I went through this a few weeks ago with parents of opposing team that we beat 55-13 (middle school) who told me I had "no integrity" by beating their team that way. Some may remember my post about it. Funny thing is, it COULD have been a score much closer to the game we are talking about here...if I had wanted it to be. Not that we are that good, but the team we played was just that bad.

 

I could see the team was terrible from the get go during warm-ups, so we never pressed for one second, ran our basic 1-3-1 d for the first 3 quarters then ran a very soft 2-3 the 4th quarter. We took nothing but mid range jumpers that last quarter, nothing inside, and only after so many passes. With only 8 kids couldn't do a lot of subbing, but our weaker players played much of the game. We could have easily scored in the 80's and quite possibly held the other team scoreless, or no more than a free throw or two, again had we played to do so. When I calmly tried to explain that to the parents, fire flew from their eyes and I was accused of being "cocky and arrogant" in an email sent to our church. Whew.:no:

 

I got no problem with getting beat badly, because I have been on that end of it more times than I would like to remember. However, if I'm down 70 or 80 points in the first half and the other team is STILL pressing...I might have to have a few words with that coach at half time. I mean really, if your team is THAT much better than the other team, it's not helping your team insofar as developing and working on the press anyway. You could probably make a ton of mistakes and be out of position and still get the ball regardless. Things could have been done to keep this score down quite a bit. Still would have been a huge blowout, but could have been "less bad" with some different choices by the coach.

 

Had a situation like this when I was in 6th grade. We played a team that we knew was terrible. It was the 1st round of another school's tournament so nothing we could do about it. We had 12 kids on the team. Before the game our coach told us, "Look, this isn't going to be a game. We're playing zone, and just stand there with your hands up. Don't try to steal passes or contest shots."

 

Myself and the other 4 regular starters were the reserves. The other 7 guys played the entire 1st half, and played until there was about 2 minutes left in the 3rd quarter. Our coach put us in, and told us that as soon as we each scored a basket, we were done for the game. We were all back on the bench before the 3rd quarter ended. I think the final score ended up being something like 70-2 or something. After the game the other team's coach told our coach that he appreciated his efforts to not let it get too out of hand, and that he realized we could've won by 100+ if we had really tried. He did say that he was a little disappointed that we played our starters so much. Our coach just laughed and told him that the normal starters were the guys who only played a minute. Nothing you can really do in situations like those, it's just a shame that games like this ever really happen to begin with.

In order to accomplish #1 in a game like this, you have to work on things. What's wrong with working on their full court trap for only a half? Probably got everyone on the roster a chance to work on it, and improve on spacing, positioning, and the like.

 

The opponent was so bad you aren't actually accomplishing anything. You do not even have to execute properly so who is getting better?

The opponent was so bad you aren't actually accomplishing anything. You do not even have to execute properly so who is getting better?

 

 

So what is the solution? Play no defense at all and let them shoot? It's obvious that full court defense is a no-no. I'm assuming half-court pressure defense is a no-no. What is the fix in a situation like this?

I'll say it. Girls hoops is bad enough. I would imagine that if I were to be cast into hell, I'll be subjected to off key singing while watching girls basketball for eternity.

Zero problem with the full court trap in the first half, IMO.

 

I disagree with you. Pressing when it's 78-1 is a shame and disgrace to the game of basketball. If you want to work on getting your team better, then work on your 2-3 zone and run your offensive sets.

 

Yes, the California rules are stupid and can lead to lopsided games but this goes above and beyond the rules. I suspect that if video of this game surfaced, you'd see that there was a reason why the coach was suspended.

I will have to disagree, my man.

 

You go into a game with a few goals.

 

1. Make your team better

2. Try to win

 

Once both of those are accomplished to continue to press against a team that probably does not have ONE player who could play on YOUR team is simply gratuitous and has no value in high school sports.

 

I would NEVER pull my starters before halftime...

You don't want to lose games this bad, either a) get better, b) don't keep score, or c) don't play teams that are out of your league.

 

I bet this league awards "participation" trophies too.

So what is the solution? Play no defense at all and let them shoot? It's obvious that full court defense is a no-no. I'm assuming half-court pressure defense is a no-no. What is the fix in a situation like this?

 

You won the game in the first 3 minutes of the game. Play hard M2M and force your team to learn how to play defense for a longer period of time than they're used to. Most players are only wired to play D for a short period of time. You need to get them used to playing longer periods of D to be ready for THAT good team that runs a controlled passing/cutting offense.

 

You don't have to steal the ball. Just move your feet. Play help D and force passes.

 

That's how a team benefits from this type of game.

 

The running clock rule was designed for games just like this one.

I disagree with you. Pressing when it's 78-1 is a shame and disgrace to the game of basketball. If you want to work on getting your team better, then work on your 2-3 zone and run your offensive sets.

 

Yes, the California rules are stupid and can lead to lopsided games but this goes above and beyond the rules. I suspect that if video of this game surfaced, you'd see that there was a reason why the coach was suspended.

 

We'll just have to agree to disagree. If we were talking about 7 and 8 year-olds, I see your point. I'm not calling off the dogs in the first half of a high school game.

I would NEVER pull my starters before halftime...

 

I'll preface this by saying it's HIGH SCHOOL.

 

There are so few games in a season when you get the chance to reward your bench players with significant playing time. This is one of those games. No way this was a surprise to the coach. He should simply have not played any of his true starters. Let them just watch. Let the reserves play and STILL dominate the game.

The only solution is to not play the game...isn't just as embarrassing to the losing team if the other team never takes a shot and keeps handing the ball back to them and they still can't score?

You don't want to lose games this bad, either a) get better, b) don't keep score, or c) don't play teams that are out of your league.

 

I bet this league awards "participation" trophies too.

 

There it is.

We'll just have to agree to disagree. If we were talking about 7 and 8 year-olds, I see your point. I'm not calling off the dogs in the first half of a high school game.

 

Calling off the dogs? Heck, this coach broke out dogs, whips, water hoses, and baseball bats in the first half.

We'll just have to agree to disagree. If we were talking about 7 and 8 year-olds, I see your point. I'm not calling off the dogs in the first half of a high school game.

 

It was 104-1. That's shameful.

You don't want to lose games this bad, either a) get better, b) don't keep score, or c) don't play teams that are out of your league.

 

I bet this league awards "participation" trophies too.

 

This isn't the pros. Every school in the state gets to field a team. Some are awful. They can't get better to the point of not being embarrassed. You just don't have to kill a team like this.