The Head Fake By Billups In Pistons - Celtics Game

Last nights head fake by Billups my not of been the play of night, but it sure did revive what was at one point one of the best rivalries in basketball. Though, since that head fake or pumps shot made me think of how important is in today's game.

Though Chris Sheridan reports the following:

“When did the Pistons deliver the knockout punch? Well, the play-by-play and the replays will tell you it came when Billups faked Tony Allen off his feet and drew a foul with 0.1 seconds left that sent him to the line for the tie-breaking and game-deciding free throws. But a big assist came moments earlier when the Pistons were exiting their timeout and Tayshaun Prince noticed that Tony Allen had checked back in as a defender.”

Rather if it was the head fake/pump fake or not. The shot fake is almost a lost art these days while you can find a few that are excellent the importance it can have on a game as seen as last night in the Pistons vs. Celtics can be a lot.


Please come back shortly to learn how to properly execute a shot fake.

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Tags: , celtics, head fake, head fake by Billups, pistons, pistons vs. celtics, pump fake, shot fake

This entry was posted on Thursday, December 20th, 2007 at 11:18 am and is filed under basketball, basketball shooting drills. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

Mikan Drill

This drill comes from the famous George Mikan

The mikan drill is a timed drill that last 30 seconds. This is a good big man drill, though everyone can benefit from this drill.

For 30 seconds you will be under the basket doing layups, while not letting the ball touch the floor and without drilling. You just make a lay up and quickly and under control take a layup from the other side. Make sure your doing a lay up on the right with your right hand then the left side is with your left hand. The object is to make as many layups that you can within 30 seconds.

Coaching Tips:

keep the ball high abover your shoulders

keep control of the ball - while not letting it hit the ground at all

get into a rhythm and routine (the more you practice the more this will come)

Lastly, I just recently heard about this version of the advanced mikan drill. Either reverse or normal mikan drill, but this time with two balls.

1. The player starts facing away from the basket just like in a reverse mikan drill. The footwork is the same. But now the player had two balls.

2. Only one ball will be shot a time. Starting with the (ball #1) is shot then the other ball (ball No. 2) he/she holds in one of her hands (switching with each shot). So it’s like this the player completes a right-handed layup with (ball #1) while (ball #2) in left hand. When he/she completes the shot. He/she will switch (ball #2) to his/her right hand while grabbing (ball #1) with her left hand and shoots the next shot with her left hand while keeping (ball #2) in her rigth hand. continue this for 30 seconds.

You can do the same with reverse lay-ups too.

1. The player starts facing away from the basket just like in a reverse mikan drill. The footwork is the same. But now the player had two balls.

2. Only one ball will be shot a time. Starting with the (ball #1) is shot then the other ball (ball No. 2) he/she holds in one of her hands (switching with each shot). So it’s like this the player completes a right-handed layup with (ball #1) while (ball #2) in left hand. When he/she completes the shot. He/she will switch (ball #2) to his/her right hand while grabbing (ball #1) with her left hand and shoots the next shot with her left hand while keeping (ball #2) in her rigth hand. continue this for 30 seconds.

stud mikan drill

two ball mikan drill, but replace one of the balls with a medicine ball!

Coaching Tips:

keep the ball high abover your shoulders

keep control of the ball - while not letting it hit the ground at all

get into a rhythm and routine (the more you practice the more this will come)

Who for?

great for big men, but could be beneficial to all players.

great for the big men that have trouble catching the ball.

great for rhythm, routine, and timing.

Popularity: 19% [?]

This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 7th, 2007 at 7:35 pm and is filed under basketball shooting drills. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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Everything you wanted and more about Basketball Shooting Here

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If your looking for basketball improve shooting, basketball proper shooting technique, shooting the basketball better, basketball correct shooting technique, and basketball shooting steps. They are all right here. Just keep scrolling down and you will see plenty of ways to improve shooting, basketball proper shooting technique, shooting the basketball better!! All right here!!

Please come back soon and check out our new section on basketball shooting workouts! We are working really hard to bring you the top basketball shooting workouts for free for YOU!!

First, we have to get to the basics of the basketball shooting. You need to have a triple threat position which means catch the ball low with strong foot a little infront of the other foot both feet and shoulders squared to the basket. Have your strong hand’s wrist cocked and ready to fire.

remember to have the ball on your finger tips

remember to have your elbow in…don’t be getting your elbow out

remember to only use your strong hand for the shot, the hand is just to guide the ball

remember to have a good basketball shooting form

remember to keep your good basketball shooting form don’t be changing stick to your guns

remember to think positive about your basketball shooting

here is a good shooting dril:

mikan drill

Free Throw Shooting

Follow these tips to learn the freethrow: 1. If you are right-handed, line up your right foot (left foot if you are left handed) so it´s lined up with the front center of the rim 2. Set up your opposite foot at a 45 degree angle for balance. 3. Get a good feel for the ball by bouncing it a couple of times or spinning it in your hands. This will become your routine. 4. Grip the ball so it is comfortable in your shooting hand. 5. Bend your knees, focus on the rim and exhale. Make sure to take a deep breath to relax. 6. In a fluid motion, cock the ball up to your chest or wherever you feel comfortable shooting from with your shooting hand only. 7. Grip the ball with just your fingertips. Your palms should not touch the ball. 8. Make sure you follow through with your wrist so you get proper rotation. Once you have established a routine, use it every time. Remember this way: “BEEF” for Balance, Eyes, Elbow, and Followthrough.

for more basketball shooting check this out!

