Point guard

Point guard is a position in basketball. It is one of the most important positions. A point guard should maintain his/her team's offense by controlling the ball safely and pass the ball to the right teammate at the right time. Because of his/her role in the play, a point guard is usually called a commander on the court.  Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Stephen Curry and John Stockton are famous point guards in the NBA. Diana Taurasi, Tamika Catchings, Cynthia Cooper, Maya Moore, and Lisa Leslie are famous point guards in the WNBA.

Required abilities to play as a point guard

First of all, right pass is the most important requirement to be a good point guard.  A point guard's first thought should be being an excellent passer and getting the ball to his/her teammates for easy shots. Because the offense is usually started from a point guard who handles the ball, he/she should be able to find the open man/woman, and when to pass and not pass to avoid costly turnovers and score easily.

Second, safe dribbling and ball handling are necessary. Before a point guard passes the ball to his/her teammates, he/she should carry the ball from back court to front court. To carry the ball safely without turnovers, it is important to know how to control the ball safely. And by controlling the ball safely, a point guard also can control the tempo of the game. The ability, controlling the tempo, make a point guard choose right way to offense, a fast-break or a slow-attack. Through choosing right strategy, a point guard can make chance at the right time and also save his/her teammate's stamina effectively. 

Third, a point guard is a coach on the court. To command proper strategy to his teammates, a point guard should understand all strategies which are commanded by his coach. This ability may help a point guard to play the game well with the right strategy at right time.

Lastly, a point guard should be a good shooter. Sometimes the game can be unfavorable, even a point guard pass well and play the game with right strategy. At this time his/her accurate shooting can be an escapeway from this situation. By announcing his/her ability to shooting accurately, a point guard can plant an awareness to opponents that they should defense him/her well. And it cause the decreasing of pressure to other teammates to offense. Like this, a point guard's shooting ability can be the option to offense effectively.
Category:Basketball positions