Do not flop...(unless you are great at it)

Trying to take a false charge will give you a bad reputation with the referees. If you get caught you wont be a refs favorite. Only flop when it looks natural...cheap but that is sometimes what the game is about. Think of the San Antonio Spurs for example, I haven't seen them play a fair game in my life yet they still win.

Stay fit, but dont rely on fitness

Image via Wikipedia

You might of heard me say in one of my other blogs that fitness isn't the key to success. I still stand by that because skill is still(it rhymes!) the key to success. This doesn't mean you cant work out a little but remember, your not becoming a body builder, your becoming a better basketball player. Do some average exercises like push ups, pull ups, crunches, weights,sit ups, and work mainly on your legs and upper body strength. Basketball is a sport that requires you to take some pounding so make sure you have a little cushion if you have to take a fall.

Force the dribbler to make the first move

Your the defender and the ball handler is just toying with your head, waiting for you to go for the steal while he dribbles back and forth and back and forth right in front of your face(I do this a lot). Your first reaction is to play in to his trick and go for that quick steal while he goes around you for an easy layup. Do not let this happen to you, while he continuously dribbles just move your eyes where ever the ball goes(or at least make it look like your awake), the ball handler will get bored and ultimately try to make a move. That is what you want him to do. If you make the first move he can anticipate it and go right around you. If he makes the first move, you can anticipate where he is going with the ball and the result will probably be a missed shot, a steal, or a block. All the good NBA defenders use this technique. In fact I was actually taught this method by a former NBA player!

Play some damn defense!!!!

Advice to anyone who is trying out for a basketball team, PLAY DEFENSE. A coach will not put you on a team if you slack off all the time, he wants to see that you give effort. Show that you add more to the team than scoring,(the first time I tried out I noticed that my coach picked the players that were less noticeable but did the little things right). Not only is this a tip that will help you make a team but it will help you in games also. Give yourself the motivation to be a better defender and you will succeed.

Skills not Weights

ok, now you can see a picture(im on the left)

Often people think of basketball as a fitness based sport because of all the running up and down the court you need to do and resort to exercise to improve their game, WRONG. Although it is better to be fit or strong to be good it is also important to know that basketball is a skill based game, you could enter a game looking like a body builder but that wont get you anywhere. You should know your limitations when you play(If your a big guy, stay close to the rim. If your a small guy you often have to work for your shots). Work on your dribbling and shooting first, you can not get anywhere without them. Defense comes with practice so don't work too hard on it.