Turning Shooting Skill into Points

You cannot score points just because you have spent hour after hour perfecting your shot in the gym. Sure, you might have a few breakout games but odds are that you will struggle to turn that into a consistent performance. This is a common phase for even the best players and shooters. Breaking loose from that phase depends on your understanding that it is just that -- a phase. With the right training and an understanding of the game dynamics that are keeping you down you can turn yourself from a great shooter to a point scorer.

The first thing to understand is that it will not be a secret for long that you can shoot. In fact the focus of a good defensive strategy is to identify good shooters early. You might find some great opportunities in the first few minutes of the game but this is because the defense is sagging off to give you, or any other shooters, a chance to make yourself known. By applying pressure here and allowing opportunities there a good defense will soon learn who the shooters are.

Once identified good shooters can expect to spend the rest of the game wishing for more of those early opportunities. When the defense has identified you as a player who can shoot from the outside they will spend the rest of the game in your face and denying you anymore chances. It is important to understand this dynamic because this is when many good players get frustrated. Good shooters can find themselves being forced to take bad shots just to try to score another point. Wild shots are missed shots and a player's confidence starts to erode.

Clearly it is important to be more than just a good shot. A one dimensional strategy is an easy one to defeat. If you have more than one trick in your bag, a good shot, then you'll be more likely to trick up the man guarding you. Consider this: After you've been identified as a good shot the defense starts to apply pressure. Now suddenly you cross your defender and get a lay-up. Next time your defender will not know which way you play to go and you have control. You can create your own opportunities for more of those sexy three-pointers.

So, while it is great to be a good shot that's not all it takes to be a point scorer. Do not spend all your practice time taking shots. Work on other moves too so you can add some unexpected dimensions to your game.

Ray Eddings is a freelance writer. This article was written on behalf of thebasketballbin.com. For great new plastic storage containers where you can store and protect your basketball check out http://thebasketballbin.com.