Positions in a game of Basketball
Although the rules do not specify any positions, they have evolved as part of
the game of basketball. During the first five decades of basketball's evolution,
one guard, two forwards and two centers or two guards, two forwards, and one
center were used. Since the 1980s however, more specific positions have
evolved.- Point Guard: Usually the fastest player on the team, the point guard organizes the team's offense by controlling the ball and making sure that it gets to the right player at the right time.
- Shooting Guard: Creates a high volume of shots on offense and guards the opponent's best perimeter player on defense.
- Small Forward: Primarily responsible for scoring points via cuts to the basket and dribble penetration. On defense, the small forward seeks rebounds and steals, but sometimes plays more actively.
- Power Forward: Plays offensively, often with his/her back to the basket. On defense, the power forward plays under the basket (in a zone defense) or against the opposing power forward (in man-to-man defense).
- Center: Uses height and size to score (on offense), to protect the basket closely (on defense) or to rebound.
The above descriptions are flexible. On some occasions, teams will choose to use a three-guard offense, replacing one of the forwards, or the center, with a third guard. The most commonly interchanged positions are point guard and shooting guard, especially if both players have good leadership and ball-handling skills.
Strategy
Strategies have also evolved with the game. In the 1990s and early 2000s,
teams often played with more "isolation." Teams that had one superstar would let
one player, usually the point guard or shooting guard, run most of the offense
while the other four offensive players got out of his or her way. Nowadays,
teams tend to play with more teamwork. The center position has evolved to become
more of a taller small forward position. Since teams play with more teamwork,
ball movement has evolved with the game, and more jump shots have been taken as
a result. There are two main defensive strategies: zone defense and man-to-man
defense. Zone defense involves players in defensive positions guarding whichever
opponent is in their zone. In man-to-man defense, each defensive player guards a
specific opponent and tries to prevent him/her from taking action. Defense has
also evolved as a resonse to the evolution of the offense. "Zone Defense" has
changed with many variations. There are defensive schemes called "2–3 zone",
"3–2 zone", "box-and-1", "2–1–2 zone" and many more. All of these variations
were created to defend different options that an offense has. "Man-to-man
defense" has been the most preferred of all the option. Offensive plays are more
varied, normally involving planned passes and movement by players without the
ball. A quick movement by an offensive player without the ball to gain an
advantageous position is called a cut. A legal attempt by an offensive player to
stop an opponent from guarding a teammate, by standing in the defender's way
such that the teammate cuts next to him, is called a screen or a pick. Those two
plays combined is a pick and roll, in which a player sets a pick and then
"rolls" away from the pick towards the basket. Screens and cuts are very
important movements in offensive plays; they allow the quick passes and teamwork
which can lead to a successful basket. Teams almost always have several
offensive plays planned to ensure their movement is not predictable. On court,
the point guard is usually responsible for identifying to his teammates which
play will occur. Defensive and offensive structures, and positions, are more
emphasized in the higher skilled teams in basketball.
Shooting
The most common and recommended way of shooting the ball is as follows: The
ball is first held with both hands with the guide hand on the side of the ball
and the shooting hand under the ball. The ball rests in the shooting hand, in
the manner of a waiter carrying a tray. The power of the shot comes from the
legs, passing through to the elbow and wrist extensions of the shooting arm,
finally continuing through the fingers. The ball is shot toward the target by
extending the wrist in a half-arc until the fingers are pointing toward the
floor. The ball rolls off the finger tips while the wrist completes a full
downward flex motion. The shooting elbow is extended upward, starting its
extension from approximately a 90ยบ flex. The ball should be evenly placed
between the index and middle fingers. The ball ideally has a reverse, even spin,
called backspin. This deadens the shot upon impact with the rim and applies
"touch" to the ball. The ideal trajectory of the shot is somewhat arguable, but
generally coaches will prefer a proper arch. The ball should pass well above the
hoop, depending on the length of the shot, and travel downward into the basket
to create the best angle for success. A shot that has little arch is called an
"arrow" and has less chance of going in. A shot with too much arch is sometimes
called a "rainbow". A rainbow is preferable to an arrow. A fluid shot involves a
sequenced motion extending the knee, elbow, wrist and fingers. From behind, a
shooter will have his/her arm fully extended while the wrist and fingers form a
"gooseneck" position.
