 60% shot wins and the 45% shot loses. It is a subtle difference, a minor difference, and almost no difference at all.
But then, neither is there much difference between two teams who finish a game 67-64.
Only that one team WON, and one team LOST.'
*************
Have a great Easter, and I'll talk with you next week!
Brady Flower
bradyflower@msn.com
612-396-8572
Because this is the first game on the schedule, you can come as early as you want to warm up. But let's try to arrive at least a half hour early. And remember to bring a white and dark blue shirt.
***
I was reading my copy of 'Stuff', by Dick Devenzio, last night, and I came upon a section I thought you might enjoy, and would be useful to read.
It's about a key factor of winning basketball, and is called 'Bad Shots', but is more about the critical importance of taking Good Shots!
Here it is:
***
'Bad Shots
***
Bad shots, probably more than anything else, lose basketball games, yet bad shots are ridiculously common. Go to any playground and you will see more bad shots taken than good shots.
Players seem to love taking bad shots.
***
Do YOU understand what a bad shot is?
You probably THINK you do, but you probably don't. It might be easiest to illustrate this with a question or two.
Each time you come down court, why don't you let a shot fly from midcourt? Most players readily understand why that is stupid. A midcourt shot is NOT a very high percentage shot. It is SMARTER to get closer and take a shot that has a BETTER chance of going in.
This makes good sense, and it seems like the whole world should agree on what is and is not a good shot.
But agreement usually ends at midcourt, because for some strange reason, players routinely think that all sorts of hooks, fade-always, far-off jumpers and quick
flings are good shots.
***
A coach will ask, 'Why TAKE a quick twenty footer?' And the player will answer, 'I can MAKE that shot, Coach.'
And yes, he can.
A BIT more often than he can make a fling from midcourt, but a lot LESS often than he can make a right hand layup or an OPEN fifteen footer.
***
So, why EVER take a quick twenty footer? Maybe you NEVER should.
The point is, if there is no shot clock, what excuse is there, ESPECIALLY in the first half when obviously there is plenty of time left, for taking a quick twenty
footer?
Why not wait for a BETTER shot?
***
To some players, even good ones, these kinds of questions often sound ridiculous, yet WINNING TEAMS are most often the team who PASS UP SHOTS and wait for BETTER ONES. Only teams which have no confidence in their ball handling should 'jack up 20 footer' in the first half of a game.
Otherwise, it makes sense to EXPLORE the defense and see if it isn't possible with a bit more movement and a couple more passes to get a fifteen footer or even a layup.
***
For players, the toughest thing isn't so much to learn NOT to take fade-always and hooks and flings, but to learn the DIFFERENCE between a 45% shot and a 60% shot.
There isn't a great DEAL of difference. Both FEEL good, and both feel like they are GOING to go in.
Both do go in rather often, yet 60% shooting wins games while 45% often loses them.
***
What IS the difference between a 45% shot and a 60% shot?
Not much....
A bit more time....
A step closer in....
A bit more confidence and certainty about the ONE....
A bit of this and a bit of that - -not much, and not easy for a coach to make into a hard and fast rule. Yet again, the 60% shot wins and the 45% shot loses. It is a subtle difference, a minor difference, and almost no difference at all.
But then, neither is there much difference between two teams who finish a game 67-64.
Only that one team WON, and one team LOST.'
*************
Have a great Easter, and I'll talk with you next week!
Brady Flower
bradyflower@msn.com
612-396-8572
Wednesday, April 05, 2006
Brief Newsflash
Newflash.
Our game this Sunday, April 9 has been postponed until May 14 due to a conflict with the arena.
Because the Easter Sunday falls on the next Sunday, April 16, it means we don't play again until April 23.
Here is our season schedule, barring any further changes:
April 23 vs "The OC" ** 2 pm
April 30 vs "B-Unit" ** 7 pm
May 7 vs "Brick" ** 9 pm
May 14 vs "The Incredibles" 4 pm
Playoffs run from May 21 through June 4.
***
Take note that we play three of our four remaining games against 'upper tier' teams(**)of the REC league.
When I spoke with Matt, who runs the league, he asked me if I thought our schedule was too tough.
You all know that I REQUESTED some games against 'upper' tier teams - and we got 'em.
As I told Matt....."We're ready to take on all comers!"
***
I'll be sure to send out more reminders about upcoming games. And let's get ready to 'STEP UP' our game, just a bit!
Again, no game this upcoming Sunday.
Talk to you soon!
Brady Flower
bradyflower@msn.com
612-396-8572
Our game this Sunday, April 9 has been postponed until May 14 due to a conflict with the arena.
Because the Easter Sunday falls on the next Sunday, April 16, it means we don't play again until April 23.
Here is our season schedule, barring any further changes:
April 23 vs "The OC" ** 2 pm
April 30 vs "B-Unit" ** 7 pm
May 7 vs "Brick" ** 9 pm
May 14 vs "The Incredibles" 4 pm
Playoffs run from May 21 through June 4.
***
Take note that we play three of our four remaining games against 'upper tier' teams(**)of the REC league.
When I spoke with Matt, who runs the league, he asked me if I thought our schedule was too tough.
You all know that I REQUESTED some games against 'upper' tier teams - and we got 'em.
As I told Matt....."We're ready to take on all comers!"
***
I'll be sure to send out more reminders about upcoming games. And let's get ready to 'STEP UP' our game, just a bit!
Again, no game this upcoming Sunday.
Talk to you soon!
Brady Flower
bradyflower@msn.com
612-396-8572
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
The Legend of Bus No. 2
I just wanted to take a moment to touch base on our pre-game rhythm claps. A big kudos to Big Tony for leading the pre-game clap when I forgot!
