Have you tried to play better basketball? Have you ever noticed how some people play a lot of basketball but they don't become better? That's because they didn't have a solid basketball foundation to begin with. They don't improve because they didn't take the time to learn the basics. In the short-lived television show The White Shadow, Coach Reeves turned a rag-tag group of misfits into an efficient, well tuned basketball squad. He did it by preaching fundamentals. Establishing good, solid, sound fundamentals in shooting, passing, dribbling, defense and footwork is key. Then improving on that foundation will help you play better basketball.

Shooting

Being able to sink a jump shot from any spot on the floor takes practice. Taking shots from certain areas on the court is one thing but hitting them on a consistent basis is what your goal should be. Perfecting the art of the jump shot in this age of slam dunks goes a long way if you want to become an all around player. Improving your shooting skills will make you deadly, from the play ground all the way to the Palace.

Passing

There's beauty in a pass. Magic Johnson was a magician when it came to passing the round ball. Part of being an effective passer is knowing where to be and knowing where your teammates are going to be. How often have you heard professional hoop players say, “It's easy making the pass because I know just where he or she's going to be.” Setting a teammate up makes everyone around you better. Always look for the open person. Learn to become unselfish.

Dribbling

Moving with the ball and keeping it away from the other team is one of the key elements of the game. This entails being able to dribble the ball with either hand. All it takes is practice. A good drill is to dribble two balls simultaneously. One with your right hand and another with your left.

Defense

Defensive prowess is essential. Getting better at defense is just a matter of moving your feet and keeping your body in front of your opponent. Being able to disrupt the other team's rhythm and forcing them to take unwise shots will make you popular on any team.

Footwork

Knowing the correct footwork can make you a better rebounder, shooter, passer and defender. Having the feet set up the correct way, being balanced and knowing how to pivot are what you're striving for. Applying the footwork in game situations, doing it right will make playing easier. The goal is having the foot work become second nature, meaning it becomes something you don't even think about.