Basketball Offense Has Changed Dramatically

Player and ball movement has given way to dribbling and banging. Ohio State men's basketball team is a prime example. Give the ball to a quick penetrating guard, step back out of his way, let the post player pop out or slash across the lane. If you cannot get the ball to the big man, penetrate and either bang into a defender (hoping to draw a foul as you shoot) or kick the ball to a wing for a three-point jumper. The other three players beside the guard and post just make themselves available for a pass and shoot if open or pass out to the top of the key to begin again. If that does not work, start over with another guard.

Coaches believe this offense produces wins rather than the talent-offense interaction, and they adopt it for college and high school. (Tommy Amaker lost his job at UM because he could not recruit the talent required for this offence and did not recognize he lacked the talent necessary to run such an offense and did not install another offence more suited to his players.) With talent it will work. Of course, with enough talent any offense will work; and if you have enough talent to win, design any offense and you will be copied and called an offensive genius.

Another factor in accepting the new offense is the way the game is officiated. Offensive players who cause contact are rewarded by foul calls against the defensive player. As such, it is more important to dribble-drive to penetrate and make contact than to pass and move. In my humble estimation only about 10% of charging fouls are actually called--a great reward to the dribbler-driver who initiates contact. Much the same can be said for post players and their moves to bump a defender off their defensive position to gain advantage either in position or to clear out to attempt a shot. Not many great passing big men any more, are there?

And that's the way it is.

One of these days I may embrace it.