My friends tell me this is what I most closely resemble. I am 6'2" 175 pounds and quick. I'm not the best ball handler. I only play for fun, but I'm competitive and want to know how I can best utilize my skill sets. What kind of shots am I expected to take? What is my expected role in the passing game and on defense whether playing zone or man?
2007-12-26 10:02:01 · 7 answers · asked by Dan in Real Life 6 in Sports ➔ Basketball
Well LeBron James at 6' 8" is considered a small forward so it's all relative to the level of your competition. But think of what LeBron does. He is Cleveland's offense and so they run their offense through him and hope he either can get off a high percentage jumper or drive the lane, failing which he is supposed to pass to an open man who can either shoot, drive or dunk.
So if you too can shoot a mid-range jumper, drive for a layup and/or dunk, then your coach will run the offense through you. If not, then your role is to set picks for the ballhandler so that he can shoot, drive or pass to the open man, and to rebound from the side of the lane you find yourself when the shot is taken.
On defense it's is all about quickness and attitude. You are supposed to pressure the ballhandler and get him to turn the ball over on the dribble or on a bad pass, or make him take a low percentage shot, or make him drive into a defense that is in position to defend it.
The key to good defense is quick feet and hands and persistence from all five players. You will not keep a team from scoring and they will not keep you from scoring. What you want to do is wear them down on each possession. This is true for two reasons. The harder they have to work for each scoring opportunity, the more likely a mistake will be made resulting in a turnover or a missed shot and missed rebound. That will usually frustrate a team and when that happens then they lose their focus and stop playing sound defense. When that happens it will result in easier scoring opportunities for your team, which, in turn, puts even more pressure on your opponent to score against a defense that is now energized and wants to get the ball back to score even more points.
It's a vicious cycle and it's usually the defensive effort that breaks down the opponent's offense and opens up the possibility for a rout.
Good luck. Work on your dribbling, passing and shooting, in that order, with both hands. But everything begins with the feet. The quicker your feet, the bigger the advantage you will have on offense and defense.
2007-12-26 10:35:16 · answer #1 · answered by TK 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There's no real set "role" of a small forward. Some are great 3-point shooters (Stojakovic), some take mostly mid-range jumpers (Davis) and some drive to the rim, and some do all three. Typically, they're 6'5 to 6'9 and are decent ball-handlers and decent passers. On zone coverage, you will be on the wing, and you shift towards the basket when the ball goes away from you and towards the player who has the ball when it's close to you. When playing man, you pick up the other SF.
2007-12-26 10:20:01 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Mid-Range, 3- Pointers (Some, but some great Small Forwards can't shoot threes including Grant Hill), and alot of Small Forwards are expected to dunk and get to the foul line alot. If you were in the NBA a small forward normally is around 6'5-6'9 and 200-260 lbs. So get some more weight but stay healthy if you wan't to play NBA Basketball!
2007-12-26 10:13:16 · answer #3 · answered by Quazzi (#1 Suns Fan) 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
As far as offence, a SF is sussposed to be the most complete player......shoting for 3s, mid range and even a little post play.
A pg and sg will have no post play
A Center and PF will have no 3s
A sf has the green light for all
2007-12-26 10:24:46 · answer #4 · answered by Speedstar 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
small forwards can usually make shots from like 15-17 foot away from the net and they dunk and stuff
on defense you stand around the 3-point line or foul line
2007-12-26 12:52:07 · answer #5 · answered by Eric c 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
as small forward you have to be able to shoot. You have to handle a ball you are in between gaurd and a forward and you have to be able to do what both of their jobs are. You have to be able to defend the big man and the small man because you will be put on both of them.
2007-12-26 11:54:58 · answer #6 · answered by sixxluv 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
they are just a taller version of a shooting guard.
they are asked to defend more and rebound more and set screens more than the shooting guard...they don't get to see the ball as much as the SG...although there are exceptions such as lebron, vince carter, etc
2007-12-26 10:27:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