Stall Ball

[Voice of Reason]

A mention of this in the Newport Conner final thread caused me to open this discussion. Stalling a game out seems to be gaining momentum as a tactic in high school basketball. Teams get a lead of as little as a basket or two with several minutes to go and try to stall out the rest of the game.

 

What does everyone think of this tactic?

 

Is it usually effective?

 

When does it make sense for a team to start stalling?

 

Is increasing use of this tactic going to speed up installing the shot clock in high school basketball?

[bball89]

I hate it with a passion. Unless the game is a blowout there’s no point. Hopefully the shot clock will be implemented at the beginning of next season.

[PurplePride92]

I’ll be shocked if a shot clock is ever implemented.

 

You can speed a game up with good defense. It takes two to tango with stall ball. If folks don’t like it then why not just increase the intensity of the defense played?

[bulldog77]

There will never be a shot clock in high school basketball and there never should be a shot clock. High school sports are not played for the enjoyment of the spectators, it's played to teach the game and compete. Varying tactics emphasize varying skills and skill levels. Learn to appreciate every tactic for what it is worth or for the mistake that it might be. The game has never been about playing at one speed and it shouldn't be while high school kids are learning the game still. College and up, it's all about marketing their sport and TRYING (in most cases) to make money. If a coach uses the tactic too soon, or some cases, not soon enough, then that's on the coach.

[kyag]

I’m not a fan of stall ball, but it was the right move for Conner. Missed free throws and a bad foul at the end of the game prevented Conner from winning.

 

I’ve watched Cooper/Cov Cath have the lead going into the 4th and then just grind you out. If the kids can make free throws it works.

 

I’d like to see a shot clock, I think it would help keep the game moving. Until then though, if you have the lead make the other team foul you and make your feee throws. You only have to win by one, not twenty for it count as a win.

Edited December 21, 2018 by kyag
Spelling

[HoopJunkie]

I’ll be shocked if a shot clock is ever implemented.

 

You can speed a game up with good defense. It takes two to tango with stall ball. If folks don’t like it then why not just increase the intensity of the defense played?

 

Completely agree. I wish we had a shot clock. But ultimately, if a team understands how to trap, or rotate man to man correctly, it’s hard to stall against them.

[TheDeuce]

Stall ball only works if the opposing team doesn't play aggressive defense.

 

The defending team "allows" the team with possession to play stall ball, so it's really on them. If you let a team run a chunk of time off the clock, that's on you.

 

I don't think you should ever do it if you only have a one possession lead. Anything can happen, and then you could end up needing the time you ran off yourself. I'd say a 4-5 point lead at least before you tried to do it, and even then, I wouldn't do it with much more than a minute or so on the clock.

[DragonFire]

Some people think stall ball is easy. As others have said, if the defense is not complicit, it is actually quite difficult to hold the ball for an overwhelming length of time. Mistakes are very easily made on the court when pressure is applied. I’m not necessarily a fan of it, but if that’s the tactic that they feel gives them a best shot at a win, why not?

 

I also don’t think a shot clock will ever be implemented, mostly because of logistical purposes. The cost of implementation is one part. A larger part is that many schools can barely operate the clock properly as it is. Now we want to give them ANOTHER clock? If it ever was implemented, I’d be fine with it being a solid 60 seconds. So not an overwhelming deterrent to stalling, but at least a little one.

[JackieMoon]

There will never be a shot clock in high school basketball and there never should be a shot clock. High school sports are not played for the enjoyment of the spectators, it's played to teach the game and compete. Varying tactics emphasize varying skills and skill levels. Learn to appreciate every tactic for what it is worth or for the mistake that it might be. The game has never been about playing at one speed and it shouldn't be while high school kids are learning the game still. College and up, it's all about marketing their sport and TRYING (in most cases) to make money. If a coach uses the tactic too soon, or some cases, not soon enough, then that's on the coach.

 

Eight states currently have 30 to 35 second shot clocks in High School:

 

California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, and Washington.

[bulldog77]

Good for them. To state the obvious, 42 states haven't. I'm with the 42.

[TheDeuce]

I'm indifferent on a shot clock. I'm fine with the fact that there isn't one, but I'd be fine if there were one. I think it would make the game more interesting if there were a 30 second shot clock, though.

 

I do think @DragonFire hit the nail on the head with logistics. That's the main reason it will never be widespread in high school.

[PP1]

Some people think stall ball is easy. As others have said, if the defense is not complicit, it is actually quite difficult to hold the ball for an overwhelming length of time. Mistakes are very easily made on the court when pressure is applied.

 

I agree. @Voice of Reason The issue with Conner last night is they were up between 4 points at the 4-minute mark and started to stall. They passed up some easy jumpers and one easy lay-up to run clock. Eventually someone traveled or the ball was thrown away. I think it is hard for high schoolers to stall the ball for 4 minutes even if there is no defense, someone will fumble a pass or their jump stop will result in a travel after so much time.

 

It it possible that Conner was not stalling and what they were doing simply looked like it or the players were not exactly following coach's instruction. At one point, I did hear Coach Otte yell "this is not what I just drew up!"

Edited December 21, 2018 by PP1

[PurplePride92]

Some people think stall ball is easy. As others have said, if the defense is not complicit, it is actually quite difficult to hold the ball for an overwhelming length of time. Mistakes are very easily made on the court when pressure is applied. I’m not necessarily a fan of it, but if that’s the tactic that they feel gives them a best shot at a win, why not?

 

I also don’t think a shot clock will ever be implemented, mostly because of logistical purposes. The cost of implementation is one part. A larger part is that many schools can barely operate the clock properly as it is. Now we want to give them ANOTHER clock? If it ever was implemented, I’d be fine with it being a solid 60 seconds. So not an overwhelming deterrent to stalling, but at least a little one.

 

All of this.

[PurplePride92]

A lot of people think that a shot clock will make better basketball. I think it will make it worse. An overwhelming majority of the kids playing in high school will never play basketball with a shot clock so them having to learn how to play with a shot clock would likely be a disaster for most of the schools in the state.

[Stretch1out]

As a coach I would run the motion offense and instructed team not to shoot unless you have a layup. Most times a foul is called and you get to the free throw line most times.