How to Score Against a Taller Player in Basketball

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By texasparky
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If you play basketball, sooner or later you will be guarded by a taller player. Here are some tips to keep in mind that will help you score when that happens.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

Quickness
Decisiveness
Speed
Savvy
Smarts
Skill
Communication

Step 1

Be mentally tough.

Keep a positive attitude. Never get down. Never show frustration. There absolutely IS a way to be effective against a taller or more talented player...FIND IT!
Step 2

Be complete.

Don't be a one-hit wonder who can only hit three-pointers, for instance, and do nothing else. Have a bag full of tricks and use them all randomly or in tandem to set up a particular favorite go-to move or shot. Keep the defender guessing. Go left. Go right. Inside and out. Penetrate often. Stop and pop. Take it all the way in. Nail a three. Do it all. Put in the time at the gym and be good at everything.
Step 3

Use the defender's length against him (or her).

--A tall player likes to block shots. Use head and ball fakes to draw fouls.
--If (s)he is not down in a good defensive stance out on the perimeter and is looking to block your shot, use your quickness to blow by and get to the basket.
--If the defender begins to respect your speed and backs off, rise up and knock down a jumper.
Step 4

Be creative.

--Use the stop-and-pop method to create separation.
--Shoot a fadeaway jumper to create separation.
--Use sudden and quick starts and stops to create separation.
--Use the rim as protection from a blocked shot by shooting a reverse layup.
--Trash talk a little bit to throw the defender off game and out of focus. But don't lose yours!
Step 5

Be old school.

A dying breed in basketball is the hook shot. Revive it. It is golden against taller players. A hook shot is very difficult to block without fouling the shooter. Learn to shoot a hook shot from close to mid-range (free-throw line area and in), straight on and from the side, right AND left-handed! Use the backboard when shooting from an angle--it is much easier to make this way.
Step 6

You have teammates--USE 'EM!

The simplest plays in basketball seem to be the ones that work every time. Use the ol' give-and-go, my personal favorite. A player tends to relax for just a moment when (s)he sees you pass the ball. At that moment you will be gone and you will lose your defender.

Use shooting screens. Use the pick-and-roll. If you communicate well and execute these simple tasks decisively they are hard to defend.
Step 7

Give it up, ball hog.

When all else fails, PASS THE BALL! Remember, assists are stats, too, Glory Boy!

Comments

fen527 said

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on 9/11/2009 Great tips! My brothers, husband, and brother-in-law are all short but love to play.

hyneman said

on 8/6/2009 are you a coach? great article 5*'s.

Gem4544 said

on 5/5/2009 I'll have to try the hook shot sometime on my much taller husband :)

on 4/17/2009 Scoring against a taller player in basketball is a lot easier if the shorter player will use these tips - and the 'old school' (my alma mater) HOOK SHOT is good very everyone; ask Kareem! Good job with an entertaining article.