Monday, December 1, 2008

WARFARE: CONCENTRATION & SPEED

The following are some tactics from Warfighting: The U.S. Marine Corps Book of Strategy and these particular passages come from the chapter: Style of Warfare. As you read them, I think it will be easy for you to translate them to basketball philosophy.

"It would seem in theory that fire and movement represent opposite ends of the spectrum. But in reality, one cannot exist without the other, for fire and movement are complementary and mutually dependent."

"Tempo itself is a weapon -- often most important. The need for speed in turn required decentralized control."

"Successful maneuver depends on the ability to identify and exploit enemy weakness, not simply one the expenditure of superior might. To win by maneuver, we cannot substitute numbers for skill."

"Some factors in combat power are quite tangible and easily measured, such as superior numbers, which Clausewitz called 'the most common element in victory.'"

"Of all consistent patterns we can discern in war, there are two concepts of such significance and universality that we can advance them as principles: concentration and speed."

"Concentration is the convergence of effort in time and space. It is the means by which we develop superiority at the decisive time and place...concentration does not apply only to the conduct of war, but also to the preparation for war."

"Speed is rapidity of action. Like concentration, speed applies to both time and space. And, like concentration, it is relative speed that matters. Speed over time is tempo -- the consistent ability to operate fast."

"In other words, speed is a weapon, Superior speed allows us to seize the initiative and dictate the terms of combat, forcing the enemy to react to us. It is a prerequisite for maneuver and for surprise."