Basketball Styles of Play--- Describe your league.

[durden_tyler2]

First of all, i admit i don't have total access to ALL of the world of basketball except for the times when i catch highlights and maybe some games over various shows and coverage. So basically the purpose of this thread is for the "local experts" to describe their own "local leagues" so as to find differences and/or similarities in the world of basketball.

As a fan of the sport i'd like to have an idea what the other leagues' style of play look, what kind of system--- it's variations, strengths and weaknesses--- do they use. Of course, there is no pure system in any league as influences of one system can easily be found in any other system.

Also, i am not talking about National Teams but the Local Pro Leagues in your country (obviously for some countries the local pro league's system could easily reflect the NT's style)

Am no expert by any means but i do watch my local pro league regularly so here's my take:

Philippine Basketball Association (PBA - Philippines)

+ Majority of the teams employ a rather NBA-influenced style of play. Stars are usually build up and hyped with role players all around them. But just like the NBA though there are a few teams who adapts a more team-oriented system with some coaches using the Triangle Offense and Motion Offenses.

+ Defensively and unlike the NBA, zone defense is allowed so some teams use that defense but still teams are capable of man-to-man defense. Over the course of 48 minutes coaches jump from one style to the other.

+ Primary influence is the NBA indeed as in our reinforced conferences teams usually get Americans as imports. When they do come to play in our local shores they are expected most likely to become the "star" of the team or at least a primary contributor in most stats.

Over the years, the Euro style of play influenced the local coaches to adapt a more team-oriented approach-- more movements and the likes but overall the American-influence is very obvious.

The bane of our local hoops is that it's too much influenced by the Americans (obviously because of its popularity) that at times players work to be "stars" rather than work as a "team". Conversely, the boon is the fact that individual skills are developed obviously and that of course appeals to the average fan generally.

So, what's your league like?

 

[mvblair2]

Great idea for a topic! I hope we get a lot of answers.

So, what's your league like?

Well, everybody pretty much knows the NBA: lots of isolation plays, lots of one-on-one defense. Every few years, a couple of teams play a "run and gun" offense which includes lots of fastbreaking and quick shots (always fun to watch). NBA teams tend to "manage the clock" very well, which makes the game a little boring, but is usually very strategic.

Lots of basketball fans in the USA prefer NCAA (National Collegiate Athletic Association) basketball, which is the other televised league and consists of a 347 teams in the first division. NCAA basketball has a few "unique" rules that impact the play of the game:

• No defensive 3 or 5 seconds allows for powerful zone defenses.
• 35 second shot clock allows for offenses to try a few times to make a set play
• 2 20 minute halves make each possession more valuable, since there are fewer opportunities to score

Traditionally, the college game is a little slower than the big Euro leagues or the NBA, but it's still immensely popular.

In the past, it was great to watch a player enter the NCAA and improve from one year to the next for four years. That still happens now, although players in their first year come to the NCAA now with more muscles and better prepared for "big time" games.

One of the great sporting events in the world is the NCAA Tournament, known as "March Madness." The 64 best teams compete for the championship. It is a "one and done" tournament, meaning that once a team loses their first game, they are finished with the tournament. A team must win 5 consecutive games in order to win the championship. It's a wonderful time of year!

 

[Saskibaloia2]

Australia's National Basketball League (NBL)

Australia's National Basketball League (NBL)

Here's my description of the Australian National Basketball League.

• Slow paced
• Pick N Roll
• Motion Offensive
• Plenty of 3 point shooting
• Corner shooters
• Unathletic
• Very un-"And1"
• Fundamental
• Zone Defense (3-2)
• Strong perimeter defense than interior

 

[bestkept2]

Here's my description of the Australian National Basketball League.

• Slow paced
• Pick N Roll
• Motion Offensive
• Plenty of 3 point shooting
• Corner shooters
• Unathletic
• Very un-"And1"
• Fundamental
• Zone Defense (3-2)
• Strong perimeter defense than interior

is the NBL still running?

 

[durden_tyler2]

i really believed this was an interesting topic Maybe not?

Anyway, we pretty much catch much of the NBA so i won't delve into that too much. But regarding the Aussie's NBL some questions:

Here's my description of the Australian National Basketball League.

* Slow paced
* Pick N Roll
* Motion Offensive
* Plenty of 3 point shooting
* Corner shooters
* Unathletic
* Very un-"And1"
* Fundamental
* Zone Defense (3-2)
* Strong perimeter defense than interior

When you mean slow-paced is it by coach's design or mainly because of the players skill set? Does this mean most players are rather unathletic (as you mentioned) that's why coaches prefer a slower-paced system? That's basically understandable but has it been this way over the years? i assume foreigners are allowed to play in some way, and haven't this influenced the style of play?

 

[JGX2]

Here's my description of the Australian National Basketball League.

• Slow paced
  

Can you expand on this? Looking at the stats and scores it seems like a pretty fast-paced league.

 

[Saskibaloia2]

is the NBL still running?

Yes, it's still operating but at a semi professional level.

But regarding the Aussie's NBL some questions:
When you mean slow-paced is it by coach's design or mainly because of the players skill set? Does this mean most players are rather unathletic (as you mentioned) that's why coaches prefer a slower-paced system? That's basically understandable but has it been this way over the years? i assume foreigners are allowed to play in some way, and haven't this influenced the style of play?

The coaches prefer to play at a slower pace because many prefer to have half court sets. There’s a culture among coaches that set plays are more effective than the “run and gun”.
In my opinion, the unathletic aspect is in comparison to the NBA.
In terms of foreigners, we have only have had Americans (though in the early ‘90s we once had a Lithuanian come out and even Estonia’s Martin Müürsepp, a former team mate of Chris Anstey, came for a season – though due to injury only played a few games), who have influenced many basketball players but this style of play from America has not influenced many coaches who still prefer the fundamental/ team basketball of Europe.

Can you expand on this? Looking at the stats and scores it seems like a pretty fast-paced league.

Yes, the scoring is quite high but that’s because many teams have great shooters on their team and thus, prefer to go to set plays which normally involves a 3 point shot as its first or second option.

 

[JGX2]

Yes, the scoring is quite high but that’s because many teams have great shooters on their team and thus, prefer to go to set plays which normally involves a 3 point shot as its first or second option.

Perhaps, but looking at the stats the teams average between 75-80 possessions a game, which would put all of them among the very fastest-paced teams in Europe (http://www.in-the-game.org/?p=4728), and make the league faster-paced than European leagues and only a little slower than the NBA.