Perth Amboy evening news., 1913-01-28
HOW TO PLAY BASKETBALL
The Ofense.
BY BILL" REYNOLDS

The OTense.
will now proceed with the other half of basketball Is played by a
team-the onense. This is deemed by many o be the more important
side If basketball, for the reason probably, that it is the. more. thG-nt or.
1t is my theory that II shqr,s ~ s44Fep equal atteGt ~ y saaS
but l al se n % reason for calling 1t the more important part ora gEnr-
A brief definition of my idea of offensive basketball would be: Adj
vancing the ball by accurate passing unit in a position ear enough to
the basket to make a sure" count OF course, the term sure" is gener-
ally, in basketball, a misnomer, but alta any rate the ball should be kept
going by the passing method so long as there is still more man free
to pass it to, who is nearer the goal than the player in possession of the
ball. That is the general Idea.
session of same. With a defense to break up plays of opponents and gain
possession of tie ball, and a systematic ofense to advance the ball. you
have the chief factors of team work. A clever center around whom to
build a team; two forwards who generally score when team work gives
them the ball near enough to the basket. and who are not afraid to be-
come a part OF the defense when not in possession of the ball, backed up
by two guards who a shoot when occasion arises, could b. welded into
shooting, or free throws awarded by the referee, is one of the most i'm
porhnt scoring factors. Many a close game has been won through the
ability of a player to make the free throws count. Every team should
develop a foul shooter.
There has been much comment n the term basket hanger" would
not call a player a basket hanger who is clever enough. while his team
stealth, to a position directly beneath the basket, where a pass to him
means a certain two points. On the other hand, would call a player a
teammates, four against five, trying to obtain possession of the ball so
that they may pass it to him. He may make twelve out of his teams
eighteen points and be praised by press and fans alike Is the 'star" OF
the game, though seven out of ten such games his team may lose. Let a
team with a basket hanger" play against a team of five lei who work
as a team, and zee which team wins.
Passing.
Accuracy in passing, and good judgment IS regards the receiving end,
are the essentials in passing. Short passing is undoubtedly the best
method of advancing the ball. If a team is not able by this method to
get nea enough to the basket to try for a goal, they may pass faster enough
to demoralZe and dazzle their opponents; and long enough to allow n
of their teammates, by speed IT stealth, to get near enough to the basket
TO have a comparatively easy shot upon the receipt of a long pass This
is a Ease for judgment and headwork in passing. It is much better to
have a system in spreading the e owe the court in offensive plays; that
is, when in possession of the ball The natural one, and undoubtedly tho
best, is to have the forwards, who are generally picked for their speed
and shooting ability, advance first towards the opponents goal, with the
canterw working toward the ball, and the guards ready tt turn into a stone
wall defense of their goal at a seconds notice.