Advanced Basketball Shooting Techniques - Take Your Shot to Another Level
As the modern basketball is evolving, the demand for a better jump shot is getting bigger. As the basketball player progresses in his development, and his game translates to better basketball leagues, everything starts to become harder and harder. There is a moment in every player's career when he realizes that the basics are not enough and that there is a real need for an upgrade. One of the biggest changes that basketball players experience is a difference in time and space needed for taking a jump shot, and the only thing that can help them is advanced basketball training. The major league jump shot needs to be quicker and it`s often taken in a contact, or after one.
For this occasion, we are going to analyze some of the best shooters and their not-so-easy shots. We are going to break down each and every one of these plays so you can notice the little things that are making crucial changes for those professional players. As a final result, our goal is that you as a coach will know exactly what to focus on while preparing the drills for the training.
BETWEEN THE LEGS JUMP SHOT
We will start with the jump shot that Michael Jordan made over Larry Bird, while dribbling the ball through the legs several times.
We are going to start with the preparation move, the inside-out dribble that Jordan did, with the intent to make a dribble penetration to the right side.
After Jordan was denied a path to the basket, and after that defensive dribbling move, 99% of the players would either dribble to the outside of the corner and make a pass to the open man. But not Michael. Instead of going for the "logical" move, he went into another set of dribbles.
Here we see that Bird is in a bad position with legs spread wider than normal. From this position, it is hard to react fast because the defender is off balance.
If you ask me, this is a perfect example of Read and React Basketball. Jordan was patient, he was concentrated and in the end, he ended up with a solid position for a jump shot. The move that made the difference was Bird`s steal attempt and Jordan`s just one dribble pull up.
Coach Trey from Hoopsking.com, a development coach who works with Buddy Hield from Sacramento Kings and Avery Bradley from Los Angeles Clippers, is going to help us go through the details once again.
- SPIN MOVE JUMP SHOT
The next move that we are going to look at is a fade-away shot that followed one of the best spin moves that I saw in my life. Paul Pierce is a man responsible for the creation of this great jump shot.
Before we start to break down this shot, we have to be aware that Pierce was never a fast or athletic player. If you read my article, 6 Ways to Dominate your Defender in One-on-One Basketball, where I tried to classify players by their art of scoring, I would put Pierce in that Counter Type category, emphasizing that Paul always knew where the defense is, what are their intentions were and where he wants to be in those situations.
In this picture, we see that Pierce can`t outrun his defender. The other thing that we need to notice is the other two defenders that are in the paint area, both protecting the drive penetration line. We can also see that Paul`s head is up high and that he sees that he can`t get to the rim by going this way. The notables are:
Pierce is starting to lean toward his direct defender
He is making a contact with his offhand so he can push off a bit off of his defender.
Take a quick look at where the ball is the moment before the spin starts. That dribble needs to be hard off the floor, and positioned slightly behind the right leg (in this situation), because in the act of spinning if the ball is in front of the leg or it bounces soft off the wood, the player will not be able to pick it up while rolling to the other side.
In this picture the focus is on the footwork. That first step needs to be really wide, because the wider it is the space created for the next move is bigger. Second thing that is very important is that the step needs to be absorbed with the heal, just to give you that spin ability afterwards.
- FADEAWAY JUMP SHOT
Our next move to study is a fadeaway shot. This particular move is used to create space between the defender by jumping backwards while taking a shot. As there are many players that mastered the art of shooting the ball while fading, but for this session we will analyze one of the Dwyane Wade`s jumpers. As always, we will start with the preparation.
Here, we can see that Wade is posting up his defender. What is interesting is the fact that the defender has no physical contact with the man that he is guarding even though he is dangerously close to the paint area.
This is something that Dwyane notices too, and based on that knowledge he is planning his next move.
Take a look at his left leg. The preparation move will be the step to the left.
The key points of setting up the jump shot are:
Violet Pointer: Change from High Stance Dribble to Low Stance Dribble - this move will alert the defender to get lower in his own stance
Yellow Pointer: The left leg is attacking the paint so the defender will have to follow
Red Pointer: The Right Leg is set for the spin move that will create separation
Green Pointer: The left leg will follow in rotation, and it will be the main jump creator
Blue: Pointer: The ball is kept far from the defender.
Here we can see the space created between the Wade and the defensive player, and a wide stance from which the shot will be taken.
One of the most important things while taking any shot is the form of the body. Wade is rotating his shoulders in a way to face the basket as much as he can.
As this is not the article about shooting form, and you want to read about it more, just click on these next links and they will lead you to our articles about shooting:
One of the most important things while taking any shot is a form of the body. Wade is rotating his shoulders in a way to face the basket as much as he can.
As this is not the article about shooting form, and you want to read about it more, just click on these next links and they will lead you to our articles about shooting:
- How to Shoot the Basketball : Learn the Basics to Become a Great Shooter
- Basketball Shooting Guide
- 10 Ways to Improve Your Shooting in Basketball # Part 1
- 10 Ways to Improve Your Shooting in Basketball # Part 2
- 10 Ways to Improve Your Shooting in Basketball # Part 3
- 10 Ways to Improve Your Shooting in Basketball # Part 4
- JAB STEP JUMP SHOT
The ultimate master of the Jab Step jump shot is Carmelo Anthony. Coach Phil Jackson, the Zen Master, called this shot the single hardest move in basketball. If the defender is tight on you, you will choose a side that you are going to attack, you are going to attack with the crossstep and take just one dribble, bump a man guarding you, lean away from D, and take a shot. This is hard stuff. This is an advanced basketball offensive move that needs a lot of practice. Let's see how Melo is using this move.
Let us see what Coach Trey has to say about Melo`s jab step jumper. The shot it self is not important as the careful planing and the court vision shown by this grate player.
The most important thing about using advanced basketball offensive moves is self awareness. There needs to be the correlation between the wishes and the possibility, otherwise the move will end in disaster. Advanced basketball shot techniques demand detail and hard work, understanding of every situation on the court and every outcome. There are not many players out there capable of using advance shot techniques, and the ones that can are legit superstars.
If you need some shooting drills, tips, or a complete set of videos that will help you help your players develop a good basketball jump shot, go rent a DVD by clicking on the link below:
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