Last night, we scrimmaged a few guys 4 on 4. Our team was Rick Butler, Chris "The Boy" Harvey, Zach Oberman, Joe Wood, and myself, Scott Harvey. Because we were substituting one out, I decided to get everyone to push the pace and run the floor.
I have to say, this strategy worked beautifully. We gassed them hardcore. Any defensive board we grabbed was taken full speed, past most of their team members, straight to the hoop. Everyone was running. Rick and I took point most possessions, but when we ran, everyone else was driving to the hole on the wings full force. The result was a lot of easy layups and a stock pile of assists for pretty much everyone.
We didn't keep score but I felt we put it on them pretty hard. Rick thought it was closer, and I agree they hit too many 3's on us, but we had innumerable free layups.
We picked them apart in the low block, as well. I love playing nonaggressive defenders in the post. I felt I pretty much ate them alive with hook shots and drop step layups. Rick was getting in off the drive a lot as well.
Last night gave me great hope for the season. Everyone I have talked to on the team has expressed interest in running the pace this season. Our starting 5 is looking amazing, and we have a lot of quality players coming off the pine to provide the fresh legs and keep the tempo up where we want it. I personally believe that in a game of hoops, the team that controls the pace wins. Last year, we were definitely a grind-the-ball in kind of team. The two games we won (and a few we should have) last year were won mostly because we set up our offense in the halfcourt, and on defense we limited the opposition's transition buckets, forcing them to beat us at our game.
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