Often, when it comes to finishing at the basket in basketball, the offensive player will have to navigate a defender. There will be times when the finish is clear, but most of the time, there will be a defender or multiple defenders contesting the finish. So while it is great to work on finishing with different single-person basketball drills, it is also a great idea to work on finishing with a defender.
That is exactly what this finishing basketball drill will do. As a player or a coach with your basketball team, you will be able to work on finishing against a live defender and get plenty of quality repetitions on finishing with a contest. Along with working on offense, the contested finish basketball drill will allow the defender to work on being able to contest without fouling. Working on both sides of the ball will allow you to maximize your basketball training time.
1 on 1 Contested Finish Basketball Drill Overview
Drill Name: 1 on 1 Contested Finish Basketball Drill
Equipment Needed: Basketball, Hoop, and Two Players
Similar Basketball Drills and Resources
- Closeout and Contest Defensive Basketball Drill
- Bulldog Basketball Rebounding Drill
- 1 on 1 Chairs Wing Closeout Basketball Drill
Goals of the Drill
- Work on finishing at the basket with a defender contesting the finish.
- Learn to navigate live finishes around the basket and be creative, seek the contact, etc.
- Work on defending the finish without fouling and giving up an easy basket.
Coaching Points
- The offensive player needs to be explosive and look to read the defender before executing the correct finish.
- The defensive player is looking to cut the offensive player off with their body and then force them into taking a tough finish.
- Both players need to compete hard but stay disciplined and under control.
Basketball Drill Instructions
- The offensive player will start on the right block with the basketball in their hands.
- The defensive player will start on the opposite block.
- To start the drill, the offensive player will roll the basketball out to the opposite elbow that is diagonal to them and then run to pick up the ball.
- While this is happening, the defensive player must go behind the offensive player’s path to cross over to the opposite elbow diagonal to them and touch it.
- As soon as the offensive player picks the ball up, the drill is live, and they are looking to score.
- As soon as the defensive player touches the opposite diagonal elbow, they are live and able to get into a defensive position.
- The drill ends with a basket, stop, or foul.
- If you have a group of players, you can have the next players in line go.
- If you only have two players, have the same players reset and then go again (you can switch them each time or after a certain number of possessions).
- After the desired amount of repetitions, switch which block the offensive player starts from so you can work on finishing from both sides of the basket.
