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 TIP
TO POINT GUARDS:
The best point guards are an extension of their
coach onto the playing court. You must be a
COACH ON THE FLOOR. To do this, you must learn
the game thoroughly, learn WHAT YOUR COACH WANTS
DONE with the offense and defense, learn what to
do in special situations, and learn the
strengths and weaknesses of each of your
teammates. Read books on basketball, watch as
many games as possible, and meet with your coach
regularly to clearly understand exactly what
he/she wants done on the court. You may not be
the quickest point guard on your team, or the
best shooting point guard, but if you have
learned to be a COACH ON THE FLOOR, you will be
the one your coach calls on to lead his/her
team.
TIP NO. 2 TO POINT
GUARDS:
The number one mental aspect of point guard
guard play is UNSELFISHNESS. You must always put
the good of the team
above your own
recognition. You can never worry about the
number of points you score, only about the
number of points your TEAM scores. The ability
to score can be a plus, but it can never be a
priority for a point guard.
TIP NO. 3 TO POINT
GUARDS:
Point Guards must learn to PENETRATE.
They must be
able to drive into traffic and then make the
decision as to whether to shoot or pass to an
open shooter. In the majority of penetration
situations, the point guard will pass to an open
shooter after he/she has drawn the defense.
Practice penetration daily, and expect to make
ball-handling mistakes as you progress. As you
develop your dribbling and passing ability, you
will get better and better at penetration.
TIP NO. 4 TO POINT
GUARDS:
Since point guards are a coach on the floor,
they must always know WHO TO GET THE BALL TO.
If your small forward has hit two in a row, get
the ball to him the next time downcourt. If the
defender guarding your post player has picked up
his second foul of the first half, get the ball
inside to your post player so he can either
score and draw the third foul.
TIP N0 5 TO POINT
GUARDS: Jason Kidd is probably the
best point guard in the NBA. Read what Ashley
Fox wrote about him after the Nets 104-97
victory over the Celtics in the first game of
the 2002 NBA Eastern Conference Finals: "Kidd
finished with 18 points, 13 rebounds, and 11
assists in 39 minutes, and so EVENLY DISTRIBUTED
the basketball that six of his teammates scored
in double digits." Many point guards worry about
how many points they score; they would be a much
better point guard if they worried about how
well they distributed the basketball.
TIP NO. 6 TO POINT
GUARDS: Point guard mental skills are
more important than physical skills. He/She must
have knowledge of the game, confidence,
unselfishness, leadership skills, and mental
toughness.
TIP NO. 7 TO POINT
GUARDS: A point guard cannot reach full
potential without a great deal of
self-confidence. The point guard must not
just lead the team, but DIRECT the team. This
cannot be done without self-confidence. How does
a player get this self-confidence? By not only
working diligently on all fundamental skills,
especially ball-handling and passing, but also
by developing knowledge of the game by studying
books, watching games and basketball videos, and
"talking basketball" with as many coaches as
possible. A point guard must really believe in
himself/herself when taking the floor.
TIP NO. 8 TO POINT GUARDS:
A point guard must show a significant amount of
leadership. He must develop his skills
and his knowledge of the game so as to earn the
respect of his teammates. Even if the
point guard is not a captain, he must show the
same responsibility on the court as the captain
does, if not more! He must have enough
confidence to tell other players what to do and
to make sure they are in the proper position
before initiating the offense.
ELEVEN NECESSARY TOOLS FOR
A POINT GUARD
1. A good knowledge of the
game and what the coach wants done on the court.
2. Reasonable quickness.
3. Good court vision.
4. Decision making ability.
5. Ability to penetrate left or right and break
down the defense.
6. Good shooting ability including from 3-point
range and the pull-up medium range jumper.
7. Good ball-handling ability--pass and
dribbling.
8. Ability to put defensive pressure on the
ball.
9. Mental skills of unselfishness,
confidence, and toughness.
10. Voice projection on the floor. His teammates
must "hear" him direct the team in a crowded,
noisy gym.
11. Leadership skills.
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