How to be unstoppable in basketball

5 Steps to Becoming Unstoppable on Offense

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You know that one game you played where you couldn’t miss. That game where you could have shot the ball from half court blindfolded, and it would have gone in. That game where no one could guard you. If you work hard enough and play long enough, everyone experiences this. But how do the great ones do it day in and day out. Every time you watch Steph Curry, it seems like he never misses or you’re surprised when he does. Why can Kobe Bryant go for 60 points in his last game and lead his team to victory?

What’s the difference between you and these great players? There are a few key differences and don’t believe that it’s all physical ability or genetics. Please don’t buy into that. An insatiable work ethic and commitment to being the best is where greatness starts. Let’s jump into the 5 steps that you can take today to become unstoppable on offense.

Step 1) Repetition

Practicing the correct way over and over is going to create mastery. Great players never accept good as good enough. There is a constant and unquenchable desire to improve daily. The thing about repetition is that most people get bored or “over it” while unstoppable players love it. Don’t be most people. Repetition is the mother of all skill. Fall in love with the repetitions of correct practice daily.

Step 2) Extended Focus

When you are able to focus for long periods of time, the game gets slower and the opportunities to score are endless. You see gaps and areas of weakness in the defense, and capitalize on them. Players who lack focus reach their limits very quickly. They’re easily distracted by the circumstances of their day, distracted by their friends and family, or distracted by their current level of play. When you are unstoppable, the tedium of being the best at your craft is exciting and enjoyable. The great ones focus for an entire practice, an entire film session, an entire game, and most importantly, an entire season. Present moment awareness and the ability to lock in to what you are doing NOW, will set you apart. Do that for the long haul, and you will play in rare air.

Step 3) High Skill Level

Being able to make the moves you want to without any hesitation will change your game. You know that it is going to take repetition now, but what else will it take to raise your skill level. Position specific work is a great start and you can expand from there. Notice how Jordan, Kobe, and Lebron didn’t really post up much when they first came into the NBA. They would dunk on you, hit you with a jumper, or draw a foul by hard attacks at the rim and finish at the Free Throw line. Later in their careers, they started adding other skills and specifically posting up. You can do the same now. What area of the game are you already above average? If you’re a guard with nice shot, make yourself into a no-miss shooter. If you’re a post with a great drop step, add a counter move, which could be a baby hook. A high skill level is developed when you know you’re strengths and then you work like crazy to be the best at them. Don’t be good at a lot of things. Be great at a few aspects then over time, add other attributes to your game. Become a master at your position first.

Step 4) Footwork

Offense, whether at the point guard, off guard, or post position, is predicated on good footwork. To make this point to the players I train, I often ask, ” Who can run to that opposite baseline without using their feet?” No one can. You cannot going anywhere on a basketball court without your feet, yet so many players never focus on improving this area. Learning how to pivot and pivot under pressure are important at all levels of basketball. Being unstoppable on offense starts with your foundation and your ability to make the right steps and right moves with your feet. Learn the game from the ground up and commit to being a player with impeccable footwork. It is such a lost art, but those who learn proper footwork will be impossible to guard.

Step 5) Positive Mental Attitude

Ever the optimist, unstoppable players always see the glass as half full and then they go get more water and make the glass full full. Take responsibility for the way things are and then work to improve the situation. A positive mental attitude is one that looks at their teammates and sees the good and the bad, but chooses to focus on the good, and how you can help your teammates improve. A player with a positive mental attitude accepts coaching and implements what they learn, and are always excited about receiving feedback. When you take this approach, you literally shatter all limits to your growth. You’re grateful for every opportunity to improve your game, your team, and the outcome of your season. A positive mental attitude will ensure that you are always stretching and growing and pursuing excellence. When you step on the court, no one can guard you because your mindset is too strong. You know that you’re going to score at will, and you expect to win. The 50 point, 12 assist outburst is just the details 😉

Stay relentless. Play the optimum way.

Article by Brandon Cochran

Co-Founder Optimum Basketball

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5 Moves To Make You An Unstoppable Scorer

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When it comes to basketball, scoring trumps all facets of basketball as the most important component of a player’s skillset! Regardless of which position you play at and at which level, scoring is the essence of the game that will most contribute to your team winning. This article will explore 5 effective ways to score that can be used to elevate your ability to score and help adapt your physical structure to your game style!

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The layup is one of the most fundamental moves of basketball that incorporate speed and finesse, also being one of the most accurate shots in a player’s arsenal. This shot is, although easy as can be taken near the basket, can be tricky as can lead to a travel violation and, therefore, a turnover. The layup is performed by catching the ball, taking two steps towards the basket, and releasing the ball before the third step. It is important to be careful that you do not travel in the process and so one trick is to see that the leg you take your first step with, ideally the same side foot as the side you decide to release the ball from, has its knee up when jumping after the final step. By following this, it only allows for one more step following the initial step and therefore is not a travel.

