Mastering the Midrange
– Think The Game Thursday –
In this week’s video, PGC Director Marke Freeman shares a basketball shooting drill that will help you master your midrange shot. Complete this basketball shooting drill and you will get a total of 200 quality shots.
Listen Now: The Coaching Culture Podcast
Recently, Mano made a guest appearance on the Coaching Culture Podcast with JP Nepburn & Nate Sanderson to discuss how teams teach a championship mindset.
Chris Paul Midrange Workout
Complete this basketball shooting drill and you will get a total of 200 quality shots. You need to make 40 shots from each spot (corners, wings, top), practicing 4 reads per spot 5 on the right and 5 on the left.
Read 1: Point Guard Floater
Self toss to get yourself into your blast read off of the catch immediately ripping and going right into your point guard floater
Read 2: Pull Up Jumper
We already have the advantage on the catch so we’re going to take long strides to create maximum separation and pull up before that second line of defense has an opportunity contest our shot.
Read 3: Boom 1-2 Pull Up
We will use this move against strong defenders when they are still on our hip and we haven’t created that clear advantage. Off of that blast read we have to go into our short and choppy steps creating that pocket of space so that we can pull up and get that uncontested or slightly contested mid-range shot.
Read 4: Snack-back Dribble
This read is a great way to relieve pressure whenever you’re going against an aggressive and stronger defender. If you are unable to free any space, use your snatch-back dribble. Attack the basket, throw your shoulders to the floor and the moment you see opportunity, snatch back, creating space between you and the defender for a nice and easy mid-range open shot.
Don’t stop here, join us at a PGC camp near you to discover how to rewire your shooting mechanics for maximum accuracy, develop a lightning-quick release, and discover the mindset and training required to become a deadly shooter.
Think Deeper
Stopping on a Dime
Everyone in basketball has heard the phrase “stopping on a dime” – even your average basketball fan knows that special players have the ability to go fast and stop quickly. Have you ever thought about why it’s one of the most critical skills championship level point guard has in his or her game?
Here are some simple reasons:
- A controlled, on-balance stop – especially in the lane – gives you time to make decisions. By nature we are good decision makers but often lack enough time to make the proper decision.
- The added time gives you a chance to supplement your move with a variety of fakes. Every great point guard knows that the essence of the game is deception and adding fakes after a stop makes you a more dangerous offensive player.
- Many of the specific finishing moves we teach at our Essentials program originate from an on-balance body position. Stopping on a dime allows your body the ability to get on-balance and then finish with greater control than taking off on 1-foot.
- When you take off on 1-foot, shot blockers can easily time their jump due to the simple law of gravity: everything that must go up, must come down. Leaving the floor with 1-foot take-offs leaves you susceptible to shot blockers; however, a stop leading into a 2-foot take-off does not allow for a shot blocker to easily time their jump – especially with the use of numerous fakes.
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About PGC
PGC Basketball provides intense, no-nonsense basketball training for players and coaches. Our basketball camps are designed to teach players of all positions to play smart basketball, be coaches on the court, and be leaders in practices, games and in everyday life.
We combine our unique PGC culture with a variety of teaching methods and learning environments to maximize the learning potential of those that attend our sessions. In addition to spending 6-7 hours on the court each day, lessons will be reinforced through classroom sessions and video analysis.
Our goal at PGC is to empower you with the tools to fulfill your basketball dreams, while also assisting you in experiencing the joy of the journey.
To learn more about PGC Basketball, including additional basketball training tips and videos, visit our YouTube Channel or find us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
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