Shot Fakes

         Shot Fakes are really simple, but are very effective on offense in many ways. However, it is important that your shot fake has good form so it actually looks like you are shooting, and not just pumping the ball up and down. DeVenzio states," A good shot- fake is a bend of the knees and a look at the rim with the ball cocked at the chin. From that position you can do anything- shoot, drive into the basket or throw a quick pass. It is a mistake to go through the upward motion of the ball" (90). Before I read STUFF Good Players Should Know, I would fake like I am going to shoot with my whole body. It was really slow and didn't even look like I was shooting- the defense never fell for it. Also, I was off balance, because I would shot fake really fast and stand straight up. Now, I stay low and look at the basket, and keep the ball at my chin as if I was going to shoot. In this position, I am able to do more moves after the defense reacts to the shot fake, and the shot fake looks like I am about to shoot.

         Shot Fakes don't make the defense jump all the time, but they are still  efficient. In the right position, faking a shot will gain you an advantage if the defense doesn't go for it. During a shot fake, if the defender doesn't react, you can just shoot it since you are already in position (DeVenzio 90).  Shot fakes help a lot when I get the ball, because it helps me determine what the defender is like. If they don't react or move, I shoot. If they do react, I drive or pass in out. Before I used shot fakes, I didn't know what to do with a defender in front of me- Should I just drive? Is she close enough to block my shot if I shoot it? Now, I know how to read the defense and what moves I need to do to help my team be successful.

What are some other things you can do on offense? What moves do you do to read the defense better?

DeVenzio, Dick. Stuff Good Players Should Know: Intelligent Basketball from A to Z. Victoria, TX: PGC Basketball, 2014. Print.

Bullet Passes vs. Lobs and Bounce Passes

          Passing is one of the most important parts of basketball. If you had a team with people who couldn't pass, you wouldn't be able to score and definitely wouldn't win a game.  There are different passes used for different situations that DeVenzio explains in STUFF Good Players Should Know.

          "Everyone knows that bounce passes are good passes to throw inside to a man posting up, or to a cutter going back door, or perhaps on a 2-on-1 fast break, but a lot of players don't seem to realize that a bounce on the perimeter is a careless pass.  It takes longer to arrive and, therefore gives a defender a better chance for an interception" (DeVenzio 48). In games, I try to pass to the posts in the paint a lot, but didn't use bounce passes. When I started using bounce passes instead of bullet passes, it was harder for the defense to steal the ball and my team was able to score. Even though bullet passes work, I think bounce passes are a better option, especially when used with a ball fake.

       
     
       Although Lobs are great for a back door cut,  they are not a good pass on the perimeter with no defender in between you. If there is no defender, always use a bullet pass. Lobs and Bounce passes are only used to throw under or over people (DeVenzio 48-49). I tend to turnover the ball when I lob the ball to my teammate, because it is a lot slower than a bullet pass and the defense is able to steal it. With bullet passes, the ball gets passed faster, and the person receiving the ball has more options. When I get a bullet pass, the ball is already in my shooting pocket, rather than getting a lob and not being prepared to shoot. After reading this portion of Stuff Good Players Should Know, I realized that I should always use bullet passes unless I am throwing a back door cut, or passing it into the posts.

How is passing important in other sports? What passes do you use in different situations?

DeVenzio, Dick. Stuff Good Players Should Know: Intelligent Basketball from A to Z. Victoria, TX: PGC Basketball, 2014. Print.

The Use of One Dribble

          Many basketball players try to show off with impressive dribbling skills, like dribbling the ball behind the back or in between the legs as much as they can. But showing off doesn't always help you score and doesn't help  win important games.  In STUFF Good Players Should Know, DeVenzio  stresses that you only need one dribble to make a great play; too many dribbles cause turn overs because it gives the defense time to get in position to steal the ball (76).  Throughout my basketball career, I've noticed that the higher level I play at, the harder it is to dribble through other players. Even with different moves, better players can steal the ball if I dribble too much. Using one dribble to get to the basket or to shoot the ball made it so I can get an easier pass or a better shot, so the defense couldn't recover.  To get used to staying low and pounding the ball so I can get farther with one dribble, I do dribbling drills with weighted gloves, shown in the picture below.

        Another asset of using one dribble is that it is a lot faster, and the defense doesn't expect it.  "One dribble is explosive, and one dribble does not signal the defense. By the time the defenders see a need to alter position, you are already shooting"(DeVenzio 75).  This tip has helped me get the the hoop more often. When I use one dribble, the defender reacts after I get by them, so they are already behind me by the time I get to the basket. When I use more than one dribble, the defender is able tip the ball from behind me, because they have more time to recover.  If you play basketball, try this in practice, or at the gym during a pick-up game. I guarantee that you 'll be able to get to the basket easier, rather than trying to dribble too much around the defender. 

