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The best argument in the thread was ignored completely. Prior to GDP (extra credit for guessing right) you could prepare for an opponent that played the same tactic all the time. Once BB put everyone on notice that points are gained by guessing correctly, then you turn it into a guessing game--if I choose to play along and try to counter those teams that use GDP by changing my tactics. Before, I just got beat by a team that adjusted their tactics to match mine--if teams are evenly matched; or I got beat by a style of play I couldn't defend with my roster.. You could still scout and adjust tactics; GDP changed none of that; it's a gimmick to counter one choice of tactic that was dominating the game.

I use it, but make no mistake: I adjust tactics to keep other teams from feeling comfortable guessing, not because changing tactics enhances the game for me in any way. I much preferred "scouting" pre-GDP. The credit was already built in and it forced teams to adapt by building balanced rosters (or making other adjustments), instead of adapting by guessing that your opponent will play a certain tactic (who, in turn, knowing that you might guess at a tendency, changes tactics so you guess wrong--that is the very definition of a guessing game and it replicates nothing in real basketball that wasn't here prior to BB.) It's the functional equivalent of awarding style points to the score at the end of the game. We don't need synchronized gymnastics here; this is basketball.

In short, GDP is a guessing game gimmick.

PS: God, that was bad even by my standards:

1) GDP adds nothing to the game (but style. points) that didn't exist in the game before.
2) Analyzing tendencies is part of the game; that was possible before GDP.
3) I change tactics to keep people using GDP effectively, but I could do that before GDP if being predictable was costing me games.
4) Creating a roster to counter various tactics is a significant part of the game; all of that could be done without GDP.

Last edited by LDR at 9/29/2019 1:33:39 AM

Regarding (2), I don't agree on that. Let's forget the NBA, where it's either run&gun or motion, but looking at Euroleague, every team has it's own style of play. And you definitely know that Fener/Zalgiris are Patient (low number of possessions), Spanish teams are motion/run&gun (high number of possessions, many threes), Maccabi/Khimki/Armani/Efes also has the same style of play every game, in some cases continuing even for years.

After 10 years break from bb, i find it hilarious how teams randomly swap tactics to avoid being hit by a prediction, but all the really important games are still been playing using LI Nothing had changed 10 years lol. This preparation thingy to me is unnecesary, it adds unwanted complexity for better teams and eazies some games for weaker ones. Quessing should not be a part of manager.

Last edited by Vilkai [LTU NT] at 9/29/2019 1:57:38 PM

Well I have to disagree on that also :D Guessing IS a pat of the job of the coach in real life. Guessing and taking risks is important part of the game, because coaches always try to be one step ahead of the other coach: which players will be the focus this game, how he will choose to hide his weaknesses and so on and so on. Of course, if you are dominant team, you don't need to guess or take risks, you just need to play on your strengths. Same as in BB. The weaker/similar level teams have to guess and take risks though, to gain some advantage or trick the opponent.

Preparing for everything means preparing for nothing. Basketball is a very fast game and you need to make decisions on the spot, depending on your opponent actions. Often one team plays well when the opponent plays man to man defense, but totally collapses when the opponent puts zone defense. Why? Because they were guessing the opponent will play man to man, and you cannot prepare well enough for both.
Also often great coaches change the pick&roll defense mid match to stop the opponent. Well the other team can't always adjust to that fast enough, often costing them a game, also because they were preparing to play against different kind of pick&roll defense.