There are exceptions to this, of course. For instance, if the defense is running a heavy full-court press (that is, they’re guarding every offensive player even before they cross the half court line), the point guard may not have the liberty of being able to bring the ball up court all by himself. In this case, he may need to pass it off to a teammate fairly quickly.
Note that it’s generally considered a bad idea for the point guard to stop dribbling the ball before he needs to (for instance, at the very start of a play). If the point guard stops dribbling, he can’t move again without getting a penalty called on him, which means the defense only needs to guard against him passing or shooting, giving them a much easier job.
A point guard with an excellent three-point shot or jump shot is especially valuable. With this ability, he has the potential to score from virtually anywhere around the basket, which means that the defense will almost always have to use a man to guard him. This makes it easier for the other people on the point guard’s team to score!
Beware the fast break — if you see a defender blow past you on the way to the other basket as soon as the ball goes in or his team gets the rebound, follow him! You may be the only player on your time who isn’t tied up near the basket, so you’re the only one who can keep the other team from scoring easy points.
Of course, the point guard shouldn’t feel limited to this zone, either. If an offensive play demands it, the point guard should feel versatile playing in any area of the court, including under the hoop.
The point guard’s commands should always serve to create scoring opportunities for his teammates. If he’s not looking for an open teammate to pass the ball to, he’s trying to get his teammates to make an opening so that either or someone else can score. To get an idea of the sort of directions a good point guard gives, watch one in action. The next time you watch a basketball game, keep an eye on the point guard. [7] X Expert Source Taylor RochestieProfessional Basketball Player Expert Interview. 13 July 2021. You should see him constantly surveying the court, barking out orders, and giving nonverbal cues to his teammates. For instance, it’s very common for a point guard to ask for a screen by making eye contact with one of his teammates and gesturing toward the defender in front of him.
At the highest levels of basketball, point guards sometimes use no-look passes, behind the back passes, and complicated fake-out moves to great effect. However, unless you’re experienced with these sorts of moves, don’t count on them during a game. Never attempt a flashy or showy pass when a simple chess pass will work just as well. Be wary of passing the ball into (or through) a crowd, even if the person you intend the ball to go to is open. The more defenders your pass sends the ball near, the bigger chance it’ll be intercepted.
For instance, let’s say you pass the ball to a teammate, but they’re quickly covered and can’t shoot. If the defender who was guarding you follows the ball, you’ll want to get the ball back from your teammate right away so that you can shoot — odds are that your teammate can pass you the ball faster than your defender can run back to you. Note, however, that this requires both you and your teammate to be aware of what the defense is doing. If you’ve got a defender in front of you when you’re trying to shoot, one way to open up a clear shot is to use a pump fake. Basically, you want to try to start your normal shooting motion, then suddenly stop it. Plant your feet, bend your knees, grab the ball with both hands, and bring it up to your nose as if you’re about to shoot. If done well, your defender may jump to block the shot, giving you the opportunity to quickly blow around him or time your shot so that you make it just as he’s hitting the ground.
Your team is in the lead after a few successful fast breaks, but your teammates are looking tired. In this case, slow the game down to give them a chance to recuperate during your possession — you’ll probably be better off in the long run even if you don’t score points immediately. Your opponents are visibly tired. In this case, look for an opening for a fast break to speed the game up and score some easy points — the defense doesn’t get to decide the tempo of the game, so take advantage of their fatigue! You’ve started a fast break, but your opponents have gotten up the court before you and are guarding the basket. In this case, don’t drive into a crowd of defenders — instead, stay at the perimeter and wait for your teammates to catch up.
As on offense, however, there are plenty of cases in which you’ll need to move from this default position depending on what the offense does. For instance, if the point guard passes the ball to a teammate and then moves toward the hoop, you’ll want to stay on him, denying him an easy path to the basket. In this case, there’s a chance that he’s looking to get the ball back under the hoop for an easy lay up, so stay between him and the hoop.
Stay low. Keeping your shoulders low and your hips back while you guard an opponent makes it easier for you to react to his motions — especially if he tries to blow around you. Keep your hands ready. Most defensive players keep at least one hand up when their opponent is within shooting range to block his shots. Many also like to keep one hand low to block passes and make steal attempts. Stay about an arm’s length from your opponent. If you’re too far away, your opponent may be able to get a shot off before you block him, but if you’re too close, he’ll have an easy time blowing around you. Have quick footwork. Use choppy, short steps like a lineman in football. The quicker your steps are, the quicker you’ll be able to react to an opponent’s change in direction.
Because he’s facing away from the hoop, it’s usually harder for a defensive point guard to have a good idea of what’s happening on the court than an offensive one. You may take quick looks behind you and to your sides to get a sense for the offense’s positioning, but don’t take your eyes off of your man for too long or he’ll be wide open for a shot.
Fast breaks are extra-hard to defend against if two offensive players are coming at you at once. In this case, you’ll want to avoid committing too heavily to either player. If you do, he’ll pass it to the other one and you won’t have time to react before he scores. Try to stay ahead of both players and between them and the basket. Balancing your attention between both players slows them down and gives the rest of your team time to catch up. If one player stops dribbling before he’s very close to the hoop, be ready to box out the other player and go for the rebound. If either player has an easy shot near the hoop, be ready to block it.
In addition, since he’s usually in control of the ball at the start of the play, the point guard is tasked with performing certain special duties like calling a time out. Knowing when to do these things requires him to be aware of both his coach’s plan and the circumstances of the game (especially late in the game when time outs and other stalling tactics are common). You can improve your skills by watching basketball in addition to playing it. This way, you can watch and observe the game at a slower pace. [9] X Expert Source Taylor RochestieProfessional Basketball Player Expert Interview. 13 July 2021.
The point guard may want to talk to his teammates and agree on a system of signals, code words and so on to keep his team’s strategy secret on the court. For instance, if the point guard raises a fist when he’s at the top of the key, this can be a signal for the small forward to cut back the three point line and get ready for a pass.
As a point guard, you’ll be an unofficial “coach” on the court. [10] X Expert Source Taylor RochestieProfessional Basketball Player Expert Interview. 13 July 2021.
Isiah Thomas Stephen Curry Gary Payton Magic Johnson Jason Kidd John Stockton James Harden Russell Westbrook Dwyane Wade
