BALL UP TOP: WHO'S RUNNIN THE POINT?

As some of you know, I am a point guard. It's the only position I've ever played since I was 9 years old. In fact, it's the only position I've ever wanted to play. I was born to be a point guard and I truly feel that point guards make the best coaches. Biased opinion? Oh well, sue me. The point guard, without question, is the most important and coveted position on any basketball team. Why? Everything starts and ends with the point guard.

Believe it or not, at some point we've all played point guard or will have to play it one day whether we like it or not. Some of you think, “cool, gimme the ball and get out of the way. I got this.” Running the point is not all about control, it is about developing and fine-tuning your current skill set that allows you to grow and in turn help others grow as well. Through different phases in your life, you'll have 4 other valuable teammates that make up your starting line-up. Choosing your team is instrumental for your journey. More than likely your team will change but your purpose is still the same; to be the coach on the floor that helps your teammates get better and ultimately help your team win.

Everybody wants to be a point guard for numerous reasons. Some people want all eyes on them while others simply want to have control over everything, but being able to handle the ball is not enough to be an effective point guard. It's an enormous responsibility and once most people assume it, they often want to give it back. Effective point guards are multi-taskers with impeccable focus. They must have a keen ear for what the coach requires, excellent ball handling skills, superb court vision, as well as effective communication and critical thinking skills. I know what you’re thinking. Sure, you can multi-task, but whether you realize it or not it is your ability or inability to multi-task is affecting you and your team. Need some help? Here are the keys to becoming a better point guard:

1) LISTEN
God is the head coach who has carved out the game plan for you. If you listen to him and do what he asks, victory is within your reach if you’re committed to his practice plan, training schedule, system, philosophy and the adjustments he makes during the game.

2)TAKE CARE OF THE BALL
Handling the ball is more than dribbling, passing, and shooting. It means utilizing the best skills and/or resources around you that will get you closer to your goal. Sometimes you have to drive hard to the hole, often times you have to pass to your teammate so they can help you and other times you just have to take the risk, shoot and have no regrets about the outcome.

3) KNOW YOUR PERSONNEL
Your teammates are valuable resources. Emphasize getting them involved on as many plays as possible in order to increase your chances of winning. Utilize your court vision to help them get the shots that they want. You must know your personnel well enough to know that every pass isn’t meant for every teammate. Some teammates you can lead with a bounce pass, some you can lead with a lob pass, while others can only handle a chest pass or a handoff. In other words, some people you have to ask for help in a diplomatic way, others you don’t necessarily have to ask because they will help you even before you ask by calling for the ball knowing that you already plan to pass it to them.


4) RECOGNIZE THE DEFENSE
The “DEFENSE” is anybody or anything that is standing in the way of your goal. It’s the negative words, actions that your opponents use against you to take you out of your game. This adversity is meant to challenge you. Regardless of how tough the defense appears there are always openings and weaknesses that you can exploit. First you have to break down the defense in your mind and be more than confident your skills along with your teammates skills can penetrate the seams and get the shots you want. Often times you’ve done the scouting report and looked at film of the DEFENSE and you know exactly whom they attack, how they attack and how they shift in certain situations. Once you recognize and break down the DEFENSE mentally and physically you can get shots whenever you’re ready.


5) CONTROL THE TEMPO
An effective point guard determines if and when their team will push the ball up the floor or slow it down. Through their actions and words point guards communicate what it most advantageous for the team each possession. There are times when you must take care of your daily goals and objectives with an extreme sense of urgency. Other days you have to slow down and practice patience depending on the goal, the positioning of your teammates on the floor and the tenacity of the defense. The most impactful shots you make are the ones that are a result of patiently running the offense that catches the defense by surprise and consistently puts you and your team in position to win.

Regardless of where you find yourself playing this week, know that point guards reap the benefits of thinking pass first. The consummate point guard’s objective is to play hard, play smart and have fun but their focus should be making their teammates better regardless of the outcome of the game. The generosity of a point guard leads to reciprocity from their teammates. Therefore, a team is only as good as it's point guard. Every day you're in the starting line-up. Although the days are different and the opponents are different the question remains the same; Who's Runnin "The Point"?

REBOUND. RESET. RELEASE.