Can you imagine playing in the final minute of an NCAA Tournament game when it’s back and forth and your team has a chance to win? Factor in the pressure, the crowd, and being 20 years old, and I’m sure the feeling is extremely overwhelming.
With that said, one of my biggest frustrations in watching the final minutes of close games is the shot selection. From my recliner, I can’t believe guys force up deep 3’s or throw up off-balance shots while fading away.
I have a hard time understanding why players take unnecessary 3’s when their team is only down one or they have the lead. Words like, “Get a better shot” or “You don’t need that” or “Why did you shoot that? come to mind as I yell at the TV.
Although I understand the atmosphere is intense and the plays happen fast, poor shot selection usually reveals a level of impatience, selfishness, and unawareness.
Too often a player quickly comes down to throw up a 3 when he doesn’t need to rush the shot. Or a guy wants to be the hero with the final shot, so he forces it when the defense is all over him.
The other scenario is when a guy dribbles with his head down and is unaware of his open teammate underneath the basket ready for an easy layup.
Typically, the result of all three situations is a player settling for a bad shot that he ends up missing…and a team losing because of it. They didn't see that there was a better shot available for them.
Thinking about players and their shot selection reminds me of the moments in our own lives when we settle for “bad shots.” How often do we have a decision that needs to be made, and instead of waiting patiently, we rush it and "throw up a shot" too hastily?
What about the times we desire to be the hero and our pride and selfishness take over, so we force an "off-balanced shot"? Or how about the times our head is down, and we lack awareness of what is happening around us and an open teammate is available for us to "pass the ball" to?
Let’s face it, we could all use extra patience, less selfishness, and more awareness for our “shot selection.” When we settle for a “bad shot,” we aren’t experiencing God’s best. There is a better option available, but we choose to force something we want to happen or we settle for less than God’s desire for us.
As we feel the urge to take impatient, unaware, and selfish "shots," let's instead choose to place our faith in God and seek Him to show us the "right shots" to experience His best.
Hebrews 11:6 (AMP) explains, "But without faith, it is impossible to please Him, for whoever comes to God must believe that God exists and that He rewards those who seek Him."
Let’s also focus on what 2 Corinthians 5:15 (NLT) says about Jesus:
“He died for everyone so that those who receive His new life will no longer live for themselves. Instead, they will live for Christ, who died and was raised for them.”
The closer we follow Jesus and the longer we pursue Him, our lives become less impatient and selfish, and we become more aware of what’s happening around us. We no longer have to live for ourselves and settle for less than God’s best. Today, let’s live for Christ and stop taking "bad shots." I’m Bryce Johnson and you can UNPACK that! PRAYER: Heavenly Father, please continue to remind me of the new life I have in Christ. Show me the right shots to take, and help me not to force anything or settle for something less than Your best. Please help me be less impatient and selfish, and much more aware of what’s happening around me. I pray this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Discussion Questions for PACKS:
When you look back at your "shot selection," what are some bad shots you remember taking?
In what ways have you walked in faith and trusted God for His best and seen Him guide you in amazing ways?
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