The Art of Competition: Securing the Best Matchups

The emphasis of the Chinese strategy classics is to establish the lead by always knowing the status of the Big Tangible Picture. (One should always assess, position and Influence.)

Whether one is preparing for a business venture or a "kick ass" game, the focus is to be ahead of the competition. The consequence of not assessing, positioning and influencing option is the act of grinding, grunting and groaning before one enters the obvious state of failing.

"Generally, he who occupies the field of battle first and awaits his enemy is at ease; he who comes later to the scene and rushes into the fight is weary. ... And therefore those skilled in war bring the enemy to the field of battle and are not brought there by him. ... One able to make the enemy come to his own accord does so by offering him some advantage. And one able to prevent him from coming does so by hurting him. ... When the enemy is at ease, be able to weary him; when well fed, to starve him; when at rest, to make him move. ..." - AoW, 6

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POSTED APRIL 20, 2010 - 10:52 A.M.

The secret to getting the best matchups

By HELENE ST. JAMES FREE PRESS SPORTS WRITER

The Red Wings like to get Nicklas Lidstrom out against opposing top lines (like the Coyotes’ Matthew Lombardi’s line), as well as Henrik Zetterberg or Pavel Datsyuk, though it’s usually Zetterberg who draws the tougher assignments at home.

This series, though, matchups haven’t quite gone as the Wings would like, for a simple reason: When a team trails, it’s about getting top players out there as much as possible, often leaving the checking line and fourth line on the bench.

“The thing about matchups is, you get all the matchups you want when you’re ahead,” Mike Babcock said. “On the road or at home. Because the other coach can’t just keep his players on the bench. Catch-up hockey is losing hockey – that’s the reason, you don’t get to do what you need to do, you’ve got to just get your best people out on the ice and you end up chasing. So that’s why it’s so important to get started on time. When we go on the road and we’re ahead, I get every matchup I want. And when I’m at home and we’re ahead, I get every matchup I want. And then when we’re behind, I don’t.”

///There are amateurs who would rather start from the "behind" position and fail. Because they believed that it is fun to grind it out and that they did it their way. ...

http://www.freep.com/section/blog09

http://www.freep.com/article/20100420/BLOG09/100420038/1166#pluckcomments

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Babcock usually broadcast a succinct message of clarity. Like all great strategists, he views the big picture quite clearly and operates in terms of top down simplicity. Overall, Babcock is one of best strategists in the game of hockey. Regardless of the outcome of this past season, he will win many Stanley Cups and be in the NHL's Hall of Fame.

Babcock knows the strategy game better than most NFL and NBA head coaches. He understands the importance of securing predictability when strategizing. ...