3 Small Sided Games to Improve Game Shooting

Most players practice shooting with on-air drills designed simply for volume shooting. By adding a defender, shooters feel the pressure faced by the defense closing out to disrupt the shot.

Here are three small-sided games to recreate that game-like pressure.

Corner Closeout 1 v 1

More and more offenses are designing actions to create opportunities for corner threes against long closeouts.

The Dish passes out to a coach at the top of the key. On the catch, the defender (positioned on the block) begins to closeout to the corner shooter. The coach quickly passes to the corner shooter who attempts a catch-and-shoot 3.

1 v 2 Decision-making shooting 

One of the most important decision-making skills on offense is finding the best shot within a possession.

For this drill, we start by simulating collapsing the defense with a drive. When the defense moves towards the paint, the driver makes the read to pass to the open teammate. On the catch, the receiver either takes the open shot or makes the “one more” pass to the more-open teammate.

stunt and recover shooting

With many teams playing a gap defense, offenses are facing more “east-west” closeouts (i.e., defenders closing out from the sides instead of straight at the shooter).

Upon receiving a pass from the Dish, the wing player drives the paint. On the drive, the defender stunts at the offense. When the pass is made, the defender closes out at the shooter to contest the shot.

Looking for more Small Sided Games like these?! Check out Coach Tony Miller's FREE Small Sided Games Vol. 2 E-Book!