Finishing in traffic...

I am more of an outside shooter, and I'm fairly quick and can get easy layups if there's a lapse in the defense. However, I don't excel at driving into traffic and finishing. I'm wondering how I could improve this aspect of my game.

Is it my mentality?

Finishing in traffic is a combination of things, much of it practice and some of it natural instinct. Firstly, you have to be strong enough to absorb contact from bigger players as well as athletic enough to get to the rim. Most of all, at least in my personal opinion and from my experience, you have to WANT to attack the hoop. You can't be overly afraid of opposing bigmen or you won't ever be able to effectively finish in traffic.

[QUOTE=High Roller]Finishing in traffic is a combination of things, much of it practice and some of it natural instinct. Firstly, you have to be strong enough to absorb contact from bigger players as well as athletic enough to get to the rim. Most of all, at least in my personal opinion and from my experience, you have to WANT to attack the hoop. You can't be overly afraid of opposing bigmen or you won't ever be able to effectively finish in traffic.[/QUOTE]

I agree oh and beat the guy thats gaurding you is key hit him with a nice cross then Rage to the basket like a spider monkey

It's a mentality and confidence thing. I have changed my mentality and now I attack the basket a lot more than I did... I've gotten my handle up too and that definitely helps. Fearing that you can't get by your man because of a weak handle is not good... but yea then it's all a matter of practice. If you aren't used to finishing over bigs, chances are you are going to have some failures at the beginning... but in time you will learn how to float it over them, be able to get around them with step through moves, or up fake em and then lay it in. Generally though, you are able to make a pass to an open teammate when when you beat your defender because help slides over... hopefully they can knock down the easy shot.

There are a few things skill wise you can do to get better at it. I used to warm up just standing under the hoop throwing up layups, sort of like a lazy mikan drill, but I'd do it all sorts of goofy ways. Forward, Backward, Righty, Lefty, Inside Hand, Outside Hand, overhand, underhand, various releases and arcs. Try using different englishes too, catching the ball at different points on the board.

I was a big PG, 195 in HS, 215 in college, and just under 6 feet tall. And I was not a great athlete, but was certainly athletic. I could marginally dunk, meaning that I could get one once in a blue moon, particularly if I was at a playground where the rims may be a bit low, or a gym with an elevated floor that had some bounce. I always initiated contact. I usually enter a drive with two hands on the ball, and after contact spread out to find a release. My coach used to say I went into the lane like someone throws an egg. All balled up until I hit something, then splat in all sorts of directions. Also, I always jumped off of two feet. It allowed me to change directions last minute so that I could decide which direction was gonna work best for me rther than establishing a line that one foot jumpers usually do (unless you master that euro step). It worked for me, and I was always good at it. I didn't really become a good shooter until I got to college, and didn't get really good until after that even, when my legs started to go and I couldn't get up as well. But even then my multiple releases could get me off in the lane.

Strong hands. Good body control. These are needed.

But yes a lot of it is mentality. You have to be confident in your ability to get to the rim and you can't be afraid to take a few shots. Another big thing is having touch around the rim. It's not necessary but if you can hit different types of shots (and with both hands) from around the rim then you can adjust to what the defense is doing.

A lot of solid advice in the early goings here and really I can just echo what others have mentioned.

The key to my effectiveness when attacking the lane is my aggression. I understand that when I enter the paint the ball in my hand with a buildup of speed, everyone else is at my mercy. If they're contesting to block my shot, there's going to be a lot of contact (good contact, the "yeah sure, go ahead and get in my way if you're sure that's what you really want to do" contact). I like to bring it TO the defender in many instances.

The really cool thing about basketball is that aside from the rare play where a defender has stationed himself correctly to take a charge, any tough contact is going to work in my (the offensive player's) advantage. If a defender gets a running start from one side and I get a running start from the other and we meet with contact in midair, I'm the one that will get rewarded more times than not. Bask in the contact. Thrive in it. The art of finishing in traffic is heavily swayed toward the offensive player in the game of basketball.

I'd also reaffirm something else Thorpe was touching on, and that is the development and ability to knock down an array of shots around the basket. My feeling is one must develop a reliable range of shots and use only the shots you know you excel at when finishing in traffic. In my case, that means rarely using the combo of rising off of my right foot and finishing with my left hand in traffic. Even if I'm slicing to the rack from the left wing, I'll often finish righty just because I know it's reliable and provides me my best opportunity to score via my ability to rise highest off of the left leg and the ability to maneuver the ball while in the air.

