43Drills

No doubt, shooting is something that every player needs. Even for Shaq, not matter how big he is, or how well he can dominate the post, often times a 2 or 3 players guard him and if he can’t pass the ball he needs to shoot the ball. He gets fouled. On the free throw line, there were times when he did pretty good. A lot of those times it was really important that he make those shots and he did. Number of times, he sucked big.

But this isn’t about Shaq, it’s about you.

It’s about your shooting style. How satisfied you’re from your shooting. Even though there are so many shooting experts out there who’re trying to perfect NBA player’s shooting percentage, a lot of times they don’t do a good job. Take a look at Shaq.. Okay, okay, no more Shaq:)

I mean, basically it comes down to whether you’re satisfied from your shooting or not.

If you’re and they don’t block your shot, I don’t see no reason you should change it. Only for the positioning of the legs maybe as they form the foundation. That’s a fact right there. If opponents block your shot and it’s not because you’re short, you should consider shooting from a different “higher” angle. A lot of times Allen Iverson could get past a lot of big guys a manage to shoot the ball by penetrating the entire team. His shot was an arch shot a lot times. He was really good.

So to make it clear, only practice like a maniac. Don’t fight the system. You have your own way of shooting and you should appreciate it and accept it. Don’t listen to a lot of guys. Just practice, practice. Practice makes perfect.

I have a basketball website full of free tips/advice on how to become a better basketball player. It has a lot of things on shooting of course and so much more. Feel free to check that out. It’s at http://www.best-basketball-tips.com

To do this, you not only need to be quick but you also need several more things.

Experience. This shouldn’t be here first but I typed it so it happened:). Experience comes with time and practice. When your experience is at a high level you’ll be able to anticipate well. Anticipation is crucial in your defensive play. And by that I mean your opponents as well as your teammates.

Having the right trained muscles really helps because you can take a look at players like Bruce Bowen for example. His foot work is amazing. He is so quick when he moves with his defensive stance. He is able to block his view, block his shot, ball pressure him with the other hand, anticipate his moves. I mean, you can probably get better just by watching him play. Here is good clip from youtube to get started ..
http://youtube.com/watch?v=S2A9iGhatcc

Another thing is when you’re guarding someone, keep your focus, both on the ball and your man. As well as your opponent’s teammate to whom he can pass the ball to. Just be aware of these stuff and try to focus on these. It might slow you down at first but that’s normal. You’re learning and you’re getting better.

Remember, when you’re struggling with the game of basketball (probably when playing against someone who is better than you) is when you’re actually getting better. That’s the way in basketball and that’s the way with life. It’s just a fact, so embrace instead of fight it.

I have a lot of drills and tips on my website (for becoming a better defender as well). It’s all free so you can check it out if you want.

www.best-basketball-tips.com

Dunking is becoming an art. Don’t you agree?

I mean, just look at the high flyers and see the art they’re making. It’s amazing.

I’m a huge fan of players like Vince Carter, Michael Jordan, Jason Richardson, LeBron James and other. And I learned a few thing that really helped me become a better dunker.

Here are some of them..

1.) Lick you fingertips for better palming. Now, this may not be an issue for you at all. But if it is (your hands are too small for the ball), then you can lick your fingertips (something that I’ve seen Michael Jordan do) to be able to palm the ball better.

2.) Jump with both legs. Just make sure you jump with both legs more than with one leg. Why? Because this way, you’ll be able to perform better dunks. You have more control over the ball AND your body. When we jump with one leg, we tend to go higher but do try to jump more with your both legs. For example, it’s much harder to make a windmill with one leg. The impact on your muscles is greater. It’s just harder to make that hard circle in the air, with the ball.

3.) When you’re going for 360 or 180 (you should start with 180 by the way), turn your head first. In other words, your head is the leader of your body. Your body follows the head and that’s why the very first thing you should turn when spinning is your head. Also when you touch the ground, do it with both legs. If one leg touches the ground before the other just a split of second, you’ll probably fall on the ground. I was guilty of this. I was beating myself up, without knowing what I was doing wrong. But I learned the hard way and that doesn’t mean that it has to be the hard way for you.

On my website, I have a page where I go into much greater detail about dunking and all that. Feel free to check it out at..

Dunking Tips