“Momentum Killers and Momentum Getters”

The home court advantage in basketball is due to many factors – one of those factors being momentum. Momentum in basketball is a great thing to have on your side. Of course, you can attempt to control momentum with timeouts, but I believe that a coach is better off saving those for the end of the game. Whether a basketball team is playing on the road against a huge home crowd, or in a summer scrimmage with very few fans in the stands, the understanding that your team has of how to play basketball can have a major influence on the momentum of the game.

This article offers some thoughts on what types of plays shift the momentum of a basketball game. Raising your players’ “basketball IQ” by teaching them to spot those momentum shifting plays, and then working with their skill levels and your team’s schemes will allow you to have much more control of the momentum.

You probably have a few ideas to add to both lists and you probably disagree with some of my choices. The purpose of this article is to get coaches about how to gain momentum for your team and how to stop it when it favors your opponent. I believe that you can come up with ideas and systems to practice to teach your team to avoid momentum killers, and to work at developing the mental toughness necessary to withstand momentum killers when they do happen in games. Have a plan, make your players aware of what they are, and work at it in practice! Part of understanding how to play basketball is knowing how to control or shift the momentum.

Momentum Killers

Bad shot selection: Use a simple shot rating system such as the one suggested by Coach Don Meyer 4) layup or power shot 3) wide open perimeter shot for a high percentage shooter 2) ok shot 1) bad shot. That makes it easy to teach in practice what shots are acceptable and which ones aren’t.

Missed free throws: Practice, practice, practice with as much fatigue and pressure as you can muster. We have a great drill for working on pressure free throws posted on our site called the Two Minute Drill.
(URL is www.coachingtoolbox.net/workouts/gamepace/two-minute-drill.html)

Giving up second shot baskets: To emphasize block outs, chart it as a stat in practice and in games. Give each player his or her stats. “Steve, you had 19 block out chances on defense, and only made contact on 12.” It will make a difference in performance. Anything that is measured tends to improve.

Allowing opponent to score the last basket of a quarter: If you hold the ball for the last shot as the clock is running down, your opponent is less likely to get the last shot.

Giving up three point baskets in the fourth quarter: As Coach Dick Bennett says, “You must be tough enough to outlast your opponents.” Work in practice to be physically and mentally tough enough to defend with everything you have for the entire game.

Turnovers that lead to scores: Your team must be able to defend the shots you take and the turnovers you make. A five second or travel turnover is better than throwing a pass up for grabs because with those turnovers, you can at least set your defense.

Unnecessary fouls: Playing hard and with discipline on defense is crucial. Rick Pitino says, “Fouling negates hustle.” Preach that to your team. If you play hard, you will get in position and be less likely to foul. If you play smart, you won’t take chances that have low payoff potential and high risk for picking up a foul.

Loss of poise: Focus on the task at hand and not on the distractions. We have a section on mental toughness as it applies to basketball as well. (URL is www.coachingtoolbox.net/mentaltoughness/mental-toughness-for-basketball.html)
Momentum Getters
Scoring to end a quarter: It is imperative to have a plan and practice it daily to get the last shot of each quarter. Have a set time that once the clock gets to that point, you are going to hold for the last shot(20 seconds to go or whatever fits your team), unless a wide open layup opportunity presents itself.

Negating a basket by taking a charge: Emphasize how to and when to take charges in practice and reward and praise it when it happens in practice or in a game.

Making a shot to take the lead in the 4th quarter: The right player shooting with great shooting technique, great shot selection, and repetitive pressurized success in practice increase your odds dramatically.

Scoring against a press: We believe in attacking a press to beat it with a basket or a foul, not just to survive it.

Diving on a loose ball to gain/save a possession:Always grab loose balls with two hands and chin them so that they don’t become loose again and go to your opponent.

Answer a momentum getter by the other team: Work with your players in practice to understand what those plays are and how to answer them.

As I stated at the beginning of the article, more than likely, you will have some areas to tweak or add to. Start out the first day of practice and teach what you believe to be the momentum killer and getters and make those points of emphasis in your teaching. Just like anything else that you emphasize continually in practice, you will see the results of your work in the games. You and your team will have a plan to influence and control the momentum of your games.

Brian Williams is one of the authors of the Coaching Toolbox. The site is designed as a resource for basketball players and coaches at every level of the game. He can be reached by e-mail at bwilliams@coachingtoolbox.net