Finally, there's certainly some trees out there that tend to nullify a lot of what we know about attacking the lane. Really tall fellows can disrupt things. This is why I'd suggest at least a few of your weapons at the rack include a quick release glasser and a reliable runner/floater.

get physical or learn how to shoot runners and floaters.

[QUOTE=devin112]get physical or learn how to shoot runners and floaters.[/QUOTE]

Thanks for the replies!

I pretty much live with either pull ups, open layups, floaters/runners, or pump fakes around the basket, sometimes followed with a little spin move. I pretty much try everything to avoid contact.

I've been trying to finish in traffic more often recently, but have been jacking up pretty horrific shots sometimes. I do think I'm getting better, but my natural reaction is to avoid all contact, so I contort my body and put up a sometimes awkward shot.

I need to get over this mental block!!!

[QUOTE=High Roller]Finishing in traffic is a combination of things, much of it practice and some of it natural instinct. Firstly, you have to be strong enough to absorb contact from bigger players as well as athletic enough to get to the rim. Most of all, at least in my personal opinion and from my experience, you have to WANT to attack the hoop. You can't be overly afraid of opposing bigmen or you won't ever be able to effectively finish in traffic.[/QUOTE]

I'm not sure I'm strong enough to absorb the contact. I'm 6'0 and about 155-160lbs.

I'm not afraid of opposing bigmen, I think I'm just afraid of contact.

[QUOTE=scm5]I'm not sure I'm strong enough to absorb the contact. I'm 6'0 and about 155-160lbs.

I'm not afraid of opposing bigmen, I think I'm just afraid of contact.[/QUOTE]

You can't be .
I'm a PG , not tall and not athletic (not very atheletic) and most of the times i try to finish at traffic .. you have to guaranteed some body control to put the ball in the basket man .

Controlling the spin on the ball can help too. Because you don't always know the angle you're going to approach the basket at it's good to know how to spin the ball off the board from various angles.

Another thing is to learn to use the basket to your advantage. One of my favorite moves is to go under the basket because if the defender is on the close side of the rim, you are protected from being blocked by going to the far side.

Just getting used to contact and positioning your body between the defender and the ball will improve your ability to finish immensely.

Expect the contact each time you go to the basket. Don't let it surprise you.

I dislike getting fouled, and try my best to defend without fouling - especially when with pickup basketball there's no refs and no free throws, fouling is just a cheap way to stop somebody. Still, it's extra bragging rights when you do manage to finish despite getting fouled.

I've found that the first thing you have to worry about is players from the side reaching in to hack the ball loose from your grip once you pick up the dribble and drive in. Holding the ball to the side without the defenders, turn your body away from them, or if that's not possible, holding it like a football, cradled and protected between your arms. Then going up, it's good to have some gimmick to outsmart the defenders, whether it's speed, hesitation, elevation, shot fake, double clutch, deceptive footwork, or extension, or some combination of those. And get in the habit of just flinging it, flipping it, tossing it towards the basket once you feel that contact and get knocked off course, spun around.

Some players I've noticed wait a half second after the bump or hack to gather themselves before attempting the shot to get better accuracy, let their momentum carry them through it. That's what I do if I get smacked on the arms, regather and follow through.

Another thing to remember, getting fouled can really throw you off balance, so practice taking off balance shots. Contrary to what you've said OP, if you can avoid the contact without disrupting your offense too much, that's a good thing because finishing after contact can be very difficult, make things easier on yourself when possible. But when it can't be avoided, have the mindset and the skillset to give yourself a good chance of scoring anyway.

If you go in hard you'll have to expect to get hit. Learn to love the contact. Every time I drive in I'm looking to create contact and basically I intend to collide with the defender before attempting a shot. It forces them to back off, causes their fouls to build up and helps you get to the line. The contact is invaluable to any player especially those who are looking to score.

Rake2204 said it best, you have to 100% commit to attacking the lane and it's better if you intend to draw a foul. You can easily average around 10 free throws in a game because of this and that is so useful to a team because not many people like to play recklessly.

look at Derek Fisher, he often goes to the bucket looking to draw a foul, the priority isn't mainly to make the shot but to get to the line, get easy points and get the other team in foul trouble.

