REBOUNDING

Anticipation Is Key

Players need to anticipate when and where the shot is going to be taken. So, the rebounder has to keep an eye on the person with the ball and try to anticipate whether he is looking to shoot or pass.....the key to getting the offensive rebound is being able to beat the defender to the spot. If you know that a teammate is going to shoot, then you can start setting up for an offensive rebound. Study your teammates, study them well, and know when they like to shoot.  This is called team chemistry.  Once you know your teammate's tendencies, you have an advantage over the other team, especially early in the game.

=> TIP: 70%-80% of the shots end up on the opposite side of the shooter (the weak side), so have y position yourself away from the shooter. Also, make sure as the shooter to follow your shot. This is something so simple, yet often times over looked.  Do not admire your work as a shooter.  Even if you make the shot, what is the harm of following it in,  simply run in for the rebound right away, every single time.

=> TIP: Players to look at the ball in the air, and determine if it's going to be short or long.  With enough practice, you  will get really good at predicting where the ball will end up.


Attitude & Focus

Rebounding is 75% desire and 25% physical. A player must have the passion and desire to grab the rebound. Players need to remember, that the player that wants it the most will get the rebound.

=> TIP: Players need to assume that every shot will be missed.  This creates the right frame of mind to go after each shot. If a player thinks the shot might go in, they won't even begin setting up for the rebound.

=> TIP: Players must have active hands. Only good things can happen if you can get their hands on the ball. Keep hands up, palms open, ready to grab or swat the ball as needed.

Counter-Moves

Players are not always going to guess right, or be in the right position to get the rebound, that's why you must great counter-moves for getting around their defender.

=> TIP: Fake and Go -- Before the defender makes contact with you, step as though you are going to go in one direction and then quickly step in the opposite direction to gain position.

=> TIP: Spin Move -- Players should make their defensive player overplay one side, and  quickly spin in the opposite direction to gain the advantage.

So, as you can see, quickness plays a big role in getting the offensive rebound.  If you can make quick moves, and get off the ground quickly, then you will definitely have the advantage.  Many times, it's not the tallest player that gets the rebound;
rather, it's the one who gets off the ground the quickest.  And, being able to jump high is also a big advantage...

SCREENING Part 2

Part 1 focused on the fundamentals of setting screens, and now Part 2 will cover how to maximize each screen and the important concepts of moving without the ball.  So what is the way to maximize every screen?  The answer lies in the ability of the offensive player to  read and react to the defense.

The success of any screen not only relies on the ability of the  screener to set a solid screen, but also in the ability of the teammate to properly "set up" their defender to get screened.  The first thing is a player needs to make it difficult for their defender to predict where they're going to go. A player must perform short, but strong jab steps in the opposite direction they're going. This will help place the defensive player in an optimal position to get screened.

A player must react to their defender. For example, if their defender tries to over play the screen and slide over the top, then a player needs to make one step over the top of the screen, and then quickly cut backdoor towards the basket.  Also, if the defender is right on the player's tail, then the a player should perform a curl over the top of the screen. This will allow the player to stay open, not letting their defender recover and keeping the defense on their heels.

These are some of the ways a player can maximize every screen.  But, realize players don't need screens to get open.  Simply by taking advantage of various cuts, a player can get open looks at the basket.  So, let's talk about some of the commonly used cuts to help get open.  Remember, these cuts are for all player positions on the floor.  The drawings are just examples using one or two player positions.

SCREENING Part 1

The Stance - 

Players should stand with their feet wide and planted firmly against the ground. They should literally feel like mountains that cannot be moved. Also, players should have their arms tucked into their chest so the refs can see that you're  not committing a foul with their hands.

Positioning -

 As a teammate runs off of a screen, make sure that they rub shoulders with you, the screener. The person coming off of the screen needs to be very close and tight with the screener. The closer the player is to their teammate, the closer they will be to cutting off the defender.

Timing - 

This requires lots of practice and individual attention. The main thing a player needs to do is to wait for the screen before

they moving towards the screener. When players move before the screener has a chance to set, it really kills the offensive flow and really makes it easy on the defensive players, thus making each screen virtually useless.

Angle -

Players need to be in the correct angle so that the player is directly in the way of the defender. Otherwise, the screener could be "too wide" or "too high" allowing the defender to slip underneath the screen, or "too low" in which case the defender can easily fight over the top of the screen. All of which makes the screen useless. 

Now, the angle that the screen is set is going to be determined by the type of screen being used. So let's talk about the different types of screens that are commonly used:                                                       

This is a basic screen that's usually used "on-the ball". 

The screener needs to stand perpendicular to their 

teammate, so that they will be directly facing the defender.

                                                 

This is where the screener goes from the elbow to the opposite low block of the lane or vice-versa. The screener needs to come towards their teammate at a 45 degree angle and try to screen the defender on their shoulder area.

This type of screen is usually used "off-the-ball". 

The screener needs to stand parallel to their 

teammate so that the screen  is set on the 

defender's back side.

This type of screen is usually used "off-the-ball" and is 

normally a screen used to get players open down on 

the block. Similar to the back screen, the screener 

needs to be parallel to their teammate and should

set the screen on the defenders back side. 

All of these screens can be set by any player.  The player number used in these examples is just that, and example.  For example, in the diagonal screen, 2 may come from the elbow to set the screen for 5 or 5 may come down from the elbow to set the screen for 4.  Stay tuned for part two of screening in the next  blog.

