Why Do You Play?

I was recently eating dinner with one of my teammates when he asked me, “Why do you keep playing?” I smiled and said, “That’s an easy one. Because of you guys.” My teammate looked back at me not knowing how to respond to that. But that got me thinking, and that’s a question I want to ask you—Why do you play?

My name is Robert Horn. I’m a 5’ 10” senior at Bob Jones University in South Carolina. I walked-on my freshman year and have played less than 100 career minutes. I’ve only scored 12 points in my college career. Knowing that, you now see why my teammate asked me that. It was a fair question, and its one that I’ve often asked myself.

Why do I play?

Why do I put myself through the grueling grind of college basketball only to ride the pine?

Because of my teammates and the opportunity I have to build relationships with them and make an impact on their lives. I know a lot of guys say that, especially when they are being recruited, but it’s a whole other thing when you’re forced to live it out. This is something that God’s been teaching me throughout my entire college career. If I was here only to “get mine” or for my own personal success, I would have quit my freshman year to play intramurals—and believe me, I almost did. And again sophomore year. And again junior year. But through this process, God has been showing me that basketball is so much more than scoring 20 points a night or playing 35 minutes per game. Basketball isn’t about me. Basketball is just a tool God’s graciously given me to be able to connect with guys who others can’t and in ways that no one else can. This opportunity didn’t come by me pouting on the bench or slacking in the gym—No, I earned guys respect by working harder then them though I saw less on-court opportunities than them. I earned guys respect by showing them support and excitement at their personal success and the team’s success rather than whining over my lack of PT. It was not easy and I struggled with it at different times. But when took my eyes off myself and aligned my perspective to what God called me, I found myself thankful and satisfied for the opportunity rather than selfish over unfulfilled desires. God has shown me that basketball isn’t about my glory, but about His. It’s a platform to serve Him for where He’s called me.

FOUR YEARS AGO

Four years agoI would have told you that a college career spent on the bench was a waste. But God has used these last four years to radically change me in such incredible ways. He has humbled me, convicting me of prideful desires for my own glory over the success of my teammates and the team.  He has revealed my selfishness in caring about my own athletic success over the welfare of my teammates hearts and souls. He has given me the opportunity to be a leader from the bottom, rather than someone who sticks out as the most skilled player or physically dominate person.

THE BEST PART

But the best part is that what God has taught me through basketball will carry over to life. Life isn’t about me or my success or my happiness or my glory. It’s about Someone so much greater me—God! I think it is awesome that we refer to our teams as family because our relationship with God is also portrayed as a family. God has given us the opportunity to be on His team, but we have to accept that we are not the superstar—He is! Just like we could spend 4 years chasing after PT and records, we can spend our lives chasing our own glory and satisfaction and end up wasting it on ourselves! Or we can examine our heart’s motives and take our eyes off of ourselves and finally realize why we are alive —to bring God glory. If we are Christians, we are called to follow after Jesus (Luke 9:23). Jesus’s goal was to bring the Father glory (John 17:4). Bringing God glory, not ourselves, is why we were created. So look at the gifts God has given you and ask yourself why you do them. It may be basketball, it may be music, it could be art—whatever it is, do it to the glory of God, not yourself (1 Corinthians 10:31)!

MY HOPE

My hope is that my story will cause you to examine your heart, and change your mentality as you head into next season. Ask yourself today, “Why do I play?”

Protect the Paint!

In the article, Factors to Successful Pack Line Defense, I briefly wrote about characteristics that make our Pack Line defense successful for our program at Bob Jones University.  I would like to take each of those factors and go more in depth with them.

PRESSURE THE BALL!

Contrary to what many believe, pack line defense is an intense & high pressure strategy when executed correctly.  The tone we set in our half court defense begins and ends with the type of pressure we place on the ball handler.  

