WHY IS THE NEED TO FOCUS ON SHOOTING IN BASKETBALL SO IMPORTANT?
Shooting: The Most Important Skill in the Game
Shooting is the most valued skill in basketball! But for decades, the ability to control and direct (shoot) the basketball with accuracy and proficiency has been perplexing to many who play the game. The expertise and dexterity needed to shoot effectively has managed to elude even the most gifted of players. Natural talent reaches its limit where there is an absence of skill—a condition that can lead one to never reach their full potential. The ACE Shooting Method grew out of the need to fill the biggest hole in the game—skilled and expert marksmanship in shooting the basketball.
Reasons for the Need to Focus on Shooting
Arguably, shooting is the hardest thing to teach and the hardest thing to learn in basketball. Tack on the attempt to change imbedded “muscle memory” of well-established shooting habits, and a very challenging venture occurs.
In some circles of amateur competition, we can find athleticism being used to offset shooting deficiencies. This pattern can leave some players less developed in the skill to shoot. Below are a few more reasons why players in the U.S. may fall short in developing a good shooting skill set:
1. The increase of year round competitive play over-extends young players and results in limited time for skills development. These activities include playing multiple sports, AAU, summer leagues, etc.
2. The specialty of shooting instruction that emphasizes the fundamentals of controlling the shot to improve accuracy is scarce and generally unavailable to many players.
3. Many young players are generally “self-taught” and are left on their own to learn how to shoot. Without proper instruction, they develop bad habits and ineffective shooting mechanics “lock in” over time.
4. Many young players begin shooting with balls that are heavier than what their muscles can support. At the same time, they are required to shoot on fixed “10 Foot” regulation goals, when adjustable baskets with lowered heights would be more appropriate.
5. Limited practice time and availability of facilities can make skills development challenging as game competition forces coaches to spend more time preparing players to play as a team.
6. The excitement and thrill of playing competitive games is generally of more interest, compared to the meticulous repetitions that accompany skills training—an essential requirement for success and longevity.
Shooting and the Need to Score
The team that scores the most points wins the game. You have to be able make shots! It’s a matter of fact that in basketball:
1. More shots are taken at the goal than any other major team sport (i.e. football, baseball, soccer, hockey, etc.).
2. There is more scoring than any other major team sport.
3. Good shooters are scarce. There are generally more unskilled shooters per team, amateur or professional. Investing in shooting development should be an obvious priority.
4. The ability to score from outside is becoming more of a force in the game.
5. The shot clock increases the frequency of shooting and the need to shoot effectively.
6. When set plays breakdown, the ability to make outside shots has become an essential asset in today’s game.
Good Shooters Are In Demand!
When you look around the NBA, all the highly mentioned or most popular players have one thing in common—the ability to shoot the basketball! The popularity and demand for good shooters is gaining ground, as per the following:
• Players like Stephen Curry, James Harden, and Carmelo Anthony are highly regarded because they possess a jump shot.
• During his free agency tour of 2014, Carmelo Anthony was not sought-after for his defense or rebounding—they coveted his jump shot!
• The current trend of “Small Ball” works for teams who have players that can make outside shots.
There are exceptions, but every year the most wanted free agents in the NBA are players who can shoot.
Concern For NBA Prospects
Playing in the NBA is challenging enough for new players. It’s difficult for rookies to contribute immediately when faced with:
• Having to compete against the most skilled and athletic players in the world.
• Having to play with the highest level of speed and quickness.
• Having to play at the highest level of defensive intensity.
• Having to keep pace with the rigors of travel, scheduling and other new lifestyle activities.
And with the above landscape, the pressure to make it and compete for playing time is impacted by the fact that:
• Over half of all first round draft picks were evaluated as needing to improve their outside shooting in the 2015 NBA Draft.
• Over half of all first round draft picks were assessed as needing to improve their outside shooting in the 2014 NBA Draft.
As the trend continues, The ACE Shooting Method for Basketball is the viable solution that needs to be considered.
Take a look at our Video Section for a demonstration of our ACES in Action.