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Being strong on offense is an extremely important part of being a good basketball player overall. If you’re struggling in this area, there are many things you can do to sharpen up your skills. In order to become better at offense, work on shooting, improving your ball-handling skills, and becoming active on the court. Once you gain strength in these areas, you’ll be making baskets left and right.
Steps
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Practice a basic stationary shot. Practice makes perfect when it comes to getting a good shot. Try to set aside some time each day to just work on basic shooting. Start close to the basket and back further and further away as your shots begin to consistently go in. [1] X Research source Some useful tips include:
- Focus on your target (the rim).
- Finish your shot with a relaxed wrist.
- Develop a strong arc.
- Do 50 easy shots before every practice and game. [2] X Research source
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Finish team practice with free throws. A free throw is a simple, straightforward shot, but it’s easy to miss when all eyes are on you. At the end of practice, stay for a few more minutes and practice some free throws.
- You’re typically exhausted during a game when you have to do a free throw, so it’s better to work on them at the end of practice when you’re fatigued.
- Develop a routine that you do every time you’re about to shoot a free throw. Whether you bounce the ball twice and spin it in your hands or just take a deep breath, having a routine will help you focus and have confidence. [3] X Research source
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Improve your layups. Layups are one of the easiest shots to make and you’ll most likely use them a lot. Whether you’re playing a small pickup game with some friends or just shooting hoops by yourself, take layup shots frequently to improve your confidence and consistency.
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Practice shooting with defensive pressure. During a game, you’ll rarely have a chance to take a shot while just standing in one place. Many shots you take will require that you pivot or shoot immediately after dribbling to get around your opponent. Play one-on-one with a teammate or friend to get used to shooting under pressure.
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Film yourself shooting. It’s harder to identify what might be holding you back when you aren’t sure exactly what your shot looks like. Get a friend, teammate, or coach to film you shooting the ball and then watch and analyze the video. This can help you recognize your errors and make necessary changes. [6] X Research source
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Do some stationary ball-handling drills. By working on ball-handling drills for just 10 or 15 minutes a day, you can gain the comfort and confidence that you need to get the ball down the court, even with defensive pressure. These drills can help you develop better control of the ball, which may enable you to move around opponents quickly and effectively. Work on one or more of the following drills each day:
- Ball slaps: Hold the ball in one hand and slap it with the other. Then switch hands.
- Body circles: Use both hands to move the ball in a clockwise circle around your head, waist, and knees. Then reverse the order (knees, waist, head) and switch the direction to counterclockwise.
- Figure eights around the legs: Weave the ball around and in between your legs in a figure-eight pattern.
Stephen Curry, Professional Basketball PlayerWork hard to achieve mastery on the court. "Basketball isn’t just a sport. It is an art, one that must be mastered to succeed."
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Work on the “in and out” dribbling move. Act like you’re going to dribble the ball right but instead of dribbling it to the right of your right leg, direct the ball in between your legs with your right hand. Then, immediately direct the ball to the left side of your body with your right hand. Continue to dribble to the left. This move acts as a fake-out and can fool your opponent. [7] X Research source
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Try the cross hesitation. Bounce the ball from one hand to the other in front of your body. Start to bring your shooting hand up like you’re getting ready to take a shot, and then let the ball drop to your side at the last second. This will confuse your opponent and give you just enough time to blow past them.
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Develop passing skills. Being able to pass the ball accurately and efficiently is a vital part of being a good offender. Focus on developing a strong, crisp, one bounce pass that opponents have a hard time intercepting. This will minimize turnover and lead to more offensive opportunities. [8] X Research source
- Improve your passing by playing 3 versus 3 without any dribbling allowed. This will force you to work on your shooting and pivoting in addition to your passing.
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Learn and adopt the triple threat position. By using this position, you’ll be able to shoot, pass, and dribble the ball while a defender is on you. Get into position by catching the ball, bending your knees, and holding the ball in shooting position with your elbows pointing outward. This will help you protect the ball from defenders who will try to get it away from you.
- Focus on using your pivot foot, staying crouched, and keeping your head up.
- Observe your teammates and opponents on the court. Based on their positioning and availability, decide whether passing, shooting, or dribbling is the smartest choice. [9] X Research source
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Stay mobile on the court. Practice not standing still on the court for longer than a few seconds at a time. Constantly make cuts and try to get open for passes from your teammates. When you’re constantly moving around, you get more opportunities to make big breaks down the court and also distract and tire the opposing team. [10] X Research source
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Practice having good court awareness. In order to be a good offensive player, you need to pay attention to what’s going on at all times. This will help make you ready to receive passes and take advantage of broken plays. Watch first and foremost where the ball is, and also pay attention to where your teammates and opposing players are.
