What tempo strategy should be applied to the following team:

Great starters but poor bench.
Total team defense is terrible.
Starters stamina is good 

Should the tempo be:
A) Slow down
B) Normal
C) Uptempo

What is the balance between wanting as many possessions as you can get with the starters who can score well against most teams, but also realizing that a slow down keeps the bench off the floor?

Against a great team I think you run slow down no matter what.  
Against a poor team?  Not sure.  Do you want the possessions and risk the bench or do you limit the possessions and keep the starters in as long as possible.  

Keep in mind this team has poor defense all around.  

OK, would love to hear some thoughts.  
1/4/2011 8:18 AM
I play slowdown if my starters are better and bench is equal or worse than other teams. Also play slowdown if I am young and starters are significantly better than bench, which is kind of similar.

I would go uptempo if I have better bench and worse starters. However, in new engine and running press, I find stamina and/or fouls prohibits this strategy, whereas in the past I would do this almost all the time, even if my starters were better (idea was more possessions for my better squad to shine). If not in press, I would still evoke this strategy.

So, I would need to know what d you run, but I think slowdown will be your default and u tweak based on circumstances from there.

1/4/2011 8:29 AM
against a poor team, I usually run normal tempo regardless of my depth.
1/4/2011 9:21 AM
I agree with al.  Play uptempo versus inferior teams.  It helps if you have a decent shooting and rebounding team.  Actually, I don't usually see a huge difference in the number of possessions in uptempo versus slowdown. 
1/4/2011 9:42 PM

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