So my team has quite a few press matchups this season.

https://www.whatifsports.com/hd/TeamProfile/Ratings.aspx?tid=14612


My guards are pretty fast I would say. To effectively beat a press that isn't great, should I run an up-tempo speed with a small fast lineup? Or should I run a slowdown with a small lineup? Or something else?

I've always leaned my game planning to the faster pace if I outclass them in athleticism, speed and depth.

Passing and ball handling are key to reducing your turnovers against the press. Another thing to consider is that the press does not allow for double teams, so you can heavily skew your offensive %s to a smaller number of quality players.

Posted by paynebrow on 3/12/2016 10:10:00 PM (view original):
I've always leaned my game planning to the faster pace if I outclass them in athleticism, speed and depth.

Passing and ball handling are key to reducing your turnovers against the press. Another thing to consider is that the press does not allow for double teams, so you can heavily skew your offensive %s to a smaller number of quality players.

I believe the press is always a double team

Posted by taniajane on 3/13/2016 3:22:00 AM (view original):

Posted by paynebrow on 3/12/2016 10:10:00 PM (view original):
I've always leaned my game planning to the faster pace if I outclass them in athleticism, speed and depth.

Passing and ball handling are key to reducing your turnovers against the press. Another thing to consider is that the press does not allow for double teams, so you can heavily skew your offensive %s to a smaller number of quality players.

I believe the press is always a double team

Well, in the press every player is treated the same. So no one player can be the focus of the other coach individually by setting a double team. This means you can give more distribution to your best scorers.

In reality how you win against any team is to recruit better.

But teams that rely on fouls (aka meyers teams line D2 Dickson in almost any world), can be beaten more easily if you give them less opportunity to score (you play slower tempo than normal) and foul them less (so don't be suckered into a large - on three point shooting). So for FB/Press teams.. Slowdown and close to 0 for the defense.

And of course, as mentioned (for all but the typw meyers teams), play uptempo if you are significantly better team to get more shots.

Don't play up tempo into a press.

Don't play uptempto into a good defensive press....


If you can get the press team in foul trouble, you can get them in a fatigue whirlpool.

With that 70 team stamina rating, you probably should play slow down. Going up against the press will fatigue you enough, you would be playing into the other teams' hands by playing uptempo. Not to mention having 5 freshman on the team, playing slowdown, will give your upperclassmen more playing time.

Gotcha. Thanks guys!!