[QUOTE=NY-Knicks]look at Derek Fisher, he often goes to the bucket looking to draw a foul, the priority isn't mainly to make the shot but to get to the line, get easy points and get the other team in foul trouble.[/QUOTE]
It may be personal preference but my priority is always to make the shot. I never want to make a move based off of drawing a whistle from an official. That whistle may never come. I know often it may look like players are trying to draw contact but most often, it's just a bi-product of an aggressive attack.

From my experience, attacking and prioritizing drawing a foul over finishing is just asking for trouble. I believe that will actually harm one's ability to finish in traffic. When I'm getting to the rim, I'm concentrating on doing whatever I need to do to make my shot. If a foul happens, it happens.

^^^ I agree... and I think it explains why Derek is a terrible finisher :lol

yes of course you also focus on making the shot. Misunderstood there.
Your priority in this situation should be to get the contact with the defender to create a whistle. If you get inside often those calls will come your way. And Derek Fisher is a great example of a player creating contact to get to the foul line (although he is a terrible finisher, I agree).

This is what they teach guards at serious camps.
1. Focus on getting into the paint, obviously if you have the open J shoot it but if not fight and battle to get by your defender with jabs, fakes and dribbles.
2. Once your in the paint if no one steps up just take a pullup jumper or a nice floater, these are paint shots that are high percentage and are good shots no matter where you play.
3. If a big man steps up or help comes drive hard at them, stop to two feet and either lay it in, use fakes to get off your shot, or look for the assist.
Once you do this a few times you'll gain the confidence and reading ability to make moves like the eurostep or the "rondo" up and under when needed.

This is probably obvious, but if you're having trouble getting around people, you can always opt to pick up your dribble early and go for a teardrop or giant killer. It's much easier to get around players when you don't have to dribble, so take as many extra steps as possible and try not to finish off just one step, keeping the ball away from the defender as you're trying to get around them or go up for a shot.

Also, try to slightly raise one of your knees whenever you go up for a shot, which will lessen the impact on your body if you come in to contact with players. Don't throw knees or anything, just try raise it up and let that touch the other players first so you don't get the air knocked out of you or anything.

Only thing else I can think of is to try and geta feel for what hand players usually try to block you with. Sometimes you can catch them snoozing by changing your shot location while you're in the air by going away from their dominant shot blocking hand. Some righties will go for right handed blocks despite it being easier to go lefty to block other righties.

Yep, just like everyone said it's about aggression. That's why the big and strong muscular guys ram through a traffic of 4 people in a pick up game. The same goes for a guy who looks destructive lol(you know like the braids/tattoos/). even though he's like 5'8.

For me though, I like to mess around with the traffic. Like, I pretend to do the kobe 1000 fake pumpshots/hesitation dribble and doing a maniac face in the air/tell them exactly what I'm going to do but with a twist if they react to it accordingly.

Im not much of a guard, nor have i ever been so i dont really drive in the paint very much, but when im playin like three-on-three i sometimes go to the hole. One thing that has helped me a lot with finishing in traffic is post moves. If u can try and find someone taller than u and just practice post moves. Doing this helps u get used to shooting over a bigger defender and u learn the kind of things that get bigs off their feet real quick.

Hope it helps u, it definitely helps me

[QUOTE=Lancerballer21]Im not much of a guard, nor have i ever been so i dont really drive in the paint very much, but when im playin like three-on-three i sometimes go to the hole. One thing that has helped me a lot with finishing in traffic is post moves. If u can try and find someone taller than u and just practice post moves. Doing this helps u get used to shooting over a bigger defender and u learn the kind of things that get bigs off their feet real quick.

Hope it helps u, it definitely helps me[/QUOTE]

I agree with this big time. My buddy who I go up against a lot 1 on 1 is 3 inches taller than me (and at this point can jump way higher) and I post him up for this very reason. It's easy to post people your own height... but a bigger guy you have to be more methodical. You have to seek body contact with bigger guys because it will make them smaller. If you bang into them when you make your move... they won't be able to contest.

