Questions, added
 

Just happened to run across this at another site and was wondering if this had ever been posted and discussed here. If it has, apologies for the duplicity.



"Subject: Re: Puzzled about basketball fouls
From: jhp24-ga on 14 Jun 2002 06:34 PDT
Interesting to note former Knicks' coach Jeff Van Gundy's technique
during the NBA playoffs a couple of years back. He often had his
players play extremely rough towards the beginning of the game,
sensitizing the officials to a very rough nature of play. As the game
progressed, he basically manipulated the officials by toning down the
physicality a bunch of notches (but still was physical enough that in
a normal game, the officials would call the violations). Therefore, in
the later stages when the game was on the line, the refs would not
call as much and the Knicks could get away with a lot. Actually this
strategy was very psychological in nature, presenting an excess
stimulus to sensitize the subject and then toning down the stimulus so
it is barely detected."

Questions:
1) Anyone have info that Van Gundy actually did that?
2) Anyone think they have seen anything remotely simliar near them?
3) Anyone think you might be affected in your calling a game where this technique was applied?
4) In general, how many of you think all, or any, of the "Psychological" techniques coaches attempt to use on us have any impact?
5) And lastly, what advice can you pass on, esp. to the newer officials, that allows you to keep your focus or re-focus and not be by such attempts?

David

[Edited by davidw on Feb 21st, 2005 at 06:19 PM]

Whether or not he did this, I don't know but I'm sure some coach somewhere has. How successful is it? Well, if it worked on NBA officials, then it says something. Was that Knicks team the most physical team ever? No, so does that mean alot of coaches say to go out there and manhandle til they call it? Probably. Would it work on me? I'd like to say no but for anyone who's ever suffered thru a Freshman game (which is probably all of us), I think we can all say we passed on fouls to keep the clock moving. Georgetown's John Thompson once said that his guys play physical and foul alot, and sooner or later the refs will get tired of calling it.

During the Riley-Van GUndy era, the Knicks played extremely physical basketball. The level was definitely raised with regard to what was/wasn't a foul. Don't know that I would call it a strategy or technique but it was a definite style of play.

Then, the Knicks played the Rockets in the NBA Finals after MJ first retired. The ratings were terrible and the NBA soon forced the physical style of play to go away.

It's still pretty darn physical, especially in the playoffs. I think the world of NBA officials and their way of doing things. I don't think this would have worked on them, they break down way too much video.

Yeah but they won all those championships under Riley & Van Gundy. :rolleyes: