11. Dribbling is an emergency measure. Nine out of 10 players dribble or bounce the ball before they do anything else. This is a bad habit because it limits a player's opportunities.
12. Talk to your teammates. Talking on offense and defense builds team play. Talking encourages teammates. Talking on defense is vital when picking up loose opponents.
13. Never turn your head on defense. Players should never turn their heads to watch the ball when playing man-to-man defense. When players change from offense to defense, they should backpedal so that they can locate their personal opponent or help in case of a fast break.
14. Don't cross your feet on defense. Successful defensive players move their feet in short steps when playing defense.
15. Hands up on defense. Just as tight-rope walkers use their hands for balance, a good defensive player does likewise, they use their hands for both balance and passing lane defense. Movement of the hands and feet discourages passing and shooting and shows that the defensive player is on the ball.
16. Watch your opponent's belly-button. Good defensive players keep their eyes glued to a part of the offensive ball-player that can't fool them -- the belly-button. You can’t be faked-out by a belly-button.
17. Pick up the first man. When you are back or coming down the floor ahead of the rest of your teammates, pick up the first offensive player down the court, whether it's your assigned player or not.
18. Don't leave your feet on defense. Good defensive players keep their head up and their feet on the ground.
19. Get position for rebounds. Instinct and sensing the direction of the shot and the angle of the rebound enables players to move into the correct rebounding position.
20. If you can't rebound, you can't win. Good rebounding limits the opponents' shot opportunities and this is the key to winning basketball games.
21. The first fast-break pass (outlet) must be perfect. The fast break must get started with a quick outlet pass. If the first pass is a good one, the fast break is underway. After it's started, it's hard to stop.
22. You must make 70 percent of your free throws. There is no excuse for being a poor free-throw shooter. Practice, confidence, and the proper technique are the keys.
23. Keep the defense busy. If all five offensive players keep moving, their opponents cannot afford to sag or float. Moving with or without the ball forces the defense into making mistakes.
24. Don't dribble across to the other side of the backboard to shoot. A player should learn to shoot from both sides of the basket and with both hands.
25. Never underrate an opponent. Be ready to play every game. Overconfidence can affect a team's play. It is wise to remember that it is only the underdog who can do the upsetting.
26. Practice does not always make perfect -- if you practice the wrong thing. Players often work long and hard and make little progress because they are practicing incorrectly.
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