A different perspective

When you watch a game of basketball on television, what do you see? When you listen to a game, what do you hear? Do you have a hard time focusing on anyone besides the player with possession? If so, you are not alone.

Spectators have been conditioned to watch the ball and only the ball. Because of camera angles, instant replay and announcers' comments – which usually are focused on the ball or the star player – it often is difficult to focus on the larger contest at hand.

As a fan, player, coach and analyst, I have had the opportunity to watch and enjoy the game of basketball from a variety of perspectives. When I was younger, my youth basketball coach taught me the importance of seeing the entire floor and encouraged me to develop my peripheral vision. This fundamental skill also applies to you, the fan, and should be practiced when watching a game. If you are able to do this, you will see that there are many battles raging within any given game.

Have you ever noticed how a particular player comes out of nowhere to block a shot, get a rebound or get into position to take the charge? Or have you wondered how certain players use screens set by their teammates, or why the 7-foot center is unable to take advantage of a smaller opponent and so on?

The answers can be found if you intently watch what is happening with the eight players away from the ball. Watching a game like this requires the focus and concentration of a coach, but if mastered, it will make the action on the floor more entertaining by adding an entirely different perspective that ultimately will make you a more knowledgeable student of this great game.

One of the things you will notice when watching the whole game is that rebounding can make or break a team. So when you fill out your NCAA tournament brackets in March, keep that in mind and make sure your teams can rebound.

Rebounding and taking care of the ball (more assists than turnovers) usually make the difference between advancing or going home. As you retrain your eyes, you will see that there are five rebounding battles taking place on each shot. The casual observer would think that a missed shot is gathered by the tallest player or the player that jumps the highest. But that's far from the truth – with most rebounds gathered below the rim. And with the three-point shot, many rebounds go to the smaller, quicker players waiting 18 to 20 feet from the basket.

Fans watching, just like the players playing, should know that the majority of missed shots come off on the weak side (side opposite the shot) at the same angle that the shot was taken. Understanding this fact is the primary reason certain players are said to "have a nose for the ball" and always appear to be in the right place at the right time. Long shots usually mean long rebounds. At 5-foot-3, Shawnta Rogers (George Washington, 1995-99) averaged 5.7 rebounds per game one season and was the second leading rebounder behind 7-foot center Alexander Koul.

Rebounding does not occur by accident or by chance; rebounders must have the physical and mental attitude that allows them to make this critical contribution to their team's success. The players with excellent footwork who maintain eye contact with the ball and have their hands up and ready with an "every rebound belongs to me" attitude are the ones who grab the most boards.

Fans who are attentive to this all-important aspect of the game will gain an added appreciation for all the players on the floor, not just the star player or the player who has possession of the ball.

Here is my challenge to you: The next time you watch a game at home, press the mute button on your remote before the game even begins. As the action unfolds, analyze it for yourself, free from the influence of the announcers. If you attend a game in person, work at seeing the whole floor, seeing all the players and how they interact up and down the court – and pay close attention to the five rebounding battles that take place on every single shot.

Watching basketball can be a rewarding learning experience. But just like playing or coaching, it requires a lot of dedication, concentration, hard work and vision.