Basketball Coaching Blog

Windshield Wiper Post Catch and Finish Basketball Drill

Posted by: In: Basketball Post Move Drills 1 comment

Passing, catching, and ball handling are all essential components in the game of basketball. Players have to be able to effectively do all of these if they want to be complete players. This basketball finishing drill encompasses all of those skills into one quick, challenging drill.

Regardless of position, all players need to be able to finish around the basket. This drill can be used as a warm-up or in practice for players to get quality repetitions in a short amount of time. By using two basketballs, players are also going to be challenged to improve their hand-eye coordination as well.

Drill Overview

Drill Name: Windshield Wiper Post Catch and Finish Basketball Drill

Equipment Needed: 2 basketballs, a partner, and a timer (optional).

Similar Drills and Resources

Goals of the Drill

Work on ball handling and finishing around the basket.
Improve hand-eye coordination and being able to catch the ball.
Develop a soft touch and work on being able to finish off of different footwork and from different angles.

Coaching Points

Stay in a low, athletic stance and dribble the basketball as hard and fast as possible. Players should challenge their speed with ball handling and push beyond their comfort zone.
Players need to keep their eyes up to receive the pass and catch the ball cleanly.
Have players reach high and extend up and out on the finish, using a nice soft touch.

Drill Instructions

The player will start with their back to the baseline and underneath the basket.
They will begin with one basketball in their left hand.
The passer will be facing them in the center of the paint with another basketball.
The player will begin the drill by dribbling the basketball in a windshield wiper motion. The windshield wiper dribble should make a "v" shape.
At any time, the passer will throw the second basketball to the player's right hand.
The player must catch the pass with their right hand, gather the dribble with their left hand, and finish with a reverse layup on the right side.
If the player misses the layup, they will rebound and continue to shoot until they make it.
Once the layup is made, they will immediately pass one ball back out to their partner and repeat the same action.
The player will continue this pattern for the desired amount of time and then switch which hand begins the dribble and finishes the reverse layup.

Recommended Time, Scoring, and Repetitions

This ball handling and finishing basketball drill is demonstrated with a player using one ball to do windshield wiper dribbling while receiving a pass with the second ball to catch and finish for a reverse layup. The player completes four reverse layups on one side. After completing the moves on one side, they repeat the same drill on the other side until they complete four made reverse layups.
To vary the drill, you could increase the number of made layups on each side.
The drill could also be completed for a specific amount of time on each side, rather than a set number of made shots. The players could compete to see who can make the most number of layups in the desired time.
To modify the drill for a less advanced player, they could do a stationary pound dribble.
To increase complexity, the player could do front-to-back windshield wiper move, instead of a side-to-side windshield wiper.

Windshield Wiper Post Catch and Finish Basketball Drill Conclusion

Whether it's a post player catching in transition or a guard attacking off the dribble, the ability to finish around the basket is essential. Great finishers maintain their focus on the rim, despite external factors that try to deter the making of the shot. Players need to have excellent hand-eye coordination to make tough catches in traffic, absorb contact, and finish in a variety of ways. Using a reverse layup, this windshield wiper post catch and finishing drill will reinforce the advantage of the rim to protect the ball from shot blockers.

Being a great finisher doesn't mean a player has to be the strongest, fastest, or most athletic. A player that challenges beyond their comfort zone and works tirelessly to improve will be the player that succeeds. This drill will help develop the skills of ball control, finesse, coordination, and awareness to produce great finishers.

4 Characteristics of Great Defensive Basketball Teams

Posted by: In: Defensive Basketball Coaching Articles 0 comments

This article was written by East Mississippi Junior College Head Coach Billy Begley.

“Defense wins championships”! That is the old saying that has been around sports for years and years! Some would argue that the old saying is true while others believe the point of a game is to score more points than the other team. I would agree that it is a combination of both.

There must be a balance of good offense and defense for any championship team. You must be able to put points on the board and have a player or two that, when all else breaks down, can go get a bucket or make a play for someone else.

However, if a team is going to develop any consistency and give itself a shot at winning any game on any given night in any gym, it all starts with getting stops!

I think we can all agree that the 2016-17 Golden State Warriors were one of the most dynamic offenses the league has ever seen! Having three of the best shooters on the planet, with one of those being one of the most unique players and scorers this game has ever seen in Kevin Durant, along with their ability to share the ball and hit you from all different angles makes them very tough, if not impossible at times, to guard.

But every one of their offensive runs began with a string of defensive stops. Golden State could get out in transition and score in disadvantage situations with 3-on-2 and 4-on-3 fast breaks.

What was once a 5-point lead quickly turned into an 8, 10, 15, 20 point lead. Game over! But it all started with getting stops on the defensive end. It is hard getting out in transition and scoring and when you are taking the ball out of bounds every time. The best and most consistent teams understand that it all starts with defense.

In my time as a player at Mississippi State, I was able to be a part of one SEC regular-season championship team, two SEC West championship teams and four NCAA Tournament teams. During those years, we were consistently one of the best defensive teams in the league.

