Coaches’ Corner- Handling a Big Lead

This past year, it seems like I watched more games where a team might lead by 15-20 at half-time, then come out and lose the game. This was true on HS, college, and pro levels. 

Obviously the most famous game is the Knicks’ game 4 come from behind win, where they erased a 29 point lead. The summer,  the Fever have lead by as many as 15 and then lost the game. It is more and more common. 

The combination of the shot clock and the emphasis on the three point shot both play a factor. In the old days before the shot clock, a team might start to pull it out and stall in the third quarter. The increased emphasis on three point shooting seems to create a much greater likelihood for runs and for droughts. 

I asked some veteran coaches their thoughts on handling a big half-time lead. 

Todd Borrison 

Todd has won multiple State Championships in the State of Iowa in Girls Basketball. He presently coaches at Mediapolis. 

Great topic—we are a pressing team and we have taken bigs leads into the locker room at half and we believe in coming out with the same game plan and control momentum early in 3rd qt to avoid letdown by slowing down. 

Of course you get criticized for pressing after half , but it’s our identity and what we do. We also like to push tempo and play into or secondary breaks and look to be aggressive which can be dangerous at times but we feel better doing that than playing a style we’re not.  

So our plan is to do what we do, at least until we feel comfortable with the game.

Jon Palicki

Jon has been a highly successful coach in the Chicago area, coaching girls basketball. Presently he is the head coach at Resurrection. It should be noted that he runs a modified Grinnell System. Jon is one of the hosts of the IBCA sponsored podcast, After the Timeout.

So that’s funny you say that. When we have a lead like that I limit half time to 3-4 minutes.  I want to get back out there as fast as possible to shoot and move.  

I don’t believe in long half times.  I think it’s why we had so slow of starts but we had multiple 15 plus point comebacks.  

In talking to the team at half, I do just 1-2 points, plus assistants points. Then, “Let’s go.”  If we are down a lot there’s times I’ll let them go in sit down. Reset.  Maybe have 1 minute come out.  It’s intentional 

I’m not a huge half time person.  I want to keep going.  I’m not a huge timeout person either.   I want it to flow.  I’m banking on my team IQ from practice being higher than the opponent. 

Sean Taylor

Sean is one of the most respected coaches in Illinois basketball. He has won two State Championships at two different schools. Presently he coaches at Moline. 

1. For team that is losing it is a little like being short stacked in poker, it is easier to go all in and if you cut into the lead you then gain some momentum.

2. For the team winning I think two things happen:

A. You have a tendency for a natural let down. Hopefully, your team didn’t turn their effort off because it is hard to turn back on.

B. As a coach I think you need to anticipate the “run” that the opponent will have and not panic. Have to have the attitude that we will now make a run. 

A few things that coaches can do:

1. Substitute an energy guy who can help lift the effort of a team.

2. Call a timeout- in it ask them if on Thursday night they would have been ok to be up 8 going into the 4th quarter? Then tell them that is where you are.

I think there will be more comebacks for a few reasons.

1. Shot clock so there will be more possessions 

2. 3 point shots made so a chance to get hot and conversely get cold (Spurs game 4).

3. There are a lot of good teams who have pride and will not throw in the towel. 

Evan Massey

It is a tough thing to decide that you are going to abandon the style of play that got you the big lead and slow it down to eat up clock. 

Blowing a big lead is one of those things in coaching that other people can say, “Why didn’t coach have them do _____?” The reality is that teams have blown big leads when they have slowed it down, and they have blown big leads leaders when they kept playing aggressively.

As a coach, at half-time, you have to have the same approach you would have if it was a closer game. You can’t change up what you do, because you are sending the message that the game is over. 

Even though you might face criticism, you need to go out to start the second half and play the way you normally play. If that means a full court press or a half court trap, you need to play those defenses. Otherwise, it is too easy to be sending a message that the game is over. 

I would emphasize three focuses for us in the second half. I think it is hard for another team to make a huge comeback run if your team does the following things:

1- Wins the Foul Line- In college men’s basketball with no foul reset at quarters, the team up 20 that allows the other team to start shooting ft’s with 13 minutes to go is going to get in trouble. And if the team with the lead is not attacking the basket and getting to the line it is a problem. At half-time, I would establish the first 3 plays we want to run that are getting the ball inside or driving. 

2- Not Turning the Ball Over- It is not just the loss on offense but giving up transition. 

3- Not giving up transition- this means the other team does not get easy shots and they are going to use more clock.