Examples of these are shown below.

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There are also various combinations for layups that can be used to confuse the defense and keep the defense attentive. Such combinations can be made with three criteria in mind.

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• ‍Off the board or direct:

This involves either banking the ball into the basket or putting it indirectly. Such a variation can be effective if the defense has his hand covering one of the options, as this will allow the other to be free. The bank shot is released slightly towards the board instead of directly ahead and so if the defense puts his, or her, directly ahead to block, you can bank it, therefore avoiding the block and vice versa. Both types are shown below.

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• ‍Underarm or overarm:

The layup can be taken both underarm and overarm, with the choice depending on where the defender is positioned. If you have beaten your defender and the defender is trailing, an underarm layup is recommended because it provides more reach and coverage from the offense as the ball is ahead of you rather than above you. On the other hand, if the defender is in front of you, it is advisable to use overarm to try to reach above them, but also because if you use underarm, it is easy for the defender to reach and block the shot.

Both types are shown below.

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• ‍Direct or euro step:

This differentiates between the direction and approaches a player has towards the basket. A direct approach refers to stepping straight towards the basket which is used when you are in front of your defender as this allows for more speed and reach than the euro step. The euro step helps to create some time to release a shot over a relatively taller player. This is because such a move relies on quick agility rather than speed, and is performed by taking the first step in one direction and the second in the other direction. If performed fast enough, this will create a window in which the defense is leaning in the opposite direction you are going, allowing you to take a shot. Both types are shown below.

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The floater is a type of shot that contains elements of both layups and mid-range shots in that it uses the stepping technique of a layup but the distance of a mid-range shot. The floater starts with you in motion moving towards the basket. Around the free throw line, take a quick and long step forward as if going up for a layup. This causes the defense to move slightly back to block what he or she believes to be a layup. However, instead of taking a second step similar to the first one, as you would do for a layup, take a small step focusing more on going upwards. By doing so, there is now a significant distance from the defender and also height to beat out his possible recovery. Following this, the shot can be taken one-handed or two-handed overarm, however one-handed is recommended as it extends more and provides greater reach, granting the ability for you to score on much taller defenders. Finishing underarm would be useless as the ball will be easy to knock out of your hands by the defense, causing a turnover. Such a move is especially effective for guards as this incorporates their speed and also grants them a way to score inside over taller players. 

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 Although this method of scoring sounds relatively easy, there are many aspects of the shot that many players overlook. This shot involves catching the ball and directly shooting the ball to get the shot off before the defender can catch up to the shot. The most common problem and aspect that makes this shot invalid are that while practicing this shot many players take a dribble before shooting. This loses the value of the shot as it allows the defense to catch up in a real game and will not be effective as you will likely throw the ball without form in rush. The problem arises by the fact that players lose a split fraction of a second and are also turning their entire body while shooting, causing the direction of the shot to vary. By pointing your feet at the basket while receiving the ball, your body does not turn while shooting and there is no need to pivot, but rather jump straight into your shot.

Although the step-back shot is one of the most difficult shots of this list due to its change in direction, it is probably the most effective in creating space to shoot. This shot relies on both the speed and agility of the player. The shot first involves dribbling fast towards the basket, making the defender think you are going for a layup or floater. Then, suddenly stop and take a quick step backward, sending your defender towards the basket and you moving away from it, creating a large amount of space. Finally, land in a jump stops and shoot while jumping straight up to recover your balance. The reason that speed and agility is important is that if one isn’t fast enough, the defender will be able to recover the distance and block the shot. Due to this, the step back shot is commonly executed by a guard. (Want to know about guards and the other basketball positions? Click here.) Two key things to look out for is that you jump straight up and take a step back rather than a jump back as it is likely that the referee will call that travel. An example is shown below.

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This shot is probably the most difficult but is effective for post players who are playing against larger or heavier post players. This shot, although can be taken in many ways, is most effective while posting up. Start the shot with your back facing the basket and posting up your defender. By doing so, you can try to gain ground without having to go away from the basket, but still, have an option if you are not able to body your way through. Following this, take a power dribble with your dominant arm and leg to push the defender as far back as you can to gain distance. However, as the defender is likely long, this will not be enough as they will be able to reach your shot. In this case, pivot on your back leg (Non-dominant leg) and turn towards the basket. When you have completely turned, instantly jump off your pivot foot away from the basket to create more distance before the shot. The turn helps to gain some momentum to make up for the fact that you are moving away from the basket. It is important however to shoot with your body facing the basket, including your hips, shoulders, and face. To achieve this, you can point your dominant leg towards the basket as well as this makes sure that your entire body is facing the hoop. Also, for this to be effective without losing too much accuracy, this move must be carried out near the basket where the shot requires less power while being released. An example is shown below.

With these five moves perfected, you can become an unstoppable scorer regardless of your size or physique. Don’t be surprised if the other team considers you a threat!

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