Is Teamwork a Lost Art in Today's Game?

Raise your hand if you were ever in a game of basketball, organized or pickup, where you thought you were playing to WIN, but the guys you were playing with were playing to WOO!

It was frustrating, wasn’t it?

Sure it was!

It was so frustrating that it made me kick my shoes off and fake an injury.

If you think that’s bad, then what about if that happened to you while you were trying to do your job?

At least I could take my ball and go home. Professional basketball players have to grin and bear it.

Why?

Because they get paid to do so.

They have a boss just like you and I and if the boss chooses to back individual highlights instead of overall team play, then you get the topsy-turvy, roller coaster ride we call the National Basketball Association.

Whatever happened to teamwork?

You laugh, but I’m serious. It’s the missing ingredient in ninety percent of play today.

The packaging of the Rucker Park antics by And-1 has ruined the art of team play. So many players want to do the spectacular all the time.

The simple pass ahead for an easy layup is now late and an easy scoring opportunity is foiled, because the ball had to be bounced three additional times and had to be thrown through the legs of the opponent.

Solid screens setters are now matadors, free throw shooting is optional and having a consistent jump shot is not needed if you can jump from the free throw line.

Pick and roll basketball still works wonders.

Solid off the ball screens will still free up teammates and on-the-ball screens still release the ball handler from pressure.

It’s amazing how the elite teams–you know, the ones with all the titles–like the Lakers, Celtics and Spurs play systematic, fundamental team basketball…especially in the championship moments. Even with all their athleticism, they understand that winning is a team thing.

In order to win, you have to agree to mesh talent and teamwork to make the dream work.

Important message to the “thirty-somethings”–the players who feel that they have to score thirty in order to win–“Pick your head up...your teammate is open!”

Don’t get me wrong!

I know that there are some teams that are not as good and they do need some superstar to score at a frenetic pace to be competitive. I also understand that some coaches don’t really assess their personnel and/or the situation and force players to play out of position or play a style that they could never be successful in.

But teamwork is something that is between the five players on the floor.

It’s a synergy amongst co-workers that propels them towards a common goal. It’s not something that you can buy, fabricate or manipulate.

It's camaraderie and a brotherhood that bonds athletes and weekend warriors together whether it’s for two hours on the weekend or through an 82-game season.

So, fast forward to my last encounter on the basketball court.

I’m running with a new crew and they let it be known in the beginning that stats are not counted here.

The Hall Of Fame is in Massachusetts and we are not there.

No television.

No Cameras.

No audience.

Shoot when you are open and pass to the open man.

It doesn’t matter how much they score, as long as we have one more poit than they do. Needless to say, I kept my shoes on for the entire afternoon and as for my injury…it healed with the support of my team!

Ilee Coleman
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