My freshman year (2003-2004) was the year we won the overall SEC regular season championship. We were not loaded with talent or a ton of one-and-done players either. Only one player (Lawrence Roberts) was even drafted from that team! But we bolstered a 14-2 overall league record while going 8-0 on the road! How did we do it? Defense!!

We gave ourselves a chance to win every game because of our defense! An offense is unpredictable; you can’t control how many times the ball goes through the hoop! But defense travels to every game and every gym! This does not mean you will win every game, but being a great defensive team will give you a chance almost every time you step on the floor!

Here are 4 Characteristics that Every Great Defensive Team Has

TOUGHNESS - I know this seems generic or cliche’, but it is simple! Every great defensive team has a certain “dog” about them! They take great pride in their ability to defend. Defense starts with an attitude! If you do not have the “dog” in you, it is hard to be a great defensive team.

And what do I mean by toughness? Stepping over from the help side and taking a charge or being the first on the floor when there is a loose ball. Those are winning plays that take ZERO talent! It simply comes down to making a choice and having the toughness to do it.

ACCOUNTABILITY – I am not talking about accountability from coaches. I am talking about the must-have accountability from teammates. It is one thing if the coach calls you out for not fulfilling your defensive assignment, but it is an entirely different feeling when your teammates call you out!

Player accountability was one of the greatest attributes of that 2004 SEC Championship team. Accountability did not come from just the coaches; it came from the huddle! No one wanted to be the guy that let the other four down on the defensive end!

No one wanted to be “that guy” who could not guard their man, missed a block out or failed to rotate quick enough in help side that led us to get dunked on. Accountability came from within, and when someone was not holding their defensive effort up to the group's standards, the other four guys called him out.

Having this accountability and pride on the defensive end must start with the players in uniform, not the coaches in suits.

COMMUNICATION - The best defensive teams are also the best at communication. Transition defense has to start with communication from all five players sprinting back. In the half court, defending any screen, hard cut, or any other action that the offense runs all starts with a high level of communication.

The ability to communicate at a high level is a must for any team that wants to a lockdown defensive team. It takes ZERO talent to talk!

The ability to communicate can also sometimes hide the deficiencies one may lack in terms of height and athleticism! Communication keeps everyone on the same page and working together for the common goal of getting a stop.

REBOUNDING - A team cannot be a great defensive team without being a great rebounding team. A defensive possession is not over until the team gets a rebound. It is so demoralizing as a team when you defend your tail off and force the other team into a bad or rushed shot, but fail to come up with the defensive board.

It’s just as demoralizing to the other team when you limit them to one shot. Being a great rebounding team can lead to easy baskets on the other end, which is a big reason why teams are able to string together monster runs and get big leads.

Conclusion

Many other aspects go into great defensive teams. However, I believe that without these four characteristics it does not matter what kind of size or athleticism you have, it will be tough to be a great defensive team.

So Make sure that you are emphasizing the importance of Toughness, Player Accountability, Communication, and Finishing the Play every single day in practice. Make sure that your team knows what the program is going to be about on the defensive end, and then work every day to make it happen.

Billy Begley
East Mississippi Men’s Basketball Head Coach

Billy Begley started his time at East Mississippi Junior College in 2010 as an assistant coach. He spent two years with the Troy Trojans before rejoining the Lions as the head coach.

Best Basketball Gifts: The Top 25 List

Posted by: In: Basketball Products for Coaches and Players 8 comments

Best Basketball Gifts: Perfect for Giving or Receiving

Whether you are shopping for a loved one or want to help your family get you something other than an ugly sweater this year; this list of basketball gifts can really help you out during the holiday season or for a birthday.

The following is a list of our favorite gift ideas we think might be useful to you or a basketball player in your life. Having the right tools as a player or coach makes a huge difference. So that is why we compiled a list of some great gifts for all of the basketball fans out there.

Some of the offerings are specific to working on skills, while others are simply watching a great basketball movie. If you are shopping for a basketball fan, we have what you need!

Top 25 Basketball Gifts:

1. Nike Elites (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players

Gift Price: Varies

About Gift: These are the basketball socks that every player wants. Not only are they extremely comfortable, but they come in plenty of different colors as well. This will allow you to be able to pick the ones that best match a player's uniform, shorts, or shirt. And, since these Nike Elite socks are so comfortable, they are also great for just wearing around as well.

2. Dribble Up Smart Training Basketball (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players

Gift Price: $94.99

About Gift: With the ability to track your different dribble moves and give you feedback, the Dribble Up smart training basketball is going to allow a player to take their ball handling training to a whole new level. Along with the awesome technology, players will also get access to a variety of different training programs as well.

3. Basketball Books

Here are four basketball books that are a must read for any basketball fan. Grab one or all four for the basketball fan in your life, and they will ever be thankful for the gift! For even more great book options, check out our list of the best basketball books. Also, if you or the person you are thinking of enjoy listening to audio books, Amazon offers a Free Audible Trial. This will allow for them to listen to some of these books for free.

"Wooden" Book by Seth Davis (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Coaches

Gift Price: $17.48

About Gift: John Wooden is arguably one of the best coaches to have ever been a part of the game of basketball. His biography is going to detail his coaching style as well as valuable life lessons that he learned along the way. It is a great gift for players and coaches that are students of the game.

