Play smarter basketball.  Play better basketball.

10-steps to elevate your game and get in the zone

Step 9: create momentum

Of the various tips and techniques we talk about on this website for playing your best and putting yourself into a positio to get in the zone, creating momentum is probably at the top of the list as far as importance.

The reason is simple:  playing great basketball and getting in the zone is about stringing together good play after good play, and one of the best ways to make this happen is to create positive momentum.

To put it another way, good plays feed other good plays, which create confidence, which leads to more good plays, and so on, and so on, and so on.

Here are some examples of how important momentum is for helping you play you best:

- Making a good play makes it more likely that your coach will leave you in the game which will give you the chance to make more good plays.

- Making good plays makes it more likely that your teammates will get you the ball, or at least get you involved in the action, making it more likely you'll be able to make more good plays.

- Making good plays makes the defense respect you, or even fear you.  It puts doubt in their minds about their ability to guard you.  It puts them on their heels, making them more likely to go for ball fakes, shot fakes, and to gamble to keep the ball out of your hands.  All of these things make it easier for you to get the ball, and score, and get fouled, and make good plays.

And once you make a good play, you create a positive to build on.  This positive naturally leads to more positive.  All of this positive momentum leads to more good plays.  And pretty soon, good play after good play after good play...and gues what, you're in the zone.

In short, momentum (one good play after another) is the zone.  Once you start playing great ball, and making plays, and getting confident...you're dominating, you're taking it to the next level...you're in the zone.

So how can you create momentum?

Get going early in games.  Once you make a good play, work extra hard to make another one right away (don't work too hard and do somethign silly or take a bad shot, but work extra hard).  Maybe you make a tough jump shot, then steal the inbounds pass and get an easy layup.  Then you make a great defensive play that leads to a score.  Next time down the floor you get fouled and make a couple free throws.  Do you see how quickly you can start to create amazing momentum in your favor and dominate a game?

Don't underestimate the importance and impact momentum has in helping you play well, become a great player, and get in the zone.

Click here to go back to the Zone section of the site and get more information, tips, tricks, and techniques to improve your level of play and get yourself playing in the zone.

Get more tips on how to play in the zone

Return to Home Page