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Message: [QUOTE="Cowtown, post: 1971738, member: 2350"] We generally concur, I agree. But remember, in amateur ball good teams tend to be guard-driven, and teams with good guards are difficult to press effectively. It's not necessary to practice pressing teams who can't break a press. They beat themselves. I used to run a "false press:" we would come out in zone press set - but we would not trap, just threaten - and the other team would immediately go "hair-on-fire," trying to run its press break, eventually throwing the ball away. Then before they figured it out, I'd take it off. And then a few minutes later I'd do it again. Surprise is critical to pressing, but when you're down 8 with 3 minutes to go, there's no surprise. That's why depending on a press is not good basketball (unless you're Kentucky '96, with more great athletes than many third world Olympic teams.). [/QUOTE]