Here are some of the NBAs best guards, giving tips on dribbling, go to moves and counters.  Every basketball player should have a “go to move” as well as a “counter” to the “go to move”.  Your “go to move” is the move that is your best move and the move  that you know can get you by a defender with the most success!  Your “counter move” is a move that you use in conjunction with that “go to move” in order to set a defender up to believe that your going to use your “go to move”, but you are actually not.  Some call it a “set up move” or a “decoy move”.  This “counter move” enables you to continue to use your “go to move” with a high success rate, so that the defense cannot “read” you and steal or stop your “go to move”.  Get to work and create your “Go TO Move” and “Counter Move”!!!

Here is an example by a fellow Hoop Dreamer, Ime Udoka, of how to use a simple play to score - the “Give n Go”!  So many players these days want to OVER dribble and the “Give n Go” is an EASY way that you and your team can score without the ball being dribbled once!  Watch how Beno Udrih passes, swims (a move used to get open on a defender guarding you closely without the ball), then changes speed on his cut and takes advantage of Will Bynum (Detroit Pistons) going over the top of the screen.  This is what we call a “READ”, that both Ime and Beno made in order to execute the “Give n Go”.  I was just talking with our Varsity (High School ages) Class today about how difficult it is to guard someone who constantly and consistently moves without the ball.  So……if it’s not in your game, please add the “Give n Go” to your repertoire!!!

Hubie Brown, Hall of Fame Coach, and someone that I respect a great deal in regards to basketball knowledge, talks about the 5 Commandments on the Defensive End of the floor!  One major point that he makes, and something that we teach at Hoop Dreams is to always push the ball away from the middle of the floor (reasons why? – 1) to keep away from the basket, 2)  it’s harder to score, 3) less plays can be made to the sideline and the baseline).  This is great information for anyone who is trying to become a better defender and overall basketball player!

Sam Cassell, one of the better point guards to play in the NBA, talks about the lost art of the MID-RANGE GAME.  He gives tips on how to create space and get your shot off against defenders.  Talks about players that he learned the mid-range game from by studying them.  Also, that touches on a point, make sure that you are studying other players (NBA/College/Top High School) to learn from.

You are sitting on the floor and the ball starts in your right hand and you will be using a “finger-tip dribble”. 

1.  You perform 100 “finger-tip dribbles” with your right hand. 

2.  Then lift both of your legs up and and dribble under both legs (while still sitting) and perform 100 “finger-tip dribbles” with your left hand. 

3.  Then lift up your left leg and perform 200 “finger-tip dribbles” with both your right and left in a “1-2 rhythm/alternating dribble” in the middle of both legs. 

Once you get pretty good with it, you can time yourself and finish the drill in 2 minutes, then 1:45, then 1:30, so on and so forth.  Continuing to beat your time and making your hands work harder. 

Benefits of “100-100-200″

This will increase the speed and quickness in your hands, which you can use not only on the offensive end (getting shot off quicker, quicker and more intimidating dribble, pass the ball quicker) but also on the defensive end (deflecting passes and dribbles, stealing the ball, etc.).

That is something that stuck with me, regarding an under-used “skill” – WORK ETHIC!!!

Too many players these days try to get away without working on their games or playing basketball on a daily basis.  Some say it is because of twitter, facebook, xbox 360, PS3, Internet, Instant messaging, Cell phones, texting, etc.  That kids are busy using these advancements in technology rather than outside or in a gym playing and working on their games!

In my experience, all of the players that I have worked with and have been successful in the game of basketball are those who put in the work daily.  If players put in just an hour a day, consistently (7 days a week), they would see enormous gains in their individual games.   In the words of a good friend of mine…”TIME WAITS FOR NO MAN!!!”

DON’T WASTE ANYMORE TIME, PUT IN THE WORK DAILY, WORK HARDER THAN THE NEXT MAN!!!  Be that player who is always working while OTHERS are resting!!!