Shooting better requires the same will to change.
Many young players don't appreciate the role of proper warmup and form shooting to develop consistency. And they may not know how to practice the shots they're going to get in games.
Great shooters "know who they are." Don Kelbick's "Shooter's Dozen" resonates with me, especially number 12, "Great shooters are not great by accident or luck. They are great because they put in the work."
Coach Knight condemns "free shooting." Practice with purpose. Track everything. "Winners are trackers."
If you aspire to become a three-point shooter, include three-point practice. The high school line is set at 19' 9" (nineteen feet, nine inches).
There are no "best" shooting drills, only what we think works. And nothing works unless you do. But after listening to Cory Schlesinger's podcast with Chris Oliver, I'm rethinking intensity. If you practice to exhaustion, you're not going to get the most from practice. You know, the "water makes you weak" stuff.
Add Cory Schlesinger's caveat:
1. Jay Wright's "Get 50." This blends form and a warmup routine.
2. Bill Bradley/Beat the Pro. To win, make 11 before you miss 4 (Bill gets 3 for your miss). Operate off "catch and shoot" and "one dribble shot" at a minimum. The harder version is making 15 before missing two. Shooting practice is always better with a partner/passer/competitor.
3. Elbow to sideline. Blend conditioning, competition, and constraint (time). You need a partner. We usually play "makes in a minute."
4. Celtics 32. Combine multiple distances and time (two minutes) in search of your "personal best." Again, a partner is necessary. Pitino quarters (168 point maximum) is the Herculean version with seven radians, three levels (distances), and four quarters (84 shots).
5. Wing series. Clone Paul Pierce.
Select moves to master. At a minimum, master direct drive, pullup, and hesitation. "Make each move look like the other one." Most players won't invest the time to develop even ONE of these moves. But exceptional players will fill their toolbox.
Lagniappe: Is Steph Curry's "MasterClass" on shooting "worth it?" Nothing is worth it if we don't apply the knowledge shared. I'm a subscriber because I watch many different genres of educational classes, looking for "pro tips" from many professionals.
Usher: study your mentor's mentors.
Bob Woodward, find the "best available version of the truth."
Helen Mirren on keys to success, "First, be on time. Second, don't be an @hole."
Chris Voss: the best negotiators seek to find workable solutions for both parties.
Thomas Keller: I learned process skills working as a dishwasher in my mother's restaurant.
Samuel L. Jackson, "bring your best self every day."
Ron Howard, "the director is the keeper of the story."
Serena Williams says she can throw a football as well as most NFL quarterbacks because her father insisted that she and Venus learn proper mechanics.
Lagniappe 2: James Patterson tells this story about a life-changing experience for divers. Sometimes we rescue players and sometimes they rescue us.
Lagniappe 3: Sabrina Ionescu reads and executes.
