Hard shots are quite possibly the true secret to winning basketball games. The team that takes the most hard shots will likely lose. Period. Let's take a closer look.
The goal of almost all defensive systems is to force the opponent to take tough shots. Of course, there are some exceptions. Some high-pressure systems are designed to force turnovers or get steals. But the overwhelming majority of defenses are designed to pressure the offense into taking a hard shot.
So, how do they do that? Well, there are several different tactics that can be used. Probably the most effective method is to pressure the ball handler. This leads to all kinds of good things. A ball handler under pressure is forced to make quick decisions, which are most likely not the best decisions. Make it your mission to be inside your check's bubble as soon as they receive the ball. Force them to make tough decisions through the whole length of the court, all game long, and you will force them to make bad decisions. And bad decisions lead to hard shots.
Another effective method to forcing hard shots is simply to get back on defense. There are no easier shots in the game than open transition shots. Get back on defense and make your opponent play against you 5 on 5. Defensive efficacy improves dramatically with each defender that is back.
On the offensive end, every team wants to get easy, open shots. So, how do we do that? Well, we need an offense that creates those shots and there are lots of them out there. These days, the Princeton offense is getting a lot of support. And rightly so, it's a great offense.
But we like the Read and React offense. Especially for youth teams. There are no set plays here. Just simply good basketball reads teamed up with solid reactions from the players without the ball.
An offense that teaches players how to play, instead of how to run plays, will build player IQ as well as develop trust and team spirit in any squad. It will also teach players to read the situation and find the weakness in any defense. Whether that is M2M or Zone, smart decision making leads to good passes which create open, easy shots.
Within the Read and React, every play and every decision creates a multitude of scoring options. This could be a simple basket cut, or a pick and roll, or even a drive and kick for a corner 3. The options are endless and adaptable. On top of that, players are given the freedom to make their own decisions, which will build confidence and help the players learn faster and on a deeper level. Something that will lead to even more good decisions and open shots.
So, if you want to win more games, force your opponents to take tough shots. Run an offense that creates a multitude of scoring options from a variety of attacks. Do these things and watch the wins pile up!