And missed. Close game all the way against undefeated #1 team at their loud, full gym. I hit several shots down the stretch but not the last one that counted. 10 seconds to go, we’re down by two. I get it top of the key, wrap around pass to another post player, I flare to the left, the ball is kicked out to a guard and swung back to me. Pump fake, one dribble to the left, pull-up. As it left my hand I knew it was a tad to the left. I was praying for it to inch to the right. Rattles around rim, and out.
We lose by two, the opposing crowd starts chanting "na na na, na na na, hey hey hey, goodbye."
So close. Hopefully we’ll have another crack at them in the playoffs.
Who else is willing to take the shot? Who else wants to take the shot?
As my friend shooting coach Tom Nordland says, great shooters focus on the process rather than the result.
Taking a good shot is a reward in and of itself, even if it doesn’t go in.
Cheesy, but true: You miss 100% of the shots you DON’T TAKE.
All you can do is be ready for the next shot, putting it in flight with confidence.
While I’d like to agree with “You miss 100% of the shots you DON’T TAKE,” I believe those who hold themselves to a higher standard would call it rationalizing. Would Michael Jordan say, “Well, can’t make every one?” I think you know what he would say, and I think you know what to do.