7 Highly Effective Tips for
Improving Your Jump Shot

How do good players get open to shoot the basketball?

Let's turn to the NBA, where you've got some of the top athletes in the world playing the sport, to see how they get open for shots.

Here are 7 ways (in no particular order) that NBA and college players use to get open, and get enough space to take their shots.

Dribble-drive past the defender

This is one of the most basic ways to get open for a shot: simply take your defender off the dribble, and either pull up for a jump shot, or go all the way to the rim. Obviously, you have to be quick, and have good ball handling skills to break the defender down with a dribble.

Pump fakes

Pump fakes are another great way to get open for a shot. Pump fake your defender off his feet, then drive around him. Or pump fake, get the defender off balance, and then go up for your shot. Either way, it's about getting the defender to bite, to believe that you're going to shoot the ball, then make your move.

Jab steps

Much like the pump fake, the jab step is meant to get the defender off balance, so you can shoot the ball, or drive to the basket. NBA players, who are quick and great athletes, use this move often. A quick, forceful jab step can get the defender off balance so you can make your move and take the shot.

Come off of screens

As part of a good offense, you can get open by running your defender off of screens. Don't underestimate how important, and how effective, screens can be for getting you open and enough space to take your shot or drive to the hoop.

Height on your jumper

A very simple way to get your shot off against a good defender is to simply out-jump them. If you have a great jump shot (where you really get off the ground), you can often just shoot over the defense.

Have multiple offensive weapons so you keep the D off-balance

Multiple weapons simply means that you have the ability to score in a variety of ways. Guess what this does for you? It keeps the defense guessing. If you have a great dribble drive, the defense has to back off of you to protect against it (giving you extra room to shoot the ball). If you have a great jump shot, the defense has to play you close, giving you the opportunity to drive around them. Have the ability to score in a variety of ways and you'll open the game up for yourself.

Use quick and aggressive cuts to the basket

You'd be surprised at how simple, but quick and aggressive cuts to the basket can get you open for shots. Defenders like it when you walk around the court slowly, at half speed, and make weak cuts to the basket. Imagine if in the next game, every cut you make is lightening quick, aggressive, and sharp. I guarantee that you'll find yourself open more often than you'll believe, and probably catch a few passes for easy baskets.

There you have them: 7 ways NBA (and all good players for that matter) get open for shots.

Use some of these techniques, and you'll find yourself getting the space you need to shoot the ball.

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