If you ask 10 basketball coaches or players what is the most important skill on the basketball court, you might very well receive 10 different answers. In fact, there are many ways to win a basketball game. Isiah Thomas' "Bad Boys," the Detroit Pistons of the late, won NBA titles with defense and rebounding. Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen led their Chicago Bulls teams of the 1990s to championships with stellar perimeter play. Tim Duncan and the San Antonio Spurs won titles in the new millennium with great post play and sharp 3-point shooting. Each player and team has strengths and weaknesses, and the key to winning basketball is discovering and developing those unique skills and strengths.
Point Guard: Where it All Begins
In the eyes of most coaches, the point guard is the most important position on the floor because this player is most responsible for handling the ball, setting up teammates in the correct spots, calling the right plays at the right times, making passes to get everyone involved and avoiding turnovers. Former Utah Jazz point guard John Stockton might not have been a physical specimen at point guard at 6 foot 1 and 175 lbs., but he became the NBA's all-time leader in assists and steals by virtue of hard work and an unparalleled knowledge of where and when to use the Jazz's pick-and-roll offense with teammate Karl Malone. Knowing exactly where he and his teammates wanted to score on the court allowed Stockton to rack up 15,806 career assists, more than 5,000 more than any other player.
Shooting from the Wings
A team's best long-range shooters often can be found at the shooting guard or small forward positions, also known as the wing positions. Players like Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant or Chicago Bulls small forward Luol Deng can beat defenders off the dribble or knock down an open shot from long range with equal ease and consistency. However, that smooth shooting comes at the price of countless hours in the gym taking shots. Bryant has developed a routine of shooting off the dribble and off a pass before and after games, while Boston Celtics shooting guard Ray Allen, the NBA's all-time leader in 3-pointers, shows up three and a half hours before game time to begin his shooting routine, which requires him to make five shots from five different spots on the floor and five different distances.
Winning the Battle Inside
Players at the power forward and center positions typically play in the low-post area of the court, fighting for high-percentage shots near the basket, defending an opponent's best inside player and bearing the biggest rebounding responsibilities on both ends of the court. Players like Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard and Memphis Grizzlies power forward Zach Randolph can use their size and strength to back down a defender into the paint, then use a quick, simple jump hook shot to score consistently. Post players also must use nimble footwork and lower-body strength to hold their ground against other big men on the defensive end and gain proper rebounding position.
Everyone Defends
Regardless of position, every player on the basketball court must be able to defend her opponent. Proper defensive principles require a player to bend at the knees with feet shoulder-width apart, chopping her feet in short, quick steps to allow her to move with her opponent. A defender must position herself between her player and the hoop, applying pressure on the ball handler. If a defender is guarding a player without the basketball, she also must remain between the offensive player and the ball in the "deny" position. When a team defends successfully and forces opponents to take difficult shots or commit turnovers, it gives itself more chances to score on the offensive end, thus improving its odds of winning.
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