Line Up for Your Free Throw

When you have mastered the proper technique for free throw shooting, you simply need to make sure that your body is lined up properly in order to ensure accuracy on your shot. The big toe on your strong foot (the foot on the same side of your body as your shooting hand), your shooting elbow, and your shooting forefinger should all align with the center of the rim when you are shooting properly.

Develop a Routine

One of the most important aspects of becoming a good free throw shooter is to develop a routine. Your routine should be something that you are comfortable with and that you can do every time you go to the free throw line. Your routine can consist of bouncing the ball the same number of times, wiping your hands, taking a breath, etc. The idea behind this comes from the fact that free throw shooting is “muscle memory.” You are teaching your muscles to react the same way every time. Your routine helps this “memory.”

Position at the Foul Line

The best way to line yourself up for a free throw is to find the nail hole that is on most free throw lines. This is a hole that the painters left by pounding a hole in the center of the free throw line in order to line everything else up. When positioned properly for a free throw, the big toe of your strong foot (the foot on the side of the arm you shoot with) should be lined up with the nail hole.

Shoot When Tired

When you get tired while doing drills, stop and shoot some free throws. In addition to getting practice shooting free throws, you will be simulating game-like conditions in that you will have to shoot free throws when tired.

Leg Lift

One of the keys to being a good jump shooter is leg lift. Once you have mastered technique, leg lift can often be the key to your shot. Try an experiment. Shoot a normal jump shot from a distance you are comfortable. Pay attention to how much you use your arms. Now shoot the same shot with the same amount of effort from your arms, but keep your legs locked. Chances are, you won´t get the ball to the rim. Leg lift gives you the strength to shoot well.

The release

When using a jump shot, make sure that when you go up to release the ball, you release as you reach the top of your jump. This allows you to use all of your leg lift in your shot. To accomplish this, begin your shooting motion on your way up. With practice, you will get your timing down.

Shooting Range

One of the determining factors in whether a shot is a good one or not is if it is taken within your shooting range. A good way to determine your shooting range is to take ten jump shots from the foul line. After completing this, run two or three hard wind sprints. Then move your jump shooting back a foot or two. If you are still comfortable shooting, repeat the procedure. Continue shooting and running until you feel yourself struggling to shoot the ball. At this point, you are outside your range. This is a good way to determine your range because during a game, you have to shoot while tired. This drill allows you to shoot under game conditions and gives you a better idea of your true range.

Smooth shot

Your legs are as important as your arms in shooting a jump shot because they generate the strength you need to shoot the ball. The shot starts all the way in your toes and you must “uncoil” with a nice smooth rhythm from your toes, ankles, knees, waist, shoulder, elbow, wrist and fingers. Whether you are a good jumper or not, you must get your legs into your shot in order to shoot a consistent jump shot.

Using the Glass

When you are shooting the basketball from somewhere between straight away and the corner, the best way to make the shot from that spot is by banking it off the backboard. This is actually a high percentage shot, but not that many people do it. It takes alot of practice to find the exact spot to hit. Aim for a spot on the square above the basket, and shoot the shot nice and soft. You will see more and more go in

Learn the jumpshot

Make sure you have the proper stance and balance. See the rim. Extend your wrist backwards. The basketball should rest on your fingerpads. Keep your elbow in and under the ball Use your legs… the longer the shot, the more you use your legs. Raise the ball smoothly and in one, fluid motion. Finish high with your arm to get good “arc” on the shot. Flex your wrist and follow through to get that backspin for a “shooter´s touch”.

Form Shooting

A great way for young players to work on their form is to shoot the ball back and forth to each other. Each youngster should try to shoot to their partner´s head. They can then “shoot” the ball back and forth, trying to hit the target. They can check each other for proper shooting techniques, but there isn´t the pressure of having to put the ball in the basket.

Hand Position on the Ball

One of the problems with young players being told to shoot with their fingertips is that they hold the ball on their fingertips. In order to control the ball, it has to rest on all of the pads on the shooting hand except the large pad under the little finger. Then, when shooting, the ball should come off the fingertips as it leaves the shooter´s hand.

