YBCA

The following is a footwork and finishing drill sequence similar to that previously described under “Lay-up Instruction and Drill”. However, this drill sequence adds additional elements and points of emphasis.

The fundamental movement is a straight-line, 1-dribble, 3-step, basket attack from beyond the 3-point line at the high-wing position. The movement is composed of a dribble-step, a pick-up step, and a scoring step. 

“Permutation” is the act of changing the arrangement of a given number of elements. In this case, the elements will include: the dribble hand, the first-step attack foot, the type of ball pick-up (or gather-type), and the finishing hand.

Global emphasis on the dribble-step is habitual, simultaneous foot and ball contact with the floor while executing a long and low, explosive first step to eliminate the possibility of a travel call.

Global emphasis on the finish is good extension and proper finger-control for correct ball side-spin. Specifically, correct ball side-spin refers to the advantageous use of ball spin off the backboard. That is, as the back of the ball makes contact with the backboard, if the front of the ball has side-spin in the direction of the basket, then the ball will have a tendency to spin itself downward into the basket if the ball should hang on the rim. Good players utilize this phenomenon to their advantage (especially when seeking additional effective extension to the opposite side of the basket). This concept of correct ball side-spin is preferably mastered during a prerequisite spin drill sequence called “spinology” which will be described in a separate post.

With regard to the types of ball pick-ups incorporated, the sequence will typically be:

  a) straight pick-up: ball is gathered at the outside hip and brought directly into the finish movement

  b) behind the head pick-up: ball is quickly swept up from the dribble to behind the head and then transitioned to the finishing movement

  c) fullback pick-up: ball is gathered into the gut and covered over and under with both arms while busting through active defensive hands

  d) around the back pick-up: ball is moved around the waist off the dribble (clockwise for right-handed dribble & counter-clockwise for lefthand dribble)

  f) fake around the back pick-up: ball is moved half-way around the waist (to the back) off the dribble and quickly returned in time to transition to the finishing movement

The 1-dribble attack permutations are defined as follows:

  1)   Left(L)/Right(R)/Left(L) footwork: R-hand dribble: straight pick-up: R-hand finish

