Even though there are two guard positions and two forward positions in basketball, each has distinct tasks and responsibilities. You should comprehend the other positions on the court regardless of the position you play. You'll be a more successful player if you understand the duties and responsibilities of all positions. There are two guards and two forwards on the court at any given time during an NBA game. However, they perform different roles for each team. On one side, the point guard is responsible for initiating the offense by distributing the ball to his teammates or taking himself off the bench. A shooting guard will usually stay near the basket while playing defense, but may also have opportunities to score himself. A small forward generally plays farther from the hoop than a power forward or center and tries to influence games with their offensive skillsets as well as defend their position. Finally, a big man doesn't need to score to be effective, so they tend to come off the bench. Each position has unique requirements for success. For example, to be a good point guard you need to be able to pass accurately and with vision, but you also need to be able to shoot free throws. At the same time, you want to make sure you're not doing too much; you don't want to be trying to run your team up and down the court while being responsible for guarding opponents' players.