How to break your defenders ankles in basketball

How to break ankles and destroy defenders in basketball

by Mofe Owolabi | Oct 21, 2020

The defender is LOST… the crowd lets out a collective gasp… and it feels like time itself freezes for a split second. But, being able to break ankles is much more than a gimmick.

It grants you the ability to create shots for you AND your teammates.

That’s priceless.

Let’s get into three ways you can get to snapping ankles and shifting defenders.

Change of direction

When trying to create space from your defender, a change of direction is lethal, when done right.

I’m sure that those who play/watch a lot of basketball can agree that lots of ankle breakers come from a crossover, or some sort of stepback/dragback dribble.

This is no surprise.

These two dribbles are so effective because they involve a violent change in direction.

With the crossover, it’s from side-to-side, and with a stepback/dragback dribble, it’s from forwards to backwards.

The reason these changes of direction are so deadly, is because they convince your defender you’re going one way…

Then, BOOM.

You’ve gone in the opposite direction, with your defender in the lost and found.

Here are two keys to making sure your change of direction is effective:

• Make it quick – If it’s too slow, it’s easier for defenders to recover. Consistent dribbling workouts will help you speed up hour dribble

• Make the change of direction DRASTIC – Often, players will fail to shift their defenders because – even though they perform the dribble move – they barely change the direction they dribble in.

This leads on to the next point…

Use your eyes and body to deceive the defender

So, let’s assume you’ve been training your handles and can do all your moves well, with control of the ball.

But, maybe your dribbles still aren’t working on actual defenders.

This could be because your moves aren’t convincing enough.

When using moves that fake from one side to the other, your eyes are a weapon.

Stare in the direction you are faking towards, before exploding towards the opposite direction.

You can also use your body to trick defenders.

Face your chest and shoulders, again, in the direction you’re faking towards. Then, take the dribble quickly in the other direction.

Even on a stepback/dragback dribble, leaning forwards with your upper body at first can help to deceive your defender.

It will look as if you’re driving to the basket. Then, when you dribble backwards they are less likely to expect it.

Change of pace

As you probably know, dribbling slowly in front of your defender the whole time won’t be too effective.

However, dribbling fast the whole time can also actually make it harder for you to break ankles.

Although an ankle-breaker is definitely not impossible, dribbling fast will often alert your defender.

This can ruin the element of surprise, making it easier for them to react to your moves.

(Not only that, but it will probably tire you out too!)

Varying between slow and fast dribbles is MUCH more effective.

This is because the slow dribbles will often “lull your defender to sleep”.

Then, you can catch them on their heels with a quick dribble or fake.

This concept is what makes a hesitation dribble so effective. The ball hangs in the air and under/by the side of your hand as you dribble.

This gives you time to assess your defender, and make a decision.

Once they get too relaxed, often all it takes is one quick move to burn your defender.

As well as the hesitation, here are some more dribbling moves to help you blow by defenders and break ankles.

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Badges, what is it? - FBHK

Let's start with the fact that each player has attributes, for example, a three-point attribute of 87, or a speed attribute of 94, but in NBA 2K there is such a thing as "Badge" ("badge", "badge", "badge" © David Amirshatyan). This is a special skill of your character that gives an increase to a particular attribute and, in some cases, opens up new animations.

All badges, except for mental badges, have a gradation. Badge gradation consists of four levels: bronze, silver, gold, hall of fame. The higher the gradation of the badge, the stronger its effect.

Also, all badges are divided into four categories:

FINISHING, SHOOTING, PLAYMAKING AND PROTECTIVE.

Let's take a look at what this or that badge gives.

PROTECTION BADGES

Brick Wall

Increases the effectiveness of screens and drains players of energy during physical contact. Players who come into contact with you lose more energy than usual.

Chase Down Artist

Increases the chance to catch a block shot. Increases your speed and jump height when you catch up in an attempt to block.

Clamps

Increases the chance to trigger a defensive animation that will stop the opponent's dribbling on the perimeter. Helps fight blow-by animation.

Heart Crusher

Decreases the opponent's takeover gauge when performing defensive highlights. After a successful block or interception, you fill up your takeover bar and your opponent loses the same value.

Interceptor

Increases the chance of intercepting passes. The frequency of successful intercepts is greatly increased.

Intimidator

Reduces the chances of hitting an attacking opponent. also increases the player's defensive rating when the thrower is heavily guarded.

Moving Truck

Increases the defender's ability to resist "pushing" when the opponent plays with his back to the ring.

Off-Ball Pest

Allows the defender to more effectively counter the opponent when playing without the ball. Unlocks animations in which the player grabs and holds an opponent.

Pick Dodger

Allows the defender to pass screens effectively.

Pick Pocket

Increases the chance of a successful pick and reduces the chance of a player with the ball getting a foul. It also increases the chance of successfully hitting the ball when attacking in paint.

Pogo Stick

Allows the defender to block the opponent one after the other. Allows the player to quickly recover for a new block attempt.

Post Move lockdown

Allows the defender to defend more effectively against the play in the post (back to the ring), making it difficult to perform spin moves, drop steps, etc.

Rebound Chaser

Allows you to more effectively pick up rebounds, including long rebounds from the basket.

Rim Protector

Allows you to block shots more effectively. The team's takeover bar increases when taking block shots. Also allows you to unlock special block animations.

Tireless Defender

Reduces energy loss when playing defensively. Allows you to play more aggressively on defense without losing too much energy compared to defenders without this buff.

Trapper

Makes it harder for attackers to double up. A player caught in a "trap" has a greater chance of losing the ball.

