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Basketball offensive strategies are basically the approaches taken by the offensive players during a game. It can be either an offensive strategy for a quick attack or for a slow attack. There are many types of offensive strategies that depend upon the type of offense run by the coach. This blog post will discuss with you some effective offensive strategies that can improve your basketball game.

Battle Plan: Learn the Different Basketball Offensive Strategies

High-level basketball is somewhat like a virtual chess match. The moves you make on the court should be calculated in order to achieve optimal success. For this exact reason, it is of paramount importance to grasp a firm understanding of the different basketball offensive strategies.  

Dribble with purpose

The dribble is the basis of all offensive moves in basketball. While you may have mastered the jump-stop, mastered a good crossover, and perfected your finishing, think about your dribble. Dribbling with purpose can make all the difference between a great move and a turnover or getting blocked. Not only that but having a purposeful dribble attracts the defender’s attention which opens up more opportunities to move in different ways.

A balanced attack is one of the best basketball offensive strategies. The best offensive players are able to dribble with purpose, knowing when to drive and when to cut. The best decision-makers are able to look at an entire play in time and make sound decisions based on their teammates and the situation on the floor. The best shooters are able to make fades away during the warm-up for their teammates or simply wait for a perfect pass.

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Create space at all times

Creating space is one of the most important basketball offensive strategies. While there are many parts to creating space the main objective at all times is to create room in which you can attack the basket. This usually means moving your opponent away while providing yourself with an opportunity for a drive or a jumper. In fact, it is the bigs’ responsibility to not allow themselves being collapsed in on or to move their defender so that they create space and open up a better opportunity for their guards to attack.

Always locate the shooters

One of the best ways to initiate an effective offensive in basketball is to immediately look for any open shooters once you’ve caught the ball. You shouldn’t be worried about your lower percentage scoring chances by trying to go down low and score. Instead, an easy pass can set up teammates for wide-open shots on the perimeter. This is what makes creating offensive strategies essential for success in competitive basketball.

While it seems pretty basic, always locating the shooters is crucial in basketball offensive strategies. If you think about it, knowing what player your opponents are focusing on will allow you to effectively cut off opportunities for the other team through back-door cuts and taking away shots from a certain player.

Create an opening for yourself or your teammates

When you are on offense, there is nothing more important than creating openings for yourself or your teammates. These openings can lead to easy shots on the ball or layups when you’re double or triple-teamed. It is also possible for the defensive players to become disorganized and end up committing a foul. 

A fundamental part of playing basketball is movement. When you move, you create space between yourself and the defender. This creates a moment of opportunity—you can deliver a pass, shoot a jump ball or grab a rebound.

Use your best skills to your advantage in the court!

Ball movement

When a basketball is in motion, it has two primary purposes. The primary purpose of the ball in motion is to score. The secondary purpose of the ball in motion is to create space for another person or player to get to the hoop. There are many ways an offensive player can move the ball and create opportunities for themselves, consistent with the proper utilization of angles created by their teammates, misdirections created by screens, and defensive rotations designed to cut off passing lanes created by cutting off defensive rebounds. 

Learn to move without the ball 

Learn to move without the ball, that’s the secret of effective offense. When you’re free and can choose your spots, use your feet instead of your hands. That’s how you score in the paint. It’s also how you’ll win games by running the floor and getting to the free-throw line. It might seem hard at first, but without much practice, this is actually pretty simple and perfect for anyone who wants to improve their skills on the court.

Furthermore, without the ball, a player is forced to use his or her brain. In fact, when you move without the ball, you’re practicing an offensive basketball strategy – the cut. It’s a fundamental tactic that every basketball player should learn and practice. Essentially, it’s a way of moving that helps a player make space and get open to receive a pass.

Presence of Mind in Game Situations

Being a good offensive player is being able to stay calm and aware of your surroundings, knowing what’s going on and where you should be at all times. Being a great offensive player means blending in with the team concept, being aware of your teammates’ best attributes, and using them to your advantage.

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