Special situations can arise at any time during a basketball game, so teams need to be prepared to take advantage of them. By understanding the importance of these situations and how to maximize scoring opportunities, teams can put themselves in a position to succeed.
Basketball is a game of strategy and execution, with every possession crucial for the overall success of a team. Among the many elements that contribute to a team’s performance, special situations play a pivotal role in determining the outcome of the game.
As a result of the pressures to win during my career, I came to view every special situation play as an opportunity to score, rather than just putting the ball back into play.
This led me to incorporate special
situations practice into every practice session, because of the impact they can have on a team’s shooting percentage and shot attempts per possession.
I believe that special situations are important for a team’s success, as they provide opportunities for increased high-percentage scoring plays. Rather than solely focusing on getting the ball in play, my teams are trained to turn these situations into point-scoring opportunities.
By instilling this mindset in my players, I was able to maximize our shooting percentage, shot attempts per possession, and overall offensive efficiency.
Based on our statistical analysis, we found that there was a positive correlation between our team’s effective execution of special situation plays and increased shooting percentages. By capitalizing on well-designed plays, my teams were able to create high-quality scoring opportunities that translated into higher shooting percentages.
Special situations are an important part of our offense. They significantly increase a team’s shooting percentage and shot attempts and give us a greater chance to score per possession.
The impact of scoring consistently off special situations plays leads to more scoring opportunities, providing them with a competitive edge.
To make special situation plays more effective, I practice them with my team during every practice session. By rehearsing these plays over and over, my players develop a deep understanding of their roles, timing, and execution.
This repetitive practice builds a sense of familiarity and confidence, so players can execute under pressure during actual games.
I recommend practicing special situations such as time-and-score plays, emphasizing last-second point scoring, or scoring to win the game. By simulating real-game scenarios, players become comfortable making critical decisions under pressure, resulting in increased offensive productivity during crucial moments.
Special situations are a vital part of basketball, contributing to a team’s success by creating scoring opportunities.
By adopting this philosophy and focusing on turning these situations into scoring chances, my teams have significantly increased their shooting percentage and shot attempts per possession.
Incorporating these plays into practice sessions and as time-and-score plays equipped my players with the skills and composure required to thrive in high-pressure situations.
If you’re interested in learning more about Coach Carvalho’s bold strategies and training methods and how they can help you achieve success as a coach, check out Coach C’s basketball eTraining online videos and or schedule a live Zoom session.
Our videos and live Zoom sessions will offer you an alternative and an audacious and bold approach to coaching that can give you the tools you need to succeed.
Check it out at www.coachbasketball.com
Coach Walter Carvalho is the Director of Instruction and Development at WA Sports Consulting. A privately-owned company based in Alabama that specializes in year-round basketball training services and coaching consultancy to coaches, players, and organizations of all levels.
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