When you create space from the defense and get open, you have more scoring opportunities.

Either, you have an immediate opening to shoot the ball off the catch...

Or if your initial shot is defended, you have an advantage off the dribble because the defense will have to rush at you to stop you from shooting. The defender will have too much momentum coming towards you making you nearly impossible to stop off the dribble.

If you can't get open, your ability to shoot doesn't matter because you won't have any opportunities to shoot the ball.

In this video, NBA skills trainer Don Kelbick demonstrates how to get open and two different cuts that you can utilize.

How To Get Open Every Time

As Don Kelbick says in the video...

"Defense is about dictation. Offense is about control.

Once you can control him, you can attack him.

Where do you go if you want to control the defense?"

Step 1 - Go to the basket.

The defender has to get closer to you. If they don't, you get a lay up.

Step 2 - Step through.

You step towards the basket with your top foot, then you step through with your bottom foot.

Step 3 - Inside hip, inside shoulder.

You get your inside hip and your inside shoulder inside of the defense to get them on your backside.

Step 4 - Execute cut

2 Different Cuts To Get Open

As shown in the video, you can execute a V-cut or an L-cut.

V-Cut

With this cut, your path looks like the letter V.

1. As shown in the video, you repeat the steps of taking your defender to the basket and getting them on your back (step through - inside hip, inside shoulder).

2. Once you gain position, you drive off your inside leg and step with your outside leg to cut to the wing.

3. You extend your outside hand extended for a passing target.

4. You pivot and look to score.

L-Cut

The path of the L-cut takes the form of the letter L.

1. With the L-cut, you repeat the steps of taking your defender to the basket and getting them on your back (step through - inside hip, inside shoulder).

2. You cut up the lane line.

3. Then you stop and hold. You can vary the stop anywhere on the lane line from the low post to the high post.

This makes it very difficult for the defender to time your cut. You control when the cut is going to happen and the defender has to react to you. Thus, you have the advantage.

4. Next, you cut out and slightly up to the wing area.

You cut slightly up because it creates a better passing angle and makes it more difficult for the defender to deflect the pass.

5. As you cut, you provide a passing target with your outside hand and outside foot.

6. You execute an inside pivot (reverse or back pivot) and look to score.

If the defender overplays either cut, you can always cut backdoor and clear out.

3 Drill Progressions To Practice Getting Open

Here are three drill progressions that you can use to improve getting open and scoring from this position.

Drill #1 - No Defense

You can use the drill in the video to improve the footwork and shooting from this situation.

1. You cut to the first chair near the block. You step through and imagine getting the defender on the inside hip and inside shoulder.

2. Next, you cut to the second chair, turn, and shoot. You can switch between practicing the L-cut and V-cut.

Drill Variations For Shooting Practice:

• Shooting off the catch
• 1 dribble jump shots
• 2 dribble jump shots
• Lay ups
• Different finishing moves, etc.

When To Use Chairs Or Passers In The Drill:

You can use chairs or a passer if they are capable of making good passes.

Personally, I prefer to use chairs when first learning the skill. As Don says, I don't like bad passers to screw up the skill development practice, especially at the initial learning phase.

When you get better at the footwork, then you might have somebody pass you the ball.

You can also do a hybrid. You can do some repetitions with the chair, then some repetitions with a passer.

Also, if you have a sibling, friend, or relative that aren't good passers, it's easy for them to place the ball on the chair.

Drill #2 - 1v1 Wing

Next, it's vital to incorporate some decision-making.

Some players don't practice enough with a defender present. That's part of the reason why some players shoot 75% in practice and 30% in games.

It's easy to shoot a high percentage when you know your decision ahead of time.

1. This drill starts with you trying to get open.

You can use the footwork taught to get open.

2. When you catch the ball, you try to score. The defense tries to stop you.

To form good habits, tell the passer to only throw the ball to you when you lift a hand to show a passing target.

Drill Variations:

• Shot clocks / Dribble limits
  
  To enforce specific habits, you can also use shot clocks (3 to 5 seconds) or dribble limitations (2 to 3 dribbles).
  
  You can use shot clocks, so you don't develop habits of doing extra, unnecessary jab steps. You immediately shoot or attack.
  
  Dribble limits force you to be efficient with your dribble. Many players have a horrible habit of catching and immediately dribbling. This eliminates that habit.
  
  Additionally, extra unnecessary dribbles on drives to the basket slows you down. By moving in straight lines with fewer dribbles, you will be quicker to the basket.
  
  
• Backdoor cut when overplayed
  
  You can also make adjustments based on your offense. For example, some offenses don't want players going past the 3-point line. If the defender overplays, you cut backdoor. If you don't cut backdoor, it's an automatic turnover.
  
  
• Time limits to get open
  
  If you want to add a higher level of difficulty to get open, you can put a time limit on getting open. You can also give the defense points for not allowing passes.
  
  
• One wing cut and one backdoor cut to get open.
  
  You could also use a rule where you have one cut to the wing and one cut backdoor to get open. If you don't get open, automatic turnover. This makes it more game-like and forces you to get better at using footwork to get open immediately.

Drill #3 - 2v2 Wing

If you have enough players, you can also do 2v2.

1. A passer is on top with a defender guarding them. The passer cannot dribble to start the drill.

2. The second offensive player is on the wing. The drill starts with the offensive player taking the defensive player down to the basket replicating the situation above.

3. From there, you play live.

For 2v2, you can only use one side of the court. You split time between the left side and right side of the court.

Like above, you can do shot clocks, dribble limitations, offensive rules, and time limits to get open.

You can also do something similar with 3v3, 4v4, and 5v5 where the player with the ball has to pass to initiate the offense.

Resources:

This video clip is from Don Kelbick's Attack & Counter Skill Development System. This is a great resource for individual skill development.

Don Kelbick also conducts many Attack & Counter camps throughout the country from March through October. The schedule is released every January. Here is the Basketball Camp Schedule.

What do you think? Let us know by leaving your comments, suggestions, and questions...