4 Layers of Scoring in Basketball

 When it comes to basketball there are 4 layers from which a basketball player can score from.  The 4 layers are:

  1. Finishing at the basket
  2. Midrange game
  3. 3-point shot
  4. Free Throws
The better you are at all four phases the better your scoring will be in basketball games.  In addition, the more efficient your team is at scoring from all 4 layers the more difficult the team will be to guard.  Let's take a look at all 4 layers briefly before we dive into them in more detail over the next few weeks.

Finishing at the Basket - This layer is an important one for all basketball players. Everyone who steps on the floor should know how to shoot layups of all kinds.  Right-handed layups, left-handed layups, inside hand finishing, floaters and many more.  This doesn't mention creating contact with a big man, absorbing contact, and protecting the ball while driving the lane.  Bigs need to know how to finish at the basket but so do guards.  It's a great idea that all players of any size learn how to master all of the layers.

Midrange Game - The midrange game is neglected in today's game but if you take a look at some of the all-time great scorers in the NBA, their game included a nasty midrange repertoire.  The midrange includes the area anywhere from 10 feet to the 3-point line.  They include turn around and pull up jumpers along with regular jumpers.  The midrange is great to use when you create your shot off the bounce or start your move from the 3-point line with some sort of fake.

3-point shot - The 3-point shot has given scorers more space to work with.  The 3-point shot is a distance shot which forces the defense to spread out and cover at a distance they don't feel comfortable guarding at.  For a team, there is no such thing as having too many 3-point shooters.  Having one 3-point shooter will bring out the defense a bit but 2 or 3 will have a much greater affect.  It will force the defense to spread out and will bring mismatches into the spotlight assuming that the 3-point shooters you have are multi-layer scorers.  If they are not, they will be easy to guard regardless of how well they shoot.

Free Throws - Drawing fouls while putting pressure on the defense is another huge part of the game.  Being able to get to the line 10-12 times a game not only helps a scorer pad his stat line, but it also helps the team by putting pressure on the defense by forcing it to help and rotate along with getting them in foul trouble.  Of course, drawing fouls and making the free throws are 2 totally different things.  The scorers in the NBA who get to the line the most are usually great free throw shooters and are also some of the leading scorers in the league.

So, there is a brief intro to the different layers of scoring.  Whether you are a 1 or a 5 means nothing in today's game.  Today's game demands that all players become multi-layer scorers.  The best scorers excel at all 4.  We'll have more to come soon.

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