"Stuff Basketball Player Should Know" (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players

Gift Price: $48.96

About Gift: Stuff Basketball Players Should Know belongs on every player's nightstand. It is going to break down the game in bite-sized nuggets that are easy to understand. This will allow players to apply better what they are reading, which is the ultimate goal. This book is a great gift for players that are hungry to get better.

"My Losing Season" by Pat Conroy (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Coaches

Gift Price: $9.99

About Gift: Author of the Prince of Tides, Great Santini, and Lords of Discipline; Pat Conroy also played basketball at the Citadel and shares lessons that he learned while he was there. This is an excellent basketball coaching book that will be a favorite read among many coaches. So if you have a basketball coach in your life that enjoys reading, this would make an excellent gift.

"Practical Modern Basketball" by John Wooden (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Coaches

Gift Price: $8.30

About Gift: Featuring a ton of details, philosophy, and skill development information that will help both coaches and players. Practical Modern Basketball is an excellent read for anyone that is interested in coaching basketball. Along with learning more basketball knowledge, this book is also going to teach coaches how to be more successful outside of the lines as well.

"The Last Shot" by Darcy Frey (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players, Coaches, of Fans

Gift Price: $4.85

About Gift: The Last Shot is an amazing story about up and coming basketball player in NYC. The book gives readers a behind the scenes look at basketball in New York City. The NYC basketball scene has been fascinating basketball fans of all backgrounds for decades, and Darcy Frey is able to bring this one of a kind, unique scene to life like never before.

4. Basketball HQ Membership (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Coaches or Players

Gift Price: $99 Per Year

About Gift: Know someone that is not yet a Basketball HQ Pro Member? Sign them up for a year Pro Membership and give them all the tools and resources that they will need. With resources for both basketball coaches and players, this makes an excellent gift for anyone that is serious about basketball skill development.

5. Dribble Stick (Link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players

Gift Price: $99.99

About Gift: The dribble stick is a great gift for a player that is trying to improve their ball handling. It is a great tool because it can be set up pretty much anywhere there is a flat hard surface. This tool is going to help with developing a tight, quick handle and will also help to work on ball control. So if you have a basketball junkie that loves dribbling, this would make a great gift.

6. Favorite Player's Jersey (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players and Fans

Gift Price: Varies

About Gift: Kids look up to their favorite players like they are invincible superheroes. So why not get them their favorite player's jersey? They can proudly display their love for them and will be the envy of all of their friends. And, depending on location, you may even consider pairing up this gift with a trip to a game.

7. Speed Rope (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players or Coaches

Gift Price: $14.99

About Gift: One of the best ways to improve quickness, footwork, and athleticism is a speed rope (jump rope). The jump rope is something that every serious basketball player should own. And, with the durability of a good jump rope like this one, this will be a gift that will continue to give for years to come.

8. Ball Return Net (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players

Gift Price: $99.99

About Gift: Great shooters are built through proper shooting form and repetition. If you have a hoop in the driveway or backyard, the ball return net is a great gift. It will allow a player to get shot after shot while not having to move because the net will help return the ball each time. This makes an excellent gift for youth to high school basketball players.

9. Dribbling Goggles (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players or Coaches

Gift Price: $8.99

About Gift: This is a great gift for a player that is interested in improving their ball handling. The goggles help to keep the player from being able to look down while dribbling. Most younger kids have this bad habit of constantly looking down, so it is essential to fix it as early as possible. This is a great training tool for youth basketball players.

10. Ball Hog Gloves (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players

Gift Price: $30

About Gift: Having the right tools makes all the difference, and with these gloves, it is no different. These training gloves will help a player improve their ball handling by making it harder for them to dribble the basketball. That way when they get into a game and don't have the gloves on, it becomes that much easier. This is an excellent gift for any level of ball handler.

11. Basketball Movies

Basketball movies make an excellent gift as they will inspire and can be watched over and over again. Here are four quality movies to choose from that any true basketball fan will love. They are both inspiring and entertaining, and an excellent choice for the pretty much any basketball fan.

Hoosiers (link)

Recommended Gift For: All Basketball Fans

Gift Price: $7.89

About Gift: Hoosiers is a classic movie that highlights the journey of a small high school team in Indiana. This journey is filled with ups and downs and challenges along the way. If you know a basketball fan that hasn't seen this movie yet or loves it because it is one of the best basketball movies of all time, it would be a great gift.

Coach Carter (link)

Recommended Gift For: All Basketball Fans

Gift Price: $10.19

About Gift: Another basketball movie that is a must see for anyone that calls themselves a basketball fan. Coach Carter is set in an inner-city school with a team that lacks discipline but has great potential. Not only is the movie going to focus on issues between the lines, but also helping the players be their best off of the court as well. This movie will inspire basketball coaches, players, and fans alike.

Hoop Dreams (link)

Recommended Gift For: All Basketball Fans

Gift Price: $29.99

About Gift: This is a documentary about inner-city basketball dreams and realities. It is from several years ago, but it is very eye-opening when it comes to the reality of basketball being a pathway for inner-city kids. This documentary will give you a look into inner-city high school basketball like never before.

