basketball shooting, postitions and conditioning

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Hello My name is Joe and i am a 13 year old basketball player.  I really like the game and am pretty good at it.  I have a few questions for you and I am sorry if they may be off topic but i really want to know.

1. I want to know what a shooting guard's responsibilities are? (I know they are supposed to shoot but when I get the ball and shoot people think i shoot to much and I am a ballhog)

2. I really want to be better with my dribbling moves.  I am good at dribbling (i can dribble the ball really well) but i cant get past my defender.  Are there any tips or explanations you can give me?  Could you also perhaps give me some moves to learn too?

3.  Finally, I would like to know how i can get more fit for basketball.  I want to get in better codition but i dont know what to do?

Thank you, Joe
Answer -
Joe,
It is the "shooting guards responsibility to shoot. However, you must also understand what a "good shot" consists of. Here are a few things: In the flow of the offense, with rebounders in postion, within the shooters range, with space from defenders, and time to get the shot off before the defenders can closeout to guard the shot.

If you can't get past the defender you may not be as good of a dribbler as you think you are - the purpose of the dribble is to advance the ball.

There are lots of drills that will improve your ability to get past defenders and improve your conditioning. Try these: Speed dribble from half court to make a layup - go faster than you ever have before! Use a crossover step - make your 1st step right over left or left over right crossing over before you take the first dribble trying to get past the defenders outside foot on that side. Play 1 offensive player (starting on the wing) against 2 defenders (1 perimeter 1 post).

Good Luck!
Thank you that helped a lot.  In basketball i was wondering do coaches call plays for the players every time up the court or sometimes do the players get the ball to the open man with picks and stuff they want to do?
Answer -
Some coaches call most of the plays but the trend now is to run "motion" or patterned motion offenses that allow players to decide/react to the defense and decide how and when to shoot. Two examples you can watch on TV are Texas Tech's motion offense, and also the LA Lakers triangle patterned motion offense.

Hope this helps -good luck!
So you are saying they have a play that they just react to the defense without the coah saying anything?  I just was hoiping that sometimes they go up the court and react to whatever the defense gives them and then they find the open man for the shot.  I thought the point guard brought the ball up, found the open man and then he shot or passed it to another person open?  If they do this what would you think the percentages are of the times the coaches let the players react with instinct and the percent to the times the coach calls a certain play.

Answer
Joe,
In it's simplest terms, basketball offenses are designed to take advantage of defensive weaknesses or attack the defense utilizing the offenses' stregnths (like having a good post player).

There are no "percentages" of what/when a coach calls plays - it depends on the offensive philosophy and system the coach employs.

When you play on a team, that coach will you direct you - there is no "right or "wrong" way only "the coaches way"! Good players follow directions well!

Good Luck!