Olympics 2008
Submitted by coachj on Tue, 08/12/2008 - 20:47
So far, the international basketball on display at the 2008 Olympics is strong in many ways. The effort has been tremendous. My questions are: What is the best way to stop the American Team? Can it be done? Sure seems they are playing in an unselfish way right now. But, the teamism and defense of international basketball has continued to improve...
Tactics
Encourage refferies to call the travelings (Lebron first step) and ball carríng. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzesmzHMGg0&feature=related
Tactical foul: no fast breack (Argentina vs USA Olympics 2004), hack a saq.
3 point shootings (Italy vs USA Olympics 2004) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S0i5AJXlko
Run the Clock with a system: Flex Off. (Argentina Olympics 2004). This Ofence also use screens for every cut... you are not going to beat Lebron with a back door or fron cut. Also moves the D5 out of the paint. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jcP2PzNZEU0&feature=related
Tactical Fast breack: every time after a free throw (Spain World Champ. 2006) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X6DdMLxCeMg&NR=1
Athletes are finally being athletic on the defensive end!
The United States has always worried too much about scoring in the past and have neglected the defensive aspect of the game. This year it has been the defense that is creating offense by forcing turnovers and quick outlets on defensive rebounds. The U.S. players are finally using their athleticism and are being very active on the defensive end. I have seen more deflections from the U.S. team in one week than I can remember seeing in an entire tournament in year's past.
I think the only way to beat the U.S. is to run clock by using at least 30 seconds of every possession and taking high percentage shots. That's easier said than done the way that the United States is making it very tough on any opponent right now to handle the basketball and take care of it.
Slow it Down...reduce possessions
The only way to beat a more athletic and skilled team is to slow it down and reduce the number of possessions. This increases the importance of each possession. If a team can reduce possessions and eliminate turnovers, this would give any team the best opportunity to beat the USA or any more athletically gifted team. Additionally playing zone takes away more individual 1-on-1 play and on a given night, a team might get tight from the perimeter and in a low posession game make it possible for another team to keep it close to the end and take a game on one possession, much like Greece did to the USA in last World Championships in Japan.
But in reality it takes a number of these events to occur for a very talented team to go down.
Anyone else with ideas please chime in.