Meet Your Teammate, The Rim

For a guard or a big man going in for a running layup, it is extremely important to understand how to use the rim to your advantage.

Very few people use the rim effectively and I do not think it is taught often enough.  That said, it is quit a simple lesson.

When attempting a layup against a shot blocker, use the “up and under” or “reverse layup” move more than half the time.  The protective rim will act as a teammate by fending off the shot blockers hand to allow the ball to get to the hoop more safely.

As a shot blocker myself, I can tell you how difficult it can be when a person goes up and under for a reverse layup.  The shot is still blockable, mind you, but I have jammed my fingers into the rim or gotten them caught in the net many times.  Sometimes it makes the shot blocker have to try to switch blocking hands, or bring their arm across their body to block on the other side.  This limits the shot blockers effectiveness or reach.

This particular skill is most useful on a baseline drive.  Being able to finish on both sides of the basket as you are driving the baseline has an incredible benefit against the shot blocker waiting for you under the basket.

I say to use the shot more than half the time for two reasons.

1. If you use it every single time, the shot blocker will get used to this and adjust to prepare to block the reverse layup.
2. Using the rim as your protection is a better shot than a normal layup, due to the reasons explained above, so using it only half the time does not take full advantage of the shot.

Of course, the reverse layup is only affective if you are able to make the shot.  The Mikan drill is an excellent way to practice getting a feel for the backboard, ball spin, and angles of the shot.  I used to do the Mikan drill for a few minutes before every practice.

I was reminded of this lesson watching an HD highlight from last nights Bulls-Clippers game.

How amazing is HD Video, by the way?

This is not a perfect example, because Taylor is trying to beat the defender down the court on a fast break and extend the ball further than him.  However, at some point, Taylor should have recognized the closeness of the defender and been able to take the ball up and under the rim.  This is especially important for smaller guards.   He was not extending outward enough on his layup, had slowed his momentum, and instead was going too vertical.  Had he used his momentum to extend it out and under the defender and the rim, he most surely could have earned himself two points and saved a bit of embarrassment from the block.

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