Point Guard Mentality and a listing of all Missouri Boys Basketball ratings - All teams by rating and Alphabetical - February 18, 2021

Isn't the first column in the scorebook or box score usually points?  We put a lot of emphasis on scoring.  Kids always want to know how many they scored in the PeeWee games.

I had an "old" coach tell me "Teams that don't have a 'Pass First' point guard, don't win consistently".  In general, I think that is true more often than not.  The point guard position is probably the most important part of the team but also the most difficult position to play, both physically and mentally.  Physically, the point guard is pressured by the defense, sometimes all the way up the court.  They have to have court vision and see the offensive possibilities and openings in the defense.  They have to run the various sets to find the best shot for their team.  Mentally, this constant process of feeling pressured and making decisions has to be draining plus the "Pass First" mentality requires the point guard to give up scoring as a first priority.  Isn't that the first thing we want to know?  How many points did you get?  

The most demoralizing thing that a team can experience is to have four guys that never get a touch because the point guard brings it up the court and launches a wild shot or drives into the lane against three defenders that are 6 inches taller while his teammates stand wide open on the perimeter or under the basket as those defenders converge on the 'Shoot First" guard.

The fact is, the "old" coach is right!  The teams that will end up in the finals at state championships will be those that have a 'Pass First' mentality and a point guard that epitomizes that philosophy.  It will be One and Done for those teams that don't have a 'Pass First' guy directing traffic.

Maybe the first stat in the box score should be Assists.  Think about it.  Is there a more valuable statistic?  The teams who have more assists are going to win and move on.  

I have my district predictions over at these posts:

Missouri Boys Class One District seedings and State Tournament Playoff predictions 2/11/2021 (gramps2021missourihoops.blogspot.com)

Missouri Girls Class One District seedings and Play-off predictions February 17th, 2021 (gramps2021missourihoops.blogspot.com)

Missouri Class Two Boys District seedings and Play-off Predictions Feb 18,2021 (gramps2021missourihoops.blogspot.com)

Here are the 545 Missouri Boys Basketball teams posted in an-all class rating.  If you cannot find your team, there is an alphabetical ranking below these ratings:






Here is the Alphabetical listing of all boys teams:




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