My Team is in a Major Conference so when I play other schools I go to a slowdown tempo due to a few things
1.  My teams get killed by my better conference mates
2.  Too many teams play the press
3. I dont have the horses other teams do to compete at a high level for 40 mins

So I always ran my teams at a slowdown pace.  I felt the benifit is
1. Less opportunities = Less turnovers vs press teams
2. My team has good stamina so I can play a shorter rotation
3. Better shot selection

The problem is teams I feel I should kill I barely win so is me shortining up the game givng the other team a chance to stay with me also?  Just wanted to know the true benifit of this tempo so I can decide if I should move things up at a faster pace.

I agree with your approach. The only thing I do differently is to use normal tempo versus inferior teams.

I've had such a hard time figuring out the actual impact of tempo in games beyond the obvious more or less shot attempts. I understand the conventional thinking and still adhere to it- but damn- I get some crazy results when I start messing around with game tempo. There have been teams that I was CLEARLY better than and would change to uptempo to "increase my advantage" and get beat- and not by a narrow margin either. I'm not a data-collection fiend, so I don't really have a good set of numbers to work with and I know impressions are hokey stuff, but I find myself hesitating to use uptempo on a regular basis against overmatched opponents.

Posted by noleaniml on 10/6/2015 11:07:00 AM (view original):
I've had such a hard time figuring out the actual impact of tempo in games beyond the obvious more or less shot attempts. I understand the conventional thinking and still adhere to it- but damn- I get some crazy results when I start messing around with game tempo. There have been teams that I was CLEARLY better than and would change to uptempo to "increase my advantage" and get beat- and not by a narrow margin either. I'm not a data-collection fiend, so I don't really have a good set of numbers to work with and I know impressions are hokey stuff, but I find myself hesitating to use uptempo on a regular basis against overmatched opponents.

I think when you go uptempo, it changes the stamina and also gives both teams more prosessions.  I used to go Uptempo vs teams I feel I will blow away and for some reason I lose also.  I never use uptempo especially with me being a b- and now a c- in a major conference. 

Posted by alblack56 on 10/6/2015 9:48:00 AM (view original):
I agree with your approach. The only thing I do differently is to use normal tempo versus inferior teams.

Hi alblack,
So you recommend "normal" rather than "uptempo" vs inferior teams?   I figured more possessions via uptempo provided a better chance to outperform a lesser opponent?  Or does uptempo lead to poor, rushed shot selection?

Posted by npb7768 on 10/6/2015 12:35:00 PM (view original):

Posted by alblack56 on 10/6/2015 9:48:00 AM (view original):
I agree with your approach. The only thing I do differently is to use normal tempo versus inferior teams.

Hi alblack,
So you recommend "normal" rather than "uptempo" vs inferior teams?   I figured more possessions via uptempo provided a better chance to outperform a lesser opponent?  Or does uptempo lead to poor, rushed shot selection?

It could be argued either way. Personally, I never use uptempo. I want my best players in the game as long as possible.

If my 2nd team is far inferior to my starters, I'll use slowdown more frequently. My Mars Hill team (Wooden) is 20-6 but I have 6 freshmen. I've used slowdown almost all season

Makes sense!  Thanks!

I think tempo is quite important.  Need to compare your team to your opponent and decide what tempo is best

Now, this is complicated.  generally, the better team wants faster tempo - all else equal.  The more possessions the less likely an upset.  If two teams had identical players and settings but one team was 10 points lower in every skill rating, the better team should go faster.  Extra possessions, a longer Markov chain, less chance of upset.

But that isnt realistic.  You can do rough analysis of whose team is deeper.  Dont forget to look at both IQ and skillz.  BUT, how about depth at particular positions.  Its great to say that you have 10 good players and he has only 7, so maybe you should go uptempo.  BUT, if you have only one guy who you really trust to run the point and his stamina is 70, you may not want to go uptempo cause that gets Mr Turnover at the point more of the game....

And you need to look at what schemes the teams run.  Zone uses less stamina than FCP.

generally, stronger, deeper means go faster.  

Posted by fd343ny on 10/6/2015 6:00:00 PM (view original):
I think tempo is quite important.  Need to compare your team to your opponent and decide what tempo is best

Now, this is complicated.  generally, the better team wants faster tempo - all else equal.  The more possessions the less likely an upset.  If two teams had identical players and settings but one team was 10 points lower in every skill rating, the better team should go faster.  Extra possessions, a longer Markov chain, less chance of upset.

But that isnt realistic.  You can do rough analysis of whose team is deeper.  Dont forget to look at both IQ and skillz.  BUT, how about depth at particular positions.  Its great to say that you have 10 good players and he has only 7, so maybe you should go uptempo.  BUT, if you have only one guy who you really trust to run the point and his stamina is 70, you may not want to go uptempo cause that gets Mr Turnover at the point more of the game....

And you need to look at what schemes the teams run.  Zone uses less stamina than FCP.

generally, stronger, deeper means go faster.  

This is pretty much my process as well. Last season, I had a pretty talented, pretty deep team in D2 Wooden. I ran almost exclusively uptempo (except against far better teams) and won twenty-six games, most by double digits.

I look at my opponent's scoring breakdown. If he has a couple main scorers, and if those scorers have low stamina, that's enough to tell me uptempo is best. Remember: as players tire, their skills deminish, just like real life. If I can get your studs tired, I have an advantage.*

*Note: I run M2M with pretty athletic/good defenders.