There most certainly are two schools of thought about time-outs, and I understand them both. We as players should be able to let ourselves take input from other players as to what might be a good option or plan. A second set of eyes is almost always a good thing, in any endeavor.
The contrast to that is what you folks have already discussed, the mental aspect of having your thought process and rythymn interrupted mid-game by having the time-out called for you. I have had a very difficult time explaining this to my best bud, who cannot undertsand why it throws me off as much as it does. Or why other players are resistant to time-outs.
He is a FAR better player than I will likely ever be, and much of the time can show people the better option. (I say much of the time because occasionally he forgets to temper the suggested advice to the ability of the shooter, heh heh.) And I know it frustrates him to have people resist getting help from someone that can truly help them. He really is good at teaching, and I think he would likely make a good professional instructor if he ever cared to do so. So when we either don't take a time-out voluntarily or get annoyed when it's called on us, that frustrates him.
Of course, as we get into the Vegas qualifier time-frame, every match is very important. It is the captains responsibilty to the entire team to put us all in the best postion to win, and if a player is going to make an obviously poor decision, it really is in the teams best interest to have a time-out called. Especially at this time of year.
Tough balancing act.
I go into this understand full well why it's important to have the right decision when possible, and why a time-out is in order. And that it isn't to show me up, or to aggravate me, only to help. That doesn't make me any less happier than when mine has already been called, so I don't have to worry about it any longer.
having been on both sides of the fence i agree its a tough balancing act. sometimes i feel as frustrated as your friend. i want our lower level players to win especially my gf and it is hard to sit there knowing thr=ey are making a mistake. like i said we work on those mistakes when the matches are over.
last week i knew my gf was going to get in bad shape but i didnt say anything. sure enough she makes her last ball and doesnt know what to do with the 8 so she calls timeout. im walking up to the table thinking that if i had called timeout earlier she wouldnt be in the shape shes in.
after looking the situation over i told her what to do, she said she couldnt make that shot. i kindly told her it was her best option and that if she didnt trust my advice that she should not have called me up there. i gave her a pat and said i know you can make it. that seemed to build her confidence up and she said ok. wwhen the 8 got about a foot from the pocket and it was obvous it was going to fall our captian yells out holy crap ! he said that was an amazing shot lol. my gf jumps up and down saying i made it ! that makes me feel better than winning my own match.
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