SEEK CONTACT... DON'T AVOID IT

Although basketball is more of a finesse sport than football, basketball is still a contact sport.  Unlike football, there are no blitzing linebackers looking to separate your head from your body, but you, as an offensive player should have the attacking mentality.  Rather than working to avoid contact – you should actively seek to make contact with the defensive player guarding you.

As an offensive player with the basketball, you want to have an attack mindset and operate in straight lines, not loops and arcs.  Too often, players allow defensive contact to force their penetration off their line of attack.  This happens because the skill is not consolidated by athletes.  Basketball players aren't used to constant contact, nor having to play through the contact an entire game.

(Thanks Lyndsey Fennelly)