Forgetting the fundamentals



Reeves Nelson reacts after tipping in the game-winner against Cal on Thursday night.


You know what is so irritating to me? When basketball games are won or lost on a rebound and putback. This happens so often that it’s mind - boggling. Starting with the first practice in elementary school, I can guarantee you that almost every coach will instruct and teach his or her players to BOX OUT. When a shot goes up, get a body on somebody and go get the ball right? So how is it that tip-dunks, tip-ins and offensive rebounds happen in the closing seconds of so many games at every level, including the NBA? It just goes back to fundamentals. It’s a weird thing to see some of the best athletes in the world, playing on big stages just simply forget to do something they’ve learned to do their entire careers. And it happened again on Thursday night in the Cal - UCLA game at Pauley Pavilion.

California, being down by nine points with less than a minute left had just made an improbable comeback and tied the score at 84 on a three pointer by Allen Crabbe with 10 seconds remaining. UCLA’s Tyler Honeycutt dribbled the ball up court and put up a shot from the free throw line that missed but teammate Reeves Nelson came all the way from the top of the key, untouched, and tipped in Honeycutt’s miss right before the buzzer to win the game.

Its proven time and time again, when the game is on the line it’s the fundamentals that make the difference between a win or a loss. Move your feet on defense, and box out.

Aparentley that's easier said than done.