Passing
A pass is a method of moving the ball between players. Most passes are
accompanied by a step forward to increase power, and are followed through with
the hands to ensure accuracy. One of the most basic passes is the Chest
Pass. The ball is passed directly from the passer's chest to the
receiver's chest. This advantageous because it takes the least amount of time to
complete, as the player tries to pass as straight as possible. Another type of
pass is the Bounce Pass. In this pass, the ball bounces about
two-thirds of the way from the passer. Like the chest pass, it is passed from
the passer's chest to the receiver's chest, and it is passed as directly as
possible. For example, there should be no downward motion of the ball between
the bounce and the time the receiver catches it. In this way, it is completed in
the least amount of time possible. It takes longer to complete than the chest
pass, but it is more difficult for the opposing team to intercept. If the player
is crowded or needs to pass the ball around a defender, this pass is often used.
The Overhead Pass is used to pass the ball over a defender. The
ball is passed from behind the passer's head, over it and toward the chin of the
receiver. This pass is also fairly direct and can cover more distance than a
chest pass. A pass is not necessarily always between two players who are at a
distance from each other. Sometimes, a clever cut by a teammate can mean that a
pass is to a teammate in motion who is closer to the passer when he/she is
passing the ball. The most important aspect of a good pass is that it is
difficult for the defense to intercept. For this reason, large arc-shaped passes
are almost always avoided and cross-court passes are extremely rare.
Dribbling
Dribbling is the act of bouncing the ball continuously. When a player
dribbles, they push the ball down towards the ground, rather than patting it,
because this ensures greater control. When dribbling past an opponent, the
player should use the hand furthest from the opponent. It is important for a
player to be able to dribble confidently with either hand, so the defender will
not be able to get to the ball without getting past the dribbler. The dribble is
also lowered when switching hands so movement is more frequent. This is because,
when switching the hand that is dribbling, the ball travels in front of the
player, making it easier to steal. To switch hands, a player can dribble between
his/her legs or behind the back. Players should not have to watch the ball while
they are dribbling. By pushing the ball they know where it is without having to
see it. A player's peripheral vision can also track the ball. By not having to
focus on the ball, a player can look for teammates or scoring opportunities, as
well as steer himself/herself away from danger.
Rebounding
A rebound is the act of successfully gaining possession of the basketball
after a missed field goal or free throw. Rebounds in basketball are a major part
in the game, as most possessions end after a missed shot. Rebounds are divided
into two main categories: Offensive Rebounds, in which the ball
is recovered by the offensive side and does not change possession, and
Defensive Rebounds, in which the defending team gains
possession of the loose ball. Most rebounds are defensive because the teams on
defense tend to be in better positions (closer to the basket) to recover missed
shots. Offensive rebounds provide another opportunity to score for the offensive
team, either right away or by resetting the offense. Rebounds are credited to
the first player that gains clear possession of the ball, or to a player that
successfully deflects the ball into the basket for a score. There are many
attributes characteristic of great rebounders. The most common are height and
strength. Because height is important, most rebounds are made by centers and
power forwards. Great rebounders must also have a keen sense of timing and have
great leaping ability. It is also important that players position themselves in
the best spot to get the rebound. This is done primarily by boxing out. Team
rebounds are credited to a team that gains possession of the ball after any
missed shot that is not cleared by a single player (i.e., deflected out of
bounds after the shot, blocked out of bounds, etc.). A team rebound is never
credited to any player, and is generally considered to be a formality. According
to the rules of basketball, every missed shot must be rebounded whether a single
player controls the ball or not.
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