How to Hit a Game-Winning Jumper at the Buzzer

It's deep in the fourth quarter and your team is trailing by a few points, but don't despair. As the final seconds tick down to zero, you and your team have one last shot at victory.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Basketball Hoops
• Basketball Nets
• Basketball Shoes
• Basketballs
• Scoreboards
• Basketballs

1. Know how many points you want. Do you trail by one and need a short jumper to win? Or are you two or three behind and shooting from downtown? Can you tie at best?

2. Check the number of seconds remaining and burn it into your brain.

3. Understand that your opponents will, without a doubt, press full court.

4. Know that it takes 3 to 4 seconds to bring the ball down court with a reasonable amount of control. Reduce this time for every long pass you choose to make.

5. Inbound or pass off the rebound to one of your two best ball handlers.

6. Get the ball across half court as quickly as possible. Your opponents will defend well, but (fearing a foul) probably will not reach in or attempt to slap the ball away. Don't make a silly turnover in your haste.

7. Use a third teammate to help pick off defenders. Whatever you do, don't foul or set a moving screen.

8. Signal for a timeout, leaving at least a few seconds on the clock.

9. Decide who wants to take the shot. Choose someone who's stroking it, someone with the confidence of the moment, someone in the zone.

10. Inbound the ball to one of your guards, who should be in the point position (top of the key).

11. Have the guard kick the ball back. Sometimes a quick inbound and pass back will take the opponents by surprise.

12. Move within or just outside of the three-point line.

13. Plant, lock your eyes on the basket, jump ... picture a lotus flower ... and release the ball.

14. Hold your breath, listen to the buzzer and watch time stop.

15. See nothing but the swish of a net, and hug your teammates amid the crowd's deafening thunder.

Tips & Warnings

• Consider using your best player as a decoy. If the defense runs a zone, have that player move inside. You may draw two players with him or her.
• Some coaches don't believe in last-second timeouts, even while trailing their opponents. Consider the situation in which your team retains possession, you're down by one or two points, and more than 5 seconds remain on the clock. Run the ball and don't allow the defense time to adjust. Don't break your own momentum.
• Don't charge your opponents hoping for a foul - you'll likely get called for an offensive foul.

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on 6/30/2006 I find if your comfortable with putting a pump fake in your jump shot motion, it will often fool the defenders; since it will be so unexpected. Especially if it's the game deciding jumper. I've hit a few myself. Drive the net, make the opponents think you're about to pull up, but wait that extra split second and add a pump in. Maybe even a fade if you're nice.

on 11/22/2005 Even the most accurate shooter can crumble under the pressure of a close game. Don't think - do!

on 11/22/2005 Don't think about the negative consequences. All you have to do is know what you want, know how to get it, and make the shot. Whether or not you make it, you'll always have a second chance. If you want to be flashy, hold and caress the ball. Show the crowd you know how to do it!!!

on 11/22/2005 If you don't think about the consequences of missing, you will almost always make the shot. Michael Jordan says that this is what he does.

on 11/22/2005 Do as the great clutch player Jerry West did as a child. Play out as many realistic in-game situations as you can think of in your driveway or at the park. When you get to that situation in a real game, it will be as if you have already done it, and you will be calmer!