Basketball Fundamentals - When you don't have the ball...

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What do you do when you are on offense but you don't have the ball?

Think about it! Most of the time you will not have possession of the ball. Half of the time you will be on defense. Of the remaining half when your team has the ball, 80% of that time you personally will not have the ball, as one of your teammates will have it. So what do you do when you don't have the ball? Do you simply stand still and wait for someone to pass to you? That's not what wins games. There are things to do when you don't have the ball.

1. Try to get open for an easy pass and shot. Keep moving, not aimlessly, but with a purpose. Be savvy and cut into an open spot on the floor, especially if the defense is in a zone. If the defense is in man-to-man, set screens for other teammates (and not just the person with the ball). Setting picks will free up teammates for easy shots, and oftentimes the screener is the one who gets open for the shot (see Setting Screens and Cutting and Faking).

2. The low post players should constantly be trying to get into a post position, in order to get the pass from the guards. Post players can screen for each other to get free.

3. Maintain spacing on the floor...don't get bunched up. Poor spacing results in bad passes, turnovers and the defense stealing the ball.

8. Be alert to help a teammate if he/she stops the dribble or is in trouble.

9. When the shot goes up, each defensive player must know instantly what his/her assignment is and move quickly for the offensive rebound, and the outlet pass. The offensive players must know who should be attacking for the rebound and who should be "staying back" to prevent the opponent’s fast break.

Remember, usually it is not the person initially with the ball who scores. Instead a good pass to you cutting, or coming off a screen, is where the score comes. So work hard on offense when you don't actually have the ball...never loaf!

Here are a couple Helpful DVDs.

	Steve Alford: Moving Without the Ball with Steve Alford, Head Coach, University of New Mexico Head Coach; former University of Iowa Head Coach, former NCAA All-American, NBA Guard, and Olympian. As a player, Steve Alford made his living without the ball. Coach Alford shows you cutting and screening techniques that will allow you and your teammates open for shots and create a more effective offense. Through technique and drill demonstrations, Coach Alford shows how to set proper down screens, back screens, cross screens and to counter defensive switching and slip screens. Coach Alford emphasizes four types of cuts coming off the screen; tight cut, back cut, flare cut and the pop cut... (more info) Price: $39.99
	Five-Star Basketball: The Art of Getting Open & Attacking the Defense with Tony Bergeron, Wings Academy (NY) Head Coach, Five-Star Basketball Coach/Instructor. The ability to get open and create scoring opportunities is an underrated part of basketball. From preps to pros, coaches have begun to recognize creative, aggressive cutting as the prime way to escape defenses. This DVD is dedicated to getting open with and without screens... (more info) Price: $39.99
	Grassroots Basketball: Perfecting the Art of Moving without the Ball with Ganon Baker, Nike Basketball Training Specialist, Ambidextrous Shooting Coach, World-renowned Instructor and Clinician  with Boo Williams, Legendary Coach, Clinician, and AAU Boys Basketball National Chairman Nike basketball training specialist Ganon Baker puts cutting and moving without the ball on display. Using Boo Williams' AAU team as demonstrators, Baker helps players develop footwork and speed through intense drills. The fundamentals of cutting and getting open are crucial to young players as well as more experienced players. Warm-up drills shown include: High knees, Crazy Legs, Line Touches with the "fire walk", X's, Jabs and running in place. Heavy emphasis is put on the use of jump ropes for warm-up, strength, and conditioning. Boo Williams stresses the importance of jump rope to develop foot quickness and the ability to get open. The give-and-go series is an excellent segment that adds receiving the ball to cutting. The Hornet drill emphasizes vision on the ball and showing the target hand. Drills included are "door," dance steps and "fake the go" and all put fundamental teaching into practical drills. Because of the trend toward pressure defense, the back door remains one of the game's biggest tools. The athletic cut, L-cut and inside cut are three types of cuts that are demonstrated. All three cuts are useful and unpredictable weapons on the offensive end of the floor. This DVD concludes with Eastman's baseline touch drill, stop cut, 3-on-0 give-and-go, and "Keep away" drill. Keep away puts all teaching points together... (more info) Price: $39.99