Basketball moves are generally individual actions used by players in
basketball to pass by defenders to gain access to the basket or to get a clean pass to a teammate.
Dribbling
Dribbling is moving while bouncing the ball continuously.
Wraparound
In the wraparound, the ballhandler dribbles the ball behind his/her back, switching it to his/her other hand. This move can be used when the defender attempts a steal, allowing the ballhandler to begin moving forward as the defense moves in. A streetball move with the same name involves swinging the ball around the opponent's body.
this gives the player a chance to score a basket.
Spin move
In a spin move, the ballhandler spins his/her body to change the direction and put his body between the ball and the defender. The spin move can be used while dribbling (when it is also called a reverse pivot) or in a post position, where it is often used many times during a game. The move can also leave the ballhandler somewhat disoriented, or to be surprised by a defender after losing eye contact.
Crossover dribble
In a crossover dribble, the ballhandler changes pace to confuse or freeze a defender. This is done by changing the ball from one hand to the other via a dribble. Although a crossover does not have to be on a defender, the point of it is to change direction (and speed) to get by a defender.
Behind the back dribble
A basic move in which the ballhandler simply bounces the ball behind the back to the opposite hand, but note that the ball is not intended to go around the body as in the basic 'wraparound.' This move is used to avoid an easy strip, to 'stall', or to 'pick.' It can be used to avoid an easy strip as an alternative to bouncing the ball in front of you for a tricky crossover. To stall means to overlook what can be setup on the court while still maintaining control over the ball. A pick is virtually the same as a stall but a pick is continuous, meaning that the ball is bounced back and forth behind the back; a pick may also be performed between the legs. The best choice when to use this move would be in the case of a teammate's unavailability, to outrun your defender, and/or to drive the ball closer to the hoop due to the lack of space between the ballhandler and defender.
Passes
Bounce pass
The bounce pass is a fundamental and very effective passing technique. This pass consists of one player passing the ball to a teammate by bouncing the ball off the floor with great energy. Because the ball will be at ground level as it passes a defender, a successful bounce pass can easily result in a scoring assist because a bounce pass is harder for defenders to intercept. Still, a bounce pass may be intercepted due to its slower speed. Thus, a player must use his best judgment when he decides whether to make such a pass. The move has to be executed perfectly because a bounce pass may be kicked by rapidly-shifting players and might be a difficult catch for the intended receiver.
Chest pass
This pass is performed best by stepping towards your target with one foot, then throwing the ball out towards their chest with two hands while turning the hands over, ending with the thumbs pointing down. It is best used in the open court and on the perimeter.
Overhead pass
An overhead pass is another fundamental passing technique. It is used by snapping the ball over the head, like a soccer throw-in. This pass is especially effective in helping to initiate a fast break. After a defensive rebound, a well-thrown overhead, or outlet, pass can allow a breaking offensive player to quickly score without even dribbling by catching the ball near the basket.
Baseball pass
The baseball pass or lance pass is a long pass in which the passer throws the ball with one hand, as if it were a baseball or a football. It is infrequently used, mainly to set up last-second plays off a baseline inbounding situation.
Jump pass
A jump pass is a pass performed while the passing player's feet are off the floor. When done intentionally, usually when a teammate gets open during the shot, it can sometimes confuse the defender, causing him to believe that the passer is shooting instead of passing. However, it at times is done as a result of the player having their shooting lane blocked and often leads to the player turning the ball over to the opposing team. This kind of pass is strongly discouraged in all levels of basketball, as it leaves the offensive player very vulnerable to turnovers.
Blind pass
Also known as a
no-look pass, the blind pass is performed when a player looks in one direction but passes the ball to his target in another direction. Blind passes are risky and infrequently attempted, but when done correctly, can confuse the defense. The no-look pass has been popularized by players such as
Pete Maravich,
Isiah Thomas,
Magic Johnson,
Larry Bird,
Jason Kidd and
Steve Nash.
Behind-the-back
Behind-the-back passes are passes dealt to a target behind the passer's back. Usually done to confuse the defender, behind the back passes can either be bounced off the floor or passed directly to a teammate's chest. However, most behind-the-back passes are direct.
Earl Monroe was famous for this move.
Steve Nash uses this move often, and
Chris Webber is famed for using this move down in the paint.
Elbow pass
Introduced with much hype by
Jason Williams, the Elbow Pass is one of the most difficult trick passes to execute. The Elbow Pass serves as a devastating complement to the Behind-the-Back pass and can be used with various no-look elements. Most effective on a fast-break, the Elbow Pass entails what appears to the defender to be a simple Behind-the-Back pass, but as the ball crosses the passer's back, the passer hits it with his elbow, redirecting the ball back toward the side it started on and hopefully leaving the defender(s) amazed and out of position. Williams was able to pull off this pass at a full sprint during a Rookie All-Star game, but most players have trouble hitting the ball with their elbow while standing still.
