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| Coaches are far too eager to do this when trailing |
When a team trails by four or more with less than 30 seconds left, everything changes in a basketball game. The trailing team can no longer delude itself; it is certain to lose unless it completely changes tactics. The comeback playbook is pretty well-established. On defense, intentionally foul as quickly as possible to get the ball back. On offense shoot quickly, either a 3 or the "quick two" so beloved by announcers. Repeat until you tie the game or the game ends.
While the odds are heavily against a team trailing by more than one possession in the last minute of a game, avoiding a common mistake can at least slightly bolster a putative comeback: Don't waste the last timeout.