Do/Should Players Watch Film?

[The Boatyard]

I would think in professional sports they do, right? Although after seeing the interview with Kobe not knowing who Jeremy Lin is, maybe they don't. But what about in college sports? I just read a tweet of AO getting on Drums (in a joking manner) for not watching film. So do college players watch film? And should they watch film? Is there a difference between Fab Melo watching film and a kid from DePaul watching film? Is it simply the coach's job? Just the captain's job? Or everyone's job? Thoughts?

 

[dsturdy5]

I think the players do watch some film of the opponent but the do not sit there in a room, clockwork orange style, staring at it for hours. I remember when the AD comments came out earlier this year about not knowing who Herb Pope is, someone mentioned that the team had not yet watched the film of the opponent but that they would the night before the game.

Typically college teams do a lot of self scouting and watch themselves on film between games to see what they need to execute better.

 

[Kitaman]

Those that are committed to getting better (e.g. NBA prospects) study films, its the minority though, because at that age game films are boring. However watching and studying are two distinct differences. We used to wait for certain plays to get a laugh on a teammates mistake or blooper. The rest was just not interesting when you have your mind on funner things (e.g. playing video games or hanging out).

 

[UCHuskies08]

I would think in professional sports they do, right? Although after seeing the interview with Kobe not knowing who Jeremy Lin is, maybe they don't. But what about in college sports? I just read a tweet of AO getting on Drums (in a joking manner) for not watching film. So do college players watch film? And should they watch film? Is there a difference between Fab Melo watching film and a kid from DePaul watching film? Is it simply the coach's job? Just the captain's job? Or everyone's job? Thoughts?

I would just say that you shouldn't take Kobe's word that he didn't know who Jeremy Lin is. He has cable TV and internet access I'm sure. I have a feeling he might tune into NBA coverage a few minutes a day. He just said that because he felt a kid who had only played for a week was getting far, far too much credit (and he was probably right). He knew who Lin was.

Also I tracked down the tweet you're talking about.

Alex Oriakhi ‏ @aoriakhi34

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@THATSJUST_DRE shouldn't u be in the gym?!! Or watching film

I don't think that indicates he doesn't watch film. Unless you think Oriakhi was implying he's never in the gym either.

But to your main point - every single team in college basketball watches film.

 

[The Boatyard]

I don't think that indicates he doesn't watch film. Unless you think Oriakhi was implying he's never in the gym either.

I said that the tweet was posted "in a joking manner". Just got me to start thinking about it. As college students with practice, games, social lives, classes, and homework, how much time do they have to watch film considering playing ball for UConn isn't a full time job like playing in the NBA would be? And is it on their own or do coaches make them watch it together and put stuff out to each other?

 

[dsturdy5]

Kita makes a great point about "watching" vs "studying" film. Listen to rookies in the NBA and NFL talk and they almost always explain that they have to learn how to "study" film in the pros.

 

[UCHuskies08]

I said that the tweet was posted "in a joking manner". Just got me to start thinking about it. As college students with practice, games, social lives, classes, and homework, how much time do they have to watch film considering playing ball for UConn isn't a full time job like playing in the NBA would be? And is it on their own or do coaches make them watch it together and put stuff out to each other?

I'm sure the team does it together, if your question is just do they do it at all.

 

[BigErnMcCracken]

They all watch film. And Kobe most definitely knew who Jeremy Lin was.

 

[tykurez]

They all watch film ... probably less in the NBA than they do in the NFL. ... but a lot of times they just watch the player's numbers, so it's not entirely surprising that someone wouldn't know a player's name (although Kobe was full of )

 

[Northbound]

Challenge for most kids is they watch films like fans, not like coaches. It's a really big learning curve to watch film with an analytical eye.