basketball help.

[Doobie]

As many of you may know I started going to the gym and have been playing basketball 6 days a week. I have been dominating some guys, and other games I'm a non-factor. I want to work on my defense since I am an insane liability on defense. I can guard shooter's, but I can't guard guys who just get the ball, put there head down, and drive into the basket. I am trying hard to stay in front of them but I really can't. How can I work on my lateral quickness and keeping guys in front of me? How can I work on contesting shots?

On the offensive end I am probably the best mid-range shooter in the whole gym (putting my ego aside). I am honestly automatic if I come off a screen or get an open shot from 12-18 feet. My problem is, if someone locks down my jumpshot my offensive game ends there. I am no good at handling the basketball, driving in, or posting up. I am also not the fastest player either, anyone suggest any moves to add to my offensive game? I am practicing floaters and stuff like that but it's not working out for me. Anyways to increase my speed or better my handles?

Another weakness to my game is full-court games. I am completely out of place when we play a full court 5 on 5. I struggle getting to my man on D and I struggle getting my shot on offense.

[JaoSming]

For lateral quickness stay on your toes and always be ready to move. If you have one of those hand quickness crazy balls get on a baseline kinda far from the wall if possible, huck the ball at the wall and then d-slide to move in position to catch the ball. Also doing suicides in a D-Slide works too. Just make sure you arent crossing your legs. It's all about muscle quickness/explosion not about how fast you can slide though.

Doing "fire" exercises where you are in the D-Stance and quickly lifting each foot off the ground helps too. I've seen football players doing this too, I just cant think of a good way to describe it.

For pick up games the easiest way to contest shots it to just be close to the guy. You dont even need to put your hands up half time since most shooters can be startled by just having someone close to them. Getting your hands up to contest will come with that. In HS/College both my coaches preached about staying way up on your man and if you get beat there will be help defense behind you which worked well for both teams because I had 1 other 6'6 guy on my HS team and we had 5 guys over 6'6" in college. For pickup games I like to stay close and keep my hand outreached at the guard's belly. That way 50% of the time if he tried to get a quick shot off I can get my hand on the ball as he brings it in front of his belly.

Worst comes to worst, if you keep getting beat, try to back tap the ball out of the handler's control. You know where you let him by then reach around his body to get the ball from behind.


For handling, well, I'm probably not the best person to talk about handling the ball dribbling wise but the more you have the ball in your hands, the better you'll get. I used to dribble a ball to class in the whole 3 weeks I had at college before the snow came. As for driving in, try think that you only have 2-3 dribbles on a drive in to get past someone, if it doesnt work then pass it up.

Posting up, I may be able to help you there. Learn multi-move post moves and really work on your fakes. Shoulder fakes, shot fakes, pass out fakes, all of it. "My" move if you will is a shot fake away from the baseline, step through in front of your defender then either go up for the layup or 1 dribble baseline reverse layup. Watch some old school NBA footage and watch the big guys, find a move you like and then practice the heck out of it. If your defender is lazy and isnt going for any fakes get your hook shot down or your turnaround shot.

I personally hate floaters and fadeaways. Unless you can shoot the fade lights out or a little guard with quickness I wouldnt bother learning either.


When getting back on D first priority is finding the ball, making sure you arent the only one back to stop it and then it is finding your man. Camp in the paint if you cant find your man until you find him. As a "support" player, I got my shots off of screens, post ups, and mid-range pop outs. You just gotta learn what you like and figure out a way to get that shot with the people you are playing with.

But again, I'm 4 years out of organized basketball and a year out of my last pick up game, so take what I said with a grain of salt.

[buzzy]

One on one you have to decide if you're backing off or closing in on your man. Stepping some feet away really makes a difference if the guy tries to drive to the basket. Just watch your opponent and try to find out their shooting/driving tendencies.
Also, don't necessearily concentrate on the ball in one on one situations, he'll get by you with a crossover in no time. Focus on his hip/belly region, easier to stay in front of the guy.

I'm pretty good at staying infront of people, although I completely suck at contesting shots at the rim, not only because I'm pretty darn unathletic.

On offense, pump fakes is definitely a good way to fool the biggest, most athletic guys.
What can I say else? Vary on your moves, be unpredictable. Do some handling and speed drills.

[dare]

We play the same man and the same as you I'm not the fastest man on the court although I played the PG position. My advice in your offense is that after you catch the ball off screen try to do a pump fake then made one or two dribble to get past him and just do a pull up jumpshot. If the fake doesn't work pass the ball again and try to loose your guard.

As for the defense for fullcourt, try the basic defense. If your opponent likes to drive back down a little don't give him some space to run. If your guy is a shooter be alert, your a shooter to I'm sure you know when a guy is going to shoot. An advice I learn from my coach just at the upper waist of your opponent when guarding because in that way you will never be fake out, it's hard at first but if you get use to it you will become a better defender.

Edit: just read buzzy's advice and we practically said the same thing only his advice is much easy to understand