Glory Road (link)

Recommended Gift For: All Basketball Fans

Gift Price: $5

About Gift: This is the fabulous story of UTEP basketball and how they overcame so much on and off the court. It is a must watch for basketball fans, and it covers so much more than just the sport of basketball. If you enjoy a true underdog story, this is the basketball movie for you. And, best of all, it is based on a true story.

12. Basketball Coach Clipboard (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Coaches

Gift Price: $15

About Gift: Perfect for drawing up buzzer beater plays and getting a coaches team organized in timeouts. No coach is complete without a clipboard. So if you have a coach in your life, this would be the perfect gift for them. It is also a great gift because it will add value to a coaches life for years to come as they will be able to continue to use it with their team each year.

13. Oversize Wall Sticker (link)

Recommended Gift For: All Basketball Fans

Gift Price: Varies

About Gift: This is the perfect decor for any hoop lover's room or office. Fans of basketball will be able to show their love of the game uniquely and artistically. This is a great gift for all ages and something that will be sure to bring out a big smile.

14. Wilson-NCAA-Basketball-Leather-Folder (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Coaches or Players

Gift Price: $26

About Gift: This basketball leather folder is a great gift to keep it classy at school or the office. Whether you have a young child that needs a notebook for school or a coach that is looking to store their notes, this would be a great gift. The material resembles the look of a basketball and also the feel of one, and the interior provides plenty of space to keep notes organized.

15. Wilson Evolution Basketball (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players

Gift Price: $53

About Gift: There are a lot of great basketballs out there, but we recommend the Wilson Evolution because of its quality, durability, and fair price. This basketball is going to provide hours and hours of fun, as well as the ability for a player to work on their game and pursue their dreams. With several different ball sizes offered, make sure that you pick the right size for the person you are buying the ball for.

16. The Pink Evolution Basketball for Girls (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players

Gift Price: $30

About Gift: Have a girl in your life that loves basketball? This pink Evolution basketball is an awesome gift. Not only is it great quality, but it is colored pink and looks awesome! The girl that owns this basketball will be the envy of her teammates and friends.

17. Weighted Basketball Trainer (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Coach or Players

Gift Price: $45

About Gift: This is a great training tool that helps players with their ball handling and finishing. It would be a great gift for middle school age players and up, as well as coaches that would use this training tool with their team. So if you know a coach or player that is serious about skill development, get them the weighted basketball trainer as a gift.

18. Nike Hoops Elite Backpack (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players

Gift Price: Varies

About Gift: This backpack is sure to make teammates jealous. Along with that though, it is also specifically for basketball players, so it fits shoes, clothes, and basketballs better than a standard nonsport specific bag. This basketball backpack is not only stylish but is also just as functional. And, being made of high-quality materials, it will last for years to come.

19. Signed John Wooden Pyramid of Success (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Coaches

Gift Price: Varies

About Gift: This is an interesting piece of memorabilia that would be great for a coaches office. It is a great reminder of what coaching is about and what it takes to be successful. The pyramid is going to focus on John Wooden and what he found to be important in coaching. So not only will this gift make an excellent decorative piece, but it also comes with tons of coaching wisdom as well.

20. The D Man (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Coaches or Players

Gift Price: $59.99

About Gift: The D Man is an excellent training tool for both players and coaches to use with their team. This training tool will allow players to work on being able to shoot or finish over the outstretched hand of a defender. This will translate to a game and will allow players to feel more comfortable when shooting over an actual defender.

21. Quick Ladder (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players or Coaches

Gift Price: $29

About Gift: The agility ladder will help players improve their footwork and overall quickness. In basketball, footwork and quickness are essential for any player that wants to be successful. This is a great gift for players that are trying to improve their athleticism and a coach that trains players.

22. Weighted Speed Vest (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players or Coaches

Gift Price: $90

About Gift: The weighted speed vest will help improve a players speed and explosiveness. The way it does this is by tricking the body into working harder than it typically would. That way, when the vest is removed, the body thinks it still needs to work as hard as it did before, making the player more explosive. This is a great gift for players that are in middle school or older or a coach to use with their team.

23. The Portable Basketball Hoop (link)

Recommended Gift For: Basketball Players

Gift Price: Varies

About Gift: What kid wouldn't love their own basketball hoop in the driveway? This gift is a little bit more expensive than the other gifts on this list, but it is sure to provide countless hours of fun and practice for a basketball player. And, you never know, this could be the gift that starts a player on the course of following their dreams and becoming a professional basketball player.

24. The Lifetime Double Shot Indoor Hoops Game (link)

Recommended Gift For: All Basketball Fans

Gift Price: $210

About Gift: Have you ever wanted to bring the arcade home with you? Well with this indoor hoops game you can! It will provide fun for all ages of basketball fans and would go great with any man cave or play area. Also, if you get this gift for your kids, you will be able to have fun with it as well as you will be able to challenge them.

25. NBA 2K19 Basketball Video Game (link)

Recommended Gift For: All Basketball Fans

Gift Price: Varies

About Gift: While this gift doesn't provide any basketball value as far as skill development, it is still really fun to play! This game has revolutionized the basketball gaming industry, and it is for more than just kids. So if you know someone that enjoys basketball and playing video games, this is going to be the perfect gift for them.

