How to Become a "Go-To" Basketball Player

Becoming a better basketball player is all about developing your skills. With enough practice, any player can improve. But there is a big difference between a good player and a "go-to" player.

In basketball, the saying goes, "if you can finish, you can play." That applies to shots as well as games.

A good player has the ability to play the game, but a "go-to" player takes over a game; making big shots at big moments, taking the ball to the rim, getting fouled, and finishing the shot and the free throw.

To do that, you will have to be stronger than your opponent when it truly matters: in the 4th quarter when you're both dead tired.

Since you play like you practice and you practice like you play, you'll have to practice tired if you want to be able to play tired.

This drill will help you break through the first level of fatigue to get your body into game condition, then develop a fundamentally sound free throw stroke you can count on.

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• A full basketball court
• A basketball
• Water
• Heart

1. Standing on the right block facing the backboard, throw the ball off the backboard sending it in the direction of the far end of the court.

2. Sprint to the ball and at top speed, dribble with your right hand down the center of the court to the free throw line.

3. At the free throw line, quickly make a move with the ball (hesitation, spin, crossover, etc.), and finish from the right block with a lay-up off the backboard. This should also be done at top speed.

4. Retrieve the ball from the net and repeat Steps 1, 2, & 3 using the opposite hand and from the opposite side.

5. Now that you're fatigued, it's time to practice your stroke. Free throw shooting is about repeating the same motion every time until you can count on it every time.
   
   Put your toes on the stripe with the shooting arm aligned with the center of the rim. Slow your breathing down by dribbling the ball a few times and taking a few deep breaths.

6. With your elbows by your side and bent at a 90-degree angle, hold the ball with the fingers of your shooting hand perpendicular to the laces. Bend your knees, look up, sight your target, and take a deep breath.
   
   You're looking for a spot 2-3 inches above the front of the rim. You want to shoot the ball with an arc which peaks at that spot. Then the backspin on the ball will cause it to fall in the net with a satisfying "swish".

7. Keeping your elbows inside the frame of your body, stand up straight while extending your shooting hand high above your head and using your off-hand to stabilize the ball.
   
   In one fluid motion, exhale gently and snap your wrist forward using your fingers to guide the ball to that spot above the rim. Shoot three free throws, then repeat from Step 1.
   
   You'll soon find yourself finishing plays, finishing shots, and finishing games stronger than your opponents. And you'll find your teammates will "go-to" you when the game is on the line.

Tips & Warnings

• After a few trips, it's not necessary to run the length of the court twice for every three free throw shots. The point of the lay-up drill is to break through that first wall of fatigue and get you sweating. Once you're tired and breathing heavy, you're playing in game conditions and you can just practice your stroke.

[CoachKerry]

on 11/30/2007 This is a great drill to get in game condition. I am going to implement this in our practices and watch how their conditioning and ability to finish improve. Thanks for the tip and please keep them coming!