I remember watching that Australia-Lebanon game last year, and something about that 93-80 scoreline stuck with me. Most teams were getting blown out by 20-plus points against the Boomers, but Lebanon managed to keep it competitive until the final minutes. What struck me wasn't just the final margin - it was how they achieved it. See, I've been coaching college basketball for fifteen years now, and I've come to realize that most teams focus too much on half-court sets while neglecting the full court game. That Lebanon performance was a masterclass in something I've been preaching for years: mastering full court basketball requires specific strategies that most teams overlook completely.
Let me walk you through what made that game so fascinating. Lebanon was undersized compared to Australia's NBA-caliber players - we're talking about a height disadvantage of roughly 3 inches per position on average. Yet they managed to force 18 turnovers and convert 12 of those into immediate points. Their guards employed this relentless full-court press that wasn't about stealing the ball necessarily, but about burning precious seconds off the shot clock. By the time Australia set up their half-court offense, they often had only 12-14 seconds left. This disrupted their entire rhythm. Lebanon's coach had clearly done his homework - they knew Australia's point guard tended to rush decisions when trapped near the sidelines, and they exploited this mercilessly. The statistical breakdown shows Lebanon actually outscored Australia 22-15 in fast break points, which is remarkable when you consider the talent gap.
Now, here's where most teams get it wrong - they think full court strategies are just about pressing defense. But watching Lebanon dissect Australia's transition game taught me there are at least seven essential approaches that separate decent teams from dominant ones. First, it's about conditioning - Lebanon's players maintained their intensity throughout, with their backcourt averaging 38 minutes each at high tempo. Second, they understood spacing in transition better than any team I've seen recently. Their wings would sprint to specific spots that created passing lanes while pulling defenders out of position. Third, they had what I call "secondary break options" - when the initial fast break didn't materialize, they immediately flowed into set plays without losing momentum. Fourth, their communication was phenomenal - you could see players constantly pointing and calling out screens even at full sprint. Fifth, they utilized the "drag screen" concept beautifully, with their big men setting subtle screens during transition to free up shooters. Sixth, they mastered the art of the "missed shot read" - immediately recognizing whether to crash the boards or retreat based on the shot trajectory. And seventh, they had this incredible ability to change speeds unpredictably, going from frantic to controlled in the same possession.
What Lebanon demonstrated goes beyond basic basketball fundamentals. Their approach to full court domination wasn't just about athleticism - it was about intelligent, systematic pressure. I've implemented similar strategies with my own team, and we've seen our scoring average increase by nearly 8 points per game while reducing opponent fast break points by about 40%. The key insight from that Australia game was how Lebanon used the full court as a psychological weapon - they made the Boomers uncomfortable from the moment they inbounded the ball, and that discomfort compounded throughout the game. Even though they ultimately lost, they proved that with the right full court strategies, any team can compete against superior talent.
The real lesson here isn't about copying Lebanon's exact plays - it's about understanding the principles behind their success. When I design practices now, I dedicate at least 30% of our time to full court situations, both offensively and defensively. We work on things like the "two-second rule" for advancing the ball past half court, and developing what I call "transition vision" - the ability to read developing plays while moving at full speed. These concepts might sound simple, but most teams don't drill them with the intensity required to execute under pressure. That 93-80 game showed that the difference between getting blown out and competing often comes down to mastering these full court elements. The court is 94 feet long for a reason - champions use all of it, not just the half where the basket happens to be.