- Never turn your back on the ball. [11] X Research source
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Get the ball down the court quickly. When you decide to make a break towards the other side of the court, fully commit to your decision by moving as fast as you can while remaining in control. The faster you get down the court, the more time you’ll have to take a shot without the pressure of defense. [12] X Research source
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Go for rebounds whenever you can. Always be ready to act on a missed shot. You and your teammates will miss shots from time to time. By staying near the basket as the shot is made, you can be ready to jump up and at least attempt to get it in before any opponents grab the ball and take it to the other side of the court. [13] X Research source Some ways to improve your rebound include:
- Start moving as the shooter uncoils instead of waiting until the ball is already in the air.
- “Box out” other opponents by getting in between them and the basket.
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Create your own rebound opportunities. Throw the basketball at the backboard or the back of the rim and then immediately go after it and try to make a shot as soon as possible. This will help you learn how to anticipate rebounds and react to them as quickly as possible.
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Minimize your dribbling. Dribbling too much can slow you down and give the defense time to set up. Make sure to incorporate as much passing, cutting, and shooting as you can. When you’re dribbling, try not to stop and stay stationary. Instead, dribble in a direction until you can finish your dribble with an immediate pass or shot. [14] X Research source
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Expert Q&A
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QuestionWhat is the best strategy in playing basketball?Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame.Don't just focus on scoring—look for opportunities to dive on the floor, pick up fouls, and play great defense, as well. When you're focused on the other mechanics of the game, sometimes scoring will actually come easier.
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QuestionHow can I improve my offensive game?Ryan Tremblay is a Basketball Coach and the Owner of National Sports ID and STACK Basketball. With over 30 years of experience, Ryan specializes in basketball coaching, social media marketing, and website design. Ryan created the National Sports ID as a platform to verify the age/grade of youth athletes and STACK Basketball to inspire young athletes to grow into mature individuals and basketball players. Ryan was a First Team All-Decade basketball player in Bergen County and finished in the top 20 all-time leading scorers in the county’s history with 1,730 points. He went on to Caldwell University on a basketball scholarship where he was part of three championship teams. Ryan was a two-time All-Metropolitan, All-State, and All-Conference point guard and the all-time three-point leader in the school’s history, landing him in the Caldwell University Athletic Hall of Fame.Work on playing aggressively. Be a tough defender—be willing to dive in on the floor and pick up fouls. That aggressiveness is going to be translated into the offensive end of the floor.
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QuestionHow do I improve my crossover and behind-the-back?Glenda BascosCommunity AnswerJust keep practicing or watch videos online to improve them.
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Tips
- Always look for weaknesses in your game. Focus the most on spending time making improvements in your problem areas.Thanks
- Always give 100%. If you don't work hard when you practice, you'll never be able to score in a real game.Thanks
- Don't just work on your basketball skills, also try to improve your athleticism and overall physical conditioning. A huge part of the game is "hustle." Become athletic enough to play with energy the whole time you are on the court.Thanks
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References
- ↑ https://www.coachup.com/nation/articles/basketball-tips-to-improve-your-offe
- ↑ https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/blog/index.php/21-basketball-shooting-tips/
- ↑ http://www.stack.com/a/free-throw-drills
- ↑ http://www.stack.com/a/layup-basketball-speed-drills
- ↑ https://www.myactivesg.com/sports/basketball/training-methods/basketball-for-beginners/the-different-types-of-basketball-scoring-shots
- ↑ https://www.breakthroughbasketball.com/blog/index.php/21-basketball-shooting-tips/
- ↑ https://www.coachup.com/nation/articles/basketball-tips-to-improve-your-offe
- ↑ https://www.coachup.com/nation/articles/basketball-tips-to-improve-your-offe
- ↑ https://socalelite.org/triple-threat-basketball-beginners/
- ↑ https://www.coachup.com/nation/articles/basketball-tips-to-improve-your-offe
- ↑ https://www.coachup.com/nation/articles/basketball-tips-to-improve-your-offe
- ↑ https://www.coachup.com/nation/articles/basketball-tips-to-improve-your-offe
- ↑ https://www.coachup.com/nation/articles/basketball-tips-to-improve-your-offe
- ↑ https://www.coachup.com/nation/articles/basketball-tips-to-improve-your-offe
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