Basketball 101 For Success

Picture it! November 22, 2010 in Augusta, Ar on the bottom row of the bleachers taking in my first Red Devil basketball game of the season. I didn't go to the concession stand for fear of missing a play. There's something about having the ability to analyze a game and know before it's over what it takes to win and win big. This is what attracts me!

On this night Augusta played RIverview, and while the Senior boys game was a blowout, my main focus hovers over the Junior boy's and Senior girl's games. Realize that these tips can be helpful even to a player who thinks he is above learning more about the game. In the following paragraphs I will take various aspects of the game and provide adjustments that can be implemented easily.

#1 Ball Control - This is the most important part of the game. When I mention "ball control", many assume it is referring to dribbling, but it is much more than that. Ball control (or lack of it) nearly cost the junior boys a victory and was the achilles heel in the senior girl's loss. Passes must be made with two hands and caught with two hands. The passer must be smart and not robotic. A robotic passer is what you see on NBA 2k11. When you're on defense and need a steal, most of the time you've memorized the play the computer runs and just get in the passing lane and pick the pass off. The computer passes it because that is all it knows even though you are clearly in the passing lane. In real life most players know better, but last night I say some players who played like robots. Passing of that nature is very predictable and can lead to an early blowout. Think about it. The score is tied at zero as the first quarter starts. Your team makes 10 bad passes in a row within a 4 minute span, and your opponent gets 10 straight layups. The score is 20 to zip with two minutes left in the first quarter.

I found myself saying "Why Would You Throw That Pass" until I was tired of saying it. Players were making passing just to get the ball out of their hands; passing it to someone headed away from the basket; passing it will in mid-air; passing it with a defender clearly in the passing lane; not passing it at all.

Ball control also extends itself to rebounding. For example, the score is tied at zero with the tip goes up in the first. Your opponent has ten possessions and comes down shooting jump shots that miss each time. You block out as soon as the player goes into his shooting form (not when the ball hits the rim) and hold them to one shot per possession. That is how it should be done on the defensive end of the floor. I yell at players to block out on every possession. Being a shooter or slasher means nothing when you are on defense. Rebounding is an art that needs to be mastered by all players. If you can hold your opponent to one shot on each trip, they will become very frustrated and begin to force shots. Pretty soon players will try to bully their way onto the boards only to hear the whistles ringing out for "over the back" fouls and charges. If you can't control this aspect of the game, the contest becomes a race to trade baskets.

#2 Defense - Without this your team is one dimensional. It must always be executed by five people that are always on the same page that know when to help and when to fake the help and when to stay home. Whew, that was deep!

The floor can be divided down the middle. Let's assume the ball is on one side of the floor in the corner. There is a line that splits the lane down the middle. Defenders away from the ball (weak side) should never cross that line. Doing so would cause an imbalance on the floor and created unwanted openings for the offense.

Baseline drives should never happen. The simple thing to do is to step on the baseline and force the slasher up the floor and back in the arms of your help defenders or take the charge. Sideline traps (whether full or halfcourt) should be executed in the same manner. Lure the dribble to you; do not allow him to dribble up the middle of the floor; push him to the sideline where your trapper is. The trapper should step on the line (or even out of bounds) to either take the charge or force him to pick up his dribble. The defender that forced the dribbler to the sideline cannot allow the dribbler to cross over and get back to the middle of the floor. Think of the ball as a line, and as a defender you must stay below that line (in front of the dribbler). The only thing you can do from behind the dribbler is watch or foul. Discipline to stay in front of a dribbler must be developed.

Help defense is key! On screens some teams switch while others don't. Getting over the top of the screen keeps the man-to-man defense solid, but the defender of the screener must step out enough to slow down the dribbler using the screen. Slashers that get past their man must be picked up, but the person picking him up will have to leave his man. The closest defender to that helper must slide over and split the difference.

Never leave a man in the post to help out front.  Faking the help may cause the slasher to pick up his dribble or throw a bad pass.  Low post defenders help defend on the blocks and on drives in the paint.  Backcourt (guards) players can help by crashing down on posts ups or trapping out front.

When a shot is rebounded, stolen or blocked, there is an opportunity for a fast break. Defensive players that are on the same page recognize this and can see a play develop a frame ahead. For example, a well contested trey will bounce long. The player that contested the shot should keep running down the floor for a possible scoring opportunity. On a steal or blocked shot someone should be streaking down the floor the moment the ball is taken away. Doing so gives your team an unseen edge. If your opponent knows you will streak, they will become conservative and think more about the shots they take. The ability to streak and score is a result of good "ball control."

#3 Scoring - There are more ways to score on the floor than just running and executing your offense.  Extra opportunities can be created via streaks, steals, blocks, rebounds, aka ball control.  For example, If a team is playing you man-to-man and your offensive play is broken, run a simple pick & roll.  If a team is playing you man-to-man and you have a mismatch, spread the floor and go on-one-one to get to the basket or get to the free throw line.  Screen defenders in a zone the same way you would if they were playing you man-to-man.  Drive into a zone to cause players to drop and help.  This causes a teammate to become open. 

Don't be stagnant.  Know your sets and see the opportunities develop a frame ahead.  You can hold the ball too long or the defense will be allowed to set.  If you want a 20 point average, get 5 layups, a few trips to the line, and create some scores from turnovers.  It's that simple!

#4 Bench Play - Don't sit on the bench and complain about playing time or just wait for your chance to hit the floor.  Be an observer.  Notice which guards can and can't dribble with either hand.  Pick out the scoring threats and weak links.  Become familiar with the offensive and defensive sets your opponent is executing.  Look and the substitution combinations, who is tired, who can and can't defend and who is actually executing.  Share this info with your teammates whether you hit the floor or not.  Arm yourself with this info as you hit the floor.

In conclusion following these tips can greatly increase the success of the Augusta Red Devils (and any other team) if they are followed and executed on a continuous basis.