Are You Open...or Hopin?

Tragically many players stand around watching or waiting for their turn to get the ball ?

If you’re not obviously open,  you’re only hopin’ to get the ball.  Being kinda open doesn't cut it.  Get yourself obviously open or don’t  expect to get the rock--especially  amongst top players. If you’ve got skills mastering this art gives you a legitimate chance to perform in any environment. Let’s face it. If you don’t show what you can do, know one knows what you can do.

“I find that most players are generally interested in scoring themselves. Some are selfish, but many are just confident in their own ability to score and are not maliciously dominating the ball or excluding you. An effective and team-healthy way to increase touches is to stay obviously open. If you are constantly open to make plays and your teammates consistently miss you with passes, then that should be a matter for the coach to resolve.”

The goal should always be to get as many quality touches as possible.  A quality touch is not just receiving the ball. It’s receiving the ball with an opportunity (in terms of time or space from the defender)  to make productive plays and without forcing the action. This is starkly different from just receiving the ball (however) and just trying to make something work.  That’s one-on-one basketball which generally compromises healthy team play-- regardless of whether you make a play or not.

In closing

Get yourself obviously open. Aggressively look to make plays every touch- if possible...and PLEASE don’t forget the “Ode:“

If you’ve got a shot- make it. If you’ve got a drive- take it. If you’ve got a pass- relay it