It’s impossible to overemphasize the importance of basketball among fans. To fully enjoy basketball, whether as enthusiastic spectator or player, you need to fully understand this game. The guts of this article can help any fan or player do just that.
Try learning how to hit free throw shots. These shots look easy on television, but are actually hard when you are doing the shooting. This technique should be practiced often if possible. Start by holding your basketball right in the front of your own face. Concentrate on the basket and visualize the basketball going in. Shoot the ball how you imagine it going in.
If you typically handle the ball a lot, it pays to learn the crossover. Switch from one side to the other while dribbling. Your crossovers should be fast, which is why it is important to practice them. Once you’ve learned how to use it, the crossover dribble makes it easy to navigate the court in a more effective way.
Bounce Pass
Teach yourself how a bounce pass can be properly thrown. If done correctly, a well-executed bounce pass will reach the player in a way that allows them to move immediately with the ball. A good estimation is to target the ball to bounce at about 3/4 of the distance that the receiving player is. But, there are some factors that can change this.
Shake things up rather than focusing solely on a zone defense. While you might see a zone defense mostly, a team can switch defenses to man-to-man quickly in order to confuse you. Failure to prepare for this type of tactic makes you more vulnerable and hurts your team.
In order to get a good shot, you must use good footwork. Although it’s important to have a physical presence underneath the basket, it’s more important that you get in a good place before your opponent can. Plant your feet and own that spot. Expert footwork is the key to these skills.
Defensive Game
One of the best ways to play a strong defensive game is to know your opponent. Make sure that you’ve watched tapes that show the other player. You can also check out scouting reports. For example, you should know which of the players are left-handed and which are right-handed. Your defensive game will be a lot more effective after you get to know your opponent. A person that knows about defending makes a strong defender.
Dribble hard to avoid ball stealing. The ball will get back to the hand faster, giving the other team less of an opportunity to grab it away. When someone is right on top of you, pass the ball instead of dribbling.
Your defenders need to wait for the point guard to make it 10′ ahead of the time line. Then your defending guards should encircle the point guard to trap him in place. With the forwards blocking outside, you have a good shot at intercepting a bad pass. The point guard will make a pass that forwards can steal.
It’s not easy to match the thrills that basketball supplies for many of its fans. Without understanding all these nuances, the game seems confusing. Hopefully, you have learned a little something from the tips included above.