Superlative article from legendary coach Don Meyer on using the dribble. DRIBBLE PURPOSEFULLY.
Here are five KEY POINTS.
"A good player needs no more than 1 or 2 dribbles to get from the wing to the rim. In all our breakdown drills, we don’t allow our players to use more than 2 dribbles to get to the rim, unless they are using a hesitation move, back dribble, etc. " (Comment: Good players need two dribbles, excellent players one, elite players none.)
"We want our players to drive in straight lines to the rim. We don’t want them veering out. Our goal is to make contact with the defense (make contact with the man guarding you and contact with the 2nd line of defense)." (Comment: Don't bail out! Basketball is not a contact sport; it is a collision sport.)
"Use the dribble to get out of trouble, not into trouble." (Comment: Don't play in the traffic! Bad things happen.)
"The only reasons to dribble are:
1) To advance the ball up the floor
2) To improve passing angles (especially feeding the post)
3) To get out of trouble
4) To get to the rim"
(Comment: And 1 skills are not a reason.)
Great players typically only have 2 moves with the dribble; the Go-To move, and the Counter move. (Comment: simplify and be great at what you do a lot.)