Finishing A Game

After playing a close intense game of basketball, those last few moments can feel anxious or exciting. This is the time to trust the work you’ve been putting in and stay in control. In those last few moments it is prior disciplines that make the difference between a win or a loss. 

At the end of a game you need to be controlling the offensive pace. In order to do this effectively you have to stay calm. If you’ve been putting the reps in, trust that. Don’t take dumb shots. A good rule of thumb is keeping the opponent on defense for 15 seconds unless we’re down. We are looking for high percentage shots. Think layups and mid range shots. Be prepared to get fouled.

That takes me into the next important thing. Knocking down your free throws. They can make or break a game. You need to be putting time into shooting free throws. This is considered for some to be the easiest shot in basketball. You should be aiming to be at least a 70% free throw shooter and then grow from there.

Lastly, whether we are up, down or it’s tied, defensive stops are most important. Working on your defensive skills as much as your offense is key to finishing games strong. If you’re playing for Rise, you are expected to be a strong defensive player. Defensive laziness (especially at the end of a game) could result in a loss for our team and might compromise your minutes in the future. Get ahead of this by putting the reps in before game time. 

When you’re putting in the work, the results show. Muscle memory takes over and you become more confident. More games are won and the game becomes more fun.