1. Hand-On - When teaching on-ball pressure to our team we often use the term "hand-on," referring to the distance between the defender and the ball handler.  We stress the importance of making an offensive player uncomfortable handling the ball while invading his bubble.
2. Voice Pressure - To apply pressure at the highest level while establishing a factor of intimidation, we urge our players to deploy voice pressure.  Not only does this increase the level of intensity, but it deters a ball handler from performing at his peak level.
3. Jump Up, Jump Back - We use this terminology when analyzing the options of the offensive player.  Anytime a ball handler picks up his dribble or brings the ball above his head, we will "jump up" or "wall up" by decreasing the amount of space between the two players.  Our hands will be high and we will not let them make an easy pass.  Anytime a ball handler brings the ball low and threatens to drive we "jump back."  When jumping back, we always keep a hand-on the ball and we keep our legs loaded, ready to move.  In both techniques, it is crucial to have active hands and feet.

EXPLODING TO GAPS

As off-ball defenders, one pass away, we will be in the gaps.  The purpose of the gap defender is to build a wall and give his teammate that is pressuring the ball, the trust and confidence he needs to do his job,  

1. Build a Wall - If you are the offensive player thinking about driving, you should see two defenders on either side of the man guarding you.  The purpose of the wall is to crush any hopes and dreams that the ball handler may have of driving past his man.  If he somehow gets past his man, the gap defenders are right there to shut it down.
2. Explode to Pack - Many times after our man has the ball and passes it away, players tend to ease up and think their job is finished.  False!  In fact, it has just begun. An immediate instinct that needs to take place is to jump to the ball and back into the pack line.  Our goal should be to take away front cuts and discourage the new ball handler from attempting a drive.  
3. Trust & Confidence - We stress the importance of communication in our program and there is no better time to communicate than on the defensive side of the floor.  As a gap defender it is your duty to make sure your teammate knows that you have his back.  A simple and effective way to do this is by calling his name, giving him information, and doing so with an urgent and confident tone of voice (Read N.I.T.E. - Keys to Great Communication).  For example, "Ray! I have your gap left! Pressure the ball, Ray! I'm here in your gap left!"  By communicating in this manner, you are giving your teammate the trust and confidence he needs to pressure the ball to the best of his ability!

OBTAINING LEVERAGE ON CLOSEOUTS

Closeouts may be the most important skill involved in pack line defense.  Because of the gap positioning and the "no paint" philosophy, it can be very easy to leave shooters open.  However, we expect our players to give ultimate effort when closing out on shooters.  As you can see from the next main point (do not get beat outside!) we need to obtain leverage, or get the proper angle when we closeout.

1. Sprint - This one makes sense.  If we need to get out on shooters, you need to sprint!
2. Chop Your Feet - To maintain balance and the ability to defend the drive, we want our last 3-4 steps to be short and choppy.  By doing this we allow our players to breakdown a player that wants to catch and drive right away.
3. Throw Hands Up - This is something that many players do not do for some reason.  It is essential that we throw our hands up at the last second to alter a shooter's focus and make him second guess his shot.
4. Voice Pressure - As in on-ball defense, we want to closeout with voice pressure.  Science has proven that loud noises will ruin a person's focus.
5. Gain Leverage - We do not want to ever get beat outside, so it is essential that we closeout with our feet and body positioned in a way that will allow us to level off players on the drive (see next point).

DO NOT GET BEAT OUTSIDE!

Every day we work on "leveling off" the ball handler.  Is is not wise to tell your players to "force middle" when playing pack line.  Just because we don't want to get beat outside doesn't mean we are forcing middle.  Instead, it means we need to level off the ball handler to an area on the floor that we want them to go.

1. Level Off - When a ball handler tries to beat us on a drive to the outside (sideline or baseline) we need to push them to a point on the floor.  On drives from the wing we practice forcing the ball handler to the corner of the floor.  On baseline drives from the corner we plant our foot on the baseline, no closer to the basket than the short corner area.  The ball handler's only option should be to make a move back to the middle where our gap help is, or to pick up his dribble.
2. Just Do It! - A lot of people ask, "Well what do you do if you do get beat?  How do you rotate?" That is the million dollar question, but the simple answer that we need to ingrain in our players minds is DON'T GET BEAT! LEVEL THEM OFF! JUST DO IT!