He who does not play the big "d" sits on the little "b" is really how the expression goes. It was one of the sayings of my favorite coach of all time, the late Tony Archibald
I was so fired up to stop the other guy, that alas I was never an offensive threat in basketball, the game I love.
It started early on when as an "all field no stick" little league first baseman for the Poland Fireman, I was passed over when it game time to pick the All Star team.
But, I have always subscribed to the theory, if the other team doesn't score you will never lose!
Team defense is as much fun as team scoring IMO. When I coach basketball I subscibe to the Bobby Knight school "Pressure the Ball" So many good things happen with this simple first rule of defense. As more and more kids fall in love with "shooting the three," they become less proficient in handling the ball and are subject to being pressured!
In offense, we coaches often talk about scoring options, and rightly so! I know there are certain players I want taking shots. The more legitimate scoring options a team has, the more points they may score; its that simple. Granted, it takes a team for those scoring options to function.
But defense only has one option. Every player must work together to accomplish the result of preventing the other team from scoring. Defense is the ultimate team experience. If one player doesn't play defense, the whole system fails. Hence the expression "play d or sit on the b"
How I miss getting to teach this game!
Bigg Daddy D
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There is nothing more satisfying than a frustrated offensive player driving wildly to the basket while being pressured, only to have another defender step in front of him and take the ultimate sacrifice - the charge.
ReplyDeleteLong live team defense.
"You can shoot too much,
ReplyDeleteYou can pass too much,
And you can dribble too much.
But, you can never REBOUND too much!"
As an admirer of old t-shirts, especially OHHS wear, I always appreciated those times when the Diehm family would put a ton of old shirts on the table for us kids to sort through and grab some before they were donated away. I always wanted to get my hands on a "play d or sit on the b" basketball shirt. Even as a wrestler who only seemed to come close to learning one (not so admirable) basketball skill - "the runner" jump shot - I can appreciate the philosophy and admire the idea of putting defense first.
ReplyDeleteGood stuff, Bill!
Team defense was essential in Burho Ball. Great post Diehmer!
ReplyDelete-Dave "old school" Bensch