Basketball help (point guard)

Question
QUESTION: Hi.

Ny name is Nicky and I need a lot of basketball help. Right now, I have went
everyday to a nearby basketball park and practiced every morning. I am
following steve nash's 20 minute workout from his DVD because I don't really
have my own training schedule. What i need help is my driving ability. As I
have heard from my friends, they say i got all the moves but i just don't use
it. I elect to settle for the jumpshot rather than driving. I tell myself mentally
to drive more than the jumpshot. But it doesn't seem to work on the court. It
may be my self-consciousness in that i might get blocked or probably would
get blocked by the big man inside, because I am an undersized Point Guard.
Please help me on this so that I can improve and even be on my school
basketball team.

maybe send some video clips URLs to me to help me on this too.

Thank you.

P.s. could you also maybe think up an individual practice workout for me that
i can work on.



ANSWER: Hi Nicky,

First of all I admire your dedication to the game and your desire to get better. You seem to be putting forth a lot of effort to get better and develop your skills. I happen to be in a similar situation as you. I'm only 5'8 and I've always played with bigger, taller players, and I have always had my own fear of driving to the basket and taking a jump shot instead. Fortunately, I have always had a decent jump shot which has gotten me through. It sounds like your problem is mental, and the only way to get over that, is to just drive in, every time. Your going to get blocked. Your going to get fouled, and sometimes you'll make it through. Even the best point guards get knocked around a lot; it's part of the position. If you don't like that, and you have a decent outside shot, consider moving to the Off Guard position. Don't force yourself into playing a position that isn't natural for you. But if you really want to be a point guard, you have to forget the outside shot, practice your moves, and drive in every time.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: So, to follow up, i would just like to ask one more question. When i play
basketball with people, like i said before, i settle for jumpshots more than
driving into the paint. I drive every once in a while. Besides the fact the it is
more of an mental issue, sometimes, I see a lane that i can drive right
through. But that gap that i can squeeze through gets closed quickly once i
make a move. I am pretty quick and stuff. How do i get into the lane quicker,
and break down the defense better?

Answer
You will notice smaller guards in the NBA like Steve Nash, or John Stockton have been so successful at driving to the basket because their teamates have set pick and roll moves. YOu need to have your teamates sets picks or screens for you so that the defender gets stopped from cutting you off. There is a lot of offensive strategy that goes into executing plays. It's not all talent believe me. That's why the head coaches get paid so much money. Talk to your coach about setting up some plays specifically for you to drive to the basket.