Lots of players would like to be able to
increase their shooting range and become a good 3-point shooter. We all know of
examples of players, like Robert Horry, who
are recruited to join teams mostly because of their ability to make 3-point
shots. "Big Shot Rob" has seven--that's right, seven--NBA
championship rings. Shooters with deep range have helped teams on every level
win championships.
Coaches like Rick Pitino used
the 3-point shot to revolutionize the game and propel his coaching career.
Pitino went from Providence College, a mid-level NCAA Division I program, to
the University of Kentucky, one of the best programs in the country. Pitino
ultimately made it to the NBA as head coach of the Boston Celtics.
Here are three
incredibly simple drills and concepts that can help any player extend their
shooting range and add to their scoring arsenal.
Jog (but never walk)
through each of these shots. This will help you work up a sweat.
Start around five feet
from the basket, and shoot untill you make a shot all-net before moving back
one step. Repeat the process until you get all the way back to the 3-point
line. Continue shooting until you make an all-net 3-pointer.
Initially, do this
from the baseline and work your way back to the 3-point line in the corner.
Then do the other (right or left baseline) and finally go down the middle and
finish with a 3-pointer from the top of the key. Finally, do your normal
stretching routine.
Practice Speed
This next part of your
practice shooting is best done with a rebounder and a passer. However, if
shooting on your own, simply pass to yourself, shoot, rebound and speed dribble
back to the spot.
You are now repeating
the process of working your way back, only this time going as fast as you think
you can, then speeding up your perception of what you think is going fast, and
go even faster! Obviously this is great conditioning.
There are several kinds of footwork currently
being used by good shooters. These include: the classic inside foot 1-2 step
(which is what we teach at 1on1 Basketball Academy), the 2-foot jump stop, the
plant rear foot and step-in, and hop into the shot (1-2 step or 2-foot jump
stop). Ask your coach before deciding what do to.
Make one all-net shot
of each of the following types of shots and work your way back from three
distances: start at 10 feet out, then move to 15 feet and finally to 3-point
range. Do both a catch-and-shoot and a shot off the dribble, moving
left-right-center. That's six made all-net baskets from each spot.
As before, you must
make an all-net shot before progressing to the next type of shot and distance.
Competitive Speed
This is the most important part
of becoming a proficient shooter in actual games. Do this workout with
defenders. Learning this way will give you transference from practice to actual
games. You'll play this way and it will be easy to make shots in games and at
crunch time.
Have defenders close out on you
(sometimes from closer than they will be in the game) to try and steal the ball
and block the shot. Want to become a fearless shooter? Have the defender foul
you on purpose. But this should be just a slap on the wrist or controlled
nudge, so you don't get hurt. Make (again not just take) three shots like this
during every practice and you will become a more focused "in the
zone" shooter. You probably will also get to the free throw line in games
and have a chance to make a 4-point play!
Math + Honesty = Real Results
Have you noticed that doing any
one of the stages will cause you to make -- not just take (this includes shots
that go in without being all-net) - over 100 shots!
You shouldn't care about
missing. You don't have to make every shot, just shoot until you make the
amount of shots needed to progress to the next stage. Do only as many stages as
you are comfortable with. The warm-up stage alone will make anyone a better
shooter and is essentially what many great shooters in the NBA do a couple
hours before every game.
By the way, just because you
take a lot of 3-point shots and you think that you are a 3-point shooter,
doesn't mean you are. If it takes more than 15 shots to make an all-net
3-pointer and you have to change your shot to get the basketball to reach the
basket, then the 3-point shot is out of your range -- for now.
Your current and realistic
range is where you can make two all-net shots in 10 attempts or less. Just be
patient with yourself and work on these drills and stay within your range and
you will soon gradually extend that range.
Before attempting the 3-point
shot in games, first make (just get it in -- you don't have to shoot all-net)
six out of 10 in practice on three separate practice days. These shots should
be from where you would shoot within the flow of your offense. That's when the
statistic of probability is on your side, and you will have a real mathematical
chance to shoot at least 35-40 percent from 3-point range when you play.
Anyone Can Do This
I have personally used these drills as a head coach at both the
high school level and an assistant coach at the NCAA Division I level. I was
fortunate to learn quite a bit about 3-point shooting while serving as
assistant coach with Craig Hodges.
As a player, Craig was on the Chicago Bulls' first championship team with Michael
Jordan and Scottie
Pippen, both now in the Basketball Hall of Fame. Craig also won
the NBA All-Star Weekend 3-point contest three years in a row.
Increasing range and becoming
proficient at 3-point shooting will not only help you have more success now, it
will also increase your chances to move to the next level. Look at what Pitino,
Horry and Hodges have accomplished.
Now it's your turn.
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