Will this style work?

[Tom Bisson <tbisson@doe.state.vt.us>]

The most fascinating aspect of the upcoming Celtic season will be
watching whether or not a running-trapping-pressing strategy can be an
effective style of play in the NBA. Certainly this experiment will need
to run the course of more than one season, and if it works, whether or
not other teams adopt this style.

As some of you have pointed out, Kentucky had difficulty with this style
when it faced highly athletic teams such as Arizona. Now, while the
Celtics will be better than Kentucky, every NBA team is far better than
Arizona.

The questions I have are: Can you really trap and press NBA players who
almost all have size, strength, speed, skills and experience? Is the
current court size too small for this strategy to work in the NBA?

NBA defenses are tougher and better coached than ever. It's defensive
pressure along with a 24-second shot clock that has lowered scores in
the NBA - not slow-down basketball. It simply takes longer to get that
good shot forcing teams to take shots that aren't good. 

I'm optimistic about Pitino's style if it means turning possessions into
sprints toward the basket. That's where I think speed will make a big
difference - get to the basket before defenses set. No team has done
this consistently well since the "Showtime" Lakers.

- - tom