Lean In

Getting the fundamentals right...

Guest Dave Weinbach is back in this week's Jordan Briones Primetime video, with another tip about play at the NVZ line. The video is titled Offensive NVZ Line Positioning with Dave Weinbach.

The focus of Dave's message is how a player should be positioned at the NVZ line. First, he states that players should be right at the line. His feet position in the video show him with nearly no gap between his toes and the line. Second, Dave wants players to lean forward. His positioning shows a slight knee bend for balance, bending forward at the waist, and extending his arms.

One reason for the forward lean is that it allows you attack the ball earlier. Remember the post Taking Time from Opponents from a couple of weeks ago? Attacking the ball earlier accomplishes that goal. 

A second reason for positioning close to the line and a forward lean is that it allows you to cut off the angle of wide shots...to either side.

Ignoring either of those positioning rules means a player will likely have to move back away from the NVZ.

This backwards movement creates 3 problems:

1. You are out of position for the next shot
2. Your shot becomes more difficult
3. Your partner exposes more of the court to compensate for your movement.