Bonus Basketball Gift Idea:

Mini Hoop from Sklz (link)

Recommended Gift For: All Basketball Fans

Gift Price: $29.99

About Gift: This is a great gift for a child's room or an office. It can provide hours of fun and is easily put up and taken down. It also makes an excellent decorative piece for basketball fans as well. So for a basketball gift that is going to cover the spectrum for pretty much any basketball fan, try getting them the Mini Hoop from Sklz.

Are you looking for another sports-related gift? Check out these lists of the Best Football Gifts, Best Soccer Gifts, and Best Baseball Gifts.

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Slow to Fast Behind the Back Crossover Basketball Dribbling Drill

Posted by: In: Stationary One Ball Basketball Dribbling Drills 0 comments

One of the best things that James Harden does is play at different speeds. He is an extremely skilled player, but one of the absolute best things he does is lull the defense to sleep before making an explosive blow-by move or move that allows him to create space to get a shot off.

This slow to fast dribbling drill is going to focus on being able to master this change of pace action with a behind the back crossover move. If you can really start to figure out playing at different speeds, you will make yourself extremely hard to guard.

Drill Overview

Drill Name: Slow to Fast Behind the Back Crossover Basketball Dribbling Drill

Equipment Needed: 1 basketball.

Similar Drills and Resources

Goals of the Drill

Work on ball handling and being able to change from slow to fast.

Coaching Points

Stay low in an athletic stance and don't let the ball come up too high after your move.
Sell your move with your eyes, ball, and body.
If you are using a 0-10 speed scale to determine the pace of your moves, you want to use a speed 3 on the first move to set up the defender, and then a speed 10 on the second move to blow by the defender.

Drill Instructions

The player is going to start with the basketball in their right hand.
They will take a stationary dribble or two and then do a quarter speed behind the back move looking to one direction like they are running offense.
As soon as the ball touches their left hand, they are going to make a violent crossover move back to their right hand.
Take a couple of stationary dribbles in between and then repeat the double move.
the desired amount of time switch hands and repeat the move starting with your left hand.

Quick Feet Hurdle Basketball Shooting Drill

Posted by: In: Combination Basketball Shooting Drills 0 comments

If you look at any of the great shooters in the game today, you will quickly realize that not only do they have good touch and shooting mechanics but that they also have really good footwork coming into their shooting motion. They do a great job of getting balanced, having a strong base, and only drifting if they are intentionally doing it to create space.

The quick feet hurdle shooting drill is going to work on having light quick feet, and then also coming into your shooting motion with the correct footwork. This is a great drill to use to get warmed up before practice and to get quality repetitions.

Drill Overview

Drill Name: Quick Feet Hurdle Basketball Shooting Drill

Equipment Needed: 1-2 basketballs, hurdles or cones, a passer, and rebounder (optional).

Similar Drills and Resources

2 Foot Hops Hurdle Basketball Shooting Drill

Goals of the Drill

Work on footwork, shot preparation, and shooting/finishing.

Coaching Points

Keep your hips low and don't bounce up and down as you go through the drill.
Keep your feet moving lightly and quickly, you don't want to hear your feet as you go through the hurdles.
Come into your shooting footwork the same way every time.
Go somewhere with your dribble when you shot fake or rip through.

Drill Instructions

Set up 5 hurdles or cones at the top of the key with a couple of feet in between each one.
The player will start on the right side of the cones facing the basket and the passer/rebounder will be in the paint with the ball.
The player is going to start backpedaling around the first hurdle, then forward through the next set, they will continue this pattern through all the cones.
As they come around the last cone they will show their hands, step inside foot first coming 1-2 into their shot as the ball is passed to them.
From here the player can shoot a catch and shoot shot, shot fake one dribble pull up, or rip through to the basket (decide before what move to work on).
If there is only one player, the player will reset and go back through the cones starting on the left side.
If there are multiple players, the next player in line will go and the first player will get back in line.
You can do this drill for a certain number of reps, makes, or time.

Ten Stats that Every Basketball Coach Should Track

Posted by: In: General Basketball Coaching Articles 0 comments

This article was written by Oral Roberts University Assistant Coach Sam Patterson.

Before I talk about some useful statistics I think all college and high school coaches should track; I wanted to give a little background on myself. I have had the privilege of spending a good portion of my life involved in college basketball. The last 13 years I spent on staff at Baylor University, working for Coach Scott Drew.

I most recently took an assistant job at Oral Roberts University, joining former Baylor assistant coach Paul Mills in his first year as head coach. During my tenure at Baylor, I spent four years as an undergraduate manager, two years as a Graduate Assistant, and the last seven years as the Video Coordinator/Director of Video Operations. I had the rare opportunity of serving under just one head coach, Scott Drew, for which I got to understand and know quite well.

Understanding your head coach and knowing what he or she values from his or her staff is an integral part of being an effective assistant coach. There is usually a give-and-take when talking analytics within coaching staffs across the country.

Understanding what your head coach values will help determine which statistics are worth tracking, and which statistics are a waste of time. Finding ways to effectively utilize my time and come up with a workflow to save precious hours was one of the most valuable lessons I learned.