Worm

Allows you to regain position in the fight for the rebound. Gives you the opportunity to get around the opponent if you "put your back".

END BADGES

Acrobat

Increases the ability to perform highly complex layouts.

Spin, half spin, hop step, euro step, cradle, reverse layup get a significant boost.

Backdown Punisher

Increases the player's chances of successfully "pushing" his opponent into the paint when playing with his back to the basket.

Consistent Finisher

Reduces the penalty for a bad release during a paint attack.

Contact Finisher

Increases the ability to score contact dunks and layups.

Cross-Key Scorer

Increases the ability to score lay-ups, pull-ups and hooks in paint movement.

Deep Hooks

Increases the ability to score deep hooks.

Dropstepper

Increases the player's ability to use dropsteps and hopsteps effectively when playing back to the basket.

Fancy Footwork

With this badge, the player passes the defenders more effectively, performing the eurostep, cradle, turn, hopstep, semi-turn.

Fastbreak Finisher

This badge will boost your takeover gauge after a fast break dunk.

Giant Slayer

Increases layup percentage against tall defenders and reduces the chance of being blocked.

Lob City Finisher

Increases the chance of a successful alley-up.

Pro Touch

Adds a little boost with good lay-up timing (Slightly early or slightly late).

Putback Boss

Increases the chance to score a layup or dunk after an offensive rebound.

Relentless Finisher

The player loses less energy when throwing from under the ring with resistance.

Showtime

Boosts your and your teammates' takeover gauge on spectacular dunks and foul dunks.

Slithery Finisher

Improves the player's ability to avoid contact when trying to get through the paint.

Tear Dropper

Increases the player's ability to drop floaters.

PLAYMAKING BADGES

Ankle Breaker

Increases the chance of breaking the defender's ankles while dribbling.

Bail Out

Increases the chance of a successful pass after interrupting a throw or layup animation.

Break Starter

Increases the chances of making a successful pass across the court after a defensive rebound.

Dimer

Increases the percentage of teammates throwing after a pass from a player with this badge.

Downhill

Increases ball speed during fast breaks.

Dream Shake

Increases the hit percentage after fakes in a post.

Floor General

Teammates receive an offensive attribute boost when a player with this badge is on the floor, and after reaching the HoF level, you can see how likely your teammates are to hit after your pass.

Handles for Days

Player loses less stamina when dribbling.

Lob City Passer

Increases the chances of giving a successful alley-pack.

Needle Threader

Reduces the chance that a difficult pass will be intercepted by a defender.

Pass Fake Maestro

Increases the effectiveness of the fake pass.

Post Spin Technician

Makes post spin more efficient.

Quick First Step

Provides a more explosive and efficient first step.

Space Creator

More chance of creating space after stepback or throw.

Stop & Go

Allows the ball handler to successfully change the tempo and rhythm of the dribble with unique animations only available to this badge.

Tight Handles

Improves the ability to break the defender.

Unpluckable

Reduces the chances of losing the ball.

BADGES

Catch and shoot

Increases the chance to score a shot (long or medium) immediately after receiving the ball. For a short time after receiving a pass, you will gain an increase in throwing attributes.

Clutch Shooter

Increases the chance of hitting throws in a clutch. Players with this badge in the final part of the 4th quarter or in any overtime have a significant increase in shooting attributes.

Corner Specialist

This badge increases throwing attributes when making corner shots. Long-range mids or 3-pointers have increased performance whether it's a dribbling shot or immediately after receiving the ball.

Deadeye

Decreases the influence of the defender who guards you. Resistance throws (medium and long) have less chance of being blocked.

Deep Fades

Increases the attribute of long and medium ranged throws.

Difficult Shots

All shots after dribbling, including hop steps, step backs, pullups and turnarounds, have an increased chance to hit.

Flexible Release

Reduces the penalty for a bad release.

Hot Start

Increases shot performance after the first goal is scored (even if you missed a couple of times before it). Then each shot you score will increase your shot stats until you miss.

Hot Zone Hunter

Increases the throw rate from your hot spots.

Ice in Veins

Increases free-line shooting performance at critical moments. Free throws made in the second half of a tied game or in overtime have a boost. Plus, the timing for free kicks will be increased.

Pick and Popper

Throw Boost after Pick and Pop. You need to set up a barrier and move away from the ring to throw. The budge is triggered if only a few seconds have elapsed between setting up the screen and throwing.

Pump Fake Maestro

Throw boost after a fake throw move.

Range Extender

Extends the range from which a player can effectively score long shots. Adds extra distance to your shooting range for both medium and 3-point shots.

Slippery Off-Ball

Enhances the player's ability to open without the ball. When trying to open from under the barrier, the player moves more efficiently on the parquet.

Steady Shooter

Resistance throws have a small boost, however open throws will not receive a boost with this buff.

Tireless Shooter

Increases the player's ability to score shots when stamina is over.

Volume Shooter

This badge increases the attributes of the shot after each shot on the ring, whether you hit it or not.

Jaylen Suggs Undergoes Ankle Surgery - Basketball

Orlando Rookie Jaylen Suggs has undergone surgery for a minor stress fracture in his right ankle.

The quarterback is expected to make a full recovery in the off-season and be ready for pre-season training camp.

20-year-old Suggs was selected fifth in the 2021 draft. He played 48 games for the Magic, averaging 11.8 points, 4.4 assists, 3.6 rebounds and 1.2 steals.

Jokic MVP, Barnes Rookie of the Year, Jenkins Coach of the Year. We're giving away NBA 9 regular season rewards0024