Basketball Skills Building System Guide included:
Drills and exercises using the Inflatable Defender to improve your game.
Also includes Ben Wallace's Top Tips for playing defense.
Jump shots over Big Ben
Place the Inflatable Defender between you and the basket. Stand at a good shooting distance from the basket far away enough from the Inflatable Defender to allow you to see the rim, yet close enough that it forces you to shoot with a high arc. The elbow of your shooting hand (right elbow if you're right-handed) should finish above eye-level when you shoot. Shooting with a high enough arc is a key ingredient to your shot's success. Shots that miss short or long are usually due to a poor shooting arc. Try to make 4 shots in a row from the same spot before moving locations. Also, try a bounce pass to yourself by tossing the ball in the air underhanded with a little backspin, catch the ball in front of the Inflatable Defender, square up and shoot. |
Power lay-ups |
Rebound and shoot
Place the Inflatable Defender in the paint about 3-4 feet away from the backboard on either side. Throw the ball high enough against the backboard that it clears the Inflatable Defender and rebound it. Use good rebounding form: get low and jump to meet the ball. Upon catching the ball, square up and shoot over the Inflatable Defender. |
Dribble transitions |
Shooting off a pick
Place the Inflatable Defender about 4 feet towards the basket from either elbow on the court. Starting at the elbow, do a v-cut by first going past the Inflatable Defender and cutting back sharply to the elbow using Big Ben's pick. Have your playing partner, who is standing on the opposite side; throw you the ball coming off of the pick. You catch, square up, and shoot. Do it 10 times and repeat from the other elbow. |
Low post moves
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Shooting over a moving defender
Have your playing partner stand behind the Inflatable Defender grabbing both handles at about 10 feet away from the basket. You'll start by having the ball about 3 feet further out but directly in front of the Inflatable Defender. Work on doing a shot fake, and taking one dribble to either side and quickly getting off the shot. Your playing partner can attempt to block the shot by sliding or tilting the Inflatable Defender. As the offensive player, you should work on selling your fake by taking a convincing look at the basket and moving the ball about a foot up to the basket as if you're shooting. After the fake, you must have an explosive first step to the side to get off the shot. |
Catch and shoot
Place the Inflatable Defender about 3 feet in front of the free throw line in the middle. From the free throw line extended left, break hard to the middle of the free throw area. Have your partner pass to you at this point from the free throw extended right. Catch the ball, square up and shoot. |
Place the Inflatable Defender about 7 feet from the basket. With your back to the Inflatable Defender, post-up with your shooting hand held high as a target for the ball. Have a friend feed you the ball. Work on catching, squaring up and shooting. Work on your drop step to the basket and shots. Work on your hook shot and drives to the basket.