We took the time to chart all of these statistics during practice and games. Naturally, the sooner you can communicate the results to your players, the quicker and more effective their buy-in will be. Coach Drew always believed that if he could emphasize a teaching point and have a statistic to back up his claim, the easier it would be to get his message across to his players.

Offensive Stats you Should Track

Land on Two Feet

For every jump shot (outside the paint), chart the FG% for shots when the shooter lands on two feet, versus shots when the shooter lands on one foot.
Usually, over time, there is a considerable discrepancy in the FG% for 2-footed shots versus 1-footed shots.
Preach being on balance and “Fighting for your feet.”
During practice, to break bad habits, punish players for 1-footed shots, or don’t count baskets that are scored if the shooter lands on 1 foot.

Paint Touches

For half-court possessions, we charted every time the ball touched the paint.
This could be on dribble penetration, a pass to the paint, or a pass through the paint (skip pass).
We wanted 70% of our half-court possessions to include a paint touch before a shot attempt.
We communicated the percentage of successful possessions with a paint touch versus the percentage of successful possessions without a paint touch to our players during each timeout.
Typically, we were above the 65% range with a paint touch, and under the 30% range without a paint touch.
If we had not touched the paint in 3 consecutive possessions, we made sure to call a play that got the ball to the paint.

Ball Reversals

We tracked this after the game was over. Too difficult to track “live.”
As a staff, we compared half-court possessions with a ball reversal to those without.
We knew which sets we had that included at least one ball reversal within the set.
The entire concept is based on getting the defense to rotate and play out of closeouts and rotations.

Potential Assists

We considered a potential assist to be any shot attempt that, if converted, would be considered an assisted score.
We found that FG% was much higher from potential assists rather from any attempt that was basically a 1-on-1 play.
Late clock we stressed to our players to make a play for a teammate. We tracked the possessions under 10-seconds with a potential assist versus possessions under 10-seconds without a potential assist.
We scored at a much higher rate when the possession included a potential assist.

Defensive Stats you Should Track

Contested Shots

We charted opponents FG% on contested shots versus uncontested shots.
We also charted “correct hand” contests versus “incorrect hand” contests. A “correct hand” contest would be a left-handed contest by the defender on a right-handed shooter and vice versa for a left-handed shooter.
We found that contesting with the correct hand impacted the FG% more than contesting with the wrong hand.

Consecutive Scores by an Opponent

We would chart every one of our opponent’s possessions during the game.
If an opponent scored three consecutive possessions, we would typically change up our defense.
These possessions were typically half-court possessions, and free throws would be included.

FG% / DER

We communicated the Defensive FG% to our players at every media timeout.
This stat was taken straight from the box score.
We found that players can more easily understand the FG% of the opponent, rather than the “Point Per Possession” of the opponent.
It’s easier to tell your players, “The other team is shooting 55% from the field,” rather than tell them “The opponent is scoring 1.25 points per possession.”
We would look at the previous season’s leaders in FG% Defense and Point Per Possession Defense and determine a team goal based on what would earn us Top 10 in the country in that particular stat.

Rebounding Stats you Should Track

Offensive Rebound Attempt

After each game or practice, we would rate each individual’s attempt every time a shot went up on offense.
For the three players that we required to attack the offensive glass, we would chart how often they made a positive move towards the basket.
For the two players that we required to get back on every shot attempt, we would chart how often and how quickly they made a positive step towards the other end of the court.
We required 80% or better for each game, or we would run individually.

Defensive Block Outs

After each game or practice, we would rate each individual’s block out attempt every time a shot went up by the opponent.
We required all five players to first check to see if anyone was coming, and then to block out any player that attempted to rebound.
We required 80% or better for each game, or we would run individually.

Miscellaneous Stats you Should Track

3+ Players to Help Up a Teammate

During any stoppage of play, when one of our teammates was on the ground, we had at least three players run and help our fallen teammate up.
If our players did not run over to the player, we would run lines as a team.
If we did not get at least 3 of our players involved in helping our teammate up, we would run lines as a team.

Conclusion

Tracking stats may not always be the most fun job in the world, but it can add real value to your team. It will allow you to emphasize better what is important to your team, and also promote better buy-in from your players. So make sure that you take advantage of tracking these ten stats and begin to see a marked improvement within your program.

Keys to Playing a 2-3 Zone in Basketball

Posted by: In: Defensive Basketball Coaching Articles 3 comments

This article was written by University of Southern California Assistant Coach Jason Hart.

There are a number of reasons why a team might run a zone. Maybe they don’t feel like they can match-up with the opposing team. Maybe they feel it is time to switch up the defense and give the opposition a dose of something else. Whatever the reason may be, a 2-3 zone (if ran correctly) can be a defense that you can use pretty much at any point of the game to help your team get vital stops.

In this article, I am going to talk about some of the nuances of a 2-3 zone and other important points to think about when implementing your 2-3 zone. This will allow you to be able to fine-tune your 2-3 zone defense and better have success when you implement it against the competition.

