Run and gun (basketball)
Encyclopedia
Run and gun is a style of basketball which involves a very high pace of play. It was most famously used by the Loyola Marymount
men's basketball team in the late 1980s under coach Paul Westhead
..
Run and gun basketball is often thought of as a system of offense but it actually involves a combined offensive and defensive philosophy. Offensively, the team moves the ball forward as quickly as possible and takes the first available shot, often a three-pointer. Westhead's teams tried to shoot the ball in less than seven seconds. The aim is to shoot before the defense is able to get set. Defensively, the team applies constant full-court pressure
. Generally, the team is willing to gamble on giving away easy baskets for the sake of maintaining a high tempo. Another common feature of run and gun basketball is frequent substitutions, (sometimes all five players at once) to keep players fresh and to confuse the opposing teams.
The most successful use of the system was by Loyola Marymount in 1990 when they advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Basketball Tournament
, beating the defending champion Michigan
149-115 along the way. The style has been used at some other teams. Coach Westhead tried, rather unsuccessfully, to implement the system in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets
in the early 90s. The system has been imitated by other college teams, including Grinnell College
.
Teams playing the run and gun basketball style are known for scoring, and giving up, huge numbers of points. While using the system, the Denver Nuggets averaged a league-best 119.9 points per game in 1990-91
, and also surrendered an NBA record 130.8 points per game, including 107 points in a single half to the Phoenix Suns
, which also remains an NBA record.
Loyola Marymount Lions
The Loyola Marymount Lions are the athletic teams that represent Loyola Marymount University, a Jesuit institution in Los Angeles, California. The school competes in NCAA Division I, with its primary affiliation in the West Coast Conference, an organization consisting solely of...
men's basketball team in the late 1980s under coach Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead
Paul Westhead is a basketball coach who is currently the head coach of the University of Oregon women's team...
..
Run and gun basketball is often thought of as a system of offense but it actually involves a combined offensive and defensive philosophy. Offensively, the team moves the ball forward as quickly as possible and takes the first available shot, often a three-pointer. Westhead's teams tried to shoot the ball in less than seven seconds. The aim is to shoot before the defense is able to get set. Defensively, the team applies constant full-court pressure
Full Court Press
A full-court press is a basketball term that refers to a defensive style in which the defense applies man-to-man or zone defense to pressure the offensive team the entire length of the court before and after the inbound pass. Some presses attempt to deny the initial inbounds pass and trap ball...
. Generally, the team is willing to gamble on giving away easy baskets for the sake of maintaining a high tempo. Another common feature of run and gun basketball is frequent substitutions, (sometimes all five players at once) to keep players fresh and to confuse the opposing teams.
The most successful use of the system was by Loyola Marymount in 1990 when they advanced to the Elite 8 of the NCAA Basketball Tournament
NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship
The NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship is a single-elimination tournament held each spring in the United States, featuring 68 college basketball teams, to determine the national championship in the top tier of college basketball...
, beating the defending champion Michigan
Michigan Wolverines men's basketball
The Michigan Wolverines men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Michigan. The school competes in the Big Ten Conference in Division I of the National Collegiate Athletic Association . The Wolverines play home basketball games at the...
149-115 along the way. The style has been used at some other teams. Coach Westhead tried, rather unsuccessfully, to implement the system in the NBA with the Denver Nuggets
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets are a professional basketball team based in Denver, Colorado. They play in the National Basketball Association . They were founded as the Denver Rockets in 1967 as a charter franchise of the American Basketball Association, and became one of that league's more successful teams...
in the early 90s. The system has been imitated by other college teams, including Grinnell College
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a private liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, U.S. known for its strong tradition of social activism. It was founded in 1846, when a group of pioneer New England Congregationalists established the Trustees of Iowa College....
.
Teams playing the run and gun basketball style are known for scoring, and giving up, huge numbers of points. While using the system, the Denver Nuggets averaged a league-best 119.9 points per game in 1990-91
1990–91 Denver Nuggets season
The Nuggets hired a new General Manager. Bernie Bickerstaff took over the Nuggets and he decided it was time to rebuild the Nuggets. At the time, the club had the oldest team in the league. The Nuggets would make radical changes trading off stars for draft picks. The Nuggets had a new Coach in...
, and also surrendered an NBA record 130.8 points per game, including 107 points in a single half to the Phoenix Suns
Phoenix Suns
The Phoenix Suns are a professional basketball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They are members of the Pacific Division of the Western Conference in the National Basketball Association and the only team in their division not to be based in California. Their home arena since 1992 has been the US...
, which also remains an NBA record.