Amanda Knapp
Paint touches are an important aspect of basketball, with coaches and analysts believing that they can significantly improve a team's performance. Paint touches refer to the number of times the ball enters the paint area, whether through dribbling or passing, before a shot attempt. This strategy aims to create more scoring opportunities and improve offensive efficiency. Coaches like Buzz Williams and Don Kelbick have developed drills and strategies to incorporate more paint touches into their teams' gameplay, leading to higher points per possession (PPP). These drills also teach players how to move and react after passing, improving overall performance.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | Paint touches refer to the number of times the ball touches the paint before a shot attempt, foul, or turnover in a half-court possession. |
| Importance | Paint touches are important as they can lead to more points per possession (PPP). |
| Strategies | Drills that focus on paint touches can improve players' skills and decision-making after passing the ball. Coaches can also use analytics to understand the impact of paint touches and ball reversals on offensive efficiency. |
| Examples | Coach Buzz Williams of Marquette is known for his focus on paint touches. Coach Sam Patterson of Baylor also emphasized paint touches, aiming for 70% of half-court possessions to include a paint touch before a shot attempt. |
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What You'll Learn
Paint touches lead to more points per possession
Paint touches refer to the number of times the ball enters the painted area under the basket during a game of basketball. This can be through a pass or a dribble. Getting the ball into the post is important as it creates more strategic options and increases the likelihood of scoring points.
Drills that focus on paint touches can improve points per possession. Don Kelbick's Attack & Counter Skill Development System is a great example of this. His methods teach players to interpret the game and react accordingly, with an "attack mentality" that results in more dribble drives to the basket and more paint touches.
The benefits of paint touches are also supported by statistical analysis. In a study of twelve high division 1 college basketball programs, it was found that when there were no paint touches or ball reversals in a possession, teams scored 0.706 PPP (points per possession) and turned the ball over 27% of the time. In contrast, one team, dubbed Team A, scored 0.893 PPP and had a lower turnover rate of 14% when there were no ball reversals or paint touches, due to the exceptional skill of one player. However, the data also shows that better ball movement and a combination of paint touches and ball reversals generally lead to higher points per possession.
Coach Sam Patterson's article, "Ten Stats that Every Basketball Coach Should Track," also highlights the importance of paint touches. During his time as an assistant at Baylor, they tracked every half-court possession that included a paint touch. They aimed for 70% of their half-court possessions to include a paint touch before a shot attempt and found that their successful possessions (those that resulted in scoring) increased when they had at least one paint touch.
Therefore, incorporating paint touches into offensive strategies can lead to more points per possession and ultimately improve a team's performance.
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Drills for paint touches
Paint touches, or interior touches, refer to a basketball player's ability to effectively operate in the key area under the basket, often referred to as "the paint." This crucial area is where many high-percentage scoring opportunities occur, and developing skills for paint touches is essential for players looking to improve their post-up game and overall scoring ability. Here are some drills designed to enhance a player's proficiency in this area:
5-Touch Drill:
- Set up five cones or markers in a semi-circle within the paint, starting near the baseline and extending towards the free-throw line.
- Begin at the baseline with a basketball and make a move towards the first cone/marker, performing a quick dribble move or fake to create space.
- Touch the cone/marker with your hand (or dribble if using a ball), then quickly move to the next cone, repeating the process.
- Continue through all five cones, focusing on quick, explosive moves and maintaining balance and body control.
- This drill improves footwork, agility, and ball handling skills necessary for creating space near the basket.
3-Second Layup Drill:
- Set a timer for 3 seconds. Start with the ball near the baseline, just outside the paint.
- Dribble or drive towards the basket and perform a layup, ensuring you release the ball before the 3-second timer ends.
- Retrieve your rebound and repeat the process, aiming for a smooth, continuous motion.
- Focus on developing a quick first step and improving your finishing ability around the rim.
Two-Player Passing Drill:
- Partner up with a teammate and start on opposite sides of the paint, just outside the key.
- Pass the ball to your partner, then cut towards the basket, receiving a pass back for a layup or short shot.
- Alternate between passing and cutting, working on different angles and types of passes (bounce, chest, etc.).
- This drill enhances passing skills, court vision, and the ability to read defenses, all while improving paint touches.
Mikan Drill:
- A classic drill named after George Mikan, a legendary NBA center. Start under the basket with a basketball.
- Shoot a layup with your right hand, then catch the ball off the backboard with your left hand, bringing it back down to your right side.
- Immediately shoot another layup with your left hand, then switch the ball back to your right.
- Continue this continuous motion, alternating hands with each layup.
- The Mikan drill improves finishing with both hands and helps develop ambidexterity, a crucial skill for paint touches.
Back-to-the-Basket Drill:
- Stand with your back to the basket, just outside the paint, with a defender or a coach facing you.
- Using pivot moves, fakes, and footwork, create space and generate scoring opportunities without facing your defender.
- Work on developing a variety of moves, such as drop steps, spin moves, and up-and-under maneuvers, to create high-percentage shots.
- This drill is excellent for improving post-up skills and developing a feel for scoring in the paint without relying on facing up.
