5 Things Every Basketball Point Guard Should Know
For better scoring and controlled gameplay, there should be a player with a position in the basketball game that directs the ball and has effective leadership qualities.
It is thus necessary to give a player the position of point guard responsible for taking the game just as the coach has planned. There are 5 basic things every basketball point guard should know to keep the game running tactfully and strategically.
If you have started your journey as a basketball point guard, know that you need to keep observing the game closely and play it at the same time.
Keeping the game running at the right place and ensuring that the ball goes to the right player at the right time is the primary obligation of the point or the point guard.
If you have recently been picked as the one, know that you need to abide by all the leadership principles. Here are the 5 things every basketball point guard should know for the perfect game progression.
5 Things Every Basketball Point Guard Should Know
Basketball isn’t just a game where you toss the ball randomly, it requires strategy, tactics, and a lot of brainstorming. There are positions in basketball given to the players according to which they will play the game.
For instance, there is a power forward, shooting guard, small forward, point forward, point guard, and many more.
Each position has a crucial role to play in an effective game progression. If you are a first-timer and you happen to be a point guard, you will know how your performance will affect the course of the game.
Let us first understand what a point guard actually is and what is his role in the basketball game.
What Is A Point Guard?
A point guard is one of many positions in the basketball game given to the player with certain roles. A point guard takes the top position of the game and he/she is a good passer.
The role of the point guard is to direct the ball to the right player at the right time so that the chances of a goal can be increased.
The point guard runs the game just as the coach has planned. Other than that, the point guard also observes closely at what speed the game is progressing.
Let us discuss the 5 things every basketball point guard should know and follow.
1. As we have discussed before, every position in the game is appointed according to the unique qualities of the player and the same goes for the point guard. As a point guard, you must have good leadership qualities because it is your duty to direct the game as a leader.
Also, you should keep the team organized, things might heat up during the offense, therefore it is your responsibility as a point guard to keep things cool and act tactfully.
2. Another important thing you should keep in mind and act upon as a point guard is to always look for the ball keenly.
Observing the ball closely is very important during the game because it needs to go into the right hands. You should have a quick decision-making mind to make wise ball-passing decisions. Other than that, you should keep the ball out of the place when the field gets crowded to avoid turnovers.
3. As a point guard you need to act more with the brain, meaning, you need to closely observe where the greatest scoring opportunity is and pass the ball to that player.
During that time, your responsibility is to take the morale of your teammates higher and make them work better as a team. As a point guard, you will be driving the offense so it is necessary to have good ties with the team members.
4. If you want the game to be on your side, you need to increase the probability of turnovers for the opponent team. As a point guard, you should be good at pressuring the ball to make things uncomfortable for the opponent.
This will heat things up and the opponent might end up losing the chance of scoring and increase the probability of winning for you.
5. The last thing you should keep in mind and act upon as a point guard is to play at varying speeds. Your unpredictable speed will make it difficult for the opponent to guard the ball hence decreasing the chances of ball turnovers.
Practice different speeds for playing the game which will keep the defender guessing all the time.
The point guard is called the point guard because he is placed at the top of the game. A point guard is typically a defensive player who runs the team’s offense.
A player with effective leadership qualities and incredible passing abilities is often appointed as the point guard.
He controls the game in such a way that the ball is passed to the right player just in time so that the winning opportunity can be increased.
A point guard is expected to have a keen glance, incredible speed, and a quick decision-making mind. A point guard runs the offense, passes the ball to the right hands, keeps the team organized, and increases the team’s chances of scoring.
Lastly, a good point guard acts as a good leader and does everything for the betterment of the team.
Out of five positions in a basketball game, a point guard is the one. Point guards have some serious obligations towards the game such as ensuring that the game progresses at the right pace. He/she maintains the order of the game and ensures that the ball reaches the right players at the right time.
Other than that, the point guard should increase the scoring opportunities for his team by effectively running the offense. In short, it is a crucial position in the game that increases the winning opportunity of the team.
Final Thoughts
Basketball happens to be the most tactful and strategic game which requires specialized positions to keep the game running effectively. Point guard is one of the most important positions among all, on which all the team members depend.
A good point guard is chosen on the basis of certain skills and qualities that not only increases the chances of a team winning but also do everything to enhance the team’s performance.
We have discussed the qualities and 5 things every basketball point guard should know in the above section for a clear understanding.
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