Corner Option 3-5 Pick and Role

Corner option works best against a man to man defense but can work somewhat against zone.  It is a variation on the CURL covered in the last post.  Look at the diagrams then view the movie and see how similar and simple it is.  Difference, 1 cuts through instead of 2 and 4 rotates on perimeter.  Study the drawing sequence and watch the video at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzAuVFmcOMc&feature=related

Corner Curl

Last practice we worked on this play.  It can be run to either corner with either the 3 or 4 man as the attacker.  5 will set the post to the side of the ball and 2 will be opposite the 1.  This is a relatively simple play and should be run until the defense learns to stop all the options.  In the next post I will show you another rotation that can be used off this basic formation.

Raising The Team IQ

So many times I see close games that are lost not because one team has more talent than the other, but because one team is smarter than the other.  Sometimes the team with less skill is smarter and they go home with the victory.  It is the coaches job to see that this does not happen.  It is much harder to hit a three with a hand in your face or battle for a rebound with a put back, than it is to learn to play smart basketball.  I know it's fun to hit that three, but which is really more fun, hitting the three and losing because you shot 20% from three point land and missed some at the end of the game when it was not necessary, or taking less three's and going home with a win?  I suspect winning is more fun.

Let's look at some situations and you decide your answer.  I will give the correct answers at the bottom of the blog page.

1. Your team is up by 3 and is bringing the ball in under your basket.  There is less than a minute to go in the first half (50 seconds).  The possession arrow is in your favor.  What should you do on offense?
2. Your team down by 3 and is bringing the ball in under your basket.  There is less than a minute to go in the first half (50 seconds).  The possession arrow is in your favor.   What should you do on offense?  If you score, what should you do on defense?
3. There is about 5 minutes to go in the first half.  Your team is down by 15.  What should you be doing on offense?  Defense?
4. There is about 5 minutes to go in the first half.  Your team is up by 15.  What should you be doing on offense?  Defense?
5. Midway through the 4th quarter your team is still down by 10 and just trading baskets, but you are in the bonus.  What should you be doing on offense?  Defense?
6. There is a minute or less to go in the game and you are up by 2.  A fast break opportunity presents itself but it is not a clear 2 on 1.  What to do?
7. There is a minute or less to go in the game and you are down by 2.  What do you do on offense?  Defense?

Answers:

1. The dumb thing to do would be to shoot a quick outside shot creating a long rebound and an easy scoring chance for the other team at the other end.  The smart thing to do would be work the ball patiently trying to get it inside to extend the lead to 5 using up most of the clock.  Maybe you will get fouled and get two at the free throw line.  Come out in the second half, score and what was a 3 point lead is suddenly 7.
2. Push the ball quickly trying to get a good shot with a chance for another possession.  No three's trying to be a hero and tie the game.  Get a good look from short range or a foul, get a sure 2 and if you play good defense, go in at half down by one and come out in the second half with a chance for the lead.  If you do score, press, make one attempt for a steal and the lead, no foul, after that, trap and slow the progress of the other team so they cannot get a score.
3. This is where uncontested three pointers some of the time by your best shooters are ok but slow progress with sure inside 2's and trips to the free throw line cutting the deficit to under 10 at half is a higher percentage play.  Never begin to jack up contested three's just because you are far behind.  You will only get further behind.  On defense, play tough and try to create so turnovers that lead to easy fast break points.  That is really the quickest way back into the game.
4. The dumb thing would be to shoot outside shots trying to blow the other team out.  Wrong.  Play patient basketball working it inside for easy 2's, no long rebounds and fast break opportunities for the other team.  Trade baskets, keep the lead and look to expand in the second half when the defense of the opponent gets desparate and extends their defense.  On defense, play tough but don't foul.  You don't want the other team scoring with the clock stopped.  The clock is your friend.
5. Whenever you reach the bonus, drives to the basket and inside basketball is the only way to play.  That's where you earn trips to the free throw line.  You can make up the deficit while the clock is stopped.  Outside shooting never gets you to the line and the bonus is wasted.  On defense you must get a stop at least every three times down the floor by your opponent.  Turnovers and jumping the passing lanes can lead to some easy points at the other end.
6. The hero would take it in anyway hoping to go up by 4.  Maybe he gets it, maybe he blows the layup, does not get the foul, and the other team outnumbers you at the other end to tie or go ahead.  The smart player waits for his teamates to arrive, works it inside for a close in shot or a trip to the line to extend the lead to 4 or runs out the clock in the process.
7. The hero tries to make a three to win and maybe does.  Percentages say not.  Get a good quick 2 and press, looking for a turnover and a final chance to win without giving the oponent a chance to ice the game.

How did you do?  Hero?  Goat? Or smart team player going home with a win?

Offense vs. A 2-3 Zone Defense

Last practice we went over the open areas of the 2-3 zone defense.   We will be adding diagrams to your playbook next practice illustrating the open areas. 

  spread 1-3-5 triangle.                                         3-4-5 triangle

Here are the many options off of the 3-4-5 triangle starting above and moving through the sequences:

We briefly went over the simple triangle set up from the corner and low post.    I told each of you we would be including plays in our arsenal featuring every player.  The simple triangle and the options off of it, highlight the 3 man and the 5 man (or 4 man if we run it with 4 man in the post).  Here is a great example of this simple triangle.  Lakers vs. Suns.  It is short enough to watch over and over.  You can pause at different spots go increase the understanding of the simple triangle

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r9SIohdV78U&NR=1

We briefly went over the overload against a 2-3 Zone defense.  Watch the following video as many times as needed to understand the overload.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfZzmPDbrd4&NR=1

If you have questions, post them in the comments section of the blog and I will address them at practice.  See you then!