Things Good Basketball Players Do
By Steve Pellan. Coach’s Clipboard Basketball PlaybookAbout the author: Coach Steve Pellan is a former professional player (France), former University of Mobile (NAIA D1), and former semi-pro player in Montreal, QC. He currently trains Montreal young basketball players and runs onemorebasketballacademy.
You think you're a good player? You're a young player with basketball dreams? If you're reading this article, chances are you want to become a great ball player. Chances are you do not have much guidance outside of your team basketball coach. He probably does a great job, but he only has a limited amount of time. So you don't have much to help you work on your individual game.
I'm sure you look at NBA games and try to copy "superstar" signature moves, don't you? Though some of these moves are great, I don't think this is what you should try to do. Have you ever noticed that great players are not necessarily the one with the best moves? Would you agree Tony Parker is one of the best point guards in the NBA? Would you agree he's not the most skilled, or the most athletic?
Grant Hill
Great players constantly do things that others don't. It has very little to do with skills or even athleticism. If you want to make it as a player, why not duplicate what great basketball players have always done? Do you want to know what they do?
Offensively
Great players:- Catch the ball on a triple threat position (Don't dribble right away)
- Minimize dribbling. Great offensive players only need 2 dribbles to beat their defender.
- Are able to go both ways (left and right)
- Always make the right decision (shoot, pass, dribble at the right person at the right time)
- Screen away from the ball for their teammates (and open up to the ball after the screen)
- Always know clock and score
- Are vocal - Help teammates get in the right position
- Know their teammates, and pass to the right person at the right time
- Don't yell at the refs (ok they do sometimes, but it's bad!)
- Crash the boards (and don't get boxed out)
- Know how to position themselves to get in the right passing lanes
- Don't jump to pass the ball
- Throw strong chest passes
- Use screens to perfection (Curl, fade...)
- Don't turn the ball over (especially not in the last 5 minutes)
- Listen to the coaches during time outs
- Run the floor in transition (everyone in their lanes with space)
Defensively
Great players:- Don't give up middle penetration
- Make offensive players take more than 2 dribbles to beat them
- Are in great defensive stance the entire defensive sequence
- Contest all shots. ALL SHOTS!
- Are always in good position (Deny or help side)
- Are extremely vocal (I got ball or I got your help...)
- GET AFTER IT!
- Box out physically
- Get loose balls
- Always see the man they guard and the ball when they're away from the ball
- Take charges
- Never foul a jump shooter
- Never get screened
- Hedge screens hard
- Never let their man cut in the paint
- Don't allow backdoor cuts
Learn this checklist by heart!
Here's what you should do. Print this article, and put it on top of your bed. That will be the first thing you see in the morning, and the last when you go to bed. This will ensure you'll have all these Basketball IQ tips in head at all times. Believe me; you will see a HUGE difference in your game if you implement what you just read.About the author: Coach Steve Pellan is a former professional player (France), former University of Mobile (NAIA D1), and former semi-pro player in Montreal, QC. He currently trains Montreal young basketball players and runs onemorebasketballacademy.com.