What are some other ways to get by your defender in other sports? What are some other ways to get to the basket?

DeVenzio, Dick. Stuff Good Players Should Know: Intelligent Basketball from A to Z. Victoria, TX: PGC Basketball, 2014. Print.

Correcting Defensive Skills

          One of the most important  aspects of basketball is defense.  In my opinion, stopping the other team from scoring is more important than how much  you score on offense.  To be a good defender, I always think about staying low, keeping my arms wide, and staring at the other player's waist to track their movements. But even then, that isn't enough; you can still get fouls from reaching to get a steal, even if  it  just looked like you did.
          A way to prevent getting fouls called on steals is keeping up palms on defense, or KUP. Basketball players get unnecessary fouls from reaching with their palms facing the floor for dribbles and trying to swat at shots  (DeVenzio 145).  I have noticed that in games I tend to reach in and try to steal the ball, always with my palms facing the floor, and get called for the foul almost every time. These fouls are useless and don't help me at all, and the more I get, the sooner I get seated on the bench... But, when I kept my palms facing the ceiling, I saw that I could reach in, and not get the foul called, even if I didn't end up stealing the ball anyways. I think part of the reason why refs don't call it as much is because you aren't swatting the ball down, it looks more like a tip to yourself. This tip helped me play a lot better defense, and not getting as many fouls as I used to.

          Another way KUP is helpful and better for your defensive stance is because it helps with your balance. "KUP will also help you stay on balance and in good position on defense. The habit of reaching palms- down causes you to lunge and put all your weight forward, and then get beaten. But reaching palms-up does not cause this same tendency. A down-swatting motion tends to throw your body off -balance while an up-swatting motion keeps your body on balance" (DeVenzio 146).  When i tried this in practice and games, I realized that when I try to steal with my palms facing up, I could recover faster and not get beat on defense. With my palms down, my weight shifts  while I lunge, and the offensive player is able to run past me. Balance is an important aspect of defense, so you don't get crossed and fall.  Now when I play defense, I can get really close to the person I am guarding, and not worry about getting beat, even if she is faster than me. Using KUP and getting all up in the offensive player's bubble makes them uncomfortable, and forces a turnover. KUP  is a simple way to improve you defensive stance and is a great way to become an amazing defender. If you play basketball, I encourage you to try this , and see how it impacts you.

What are some other tips or major keys you need to become a great defender? How is a basketball defensive stance different or the same as another sport's defensive stance?

DeVenzio, Dick. Stuff Good Players Should Know: Intelligent Basketball from A to Z. Victoria, TX: PGC Basketball, 2014. Print.

Team Leadership in Basketball

               Basketball is a very complex sport. There is more to it than just dribbling a ball up and down the court to score.  To be a great player, it takes a lot of commitment and hard work. But to be an amazing player, you have to be able to lead a team in any position you are in. In the book Runnin' the Show: Basketball Leadership for Coaches and Players by Dick DeVenzio, I am learning how to be a  leader on the court and features I need to become a better leader. By the end of my reading, I hope I could develop to be an amazing player through leadership and developing my game with drills and skills to work on.

               "Leadership does not mean one player barking out commands and the rest of the team waiting to carry them out. A true leader empowers everyone else to lead so that leadership is shared and spread among all members of the team" (DeVenzio 116). DeVenzio made me realize that to truly lead a team, you have to be encouraging to your teammates and always show that you believe in their abilities and have their best interest at heart. When teammates know you want them to succeed, it gives them more confidence in their game. During the season, I talked to my teammates about what they do good in games, and that really helped my team communicate more during games and lead as a whole, not just one person.

               Even if there is no designated captain, you can still take on leadership responsibilities by reminding teammates, encouraging, communicating, and hustling (DeVenzio 116).  This showed me that anyone has the chance to be a leader, not just one person on the team. Based on how hard you work and the way you  talk to your teammates/coach determines if  you are a leader and if you set a good example for your team. Now, I am starting to encourage my teammates more and cheering them on when they do something good, and that has made me closer with my teammates. Even though there is no captain on my AAU team, by being encouraging towards my teammates and always going at 100%, I can be a a good leader for my teammates to look up to.

How have you shown leadership in a sport? What are some other attributes to be a leader?

DeVenzio, Dick. Runnin' the Show: Basketball Leadership for Coaches and Players. Belton, TX: PGC Basketball, 2006. Print.