Personnel: Size, Length, Athleticism

I played at the top of the 2-3 zone for four years at Syracuse. All of the teams that I was able to be a part of had good size and length, especially on our back line. We had guys that could really deter shooters and challenge shots.

This is not the end-all-be-all, but it definitely helps. Either way in the zone you are going to give up 3’s, you just want to make them as tough as possible. If you have players with size, length, and athleticism like we did, you already have a head start towards creating a lockdown 2-3 defense.

Defending the Ball

Everyone thinks because you are in a zone that you no longer have to defend the ball or apply any pressure to the ball handler. Regardless of what defense you decide to run, dribble penetration will break it down every time. Guys who understand this and take pride in defending the ball will help immensely in your zone.

It is important though that this is something that every player is held accountable for. Playing a zone does not mean less accountability; it means more accountability and learning to work together with the other four defenders on the floor.

Nuances of a 2-3 Zone

The ball is at the Top of the Zone (Guards): Someone must have the ball at ALL times, the ball cannot go unaccounted for. The other player at the top is going to be responsible for protecting the middle area and doing their best to prevent the ball from being entered by a pass.
The ball is at the Top of the Zone (Wings): Both wing players are going to be in what is called “50.” This will depend on personnel, but they are going to be midway between the block and the offensive player. When the ball is reversed and “in flight” that specific wing player will close out on the ball and defend it until “bumped” over by one of the top guards in the zone.
Middle of the Zone: The middle should be covered by someone at ALL times. Basketball is not a perfect game though, so the ball will make its way there at some point. When the ball does enter middle by way of the pass, it now becomes the middle defender's responsibility. However, he SHOULD NOT step up and fully commit and allow the drop down pass for a layup. What the player needs to do is “stunt” until a wing player can drop down and cover. Once the middle defender is aware that a wing defender has dropped down to cover, they can fully commit to the middle and guard the player with the ball. This takes a lot of trust and practice for the middle defender because their first inclination is to take the ball right away.
Man-to-Man Principles: Players tend to lose focus in a zone because they are no longer in a “man-to-man” defense and responsible for guarding a specific offensive player. The faulty thinking is that the same rules of man to man no longer apply because it is a zone defense. However, this couldn’t be further from the truth. A lot of the same man to man principles still apply, and it is up to you as the coach to make sure that you are emphasizing those as you build your 2-3 zone defense.
Boxing Out: When it comes to boxing out you no longer have a specific man that you are responsible for. Instead, you have someone in your area that you are responsible for making contact with, boxing out, and then finishing the play with a rebound. This sounds simple, but you will see players every day not turn and block out, instead they will turn and look at the basket. It is up to you to make sure that players are being held accountable for boxing out and finishing the play every time.

More Details

Intensity: Some players fall into the thinking that because you are going to a zone the intensity can drop off and it will still be okay. This type of thinking couldn’t be further from the truth. Nothing should change in your approach to defense regardless of the formation you are running. For any great zone defense, you are going to need players working together and competing to get stops, and a 2-3 zone is no exception.

Hands: Being active and playing with your hands up can make a world of difference when it comes to getting stops. Active hands will make your zone look more intimidating, allow for deflections, force the defense to have to throw looping passes, and ultimately help you get more stops. Players must be active with both their hands and arms when playing a zone defense.

Communication: Because players are responsible for an area rather than a man, there are a lot more potential breakdowns when it comes to overloads, screens, etc. This means that communication between the five defenders on the floor must be at a high level. It is crucial that you are holding your players accountable for communicating every time down the floor.

Conclusion

Zone defense, regardless of the formation, takes a lot of time and effort. It takes daily repetition for your players to develop trust in their new habits. Most kids have all played man-to-man defense and are used to certain principles, but not every kid fully gets taught the correct way to play a zone.

If you want to be good or even potentially great at it, study it, break it down, and emphasize the details with your team. A 2-3 zone can be very effective, but you must treat it like any other defense and put forth the time to have success!

Jason Hart
University of Southern California Assistant Men’s Basketball Coach

Jason Hart has been a part of the University of Southern California coaching staff since 2013. Coach Hart comes from a playing background and spent his college career at Syracuse University under legendary coach Jim Boeheim. He also played in the NBA for several NBA teams including the Bucks and Spurs.

Dump Off Basketball Finishing Drill

Posted by: In: Basketball Post Move Drills 0 comments

Finishing shots around the basket is a critical key to winning games. Every player needs to be able to catch a pass in traffic and then finish around the basket from a variety of different angles. A player must be able to receive a difficult pass without bobbling it. Any miscue on the catch will allow the defense time to recover, making it a contested and more difficult finish.

This post drill will help players work on catching passes from various angles, speed, and height, and then being able to finish. The drill will maximize repetitions of receiving difficult passes and then immediately going up for the shot. The players will work on finishing with both their right and left hand equally as well, which will make sure that players can finish well with both hands. Players must have quick, efficient footwork around the basket, and this basketball drill will help improve that as well. This is a great basketball drill to get a lot of quality finishing repetitions in a short period.

Drill Overview

Drill Name: Dump Off Basketball Finishing Drill

Equipment Needed: 1 basketball, a partner, and timer/clock (optional).

