The five positions in basketball -- point guard, shooting guard, small forward, power forward and center -- all utilize different skill sets and different body types. But when players on a basketball team fulfill their roles at all five positions, a team can work together as a unit to make the team stronger than the sum of each individual player. The guard positions require speed and quickness, and the forward and center positions demand size and strength, but all five positions require skills and smarts developed through diligent practice and game play.
The Point Guard
Step 1
Build the foundation of any basketball team at the point guard position, which should be manned by a team's best ball handler and passer. Coaches often call upon point guards to be a "coach on the floor" because these players handle the ball the most, set up offensive and defensive plays and take responsibility for making all their teammates better by utilizing their strengths. However, although point guards such as NBA Hall of Famers John Stockton or Isiah Thomas were ball handlers and passers first, they also could drive to the basket or shoot an open jump shot when their teams needed them to score.
Step 2
Start your best perimeter shooter and scorer at the shooting guard position. The shooting guard should handle the bulk of the perimeter scoring duties on a time, whether by driving to the basket or shooting from 3-point range, or anywhere in between. NBA All-Star shooting guards such as Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen hone their game by shooting hundreds of jump shots before or after practice every day. Shooting guards also must master dribbling with both hands, as well as learning to create space without dribbling by using moves such as the jab step and pivot.
Step 3
Position a versatile, well-rounded athlete at the small forward position. A small forward typically plays a "jack-of-all-trades" role on a basketball team, often defending an opponent's best perimeter scorer, assisting low-post players on the glass with solid rebounding, providing extra ballhandling to break a pressure defense and supplementing an offense with shooting and passing. Small forwards such as NBA All-Stars Andre Iguodala or Shawn Marion might not possess one standout skill, but their athleticism and versatility allows them to fill multiple key roles on their respective teams.
Step 4
Station a physical, imposing player who can score and rebound with equal aptitude at the power-forward position. NBA All-Star power forwards such as Kevin Garnett or Zach Randolph take on a team's top scoring role in the low post, using nimble footwork and brute strength to score around the basket. By playing with his back to the basket and backing down defenders into the paint, a power forward can become an effective passer, drawing extra defenders and opening up space on the perimeter in which guards can shoot with ease.
Step 5
Take command of the area around the basket by utilizing the center position. A team's center is typically one of the tallest, if not the tallest, players on the team, but the position requires more than just height. A center is responsible for blocking opponent's shots and preventing easy baskets around the rim, as well as hauling down defensive rebounds and extending possessions with offensive rebounds. Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard became the NBA's first player to win three consecutive Defensive Player of the Year awards in 2011 by finishing second in the league in rebounds and fourth in blocked shots, anchoring the fourth-ranked defense in the league with strength and explosive leaping ability.
References
- New England Sports Network; Jason Kidd Must Be Considered Greatest...; Nick Coman; May 2011
- iHoops; 7 Habits of Successful Shooting Guards; Shelby Turcotte
- "The Bleacher Report"; From Scottie Pippen to LeBron James: The Evolution of the Small Forward; Frances White; January 2009
- New England Sports Network; Zach Randolph Not the Best Power Forward in the NBA ...; "Evans Clinchy; May 2011
- "USA Today"; Magic's Howard Named NBA Defensive Player of the Year; Jeff Zillgitt; April 2011
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