Next Part of Basketball Skills by Michael Lang

Release | Basketball Skills by Michael Lang
1. Two components of the Release have already been addressed:

a. Under “Alignment,” we stressed getting the wrist to a 90 degree angle.

i. We want this release point to give proper arc to the ball.

b. Under “Jump,” we stressed the importance of releasing the ball PRIOR to the peak of the jump.

i. This assures proper Power and Rhythm.

2. Two final points are important in Release.

a. Elbow Lift | Basketball Skills by Michael Lang

i. There are three proper Elbow Lifts from which you release the ball’

• ¼ Elbow Lift – The elbow is lifted ¼ of the way from the Shooting Pocket.

Younger players want to shoot with this
Elbow Lift.

The ball would be released at about the eyebrow level, either “Through the Face” or on the “Side
of the Face”.

There is hardly any jump in this lift.

• ½ Elbow Lift – The elbow is lifted ½ of the way from the Shooting Pocket.

Players should not use this release until they are strong enough to coordinate this

release with their jump. They will know
when they have the proper rhythm.

The ball would be released at the top of the head, either “Through the Face” or on the “Side of
the Face.”

• ¾ Elbow Lift – The elbow is lifted ¾ of the way from the Shooting Pocket.

This should only be done from the Low Post area.

It is used by a taller player to lift the ball over the head of a shorter opponent and simply
use Wrist Power to shoot the ball.

b. Hand Release | Basketball Skills by Michael Lang

i. Even though you are holding the ball with all the pads on your Shooting Hand, when you
release it, the ball must leave your fingers last.

ii. By leaving your fingers last, you generate back spin on the ball.

• Back spin is “touch.”

• The back spin allows the ball to hit the rim, stop spinning, hang around the rim, and go in.

iii. If a player has poor rotation, he should say, “Fingers
Last” before he shoots in practice.

• This reminder will generate proper spin. J. Follow Through
1. There are three important ingredients to the follow through”

a. Keep both your elbows above your ears.

I. This gives you full extension on every shot.

II. This gives you total concentration throughout the shot.

b. Dip your shooting wrist straight through the rim.

i. This “reaching into the cookie jar” propels the ball straight towards the basket.

c. You Balance Hand, which initiated the shot on the side of the ball, simple leave the ball on the
release and finishes in a “Karate” position.

2. If you “Stay high” and “Wave Good-Bye” to the ball, you will execute proper follow through.

3. Follow Through and Mindset.

a. All players will take poor shots. When they do, they tend to curse.

b. Concentration on proper follow through technique is better than cursing because the follow
through may very well enable the ball to go in. The cursing will not.

K. Shooting Off-the-Move Footwork | Basketball Skills by Michael Lang

1. There are two ingredients you need in stopping prior to the Jump
Shot;

a. Balance

b. Quickness

2. We believe the best stop to achieve good balance and quickness in the Jump Shot is the 1-2 Stop
on the Inside Foot.

a. This stop can be utilized both off the dribble and when
coming for the catch to the shot.

b. A good method for quickening this stop off the dribble is to make your last dribble before the
stop a hard dribble.

3. The Three- Point Shot | Basketball Skills by Michael Lang

a. If a player has good Rhythm and Power on the 1-2 Stop while coming for the catch on this shot,
we do not change it.

b. If he struggles with his Rhythm and power using the 1-2
Stop, we then teach the permanent pivot foot, power step.

i. We want him to get behind the three point line and set his non-shooting foot forward.

ii. On the pass, he steps into the pass and the shot with his shooting foot, just as he does in
a Spot-Up Shot.

iii. This does take more time, but we are willing to sacrifice the time for proper Power and
Rhythm.

4. The key to success for Shooting-Off-the-Move is proper footwork.

a. Players must spend a great deal of time on their footwork for shooting-off-the-move.

b. To be an effective scorer, you must be able to shoot off-the- move. Shooting only from the
stationary position makes
you too easy to guard. L. Advanced Shooting
1. The two shots that we teach for advanced shooting are:

a. Shot off the Jab Step.

b. Shot off he Marquette Dribble.

2. Shot off the Jab Step.

a. From the medium center, you go to the LOW CENTER with the jab step, i.e. a forward fake with
your non-pivot foot.

b. The jab step must be straight at the defender and no more than six inches in length.

c. The shortness of the jab step is essential. This short aspect of the step is what gives the
shooter proper balance.

d. Balance enables the shooter to shoot off the fake without having to bring his faking foot back
for balance.

e. Perfection of the shot off the jab step leads to effective one on one moves to the basket.

