Typically I like to work with smaller groups but when you have a group of guys that want to get in the gym I will never say no. Today’s workout consisted of 10 players so it went a little past an hour due to the shooting at the end.
Partner Pivot Warm-Up
This drill is a great warm-up series that gets your players moving, communicating, and improving their pivot efficiency. Players start on the baseline with a partner and self-pass to the free-throw line and perform 1 of the 4 pivots six teams. After pivoting, they make a strong and crisp 1 hand pass to their teammate. Players must talk to each other and call names on every pass.
- Front pivot left – Right hand pass
- Front pivot right – Left hand pass
- Reverse pivot left – Right hand pass
- Reverse pivot right – Left hand pass
Alley Attacks
This is one of my favorite drills to get players to tighten their handle and attack in transition, being play makers.
Players start beyond half-court to get a full head of steam before making the first move.
Series 1 (Frame 1)– Player starts with the ball in their right hand and performs an inside-out (at the chair…make sure the ball is taken far enough to ‘move’ the defense. Keeping the ball low and tight, the player then crosses over at the coach (secondary defender) and finishes at the rim.
Goal: 2 makes per side (increase the goal with fewer players)
Series 2 (Frame 2)– Player starts with the ball in their right hand and performs a running crossover at the chair and the performs an inside-out at the coach (secondary defender) and shoots a Russell Westbrook quick stop shot.
Goal: 2 makes per side (increase the goal with fewer players)
Series 3 (Frame 3)– Player starts with the ball in their left hand and performs an inside-out (at the chair…make sure the ball is taken far enough to ‘move’ the defense. Keeping the ball low and tight, the player then attacks the coach (secondary defender), at the coach they make a quick pop back dribble (sideways protecting the ball) and dribble between their legs into a push-up nail jump shot.
Goal: 2 makes per side (increase the goal with fewer players)
Transition Draft Drives
This Summer we implemented a faster ‘flow’ concept into our transition break vs running secondary quick hitters. With that being said, this is one drill that will help our players not only become better at thinking attack 1st players, but it will also improve our drives in our half-court Read & React offense.
Series 1 (Frame 1)– Players start at half-court (as we advance closer to the season the line will move further back) and take one advance dribble before passing ahead to the wing. The player on the wing will then drive right with a throw out dribble off the back of the cutter and severing the angle off the hip/top foot of the coach playing token defense, for an elbow jumper. As soon as the cutter (passer) cleared they are coming back to the wing as the next attacker; the line at half-court must pay attention as the drill moves quickly.
**As the players start to catch the ball, have their hips and feet pointing to the rim so they can peek first and attack quicker.
Series 2 (Frame 2)– Same set-up and action as in Frame 1. This time after attacking the elbow, we put a secondary defender in which the players had to change between the legs and finish with a floater or jump shot outside the paint.
Series 3 (Frame 3)– Same as Series 1 except on the left side.
Series 4 (Frame 4)– On the catch, the player performed chest rip middle to move the defense before attacking baseline. The timing of this side worked out great as the cutter became the secondary defender in which the players had to change direction at, finishing with a runner in the paint.
Banana Cut Transition
This is a great drill I got last year from Drew Hanlen. Players start by passing to the coach and banana cutting under the FT line. Players must catch and push-out the ball and dribble to the other end with only 3 dribbles to the wing for a jump shot.
Goal: 4 makes each
Repeat on the left side.
Shooting / Post Work Finish
To finish off the workout I wanted to get some high rep shots up.
One group of three players did five-spot shooting making 5 mid-range and 2 three’s apiece at all five spots.
Two other groups of did two-man 1 ball shooting from anywhere on the floor; 1st player to 10 makes won (loser had 5 push-ups).
A fourth group worked on some post moves and pivoting for the remainder of the workout.