Why the Vets Win: A Coach and Prof Collaboration
Like most great ideas, this one was concocted over beers after basketball with the Prof and company.
I've been pickup basketball since my early teens. We played on the streets, in the parks, or even the odd gym we could weasel our way into. During that time, I've noticed a trend; it is never fair to divide teams by age. The youngest half against the oldest half loses 75% of the time. I'm not just talking about the 19 and 20 year old guys against the 14 and 15 year old guys. In the league I play in now, if the old guys are playing the young, the cagey vets have a distinct advantage. In the NBA, the youthful team against the old guys usually results in an old guys win; hello San Antonio. Bring up 2013, remember Veteran Ray Allen had to save Miami's ass in that one. Go back and look, when there is an age difference in the finals, rarely does youth win. To help prove my point, I asked the Prof for some insight as well.
At this point, the Prof thought it was necessary to make a very valid point. It is necessary to compare players of relatively equal skill levels. If a couple of young university players show up to our runs, they dominate the game; in the same way any true player should dominate competition.
So, when all other factors are equal, why does age win?
1. Experience is a great teacher
A good player now will be a smarter player in ten years time. You learn patience and understand the game more. Most guys develop a court vision they never had in their high school years. The basketball IQ they possess now is more valuable than whatever athletic abilities they had when they were 18. Some of them even improve on their favorite skills like shooting and passing.
Not the leg brace, the Prof loves to keep the jumpers on the ground by wrapping their leg in his on rebounds. He gets better possession than the guy who can jump and the ball falls into his hands.
3. The Killer Instinct
Old guys want to win, young guys want to be on Sportscenter. Old guys get up 8-3 in a game to ten, they want the next two points. Young guys are going to try stuff they can't do. Old guy's game ends 10-3 and young guys game ends up in an 8-6 battle and then the jerseys start to close around their necks.
4. Patience
The run and gun youth need some ball movement and patience. The old guys walk it up the floor and set up something. Fast break leads to bad passes and poor shot decisions. Old guys move the ball until someone gets a solid shot. If they miss, the Prof is there for the leg wrap rebound.
5. Contact/ Hard Fouls
Old guys are going to get away with more. Young guys will call more of their fouls out of respect. Old guys are looking for an advantage. Young guys will give up more and ones because old guys will truly wrap up the shooter. This one is a little unfair because old guys should know better, but we don't. By the time the young guys catch on, the old guys have an advantage they are unwilling to relinquish.
6. The Screen
As you get older, your screen starts to resemble a hold. Link the arm, hug the player, whatever it takes to free up your shooter.
Nothing pretty happens as the ball is bouncing off the rim. Jersey grabs, hard box-outs, taps, the arm hold, the arm to the shoulder blades, the under the basket nudge, elbows out protection; all of these and more are old guy weapons.
8. Slowness as a Weapon
I'm at the point where guys fly by me on the block. I move slow enough that the young guys can't keep back. I take an extra second to get a shot off or do a lay-up. The defense is long gone by then.
9. The Strip
Most players are looking up and waiting for a block. Old guys do their blocking below the waist; as the young guy turns with an exposed ball ready to shoot, a hand straight out will put a stop to the offense. No foul either, hands a part of the ball remember.
10. Self Awareness
Young guys want to try new things; it's why a lot of them aren't married yet. (Ooh aah) They are willing to make the risky play and it often backfires. Old guys stick to the old reliable stuff. The Prof won't shoot many threes and banks in ¾ of his shots; there is a reason for that.
So there are ten of the many reasons why youth doesn't always rule on the court. I think I could take young me one on one but he might claim the opposite. The key is everyone is welcomed for drinks afterwards and we don't even make them pick up the tab.
