I stopped at the coaches talking at summer camp, because every coach spent his summer lamenting the disaster because he lacked a dominant presence inside. Every coach believes that “you can’t teach height,” so they want to turn a tall player into a basketball player. However, the height is unnecessary. Sure, it’s nice, but it’s a luxury that lucky teams can do without. Coaching requires a system of development to develop the talent of the team, whether it is a dominant within, or a diminishing unit. Phoenix-suns Phoenix suns won the league in 2005 without a true center, and the 2005-06 Mavericks could use Theodore. Nowitski as a center should be one of the five best players on the floor, rather than just playing center for the sake of having someone high on the floor.
Teams need players behind to rebound defensively, provide blocked shots and provide some offensive presence inside. The height is not captured and rebounds; physical, aggressive players rebound well. Ben Wallace is the best rebounder in the NBA and he only stands 6’8 (maybe); great, but not NBA standards. His toughness and tenacity make up for his lack of size.
Resonance is a technique predicated on position and hardness. If the defender is in his own defensive position (between the offensive player and the basket), the defender has an advantage (unless he rebounds long). By establishing and maintaining contact with the offensive player, the defender keeps the offensive player from basket and ball. This requires toughness, physical will and desire. The arm to the sternum slows the offensive line to the basket, and the defensive player can pivot back into the traditional box or hold his position and get the ball. Either way, the presence of body, position and hardness eliminates the depth of discomfort.
On difficult boards, the keys are speed and anticipation (not height). The offensive player must get around the defensive player and not allow the defender to establish and maintain contact. By anticipating the expensive ball, the player can avoid the defender’s offense. Most rebounds are made below the rim, especially when multiplying three-pointers that are longer rebounds, so speed and toughness, not height and jumping ability, determine most rebounds.
Blocked shots are fools gold. Nearly seventy percent of blocked shots come back to the offensive team, either because they bounce off an offensive player or because they are rebounded out of bounds. They build momentum or seem like great games, but they are overrated. One study suggested that for every shot blocked, a player tries to block three shots. It is a useful presence inside to deter players from taking the ball at will. However, a solid defense can provide the same deterrent. If the team is known for its support on the side of the defense and receiving charges (Leader University with Shane Battier), the players enter the lane tentatively, especially when he is raised for the shots, as if he were tired of the champion taking charge. Not as exciting as a blocked shot, the prospect of a crime puts uncertainty in the minds of players on the other side.
When a big offensive player plays behind a player, teams can harass, help and prevent the player from receiving the ball in a dangerous position. By applying ball pressure, a quick defender makes a difficult pass after entry. With a quick jumper in the post and clever defenders to help the side, facing the front of the player and twisting the lob, it invites a sloppy lob jump and steals the help of the defender. If the linebacker plays behind the back, the guard doubles down and takes the ball out of the hands of the backfield player. Because most post players play with their backs to the basket and are stationary targets, they are easier to prepare to face than a lightning-quick, penetrating guard, or even a shooter who uses screens well.
Offensively, teams are making up for the lackluster post play with sharper, better three-point shooting or passing offense. As a small team that shoots well, it must respect the opponent’s big perimeter shots, leaving the lane open for penetration or behind the small player for jump shots. If the carrier has little speed, a bigger player can hit the court with easy baskets in transition, compensating for the true inside presence every coach desires. Teams create more free-throw opportunities by breaking down the defense and getting offensive rebounds, which increase when teams shoot the three and leave the defense scrambling in transition or after penetration. Post players aren’t the only players who can score inside; Dwyane Wade, Paul Pierce and Allen Iverson are NBA examples of players who can break the foul line and create open shots for teammates as well as offensive rebounding opportunities through their dribble penetration.
Nice height; but that is luxury. Teams don’t lose games because they are too small. They lose parts because they fail to adapt to perceived disadvantages. I took a small team, stationed at the AAU Nationals one year; we lost because we don’t block and we tend to miss some open shots. When I was qualified for the job, it was a lack of toughness that hurt us on the boards. Greatness is an excuse; and if pain has an excuse, they have more to lose than they have cause to lose. I will never use a deep excuse, you will never lose reason. Learn to adapt and compensate for perceived disadvantages and capitalize on your advantages.
