Re: Should Pennsylvania have a shot clock?

What coaches are saying about the shot clock-

Re: Should Pennsylvania have a shot clock?.

Dec 3, 2013, Vince Rogers - Boys Basketball Head Coach - Susquehanna Twp. High School
I believe that high school basketball in Pennsylvania is behind times. Not having a shot clock not only help inferior teams it also hurts players that will move onto play in college. Last time I checked every college in America uses a shot clock, and by the way so does the NBA. So why doesn't PA, I tell you why, they want a slow down 1960 style of boring play that again helps less talented team. Lets face it, strategy doesn't have anything to do with this. PA wants the less talented teams to stay in the game. If it was about strategy, I'm sure the NBA and NCAA would want what's best for the sport. They chose to use the shot clock, when will PA get with the times and incorporate the shot clock?
 

Re: Should Pennsylvania have a shot clock?.

Dec 1, 2013, Jerry Blazick Jr - Boys Basketball Head Coach - Northwest Area High School
As a high school coach of over 15 years and a former player, I have always appreciated the fact my team had the option of utilizing the clock to shorten the game and increase our chances to win. I have never coached in a game where our opponent and us respected each other as equally talented and both used a delay game strategy. I have witnessed this strategy though before the 3 point line was instituted. As a young boy, I remember watching a Northwest versus Central Columbia game in the late 70"s. Both teams respected each other so much they each sat in their 2-3 zones as the each offense methodically tried to penetrate the packed in 2-3 zones. They only competed in the opening minutes of the quarter. Then both teams would start playing for the last possession of the quarter with as much as 4 minutes left in the quarter. The final score was like 18-17. I witnessed this same situation as a player. Northwest versus Dallas in 1985-86 season. This time the same strategy ended up being employed by both coaches in overtime...6 of them! For the most part it was whoever won the tap held the ball each.
The truth is those packed in zones and sagging man defenses are rarely used anymore since the inception of the 3 point line. The few times my teams elected to go to an all-out stall or only a sweet shot/lay-up type delay game, it backfired because teams are not willing to play that type of game anymore. If they are superior, they will simply go to an all out trapping defense and force you to take quick shots and play up-tempo. Their rules are usually simple...trap often and shoot often. Its tough to maintain control and like always...the more talented team usually prevails anyway. We now use a delay game much like Princeton's legendary Coach Pete Carroll did with a shot clock. We just go through the offense twice or pass the ball twice before we start running the offense to score. He even called his delay game "Twice". It serves us much better and we have many more positive possessions. Which in turn helps our defensive intensity. Completely stalling usually triggered the defense into an all out frenzy. Our strategy became our superior opponents primary motivator. We didn't put them asleep, we woke them up!
I would like to see a hot clock because I feel in many of these games against our superior opponents we played great defense for 20-30 seconds and came away empty. I mention 20-30 because this is the point when the offense begins to be tested and this is the point when coaching strategy could come into play. Its tough to guard a talented and disciplined team for more than 35 seconds....but the rewards of good defense with a 35 second shot start at 25 seconds! I just feel if we do it successfully for 20-25 seconds we are rewarded with a panicking offense who's shot selection is being compromised. If we deny a shot for 35 seconds it should be our ball! I see us controlling tempo much better given this option. Its so much easier to guard talent than attack talent. In my opinion the key to Princetons delay game was this...frustrate them on defense...guard them tough for 15-20 seconds...get them to take shots in the final 10 seconds of the shot clock...make them think they have to hurry on offense...then toy with them on offense to reinforce that sense of desperation. To me that was the real strategy...and it all started with the shot clock on their defensive end...not their offensive end..
Lets face it...the days of packing in the zone or over sagging the man are over. The evidence of this is the very few 3on2 fast breaks you see anymore. I think this evolution is because the offense is positioned farther from the basket today, which makes it tougher to rebound and throw your outlet over the top of them. The offense used to be positioned inside the 3 point line. I graduated in 1986 and we were always taught to step into our shot...not only because it was good footwork fundamentals. but also because you got closer to the basket. We still teach this, but we step into the 3 point line. I believe this is why we don't see the 3on2 break as much anymore. Back in the day before the 3 point line, when the wings cheated in with a 14-16 footer, you burned them with your outlet over the top and 3on2 fast break. I just don't see this much anymore.
 think we can all agree that in at least some ways the 3 point line has changed the game. I believe its harder to defend the lane and area around the basket. Your defense has to extend and protecting the area around the basket is naturally harder. With that said...reward the defense who does this well for 35 seconds. I believe its always easier to defend a superior team, and with the shot clock and Coach Carrel's strategy, you can get the tempo you want. I think a debatable option is to turn off the shot clock with 2 minutes to go in the game. I wonder if this will help or hurt strategy. Again, I think its easier to defend talent then attack talent. But, I am on the fence on that one. Either way I definitely support a shot clock. I think it would give coaches more strategic options on the defensive end. Combined with a tempo controlling offense, you can more easily create the element you are striving for in taking down the superior team...desperation!

Dec 1, 2013,  Brian Gaetano

 I could not disagree more. It adds strategy to the game. Coaches will have to learn how to get players in the best positions possible.
The game will transition into a game of players who are more highly skilled, instead of football on wood as it is currently played in PA

Low percentage shots will only occur if the players are not disciplined or who have coaches who do not know how to create shots.
Cannot add it quickly enough for me. It adds intrigue and strategy to  the defensive end too