handler with excellent shooting talents. The small forward is usually a strong scorer from both near the basket and at a distance. The power forward primarily concentrates on defense and rebounding. The center is usually the tallest player on the team, serving as the cornerstone of most play. Basic offensive skills are passing, ball handling, rebounding, and shooting. Passing the basketball is the fastest and often most efficient way of advancing the ball. Ball handlers keep the ball low, protecting it from defenders, and can use either hand to dribble and change directions quickly. Good rebounding is determined by strength, natural instinct, good positioning, and timing. Shooting is the most important part of basketball. Basic shots include the layup, the jump shot, the foul shot, and the hook shot. The layup is the easiest shot in basketball, taken directly under the basket. The dunk shot is a different style of layup in which the ball is slammed forcibly through the basket. The jump shot is taken when the shooter leaps in the air and releases the ball toward the basket. A hook shot is taken when the shooter turns sideways to the basket and releases the ball in a high arc toward the basket. In basketball there is offense and defence. The goal of defense is simple: to stop the opposition from scoring. Defenders want to force opponents away from the basket and to prevent opponents from taking easy shots. There are two types of basic defensive team play: man-to-man defense, in which each player guards a specific opponent, and zone defense, in which each player guards a specific area. Although defense may not be the most fun part of the game defense is what wins games. Basketball is a sport any number of people can play, it is inexpensive, and great exercise. I love this game....