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Paint touches and ball reversals
Paint touches refer to when the ball physically touches the paint or when a player with the ball is in the paint. This can be achieved through dribble penetration or passing the ball into the paint. Paint touches are important because they create more options for the offence and can lead to higher points per possession (PPP). Coaches such as Nate Oats from the University of Alabama Crimson Tide and Sam Patterson, a former assistant at Baylor, have emphasised the importance of paint touches. Oats charted the number of paint touches over two years and found a direct correlation between an increase in paint touches and an increase in PPP. Similarly, Patterson found that Baylor's successful possessions increased when they included at least one paint touch.
Ball reversals, on the other hand, refer to the movement of the ball from one side of the court to the other. This can be done through passing or dribbling and is effective in creating better offensive opportunities by keeping the defence moving. Analytics have shown that more ball reversals lead to higher PPP.
Combining paint touches and ball reversals can be extremely effective in improving a team's offensive efficiency. On average, teams scored the highest PPP when there were two or more ball reversals combined with a paint touch in a possession. However, this type of possession only occurred 4% of the time. Therefore, coaches should focus on implementing strategies that encourage paint touches and ball reversals to increase their team's scoring potential.
One issue that coaches may face is players standing around after passing, especially into the post. This can reduce the effectiveness of the increased PPP gained from paint touches and ball reversals. To combat this, players should be taught to move into open spots on the court after passing. For example, they can move from the wing to the corner, or from the corner to the top. Additionally, players can cut in the direction of the defender's back to create more space.
By utilising drills that focus on paint touches and ball reversals, coaches can improve their team's offensive capabilities and increase their scoring output. Implementing strategies such as Don Kelbick's Attack & Counter Skill Development System, which emphasises attacking the basket and getting into the paint, can also help players develop the skills needed to effectively utilise paint touches and ball reversals.
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Paint touches and passing
Paint touches refer to the number of times the ball enters the paint or the area near the basket before a shot attempt. This could be through dribble penetration or a pass into the paint. Getting paint touches is important as it can lead to more scoring opportunities and improve offensive efficiency.
Passing is a crucial aspect of basketball, and it is especially important when combined with paint touches. Effective passing into the post or the paint can create open shots and increase the chances of scoring. One passing drill that can improve paint touches is Don Kelbick's drill, which emphasizes passing into the post before taking a shot. This teaches players how to move and react after passing, utilizing strategies such as cutting and screening.
Another passing strategy is to focus on ball movement and ball reversals. While there is no one-size-fits-all solution, data suggests that better ball movement results in higher points per possession (PPP). Passing out of the post is one of the highest PPP actions, so players should avoid standing around after passing and instead create movement and space. This can involve moving to open spots on the court, such as from the wing to the corner or top.
Additionally, passing can be used to create mismatches and drive to the basket. For example, a defender helping on a post player can leave their original player open, allowing for a pass and an easy shot. Paint touches can also be combined with other offensive strategies, such as screens and shifts, to create multiple scoring options and confuse defenders.
Overall, paint touches and passing are crucial aspects of basketball offense. By utilizing effective passing techniques and drills, players can improve their scoring opportunities and increase their offensive efficiency.
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Paint touches and dribbling
Paint touches are an important aspect of basketball, and coaches often emphasise the need to get the ball into the paint to create scoring opportunities. The paint, or the "key", is the most dangerous part of the floor, and getting the ball into this area can lead to higher-scoring possessions.
One way to get the ball into the paint is through dribbling. Dribbling drills are an essential part of basketball practice, and coaches often incorporate specific techniques to teach players how to dribble-drive to the basket, resulting in more paint touches. Don Kelbick's Attack & Counter Skill Development System is an example of this, where he teaches an "attack mentality" that emphasises driving to the basket and getting into the paint.
Dribbling skills are crucial for players to develop, as it allows them to create their own scoring opportunities and drive to the basket. This can be combined with other techniques such as ball reversals and passing to create even more effective offensive strategies. For example, a player can dribble to attract defenders and then pass to an open teammate, or use dribble attacks on an out-of-position defender.
Additionally, dribbling can be used to create space and move defenders. By dribbling towards a defender, a player can force them to move, creating openings for passes or driving lanes to the basket. This can be especially effective when combined with screens and other offensive movements.
Overall, paint touches and dribbling are crucial aspects of basketball offence. By utilising dribbling skills and techniques, players can effectively get the ball into the paint, creating more scoring opportunities and improving their team's offensive efficiency.
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Frequently asked questions
Paint touches refer to the number of times the ball enters the paint or the area inside the three-point line, either through a pass or dribble, before a shot attempt. This is often used as a metric to assess a team's offensive efficiency and chances of scoring.
Paint touches are important as they can create more scoring opportunities and increase offensive efficiency. Getting the ball into the paint allows for a direct shot or for creating different shot options through passing. Paint touches can also be used strategically to move and position players to gain advantages over defenders.
To increase paint touches, coaches can employ specific drills and strategies. For example, Don Kelbick's drills emphasise passing into the low post and restricting the number of passes before a shot to encourage players to move and create opportunities for paint touches. Additionally, players can be instructed to drive to the basket and utilise screens to increase dribble penetration into the paint.
