How to Play Basketball Blog – Easiest Way to Score
You want to know the easiest way to score? Get open in a spot where you can make a shot. That is simple enough right? The real question is how can you do that the easiest way though, right? Well using screens is probably the easiest way to score for a variety of reasons. A screen allows you to get some space between you and your defender so you can get an open shot. How easy is it to score when you are wide open? Too easy!
No matter what type of player you are you can use screens to make scoring easier. Let’s look at 3 types of players: post players, shooters and slashers.
For instance if you are a post player you can use a screen to get better post position. At times fighting with your defender for post position puts you in a position where you catch the ball 2 or 3 feet away from where you wanted to catch it. If you can use a screen to get to your spot then your defender will be worried about getting past the screen and that should put you in a position to catch it where you want it. From that point on it is easy work!
If you are a shooter you probably salivate for the chance to get an open shot. If you use screens properly then your defender will have to work a lot harder to guard you and you can find that sliver of daylight you need to get a bucket. Good shooters will use screens to not just get open but to get open where and when they want the ball. As a shooter you want to be very active coming off screens and slow down just enough to catch the ball, square up and get into your fluid shooting motion. If you want to watch somebody do this flawlessly just watch Ray Allen.
If you are a slasher you are probably used to clearing out the side and beating your defender to the basket without any help. You might feel like you do not need a screen to score and all that does is bring an extra defender. If you ever hope to be any good then you are going to have to learn how to use a screen. As the competition gets better it will become much more difficult to beat everybody off the dribble. 1 on 5 does not work at the highest level just ask Lebron why he took his talents to South Beach. So as opposed to waving away the screener, call them over to your side so you can work on pick and roll. If you thought it was easy to blow by your defender imagine how easy it will be if the defender guarding your teammate is weaker than your defender or there is confusion about how to guard the pick. Your life just got easier. You are welcome!
You can see the other 3 areas of offense you can improve by ordering a copy of the book here How to Play Basketball: A Guide to Getting Better By Playing Pick-up Games
You are your only opponent
Coach Wilkins
Coach/Owner of Hoops Education
Former D1 Player/Former AAU Coach/Former HS Coach
Author of How to Play Basketball: A Guide to Getting Better By Playing Pick-up Games
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