  2)   L/R/L footwork: R-hand dribble: behind head pick-up: R-hand finish

  3)   L/R/L footwork: R-hand dribble: fullback pick-up: R-hand finish

  4)   L/R/L footwork: R-hand dribble: around back pick-up: R-hand finish

  5)   L/R/L footwork: R-hand dribble: fake around the back pick-up: R-hand finish

  6)   L/R/L footwork: L-hand dribble: straight pick-up: R-hand finish

  7)   L/R/L footwork: L-hand dribble: behind head pick-up: R-hand finish

  8)   L/R/L footwork: L-hand dribble: fullback pick-up: R-hand finish

  9)   L/R/L footwork: L-hand dribble: around back pick-up: R-hand finish

  10) L/R/L footwork: L-hand dribble: fake around the back pick-up: R-hand finish

  11) L/R/L footwork: R-hand dribble: straight pick-up: L-hand finish

  12) L/R/L footwork: R-hand dribble: behind head pick-up: L-hand finish

  13) L/R/L footwork: R-hand dribble: fullback pick-up: L-hand finish

  14) L/R/L footwork: R-hand dribble: around back pick-up: L-hand finish

  15) L/R/L footwork: R-hand dribble: fake around the back pick-up: L-hand finish

  16) L/R/L footwork: L-hand dribble: straight pick-up: L-hand finish

  17) L/R/L footwork: L-hand dribble: behind head pick-up: L-hand finish

  18) L/R/L footwork: L-hand dribble: fullback pick-up: L-hand finish

  19) L/R/L footwork: L-hand dribble: around back pick-up: L-hand finish

  20) L/R/L footwork: L-hand dribble: fake around the back pick-up: L-hand finish

  21) R/L/R footwork: R-hand dribble: straight pick-up: L-hand finish

  22) R/L/R footwork: R-hand dribble: behind head pick-up: L-hand finish

  23) R/L/R footwork: R-hand dribble: fullback pick-up: L-hand finish

  24) R/L/R footwork: R-hand dribble: around back pick-up: L-hand finish

  25) R/L/R footwork: R-hand dribble: fake around the back pick-up: L-hand finish

  26) R/L/R footwork: L-hand dribble: straight pick-up: L-hand finish

  27) R/L/R footwork: L-hand dribble: behind head pick-up: L-hand finish

  28) R/L/R footwork: L-hand dribble: fullback pick-up: L-hand finish

  29) R/L/R footwork: L-hand dribble: around back pick-up: L-hand finish

  30) R/L/R footwork: L-hand dribble: fake around the back pick-up: L-hand finish

  31) R/L/R footwork: R-hand dribble: straight pick-up: R-hand finish

  32) R/L/R footwork: R-hand dribble: behind head pick-up: R-hand finish

  33) R/L/R footwork: R-hand dribble: fullback pick-up: R-hand finish

  34) R/L/R footwork: R-hand dribble: around back pick-up: R-hand finish

  35) R/L/R footwork: R-hand dribble: fake around the back pick-up: R-hand finish

  36) R/L/R footwork: L-hand dribble: straight pick-up: R-hand finish

  37) R/L/R footwork: L-hand dribble: behind head pick-up: R-hand finish

  38) R/L/R footwork: L-hand dribble: fullback pick-up: R-hand finish

  39) R/L/R footwork: L-hand dribble: around back pick-up: R-hand finish

  40) R/L/R footwork: L-hand dribble: fake around the back pick-up: R-hand finish

This entire sequence would be executed on the right wing and the left wing. In addition, the entire sequence (or selected portions of the sequence) would be executed with diagonal attacks across the paint getting to the opposite side of the basket from both sides.

The entire permutation sequence from the indicated attack points would total 160 executions. This should provide ample opportunities to become comfortable with the footwork, pick-ups, finishes and rhythm of any combination of elements.

Rick Allison

LoneStar Basketball Academy

http://www.lonestarbasketball.com

[[[ C2E ]]]

The 1-dribble attack sequence is a quick, extended, straight-line basket attack from behind the 3-point line. This distance would be a bit too far for most players to properly execute the Euro-step with 1 dribble.

I usually work the inside-out and outside-in Euro-step move with a separate progression, because of the lateral change of direction elements involved. Usually I begin with the “ice-skater” (side-to-side) body movement to focus on proper ground-force generation in the lateral change of direction. I find that players are typically not getting enough lateral displacement on this move. Emphasis is also placed on gathering the ball properly on the change-of-direction plant-step (before the last lift-off step) to avoid a travel violation. If you gather too early.. and then take the plant-step and then the lift-step it's a travel. Maybe this progression will make it into another post.

You could, however, add the power layup off 2 feet within the context of the straight-line, 1-dribble attack progression. When I have done this, I have used a couple of finishing options:

1) straight power-up

2) pump and power (Ed Schilling terminology)

3) show and extend (Dorian Lee terminology)

On the straight power-up, the player will take the 1st dribble-step as in the 1-dribble progression (the ball hits the floor as the foot of the 1st step contacts the floor).  However, instead of striding into the 3rd step (scoring-step) from the 2nd step (pick-up step), the player hops off the 2nd step (while gathering the ball) and lands in a jump stop (with both feet contacting the floor at the same time). From this position with hips low, feet double-wide, and both legs fully loaded, the player explodes into the finishing shot off 2 feet.  Also, “popping” the ball on the pick-up step will help the referee in determining the new pivot foot.

On the pump and power, the player executes the same movement as the straight power-up, except on the jump stop the player pump fakes (with eyes and ball) while staying down, legs fully loaded. The player then explodes up through the defender on a 2 foot power move. This should be used when defenders are aggressively trying to block finishing shots. Drawing a foul while scoring is always a great play and further set-back for your opponent.

The show and extend is a “double-clutch” move that can be used with the straight power-up or the pump and power. As the player explodes vertically upward to initiate the power move off 2 feet, the ball is raised above the eyes to “show” a finishing shot attempt (i.e., a shot fake). During this upward part of the maneuver the player may also want to initiate body contact with the defender. The player hangs in the air as long as possible while pulling the ball back down and re-initiating the shot further extended from the body. The ball can be extended on either side of the body. It can be particularly effective if the player can extend the shot with the inside hand to the weak side of the basket using the rim for additional protection from shot-blockers.

As mentioned, these finishes can be added within the context of the 1-dribble attack progression. They form a nice derivative of the footwork and body movements used in those sequences.

Rick Allison

LoneStar Basketball Academy

http://www.lonestarbasketball.com

[[[ C2E ]]]

so if i practice these layups everyday while visualizing imaginary defenders during my individual practice, will i be able to do these moves automatically in games….

Not necessarily, but I think it is an effective first step. These sequences are to establish neural pathways and explore movement rhythms and body control. 

The next step would be to add guided defenders to gain a sense of defensive presence. After an appropriate period of executions with guided defenders, a more aggressive execution against live defensive pressure (1v1 or 1v2) would be appropriate to shape the executions toward a more game-like environment. Finally, executing a sample set in a scrimmage or game situation would determine if mastery has been attained or if additional sequence iterations were required.

Rick Allison

LoneStar Basketball Academy

http://www.lonestarbasketball.com

[[[ C2E ]]]