Special Situation Checklist

As everyone approaches their post season tourneys- NCAA, High School, Foreign Pro Leagues- I thought it was appropriate to consolidate a major issue into a checklist. Below are the issues you should watch as the post season widdles its way down to a champion. Keep a tape in the VCR and tape the last five minutes of each game just in case something of the special situation variety reveals itself. If you are a coach that posed a question regarding this ... here's my checklist for the situations that decide games in March and April.

1. Jump Ball
2. Substitutions
3. time out organization
4. drawing fouls
5. playing for one shot (at end of the game/ or half)
6. playing the clock when you are ahead
7. comeback game
8. defensing the delay game
9. defending baseline/sideline out of bounds
10. offensive sideline/baseline out of bounds
11. delay game offense
12. free throw block
13. free throw offense
14. saving ball from out of bounds/ loose ball
15. defending the 3pter
16. 6 sec play
17. foul call ... whistle blows ... what does your team do?
18. +3 opponent in the bonus
19. -3 less than 20 sec on the clock
20. vs box and 1/ triangle and 2
21. dealing with traps
22. 2 for 1
23. pre-game routine/ halftime routine
24. +3 we are in the bonus/ +3 we are not in the bonus
25. Reading the scouting report/ walk through

The above thoughts should provide you with a nice list of things you should have a philosophy on ... if not, then fire up that vcr and start developing one this March. Let me know if you have thoughts or questions on any of the above.

Tomorrow: I will get to the original thought of the day ... Using and defending the 3pter.

Next week- I will profile one player a day from abroad that should be around in the 2009 NBA draft.

DD