Similar Drills and Resources

Goals of the Drill

Focus on being able to catch a dump off pass and then go right up for the finish.
Work on finishing with both hands equally from a variety of different angles.
Work on footwork and balance around the basket.

Coaching Points

Players should be in an athletic stance with hands ready and active to receive the basketball.
Focus on getting the ball to a high release point as quickly as possible; away from the defense.
The player should get their eyes to the rim as soon as they catch the basketball.
On the finish, the player should reach high and fully extend.
The type of passes should vary and challenge the finisher to make difficult catches.

Drill Instructions

The player will start under the basket with their back to the baseline. The passer will start a few feet away facing the player with the ball.
When the drill begins, the passer will throw the basketball to the player.
The player will catch and immediately finish with either hand. The player will rebound the basketball and throw it back to the passer.
As the passer rotates right or left, the finisher will move and relocate to receive the next pass and finish.
The finisher must keep their chest facing the passer the whole time.
A player cannot finish with the same hand two times in a row.
If the player misses the finish, they will immediately jump back up and try to tip the ball back in until it is made.
Continue this pattern for the desired amount of repetitions or time.

Recommended Time, Scoring, and Repetitions

Depending on the level of the player, you can adjust the amount of time for the drill, but typically, a minute per time through the drill is a reasonable amount of time.
You could also do this drill for a set number of makes, 8-12 makes is going to be a good range.
Players should tip in any misses that they may have, but if you are keeping track of makes, you could have any miss count as a negative. For example, if the player is at three makes and they miss, they go back to only have two makes.
To modify the drill for a less advanced player, the partner can make easier passes to catch.
To increase complexity and more game-like, you can add a defender to create contact on the finishes or use a blocking pad.

Dump Off Basketball Finishing Drill Conclusion

All players, regardless of position, need to be able to finish around the basket. It is vital for players to have excellent hand-eye coordination to make tough catches in traffic, absorb contact, and finish quickly before the defense can rotate. In order to create separation from the defense, a player needs to be able to move and relocate when their teammate drives. Once they have relocated, this space will allow for them to receive a pass for a quick catch and finish.

This is a great basketball drill to develop ball control, finesse, coordination, and awareness to produce great finishers. Having players that can catch and finish at a high percentage around the basket will make the offense more efficient and hard to guard.

How to Do the Double Between the Legs Move in Basketball

Posted by: In: Off of the Dribble Basketball Shooting Drills 0 comments

Great teams move the ball and find each other for high percentage finishes and shots. However, sometimes plays breakdown and the clock is running low, or a player has a hot hand and is looking to get a shot off. At times like these, you need to be able to breakdown someone off of the dribble to get a quality look at the basket.

This double between the legs pull-up shot is going to sell that you are attacking hard to the basket to get the defender to shift their weight, and then as soon as they do, you are going to snap the ball back between your legs for an open shot. If mastered, this can be a really difficult move to guard.

Drill Overview

Drill Name: How to Do the Double Between the Legs Move in Basketball

Equipment Needed: 1 basketball.

Similar Drills and Resources

Goals of the Drill

Work on creating space with the double between the legs move to get your shot off.

Coaching Points

Stay low and athletic and really sell that you are attacking with the first between the legs dribble.
When you come back into your shot stay balanced and don't allow yourself to fall backward.

Drill Instructions

The player is going to start with the ball at the top of the key or on either wing.
They will attack downhill and sell that they are attacking to the basket with a between the legs move.
Instead of continuing forward with the attack though, they will snap the ball back between their legs and lead themselves into their shot for a pull-up jump shot.

How to Do the Dream Shake Move in Basketball

Posted by: In: Combination Basketball Shooting Drills 0 comments

The dream shake move was made famous by Hakeem Olajuwon and his time with the Houston Rockets. The move used correctly puts the defender in a box and allows the offensive player to read them, and then set up a quality shot with several shoulder fakes.

This basketball training video is going to breakdown several situations where this move can be used. The dream shake is a high-level move that takes a lot of time and practice to master, but if it is mastered, it can be very difficult for a defender to guard.

Drill Name: How to Do the Dream Shake Move in Basketball

Drill Goal: Work on getting to a spot and then executing the dream shake.

Equipment Needed: 1 basketball.

Drill Tips: Stay low and athletic in your move. Make sure that you land with both feet at the same time so that you have options with your pivot foot. Don't be predictable with how many shoulder fakes you use. Read the defender and then pick what side you are going to fade to. Bring the ball up your side into your shot to help prevent being stripped by the defender. In the post, don't jump out and give up your post position on the catch.

Drill Directions for Off the Dribble Shot: The player is going to start out above the 3 point area with the basketball. They will make a penetrating move to the basket to get below the free throw line area. The player will pick up their dribble and 180 jump stop onto two feet as they do. From here the player will shoulder fake several times, read the defender, and then pivot and fade into their shot.

Drill Directions for Post: The player is going to post up on the block. They will receive the entry pass from the wing or spin the ball to themselves. As they catch the ball, they are going to jump stop and land on both feet so that they have the option of which foot to pivot onto. The player can get right into the dream shake move, or they can take a couple of dribbles and then execute the move.