Every once in a while; generally when a supposedly superior team (Team A) loses to a supposedly inferior team, someone will suggest that Team A's coach decided not to coach as hard, went with unusual substitution patterns, etc; with the aim of either losing or making the game closer than it should have been. This to teach a team an object lesson. Maybe the team had been reading their press clippings, weren't working hard enough; whatever.

 

I have a hard time believing this. I've never been a basketball coach, but my assumption is that they're paid to, among other things, win games.

 

Is this just sour grapes or rationalization on the part of a disgruntled fan, or are there really times when a coach, to make a point, will "let a game get away"? Please bear in mind that I'm not talking about anything illegal (point shaving). I just want to know - especially from the coaches out there - if this is something that ever happens, or is it unhappy fans ventilating and trying to think of excuses.

 

Thanks, and as they say on the call-in shows, I'll hang up and listen to your answer.

I don't think any coach sandbags games deliberately, but I have seen situations where coaches did "let one get away" as you say, in order to impress upon the kids how important it is to come with consistent effort. I'm of the opinion there's nothing wrong with a well-timed loss to help refocus kids on the big picture.

I agree with the "well timed loss"......that is as long as that doesn't turn into well timed losses....

There are instances, when a Coach will implement a game plan, when playing a team they "should" by all rights, defeat soundly. Like, limit starters minutes, substitute patterns and more quickly, extended minutes for non-starters or even JV players.

 

With that said, NO coach would sacrifice a loss, to teach his team an object lesson. He/she would, offer a player or two a lesson, if discipline was needed or circumstances, arose that would limit playing time and if that affected the outcome, than so beit....but not intentionally play to lose.

 

Some times, games that are supposed to be "automatic" wins, are the most difficult to maintain intensity, substitutions, game plan, etc....which can lead to upsets.

I agree with the "well timed loss"......that is as long as that doesn't turn into well timed losses....

 

:thumb::thumb:

I agree with Strike3.

 

But I will say that in December and the early parts of the season, you may see people getting chances to play and show whether they can contribute or not. Come February, those same players are not seeing the same minutes or any minutes.

 

So you could say the coach may have sacrificed a win in December to determine who is going to be their rotation come district time.

 

And then you have the games where the coach is perturbed at the starters/key players for a lack of effort and they find their way to the bench en masse.

I agree with Strike3.

 

And then you have the games where the coach is perturbed at the starters/key players for a lack of effort and they find their way to the bench en masse.

 

I've seen quite a bit of this!

I have seen a coach bench his starters for the first three minutes of a game because of a lack of effort in practice. However, this didn't result in a loss as the starters came out fired up and proved why they were the starters. Also, the team they were up against wasn't a strong competitor and the game wasn't anywhere near tournament time.