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Basketball Coaches Appreciate the Intangibles

June 27, 2020 | 2 minutes, 7 seconds read

basketball two players

Dunks, three-point shots, beautiful passes and blocks are the plays usually found in the highlight reels. They often possess more flair and aesthetic beauty than other parts of the game. However, it’s the nitty-gritty facets of basketball that often separate the good teams from the very best.

As any coach or clinic instructor will tell you, basketball is a game of details. If a defender is just a half step too slow, they could surrender a layup. If the reaction to a loose ball is just a half second too late, the opposing team could seize possession.

Coaches of young basketball players have an obligation to teach their pupils about the finer, less celebrated parts of the game. They can use sports team websites to analyze some of the key points that could significantly elevate an athlete’s game. While fans often go to the box score to get a read on the game, coaches go to the game tape. That’s where they witness the real evidence of greatness.

OKC Thunder play hard for all four quarters


The Oklahoma City Thunder have dealt with a number of different injuries this year. Star players Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook have both been regularly sidelined. Yet despite this fact, the team is still fighting for a playoff spot. Part of that competitiveness is rooted in raw talent. However, another key aspect to the team’s success is its hustle, according to NBA.com.

“When there is a loose ball, it’s not a 50-50 ball, it’s our ball,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks told the news source. “We have to continue to have that mentality. That’s the mentality our fans are proud of, leaving everything on the floor.”

Roberson ignores the box score


The Thunder team is full of players who care about winning more than personal achievements. That’s the style of guard-forward Andre Roberson, who doesn’t score much but always finds other ways to make his presence felt, according to Basketball Insiders. On a team stacked with talent at all positions, it’s the little things that keep Roberson not just in the rotation, but in the starting lineup.

“I don’t look at the stat line,” Roberson told the news source. “That doesn’t really total the game of basketball. There’s other aspects to the game than scoring, rebounding and things that don’t pop up on the stat sheet like bringing energy, coming out there with that greediness and bringing that spark to the team.”