I think the main thing about real game 5 on 5 full court finishing is that its mostly about athletiscm, if you feel your more athletics/stronger/taller than the guy your trying to finish on on a fastbreak you probobly will. I remember one iverson highlights youtube clip is him on a fastbreak jumping into LeBron and throwing it up, but it goes in, just shows you anyone can finish over anyone if they go strong/ with confidence

[QUOTE=dwadefan11]I think the main thing about real game 5 on 5 full court finishing is that its mostly about athletiscm, if you feel your more athletics/stronger/taller than the guy your trying to finish on on a fastbreak you probobly will. I remember one iverson highlights youtube clip is him on a fastbreak jumping into LeBron and throwing it up, but it goes in, just shows you anyone can finish over anyone if they go strong/ with confidence[/QUOTE]

You definitely can't be scared that's for sure. Body control is huge when finishing against taller players.... the ability to maneuver in just the right ways to get your shot off. Being able to hang in the air for a long time helps too. It really takes a lot of experience tho. Most people aren't going to be able to finish through a good contest... the trick is making a good contest a not so good one... and that's where the experience comes in. You will know what you have to do to get the guy off balance etc.

2 weapons that's really helpful to finish in traffic (at least for myself) are

- jump stop (before you pick up your dribble jump off one feet) which will give you tons of options and give you time to read the defense. you can finish off in a variety of ways such as, 1 leg jump right into a floating shot, land on both feet at the same time (which you can pivot off either). you can add pivot fake, then jump shot, or straight into jump shot, or often you can split the defense if you know how to pivot properly and jump with both feet... the option is endless. you can still add hook shots and fade aways too.

- pivot foot work: i like to think of pivoting as giving yourself basically a 6 feet circle to decide where in this circle you will take the shot.

good use of the combination above will get you by just about anybody. the defense has to react so they are always at a slight disadvantage so if you have polished skills and a strong mind you can take the defense apart.

naturally you need to be able to finish around the rim in a wide variety of ways already.

[QUOTE=dwadefan11]I think the main thing about real game 5 on 5 full court finishing is that its mostly about athletiscm, if you feel your more athletics/stronger/taller than the guy your trying to finish on on a fastbreak you probobly will. I remember one iverson highlights youtube clip is him on a fastbreak jumping into LeBron and throwing it up, but it goes in, just shows you anyone can finish over anyone if they go strong/ with confidence[/QUOTE]
I've never been a really big Allen Iverson fan but I have to say, he was responsible for a big revelation I had regarding attacking the paint and finishing. He was an incredible basketball player and he was able to always find ways to elude and finish over players often a foot taller than him. Recognizing the ways he made this happen while also acknowledging 1) I'm not on Iverson's level and 2) none of my defenders are on Iverson's defenders level, made me significantly more optimistic about attacking and discovering effective ways to finish even over the tallest of defenders.

Also taking the LeBron reference into account, I think it can be beneficial to try to adopt his philosophy for attacking the rack as well. Sometimes you just have to go out there and hit somebody. If a defender wants to move into me while I'm driving, I try to make it suck for him. The majority of the time I'm the one coming down with the full head of steam - I like when they contest.

[QUOTE=scm5]I am more of an outside shooter, and I'm fairly quick and can get easy layups if there's a lapse in the defense. However, I don't excel at driving into traffic and finishing. I'm wondering how I could improve this aspect of my game.

Is it my mentality?[/QUOTE]


It's nature imo....but you can improve.

Try practicing with a buddy.

Have him pass you the ball.....ball fake/do one of your 'rips' and fly to the bucket.....have him foul the crap out of you every time you go up [or fake a hit or make a slight bump, lol].

I used to have the same problem where I settled for outside shots which didnt help my finishing ability. I think good concentration and body control make a good finisher. Now, I am a very good finisher. Sometimes youll get lucky. Practice driving and finishing anytime your playing and you should pick it up.

Here's something that I do a lot when I'm coming from the wing in to traffic. Take a jab to the baseline then take a couple dribbles towards the paint and find a spot where you know want to land. As you go up, bring the ball behind your head, almost like you are going to dunk it. This gives shot blocking people less of an angle. Then absorb the contact and as you begin landing you should be able to generate enough strength to get the ball on the rim and at least get a couple free throws out of it.

Either get bigger or work on uour vert and cody contrill wehn your in the air. Just practice making layups in tons of different imaginable ways(like a previous poster commented) get a nice double clutch and fake reverse and fake regular layup. I prefer driving baseline because youve always got a clear choice of reverse or regular and can draw fouls by makingbthe defender think of which youll do. If that makes sense