05/03/2019
Patience, Decisiveness & Aggressiveness
Improves Offensive Effectiveness
The art with being effective while being patient is maintaining aggressiveness. Patience is not complacency or slowness. nes of being “aggressively patient.” Good offensive patience could be defined as running your offense aggressively until you can take advantage of a defense breakdown. Patience means to maintain composure, endurance, and fortitude in the midst of seemingly superior, formidable, insurmountable opposition.
Patient Strategy Signals
Five fingers indicates making at least five passes before attempting a shot.
A fist indicates that the ball must touch the paint once before a jump shot.
To maintain aggressiveness, be prepared to take a lay-up at any time. With very few exceptions, a drive to the rim or a cutter to the rim has precedence and all restrictions are off.
Decisive Strategies
The more the defense believes that you’re a scoring threat the more your teammates will be open for them to take high percentage shots. You've got to be patient, but you simply have to be aggressive when you get the chance. Learn to read the opportunity the opponents give you so that you know when to be aggressive and when to back off.
“Indecision is the enemy of success.” This technique removes doubt, indecision, and makes you more confident and aggressive. It also speeds up your decision-making.
One of the best ways to increase your number of scoring opportunities is to make quicker decisions. This gives the defense less time to rotate and get in position. Additionally, the help defense is constantly scrambling and out of position.
Aggressive Strategies
This means more open shots, more driving lanes, and more passing lanes.Bottom line, you are more effective. And one way to accomplish all of this is through a technique called mapping.
How “Mapping” Works
Immediately look for Option A.
If option A isn’t there, do option B.
If option B isn't there, do option C.
If option C isn’t there, do option D.
You should always "Think Shot" when catching the ball. This helps prepare you mentally and physically. Your feet (wheels) are lined up to shoot, your eyes are up so you can see the entire floor… both the defense and open teammates.
You put more pressure on the defense. They have to close out more aggressively which can create gaps in the defense for high percentage shots, layups, and passes.
Option A - If you have the ability to shoot a high percentage, you’re open and in rhythm, you shoot the ball... as long as it makes sense with the time and score.
Option B - If you don't have the shot, you instantly think lay up.
Option C - If defense rotates to stop the drive, pull up for a jump shot.
Option D - or pass the ball to a teammate who goes thru the same progression.
You would be amazed what these simple mapping tips do to your assertiveness and aggressiveness on the court. The key is to take whatever the defense gives you by forcing their hand. The more decisive and aggressive you are the more options will be available to you and your teammates.
Benefits to Other Facets of the Game
Mapping can also be applied to all aspects of the game! More on that later.
