Top Ten Bad Habits

Notice: This article was written by Steve Jordan, Coach's Notebook. Email the author at sjordan@alaskalife.net.

The expert coaches at Chalk Talk have offered examples of the bad basketball habits they hate most. One coach described them as having the same effect on him as "fingernails scratching down the blackboard". Savvy players should look at this list and see how many they can eliminate from their game. New coaches could do well by simply trying to eliminate these habits from their young players.

Coaches: Vote for fifteen of these examples that are your personal peeves. When all the tallies are in, we'll announce the Top Ten Bad Habits displayed by basketball players. The habits are grouped by category. Try to vote for at least one each category, but no more than fifteen votes, please. Click SUBMIT at the bottom when you are finished. Note: Some of the original entries were combined with others of similar content.

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Defense

Helping "up" and leaving the post unguarded.
Lunging" into the passing lane with the wrong hand.
Not recovering after helping on defense
Defending your man tight away from the ball instead of sagging to help.
Defending the passer with hands down instead of mirroring the ball quickly
One player makes good help and no body else rotates so she/he looks bad.
Players who hand check or straighten up when playing defense.
Not talking on defense. Not talking during a screen on defense.
Letting yourself be screened.
Playing ole’ defense - not stepping in front of dribbler
Escorting an opposing player dribbling the ball to the basket.

Dribbling

Not cutting close enough to the screen being set for you.
Catching a pass and taking one dribble
Dribbling into the #$%! corner
Dribbling with head down
Players who take 20 dribbles and 15 seconds to get to the rim.
Putting a dribble down before you turn and face the basket you are attacking.
Dribbling into double teams and traps.
Dribbling before establishing triple threat.
Having the ball stolen then reaching in for the foul.

Fouling

Player misses shot so goes and fouls the rebounder.
Committing fouls in the backcourt in the first half of a game or fouling in the backcourt any time
Player has opponent locked up in a trap then fouls trying to reach in and grab the ball

General

Running at the offensive player.
Not giving a gap on a screen
Failing to seal and roll toward the basket after screening
Not working to your potential
Player could get run over and take a charge and steps out of the way.

Passing

Failing to square up to the hoop after receiving a pass.
Bringing the ball down when passed into post
Instead of getting into "triple threat" position, go to "single threat" position
Receiving a pass and immediately holding the ball above the head.
Reversing the ball without looking to see if the post or cutter is open inside
Standing still, waiting for the pass to you to arrive
Making a sloppy pass after hard-earned rebound
Catching a pass with one hand.
Not jump stopping to pass, leads to the dragging toe travel call.
Passing out of the lane when you only have one defender on you
Grab a rebound and throw ball to an opposing player, standing 2 feet from basket.
Jumping to pass to a teammate, only can't find anybody to pass to.

Rebounding

Bring the ball "down" after getting a rebound.
Simply not boxing out.
Watching (instead of picking up a body to box-out) as the shot goes up.
Guys watching instead of getting into position for a rebound
Tipping a rebound when you could grip it.
Player gets rebound under own basket and passes the ball out to another player.
Rebounding instead of blocking out (over the back)

Shooting

When hitting the court for the first time of the day, you start jacking 3's instead of warming up
Watching the ball when you release it on a shot.
Shooting with two hands
Player gets a 1-1 and airballs the shot.
Double pumps.
Fade away jumpers in the lane.
Shooting with your toes on the 3 pt. line, worst shot in basketball.
Watching the ball after you shoot.
Coach says, slow down and work the ball, but next person to touch the ball shoots.
On a fastbreak pull up for a 2 ft jumper instead of attacking the basket.

Shot Blocking

Teammates stand and yell WHOA, as the other team retrieves blocked shot
Player wants to block every shot
Players leave feet to block shots, fooled by fakes

Transition

Throwing a pass away and not sprinting back to contest the lay-up.
Saving the ball under the opponent’s basket.
Dribbling at a loose ball instead of picking it up first
Four guys stand and watch as a teammate jumps out of bounds and save a ball.
With numbers in your favor and the dribbler pulls up for the 3-pointer
Player steals ball and throws it away during transition.
Running back on D with your back to the fast break developing right behind you.
Missing a shot and dropping head and jogging back on defense.
Picking up your man in transition before stopping the ball and the lay-up.
Player running the fastbreak wants to pass ahead, picks up ball and travels