1v1 drills should be a major component of your skill development. With 1v1 drills...

• You are forced to improve your shooting, footwork, finishing, and dribbling.
  
  You can't avoid the situation by passing. You have to attack the defender and develop the skills necessary to score.
  
  
• You develop an attacking mindset and gain more confidence which makes you a better scorer.
  
  As with anything, the more experience and repetitions you get with a situation, the better you become. So by playing against a defender in a game-like situation, you will get better and gain more confidence.
  
  And this will result in an attacking mindset that leads to more scoring opportunities in the game.
  
  
• Your decision-making improves.
  
  When you practice 1v0 drills, a game-like decision is not made. With 1v1 drills, you have a decision to make, shoot or drive.
  
  You also get accustomed to sensing space and knowing when you can get a high percentage shot off.
  
  You know when to drive or pull up for a jump shot.
  
  You know what kind of finishing move to use that gives you the best chance to score.
  
  
• It's a fun way to get better.
  
  Competing against different players is always a fun way to get better.

It's also important to make sure the 1v1 drills are game-like with shot clocks, dribble limits, and usually replicate game-like situations to create good habits. Why practice in a way that's not going to lead to improvements during the game.

Why 1v1 Drills Create Better Passing

I believe 1v1 drills will make you better at passing. Yes. You read that right. Even though there is no passing involved in the drill, it makes you better at passing.

Think about it... if you have developed the confidence and skill set to score in 1v1 situations, the defense has to commit to stopping you. This goes for both the defender on the ball and the help defense.

The defender guarding the ball has to focus on defending your shot, stopping you from driving to the basket, and contesting your shots at the basket. If the defender's concentration is on those things, they are less likely to position themselves to deflect passes.

The same goes for the help defense. Rather than stunting/faking and sliding back into the passing lanes, the help defense has to commit to stopping you. Due to the help defense's position, the passing lanes to open teammates get bigger.

Fewer defenders in the passing lanes and bigger passing lanes result in fewer turnovers. Thus, you are better at passing.

In contrast, if you are timid and have not developed a 1v1 skill set, defenders can more easily play the passing lanes. This results in less scoring and more turnovers for you.

5 Examples Of 1v1 Drills:

To help with understanding, here are a few examples below of 1v1 drills below. Even though a few of the videos are for coaches, it will help you understand what type of drills to use.

1v1 Finishing - Inside Hip

1v1 Foster Drill

1v1 Multi-Spot Drill

1v1 Overlap Drill

1v1 Shooting Drill - Curl or Fades

If you haven't already implemented 1v1 drills into your workouts, hopefully, this helps you decide if you want to add them into your practice.

If you already use 1v1 drills, hopefully, the information and drills provided give you some ideas for drills and even new ideas for practice.

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