3. Shot off the Marquette Dribble.

a. This is a great move for shooting off the dribble as well as creating a lay-up off a dribble
move.

b. This dribble is used when the defender is way off you, especially in the open court when the
defender is retreating to the basket to defend the basket on our fast break.

c. Fundamentals of the Marquette Dribble.

i. The dribbler is in a LOW CENTER and dribbles directly at the defender.

ii. As a right hand dribbler gets close to the defender, he pushes off his right foot for a
change of direction move.

iii. He leads with his left foot out of the change of
direction and pushes the ball in front of him to the inside of his left, lead foot.

iv. From here, the dribbler has two choices:

• He can take his right hand, get it to the left side of the ball and pull it to his right hand
and drive to the basket.

• Or he can pick up the dribble directly over his left foot and bring both the ball and his left
foot back to the shooting position for his shot.

Like all shots, this takes time and practice to get comfortable with it, but it does have a
comfortable rhythm once practiced enough.

This dribble is only executed with your strong hand. The ball never leaves your strong hand.

III. Shooting Drills | Basketball Skills by Michael Lang

A. Shooting Ritual | Basketball Skills by Michael Lang

1. This series of drills incorporates all the fundamentals we teach into a short drill which can be
used daily to precede our shooting drills.

a. This is another series of “One Minute Drills.”

2. The components of this drill are:

a. One dribble to square and sight.

i. Literally say “Sight” and locate the middle ring.

b. Two to three dribbles to square and sight.

i. Continue the verbal command, “Sight.”

c. Lay on back and shoot, one hand only, to work on grip, release, alignment, and follow through.

d. Same drill as above, only add the Balance Hand.

e. Go to a wall, pick a spot on the wall, dip the ball from your Shooting Pocket to your knees and
hit the spot on the wall.

i. You can also power step on this drill. f. Groove the Shot.
i. Start right at the basket and make two or three in a
row, then move back one step. Do this one hand only.

ii. When you get to 10 feet, add your balance hand and jump to your shot.

iii. Do this back to your range. g. Shooting-Off-the-Move
i. Now, with an easy Rhythm, you finish this drill by shooting off the move.

• Dribble to a spot and shoot.

• Pass the ball to yourself, catch it off the 1-2 stop and shoot.

B. Two Man Shooting | Basketball Skills by Michael Lang

1. We generally follow the Shooting Ritual with two man shooting.

2. We have two components to Two Man Shooting:

a. Shooting shoots until he misses.

i. Shooter quickly bust to a new spot after his shot, catches off the 1-12 stop and shoots
again.

ii. When the shooter misses, he busts to basket and makes a lay-up off a feed from his partner.

b. Close-Out.

i. Ball starts with the rebounder.

ii. He passes to shooter, follows his pass, and puts a hand up and may yell at the Shooter.

iii. Shooter concentrates on the rim, shoots, and follows his shot.

iv. The close-out man goes to a new spot on the floor. The rebounder now passes to him and the
continuity of the drill continues between the two of them.

C. Hubie- Shooting Off the Dribble. | Basketball Skills by Michael Lang

1. Each player has a ball.

2. Line up at mi-court in a single file line.

3. Each player dribbles to the shot using the 1-2 stop from six positions:

a. Mid-court to right lane line extended. b. Mid-court to left lane line extended.

c. Side of court to right elbow.

d. Side of court to left elbow.

e. Side of court to right baseline. f. Side of court to left baseline.
4. We count the consecutive shots made by the groups at
each basket. The groups compete against each other.

5. Our three-point shooters shoot from this range during this drill.

D. Two Ball Shooting | Basketball Skills by Michael Lang

1. This is a three man drill composed of the following:

a. Shooter

b. Rebounder c. Passer
2. Passer has a ball and the shooter has a ball to start the drill.

a. As soon as the shooter shoots, the passer throws him the ball for the next shot.

b. The rebounder boards and passes to the passer for drill continuity.

3. We generally play to 5 made baskets.

4. We move the shooter to different spots on the floor.

5. You can add the catch, to the ball and head fake, and one dribble clear for the shot.

E. Spot-Up Shooting | Basketball Skills by Michael Lang
1. Two me, one ball
2. The dribbler drives to the basket from various driving angles and the shooter spots-up.

3. The shooter shoots, follows his shot and then becomes the driver.

F. Shooting Off-the-Move Competition.

1. Four players line up behind the Free Throw Line or the three-point line.

2. They must shoot, follow their shot and board, then dribble back behind the line and shoot again.

3. The first player to make four baskets is the winner. G. Spot Shooting
1. We designate 4 spots – two elbows, two baseline spots.

2. Four players start on one of the 4 spots, each with a ball.

3. On the whistle, they shoot from their spot and rebound their shot.

4. We rotate clockwise.

5. You can only go to the next spot once you have scored from the spot you are on.

6. The first player to get back to his original spot and score is
the winner, necessitating five made baskets.

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Next Part of Basketball Skills by Michael Lang