Give a pump fake

People seem to underestimate the pump fake now a days. It's easier to do than a crossword puzzle(although I've come across some hard ones)and is probably the most affective technique in basketball. You are standing at the 3 point line with a wide open shot, you see a defender flying towards you, what do you do a) shoot it quickly before he blocks it b) pump fake, let him go by you and take an easier shot. Answer: obviously choice B, do you think I would be praising the pump fake only to pick A?. If the defender doesn't fall for your scheme draw some contact, draw a foul.




Did he just Pump-Fake a Free Throw shot

Go At em'

Depending on your size, it could be hard to get shots close to the rim(this post is for small people....big people leave). I once was a prime target to this(due to my littleness), getting pounded by the big guys inside. I was never able to get a shot that was inside 20 ft., which is why I come to you with the following advice: Go in strong, if your playing a league game often you will draw a foul. Big men are prone to their masculine side, and will try to go for a block. By attacking strong he will see an opportunity for a block and get excited ending with him messing up and fouling you. What the big man should really do is stand his ground and draw a charge(if only they knew:).

Learn how to move without the ball better than with the ball

One of the best pieces of basketball advice I ever got(and it still works out good)is to move without the ball. Keep running around and around until you are open and then the ball handler can pass to you. I mean..getting open without all the attention on you is easier than getting open with all of the attention on you?. Run behind picks, do something creative to get you away from the defender.

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!

Look Up!.................(no, not for superman!)

Many handlers often make the mistake to dribble while looking down. Reason is: players are pretty conscious of losing the ball and by looking at where there dribbling they think that will help them keep control of the ball. Look up when your dribbling so that you have better court vision while dribbling. This allows you to make a quick pass, or even just rise up for a shot. Looking down while dribbling wont allow you to do that because of the fact that you have to look up before you pass or shoot. Dribbling with your head down is basketball's "Cardinal Sin".

Get flashy when you have to

A lot of times players will make it a point not to pull out the tricks in middle of a game. My advice is don't pull out the tricks when you don't need to. Many times a flashy move or two can put you in a great position, it's all about decision making. If your stuck on a fast break with two defenders in front of you, your not going to get by them by just running straight, do a spin move, hop step, or even a crossover. Although it may seem too flashy "you got to do what you got to do" in some situations. Just because they are classified as finesse moves it doesn't meant they are hard, just get creative and you may even get a nice crowd shocker.