Thread by @PGCbasketball

In basketball, playing with control is a superpower.

If you want your players to:

• pile on the assists
• take better shots
• turn it over less
• score more and
• get fouled often

...teach them this one skill immediately!

(a thread👇)

If you guessed right, good work!

...the skill is playing off 2 feet & using jump stops at the end of drives.

There's countless situations in games where a player has a massive advantage if...

...they just. play. off. two.

Let’s first define the WHEN & WHY.

Here's 2 easy rules to live by:

(1) when your shot has a chance to be blocked or bothered… go off 2-ft.

(2) if the finish is quick, clever, or clear — going off one is fine.

That’s when, and now let's talk why.

At a young age, most players are taught to go off 1 and that becomes their default take-off method.

The problem is...

...many mistakes (bad shots, TO's, missing open teammates) occur because the player lacks time.

When you go off 1-ft, you're committed. You have to be right.

You don't have extra time to think & process all the information.

On the other hand, going off two gives you more time.

• More time to think.
• More time to process.
• More time to make reads.

In addition, playing off two helps you stay balanced & powerful.

As a mini experiment, try this.

Stand on 1-ft & have someone push you. You'll fall easily.

Now, stand on 2 w/ a wide base & have someone push you.

Feel the difference?

You can absorb & initiate contact.

Not only that, let's talk changing direction.

Unless you're @KingJames - who has superpowers to jump off 1 and change his flight-plan in mid air...

...you need a different strategy.

Playing off 2 allows you to change direction.

See @Kelseyplum10 & @joshhart below 👇

Still with us? Let's keep going!

The most effective weapon playmakers have when getting to the paint is...

(you guessed it)...fakes.

When you jump-stop, you gain time to fake the defense in order to move em' & open scoring opportunities for you or a teammate.

Through 30 years of playing & coaching, we've learned this:

Referees reward control.

If you can master playing off two in traffic...

...you'll get more foul calls b/c you'll look like you're in control & more powerful.

When you play off 1, you often realize a pass is available when you're in mid-air.

Ever seen this?

Making this pass is difficult and can lead to sloppy TOs.

Jump stopping allows you to make these passes on target & even pivot to find open players you would miss off 1.

You can’t grow four inches tomorrow but you can start jump stopping more — immediately.

If you play off 2-ft in the paint, it'll allow you to play bigger than you are.

You'll have the efficiency and effectiveness of a player 4-5 inches taller.

Playing off 2-ft allows you to throw off the timing of the shot blocker.

Defenders are used to timing the 1-ft, right-left-layup. It's what we all know.

It's easy to time the steps & contest.

Playing off 2-ft makes you unpredictable & gives you the element of surprise.

Of course, there's a time to play off 1.

If you:

1.) have a breakaway lay-up — go off 1.
2.) end of list. 😂
(kidding)

We won't go into all the reasons and times for 1-ft takeoffs right now (that's a future thread)

b/c playing off 1 should be a deviation, not the default.

Before we close, here's one more resource for you - showing more of what we're talking about.

10 minutes of film from the @NovaMBB fundamental series.

In conclusion:

Why play off two feet?

• Helps you to take more contact
• Gives you more time to fake.
• Helps you change direction
• Gives you balance & power

If you enjoyed this thread...

1. Retweet the 1st tweet above
2. Make sure you're following us @PGCbasketball for more content like this daily.

Keep being a light!

Hey @SethOnHoops, as you’ve been traveling watching teams practice…

…how much emphasis do you see on this?