Two person game
Give and go
"Give and Go" is an offensive play that involves passing the ball (give) and then running (go) to an open spot to receive the ball back, usually near the basket, for an easy score. This play can be effective when the defender pays too much attention to the ball instead of the player who moves after passing the ball. This is also known as a "One-Two" in street ball.
Pick and roll
"Pick and Roll" is an offensive play in which a player stops to
screen (block) a defender for the teammate handling the ball and then slips behind the defender to accept a pass as the handler makes a move towards the basket. In the NBA,
John Stockton and
Karl Malone of the
Utah Jazz are the quintessential pick and roll tandem and used this play to great effect in the 1990s.
Tony Parker and
Tim Duncan of The
San Antonio Spurs are currently among the best pick and roll tandems.
From the initial position of the pick and roll maneuver, the player who receives the ball has many different options as to whether he/she passes it, or fakes and then goes for a jump shot.
Back door
A back door play is when a player without the ball gets behind the defense and receives a pass for an easy score. This can be executed if the defenders are unaware of the open space behind them. Also, when a defender overcommits on defense (e.g. tries to steal or deny a pass), they are vulnerable to a backdoor play. Most notably used by good Shooters like
Ray Allen of the
Boston Celtics or
Rip Hamilton of the
Detroit Pistons.
Shots
Layups
A layup is a two point attempt made by leaping from below, laying the ball up near the basket, and using one hand to tip the ball over the rim and into the basket (layin) or to bank it off the backboard and into the basket (layup). The motion and one-handed reach distinguish it from a jump shot. The layup is considered the most basic shot in basketball.
An undefended layup is usually a high percentage shot. The main obstacle is getting near the rim and avoiding blocks by taller defenders who usually stand near the basket. Common layup strategies are to create space, releasing the ball from different spots or using an alternate hand. A player tall enough to reach over the rim might choose to perform a more spectacular and higher percentage slam dunk (dropping or throwing the ball from above the rim) instead.
To play a safer layup, you can hold it with two hands; that way it is harder to block and you take two steps, that distinguishes it from the jump shot.
As the game has evolved through the years, so has the layup. Several different versions of the layup are used today. Layups can be broadly categorized into two types: the underarm and the overarm. The underarm layup involves using most of the wrist and the fingers to 'lay' the ball into the basket or off the board. The underarm layup is more commonly known as the finger roll. Notable current NBA players who rely heavily on the underarm finger roll are Mike Bibby of Atlanta and Allen Iverson.
Finger-rolls today have many forms, including the Around the World which involves a complete circle around the player before the layup and a variety of faking in the approach to the rim. A classic example is a play by former Kings point guard Jason Williams during his time with Sacramento, in which Williams brings the ball behind his back with his right hand, in a fake of a back pass, and then brings it front again with the same hand for the finish (reminiscent of Bob Cousy who pioneered the move).
The other layup is the overhand shot, similar to a jump shot but from considerably closer range. Overhand layups almost always involved the use of the backboard. Players like Scottie Pippen (formerly of Chicago) and Karl Malone (formerly Utah) have used this move to great effect.
Finger roll
A finger roll is performed when a player shoots the ball with one hand during a layup and then lifts his fingers, rolling the ball into the basket. The rotation produced provides the ball with a soft touch, and the ball will roll around the rim and then drop into the basket. Former
San Antonio Spurs guard "The Iceman"
George Gervin was known for having one of the best finger rolls in the game along with
Lakers center
Wilt Chamberlain.
Michael Jordan and
Scottie Pippen are other notable practitioners, while current NBA star
Jason Kidd is renowned for his smooth finger rolls as well.
Tear drop
The tear drop, also called a runner or a floater, is usually performed by undersized players (mainly
point guards). A player usually starts the layup procedure a good distance away from the basket. The ball is generally released earlier and in a higher arc than the normal layup. The ball should be away before the taller defender has the chance to block it. The purpose of this shooting move is to make the defender miss blocking the ball as the ball is released from the hand one moment sooner than expected. It is so-named because the ball drops down from the high point of the arc like a falling tear drop.
Gary Payton of the
Seattle Supersonics and
John Stockton of the
Utah Jazz during their primes, the former in the mid-to-late 90s and the latter in the early-to-mid 90s were considered to have the best tear drops in the game.
Tony Parker of the
San Antonio Spurs frequently uses the tear drop with great success.
Antawn Jamison of the
Cleveland Cavaliers has one of the most highly effective tear drop shots in the league despite being a power forward.
Ben Gordon of the
Detroit Pistons,
Chris Paul of the
New Orleans Hornets,
Rajon Rondo of the
Boston Celtics and
Derrick Rose from the
Chicago Bulls are currently known for the tear drop move.
Power stop/drive
Power drive is a continuous shooting move in which a player stops dribbling and makes a huge leap forward, while securing the ball in both hands from the dribbling hand, then making a layup. The move is generally used as a layup because the huge movement coming from the leap provides the momentum for the player to jump forward for a layup. The move is a great way to squeeze the player under the basket for a fast layup.