Hold your follow through

In order to get proper rotation on a shot, the shooter´s follow-through must be correct. The best way to do this is to make sure that after the ball is released, the shooter´s arm is fully extended at an approximately 45 degree angle(so the elbow is above the eye)and the hand is bent at the wrist “waving goodbye” to the ball

Groove Your Shot

When you begin shooting at the start of any session, you should begin close to the basket, and work your way out. Start one step from the basket and shoot with one hand. You can check the position of the ball in your hands, the position of your elbow under the ball, whether you are keeping your eyes on your target, and your follow-through. We have our players shoot from this spot until they hit five consecutive shots hitting nothing but net. Then they take one big step backward and repeat, now using their guide hand and legs. They continue to do this all the way back to the free throw line, hitting five straight “nothing but net” shots each time. After they hit five free throws this way, they are free to begin free shooting. The advantage to this technique is that players get a chance to hit quite a few shots, building confidence, but also developing proper shooting technique.

Balance in Shooting

Your body must be balanced when shooting the basketball. First, your feet should be about shoulder width apart in order to give you a strong base. Secondly, your strong foot (the foot on the same side of your body as your shooting hand) should be about a half step ahead of the other. Finally, your head should be centered. This will keep you balanced throughout the shot and allow you to shoot without having to make adjustments.

Good Shooters

A shooter is as good as the shots he takes. Take shots that you practice and you make alot of. If you take those shots, chances are you will be a good shooter. If you take bad shots, you are probably not going to make many in a game.

Give your shot some arc

Get the ball up in he air with a nice high arc. The arc will give you a bigger margin of error and a softer shot. A soft shot will sometimes get a good bounce a roll in because of your “shooter´s touch”

See the Rim

When shooting any shot, your eyes must be on your target through the entire shooting process. For a jump shot, you want to focus on an exact spot on the rim. Some players see the front of the rim, some look at the back. Find what is good for you and look at that spot every time that you shoot.

B.E.E.F.

Remembering the BEEF is good way to learn to become a better foul shooter.BEEF stands for… B-balance-get on the foul line and get your balance. make sure you are steady. E-eyes-look at the rim. either the back or the front. it really doesn´t matter. E-elbow-make sure your elbow is in line with the basketball hoop F-follow thru-an essential part of all shooting. make sure you follow thru when releasing your shot.

Shot Fakes

Before shooting while being guarded by a person that is taller than you, pump faking is a very good thing to do. A pump fake is also called a shot fake. Your opponent may jump up which leaves you free for a open shot or lay-up.

Shot awareness

Exercises in shot awareness will lead to great learning! Spend a certain amount of time on a court consistently doing exercises in shot awareness. Try to be aware of what you are doing that makes your shot miss. The body learns through choices between subtle alternatives. But it has to know exactly what happened and what created the results, in order to create a different end result and learn. If you shoot short one time and then long the next and have no idea how you did either, there will be no real learning.

Shooting Progression

Because form is so important in shooting, work on making that form a habit is very important. An easy way to do this is to lay on your back and shoot the ball straight up into the air. It is very easy to check on the position of the ball, follow through, and rotation. The ball should go straight up and come straight down with proper back spin. This can be done before going to sleep at night or while watching TV during commercials.

Shooting Pocket

To solve the problem of arm position on your shot, learn where your shooting pocket is. Let your shooting arm hang down at your side and swing it back and forth and several times. Swing it up toward your shoulder and hold it when it stops. This position is your shooting pocket and is the position that the ball should be in when you begin your jump shot.

basketball shooting workshop

7-Up

A great way to practice your shooting is to play a game against yourself called 7-Up. Start by taking a shot that you have to make seven consecutive times before moving on. For instance, when starting out, you might want to shoot layups. If at any time you miss, start over until you have hit seven consecutive. After hitting seven consecutive shots, move on to a slightly more difficult shot that you have to hit six consecutive times. Continue shooting until you are shooting a shot that you have to make just one time. Remember, each shot should be slightly more challenging than the last. You can get quite a good workout this way.

Preparation

In PREPARATION for a right handed layup your steps are: right foot - left foot & up. For a left handed layup your steps are: left foot right foot & up. You can practice these while simply walking without a ball. Then try with a ball and no dribble. Work up to shooting them off of one dribble then finally, a full dribble from 1/2 court.

Shooting a Layup

During the ACTION phase for a right handed layup you want your right knee up, and for a left handed layup you want your left knee up. You should explode upward trying to put your knee through the bottom of the basket. It is important to protect the ball with 2 hands on the same side as your shooting hand. Your elbow should be under the ball with wrist cocked and your eyes focused on a spot in the square on the backboard.

Layup follow thru

When first learning to shoot, the FOLLOW THRU should be the same as a regular shot. Your palm is facing the basket, with the ball coming off of the 1st two fingers. Flop over the wrist to get backspin on the ball for a nice soft shot. Later, when a player can jump higher, the palm can face skyward and lay the ball up softly off of the backboard with very little spin. Try not to spin the ball and be too “fancy”. This should be a sure TWO POINTS-make sure that you make it.

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This entry was posted on Tuesday, November 6th, 2007 at 2:07 pm and is filed under basketball shooting drills. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.