Sometimes little things like this matter more than we think.
Today, a story of another team's 'little' thing....and how remembering it paid off in a BIG way....
***
'The Legend of Bus No. 2'
***
Two minutes left in the most important game in school history, and Northwestern State was down by three points.
Instead of imparting strategy, or cunning calculation, head coach Mike McConathy took a different tack during the final timeout of their NCAA tournament game vs Iowa.
'Bus No. 2!', he screamed with mock intensity, 'Bus No. 2!!'
On cue, the Demons all responded in unison. 'Aieeeeee!'
***
A classic moment....in their biggest game ever, all wound up, Coach McConathy reminded them of who they were, and where they came from.
Bus No. 2 was their identity.
The legend of Bus No. 2 goes back to the Demon's trip to the Rainbow Classic in Hawaii back in late December. Northwestern State went 1-2 in this three
day tournament, but enjoyed a lifetime's worth of island memories.
During a comedy-variety show arranged for the eight participating squads, the emcee held an impromptu contest to see which of the teams, numbered by the buses they came in on, would yell the loudest for no apparent reason.
'All the other team were all posturing, not wanting to look like idiots,' said asst. Coach Mark Slessinger.
'The guy would call out, 'Bus No. 4,' 'Bus No. 5', nothing.
'But when he called out 'Bus No. 2!,' our guys got totally crazy and yelled out, 'aieeee!'. That's what this team is all about....they care about having fun and winning games a lot more than they do about acting cool.'
***
Fast forward to March Madness, to the team coming out of that huddle with Coach McConathy.
A couple of game-clock minutes later, Jermaine Wallace hits a last-second three-pointer which caps a stunning comeback vs the Hawkeyes, and the biggest upset in the
NCAA tournament at that point.
'I just went in for the rebound. I chased it down,' said Wallace. 'I looked at the clock at the other end and it said four seconds and I knew I had time for one or two dribbles. I got the shot off.'
And as Wallace fell across to the sideline, the shot went in, touching off a wild purple and orange celebration on the floor. Fun-loving Northwestern State had pulled off the biggest win in school and conference history.
Bus No. 2's next destination was the second round.
***
'You can look at the bus metaphor a lot of different ways,' said Slessinger. 'We're in a bus league, or we're a big efficient engine.'
'I prefer looking at it as if we're all taking this ride together.'
***
I kind of like to think when we do our pre-game rhythm claps, we're all in it together too!
***
Just a reminder, we play this upcoming Sunday at 4pm on Court B, vs the 'Incredibles.'
Last week, they took the Osseo Boyz right down to the wire. Let's prepared to be sharp.
And as always, let's try to arrive about a half hour early, and bring both a dark blue and white shirt!
See you then!
Brady Flower
bradyflower@msn.com
612-396-8572
Sometimes little things like this matter more than we think.
Today, a story of another team's 'little' thing....and how remembering it paid off in a BIG way....
***
'The Legend of Bus No. 2'
***
Two minutes left in the most important game in school history, and Northwestern State was down by three points.
Instead of imparting strategy, or cunning calculation, head coach Mike McConathy took a different tack during the final timeout of their NCAA tournament game vs Iowa.
'Bus No. 2!', he screamed with mock intensity, 'Bus No. 2!!'
On cue, the Demons all responded in unison. 'Aieeeeee!'
***
A classic moment....in their biggest game ever, all wound up, Coach McConathy reminded them of who they were, and where they came from.
Bus No. 2 was their identity.
The legend of Bus No. 2 goes back to the Demon's trip to the Rainbow Classic in Hawaii back in late December. Northwestern State went 1-2 in this three
day tournament, but enjoyed a lifetime's worth of island memories.
During a comedy-variety show arranged for the eight participating squads, the emcee held an impromptu contest to see which of the teams, numbered by the buses they came in on, would yell the loudest for no apparent reason.
'All the other team were all posturing, not wanting to look like idiots,' said asst. Coach Mark Slessinger.
'The guy would call out, 'Bus No. 4,' 'Bus No. 5', nothing.
'But when he called out 'Bus No. 2!,' our guys got totally crazy and yelled out, 'aieeee!'. That's what this team is all about....they care about having fun and winning games a lot more than they do about acting cool.'
***
Fast forward to March Madness, to the team coming out of that huddle with Coach McConathy.
A couple of game-clock minutes later, Jermaine Wallace hits a last-second three-pointer which caps a stunning comeback vs the Hawkeyes, and the biggest upset in the
NCAA tournament at that point.
'I just went in for the rebound. I chased it down,' said Wallace. 'I looked at the clock at the other end and it said four seconds and I knew I had time for one or two dribbles. I got the shot off.'
And as Wallace fell across to the sideline, the shot went in, touching off a wild purple and orange celebration on the floor. Fun-loving Northwestern State had pulled off the biggest win in school and conference history.
Bus No. 2's next destination was the second round.
***
'You can look at the bus metaphor a lot of different ways,' said Slessinger. 'We're in a bus league, or we're a big efficient engine.'
'I prefer looking at it as if we're all taking this ride together.'
***
I kind of like to think when we do our pre-game rhythm claps, we're all in it together too!
***
Just a reminder, we play this upcoming Sunday at 4pm on Court B, vs the 'Incredibles.'
Last week, they took the Osseo Boyz right down to the wire. Let's prepared to be sharp.
And as always, let's try to arrive about a half hour early, and bring both a dark blue and white shirt!
See you then!
Brady Flower
bradyflower@msn.com
612-396-8572