Bank shot
A
bank shot in
basketball is a shot that relies on the ball bouncing off the backboard and into the basket. It is frequently used for mid-range
jump shots from an angle (usually at the elbow) and
layups. It is not commonly used for long-range shots or shots from the middle. The purpose of using the backboard is to try to hit the backboard at an angle, thus slowing the speed of the ball and increasing its chances of falling into the hoop. Another term for a bank shot is "off the glass".
NBA players known for using the bank shot often are
Sam Jones,
George Gervin,
Tim Duncan,
Dwyane Wade,
Scottie Pippen, and
Kobe Bryant.
Putback and tip-in
A putback describes a situation where a player secures an offensive rebound then immediately scores a basket. If the player secures the rebound while in the air, to be considered a putback the player can land on the ground before shooting, but cannot dribble before taking the shot. If the player does not secure the rebound but instead taps the ball into the basket, it is considered a
tip-in. There is a point where a putback and a tip-in are a matter of subjective difference (e.g., a one-handed rebound in the air followed by a score before touching the ground). A
putback jam is a spectacular alternative to the tip-in where the ball is slam-dunked off the rebound in the same motion.
Kenyon Martin is one of the perfectors of the putback jam. It is also a primary source of scoring for All-Star Center
Dwight Howard, who led the NBA in dunks in the 2008 and 2009 season.
Triple threat position and related moves
Triple threat is the position when a player facing a defender receives a pass but has not dribbled yet. The offensive player's feet are slightly wider than shoulder width and slightly on the balls of his feet, his knees flexed, with both hands on the basketball in front of him or almost resting on his thigh, presenting the defender with an opponent able to move in any direction. One foot is held as the pivot and the other slightly ahead. From this, the player can choose from three options: to
jump-shoot, to
dribble (drive) past the defender or to
pass it to a teammate. There are also options to get the defender out of his defensive stance by using
jab steps and
pump fakes.
Jab step
Jab step also known as
side step is performed when a player holds onto the ball before dribbling while his non-pivot leg performs a routine jabbing. This move is used to test defender's defensive weaknesses and stance. A combination of the pump fake, the drive, the shot and the crossover drive can be performed along with the jab step to lure the opponent out of his defense.
Denver Nuggets forward
Carmelo Anthony is well-known for taking the jab step, as was 13-year pro
Kiki Vandeweghe. When he does this, the defender falls off from his defensive stance, creating a space between him and the defender, allowing him to take a quick mid-range jumper, a three-pointer, or a drive "to the lane".
Pump fake
A pump fake is a feigned attempt at a jump shot, restrained before the feet leave the ground. The pump fake is a fundamental move in basketball, used to cause defenders to jump (known in basketball slang as "lifting" the defender), or be shifted off-balance. Its main applications are in the low post area, where a player is much more likely to have his or her shot blocked. On the perimeter, it is useful in creating open lanes to the basket by "showing" the ball enough to entice a defender to attempt to block or steal it, allowing the dribbler to penetrate easily. The term is also used in American 'NFL' football.
Drawing contact
An offensive move intended to produce a foul call on the defensive player. A typical strategy is to drive into a defensive player whose feet are not stationary. When the two players make bodily contact, a blocking foul can be called on the defensive player. If the defensive player has a set position (i.e., both feet are stationary and arms are not in a downward motion) the contact can result in a charging foul against the offensive player (this is known as
taking the charge for the fouled defensive player). Another way of drawing contact is to pump fake and then jump towards the defender making contact and then shoot. This gets you to the foul line or if you make the basket (often made in paint) you get the basket and 1 foul shot.
Post up, related moves and shots
To "post up" is to establish a position in the low post, the area near the basket below the foul line, usually in order to take advantage of a smaller defender. The offensive player usually faces away from the basket, so that his body can protect the ball from the defender. From this position, options such as spinning or backing down the defender to close in to the basket for better scoring opportunities become available to him.
Up and under
The up and under is a move consisting of two parts, a shot fake (the up) and a step-through (the under). First the player with the ball fakes a shot by thrusting the ball above his head as if to take a shot, then when the defender jumps in an attempt to block the shot, the offensive player steps by him and attempts a clear, unguarded shot.
Generally used by post players, Kevin McHale was considered a master of this move.
See also
Alley oop
Fadeaway
Free throw
Hook shot
Jump shot
Layup
Slam dunk
Stutter step
References
External links
Basketball fundamentals
Basketball Skills and Drills Training Videos from HoopsU.com
CoachesClipboard.net's short video clips of moves (excellent interface)
Rare Pete Maravich Film and Video (demonstrates "Wrist Pass")
Basketball-Plays-and-Tips.com's text descriptions of basketball moves
Growtall.com's chalkboard descriptions of moves
GuideToCoachingBasketball.com's text and chalkboard descriptions of moves
HoopsKing.com's offensive moves drills (requires website registration)
NBA Superstars Move Step-to-Step Instruction
Moves
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