A basketball team can hold many skillful players, but only five can play inside the court. Once these players are selected, they are assigned different positions according to their suitability.
It is said that a good basketball team is like a well-lubricated engine which helps drive the game as far as possible and make score frequently.
However, the players must be chosen wisely and assigned their positions more wisely so that they could execute that particular position at the right time in the proper manner.
A basketball usually comprises five positions; shooting guard, point guard, power forward, small forward, and center.
Let’s unclose each position and see how each position is taken place by the player and which abilities and skills are required to play these positions.
5 Positions in Basketball
Shooting Guard
A Shooting Guard is considered the team’s best shooting player who can make shots from long distances. This player is a fine dribbler as well. The shooting guard is known as the two-guard because he needs more than a 3-point shot to make more scores.
A shooting guard is required to contain powerful off-ball movements such as finding open spaces on the court and running through the screens. A player should also know how to handle the ball sturdily.
Although a shooting guard is a secondary ball-handler, the player should know how to handle the ball decently since it aids him to struggle his shooting off the dribble.
Moreover, a shooting guard should have good defensive abilities. The size of a shooting player matters a lot in this case. If a shooting guard is taller than the offensive player, he can easily make his defensive moves and stand out on the court.
Point Guard
A Point Guard is one of the shortest-in-height players responsible for advancing the basketball on the court and plays as an offensive player.
A point guard plays an essential role in sustaining the speed and performance of the team.
A point guard player needs to be skillful in his IQ and acts as an on-court coach by directing the traffic, bringing up the ball on the court, and making the decisions that end in high shots.
A point guard player should hold concrete passing and ball-handling abilities. As a team general, he must be vocal who can direct his team by speaking aloud. However, the point guard doesn’t need to be the shortest player, but it could be the player who has all these skills on the court.
Besides, a point guard can play on the team’s offensive side, so he requires leading the lane. He should know the 3-point powerfully and jump shots.
If the point guard plays on the defensive side, he can emphasize guarding the opposing team’s best ball-handler and getting into the lane by stealing the ball.
Power Forward
A Power Forward position is related to the Center position because many moves are similar to the center player. However, the only difference between the two is that a power forward takes longer shots than the center position.
Power forward always has to remain with the basket, yet the closer to the basket, the more challenging things get. The player should play around the basket, forcing the buckets and fighting for the rebounds. This position is also known as the four.
This position needs a combination of the player’s size and power, as the name signifies. It requires a player to work on individual skills such as posting up the defender and boxing out. He should also know how to set the screen to help his team members.
Small Forward
A Small Forward player plays against both small and tall players. He travels all across the court and can be resulted in scoring from close shots and long shots.
Although a small forward plays a huge role which is also known as the three. This position is usually assigned to the most adaptable player on the court. This position requires a mixture of multiple skills and abilities, which a power forward and a shooting guard require.
However, a small forward player must be reliable and scrappy adequately that he boxes out and drags the rebounds. Besides, he must escape the defensive player, markdown to the rim, and make jump shots.
On the other hand, if the player plays on the offensive side, he should make a solid average shot and lead and cut towards the basket. A small forward player must blend rapidness and power to play against both small and big players.
Center
A center player is the tallest player in the team who plays near the hoop and is a continual threat under the basket. The center position is also known as the five. In this position, the size of the player has a lot to do with. And the player needs to be athletic.
On the offensive side, the player should establish his shot in a limited area and run the rebounds from the other player’s hands. The center attempts to score on rebounds and close shots.
A player must be proficient in playing with the back to the hoop. In this position, the player must be working with the team members by associating the screens.
On the flip side, if a player is on the defensive side in the center position, it can work as the opposite team’s best blocker. Additionally, a solid rebounder in the center position eradicates a second opportunity for the opponent to rebound.
Conclusion
Concluding my topic, I have discussed the five positions in basketball which are assigned differently according to particular skills to the players.
Basketball is a game of fun in which each step should be taken wisely and by identifying the next move of the opposite team. Supporting your team could help each other in encouraging them and take the play game long-lastingly.