Playing to someone else's level

I talk alot about at least matching the intensity of the opposing team. Match it or step aside basically. Of course, I always want to be above the intensity/energy that the opposing team is displaying throughout a game. You always hear about teams rising to the occasion and beating a more talented team. This usually involves a great TEAM effort from everyone.

Now let's look at the flip side of this.
A definitely more talented team is playing or practicing, think Varsity against JV team, against a team who is of lesser talent who is just going through the motions and not playing hard. Why is it that sometimes I see the weaker team basically dictating how the other better team is playing? It's almost as if the better team is playing down to their level because they are not getting pushed hard, so they end up walking doing things that wouldn't fly against an aggressive team. Things like jogging back on defense, weak closeouts, not having crisp, sharp passes are things that come to mind.

What are some ways to combat this "attitude."

• Having great leaders speak up and say something
• Having continuous effort at all times and not taking things easy. Working hard
  
• If it's a JV/Varsity practice, how about the JV guys saying "Hey, you guys better pick it up a little because you're better than us and your effort is terrible." I could see a JV player not having the guts to say something like this, but at the same time in a practice it doesn't do anyone any good to not do things that are positively making the team better.
  
• Knowing that if you know you're not going hard then you are not being successful and that you are letting the TEAM down. This is also a reflection of your character.

Expectations - what do you have?

On a different note - I am really liking the saying that is posted in Mackey Arena, home of the Purdue Boilermakers, that says "Defense Lives Here." What an amazing sign. It kind of reminds me of like a cave in the mountains and you walk up and here's this sign that says "Defense Lives Here." As in you they are telling you what's going to happen to you. I think that can really set the tone.