How Niagara Basketball Can Improve Their Offensive Strategy This Season

As I was watching Niagara’s recent game, I couldn’t help but notice how stagnant their offense looked at times. They’ve got talent, no doubt, but something’s missing—a certain fluidity, a spark that turns decent possessions into scoring explosions. It reminded me of a recent international matchup I watched, where Iraq—yes, Iraq’s national team—showed exactly the kind of offensive adaptability Niagara could learn from. In that game, Iraq led by as many as six points in the first half because they hit 6-of-13 from three-point range. Now, that might not sound like a huge deal, but here’s the kicker: that performance already doubled their conversion rate from their previous 87-60 loss to Chinese Taipei just days before. That kind of rapid adjustment, especially from beyond the arc, is what separates teams that grow during the season from those that stay stuck.

Let’s break that down a bit. Iraq didn’t just randomly start shooting more threes; they clearly identified a weakness—their outside shooting was abysmal in the earlier game—and turned it into a strength overnight. For Niagara, the lesson is clear: they need to diagnose their own offensive woes with that same urgency. From what I’ve seen, Niagara tends to rely too heavily on driving to the basket or mid-range jumpers, which can be effective but also predictable. If they incorporated more three-point attempts early in possessions, they could stretch defenses and create easier lanes for their slashers. Imagine a scenario where Niagara’s point guard drives, draws help defense, and kicks it out to a shooter who’s actually ready to fire—not hesitating, not overthinking. That’s how you build momentum, and it’s something Iraq did beautifully by hitting those six threes in the first half alone.

But it’s not just about shooting more threes; it’s about when and how you take them. In Iraq’s case, they weren’t just chucking up prayers; they moved the ball, found open looks, and capitalized on defensive lapses. Niagara, on the other hand, sometimes falls into the trap of isolation plays that slow everything down. I remember one possession last week where they passed the ball around the perimeter for 20 seconds without a single drive or screen—it was like watching paint dry. Compare that to Iraq’s quick ball movement that led to those 13 three-point attempts in the first half, and you see the difference. If Niagara could adopt a faster pace, maybe even push for early-offense threes in transition, they’d catch teams off guard. Personally, I’d love to see them set more off-ball screens to free up shooters, similar to how Iraq created spacing. It doesn’t have to be complicated; sometimes, the simplest adjustments yield the biggest rewards.

Another thing Iraq did well was balance their attack. They didn’t abandon their inside game just because the threes were falling; instead, the outside shooting opened up driving lanes. For Niagara, this could mean using their big men more effectively in pick-and-pop situations or even having guards attack closeouts after a made three. I’ve noticed Niagara’s post players often get stuck in one-on-one battles, leading to turnovers or contested shots. If they could emulate Iraq’s approach—where the threat of the three forced defenders to step out, creating mismatches inside—they’d see a huge boost in efficiency. Let’s say Niagara hits 40% from three in a game, up from their current average of around 30%; that alone could add 9-12 points to their score, which in close matchups, is the difference between a win and a loss.

Of course, none of this happens without practice and buy-in from the whole team. Iraq’s turnaround from that 87-60 blowout to a competitive first half shows what focused drills and film sessions can achieve. Niagara’s coaching staff should take note: dedicate time in practice to three-point shooting under game-like conditions, and encourage players to take those shots without fear. I’ve always believed that confidence is half the battle in sports; if a player hesitates, the shot’s probably going to miss. By building a culture where everyone trusts the system and each other, Niagara could see a similar jump in performance. Honestly, I think they have the personnel to pull this off—they just need to tweak their strategy and play with more freedom.

In the end, basketball is a game of adjustments, and Niagara has a golden opportunity to learn from unexpected sources like Iraq’s brief resurgence. By emphasizing three-point shooting, improving ball movement, and balancing their offensive threats, they can turn their season around. It won’t happen overnight, but as Iraq showed, even small changes can lead to big results. I, for one, am excited to see if they take this advice to heart—because when they do, watch out, because their offense could become one of the most dynamic in the league.