Advanced Basketball: Triple Threat Moves

There are three plays you can do off the triple threat position: shoot, pass, and dribble.  In order to have a good triple threat position, you need to make sure that you have a proper stance with a secured position of the ball.

It is very important to understand the concept of pivoting while you are in the triple threat position.  While you are pivoting, one foot becomes your pivot foot and the other becomes your jab step.  Through the use of pivoting, you can position yourself in various ways to give you different looks to make plays.

Ball protection and ball movement in the triple threat position is very important.  It allows you to continue to have possession of the ball making it difficult for the defender to steal the ball away from you.  When you are moving the ball, there are various ways of swinging the ball from one side of the body to the other.

The first step usage from the triple threat position is a important key in making strong basketball plays.  There is a fundamental way of using the first step effectively.  If you have an effective first step, you can truly be an offensive threat.

The first step move is a very simple jab step move that you use to beat the defender off the triple threat position. You take a big jab step in front of your opponent to get pass the defender.  As you take the first step, you have to dribble the ball at the same time, so you avoid the traveling violation.

The one dribble step back move is used to create space for a pull up jumper.  Once you take that first dribble, it should look like you have the intent to drive to the basket.  The defender will try to take away that drive which will allow you to create separation with the step back for an open shot.

The jab step move is used to make the opponent think you are going one way, but you end up going the other way.  When you use a hard jab step in one direction, it could lead to the defender reacting to the jab step thinking that you are going to drive.  In order to counter the defender's reaction, you end up going to the other direction to make a strong play.

The double jab step is a move where you take two jab steps to get pass your opponent.  You take one smaller jab step to get a read on your opponent's reaction.  If they do not bite on the first jab step, then you take a larger jab step to blow past the defender.

Shimmy jab step move is variation to the regular jab step move.  The shimmy basically means that you are adding a shaking movement to your move.  The shimmy of the jab step will cause the defender to move along with you.  Once you read your defender react in a certain way, you can counter his movement and attack accordingly.

The push jab step move is another use of the jab step to beat the defender off the triple threat position.  The use of this jab step is different than other moves because you put your jab foot behind your whole body.  When you place it behind you, then you are able push off your jab step to get an explosive boost for the drive to the basket.

The push jab step, step back move is a combination move of the push jab step move and the regular step back jumper.  After the use of the push jab step, the defender might be one step ahead by taking your drive away.  In order to counter your opponent's move, you take a step back to create space and shoot a jumper.

The jab step across is another great triple threat move that you can use to drive past your defender by utilizing the first step.  Your jab step would go across your own and your opponent's body, so you can attack the outside leg of your opponent.  As you bring your jab step across, your shoulder or your back is facing your opponent, and the ball should be placed on your inside hip.  The body should be protecting the ball as it is between the ball and the defender.  Once you place your jab step down and the defender does not react to your foot replacement, then you can use your first step and explode straight to the basket for a strong play.

Jab step, step back technique is another move to create separation for an open jumper.  Initially, you use to a jab step for misdirection making the defender think you are going one way, but you end up going the other way.  After the misdirection, you can create even more space by adding the step back.

The jab step across, step back is add-on move of the jab step across move.  This move is used to counter the defender's reaction of taking your drive away.  When the drive is not there, you can take the step back for an open jumper.

The jab step, pull up move requires a strong jab step with a legitimate drive game.  This particular becomes very effective, if you are already an offensive threat who can consistently take drives to the basket.  The jab step will make defender back up worrying about the drive which will leave space for you to knock down an open jumper.

Instead taking a single jab step for a shot, I also have the option to take multiple jab steps and take a pull up jumper.  When you use a number of jab steps, it can be very beneficial for you.  It can help create space for you and make the defender back off of you.  In addition, you also have the option to drive if defender does not react to the jab steps.  When you do create space, you have the option of taking the jumper.

This move is continuation of multiple jab steps, pull up move, but you take the shot off the dribble.  As I mentioned before, you can look to drive after taking multiple jab steps.  When the defender becomes so worried about your drive, you can decide to pull up off the dribble.

The pump fake, one dribble pull up is a move where you can get the defender in the air and create yourself an open shot.  It is important for this move to sell your pump fake efficiently.  In order to sell the pump fake, it is better to take your time on your fake and bring the ball above your head.  Once you pump fake, you can take one strong dribble to get your shot off.

The pump fake, one dribble step back is used to create space off the dribble for a pull up jumper.  After the pump fake, you take one dribble and you use your lead leg to push off to create space.  If you go to your right, then you push off the left leg, and you push off the right leg if you go to your left.  You can definitely take more than one dribble for the step back if you desire to.

The pump fake, jab step, one dribble pull up is a move to get a shot off from a combination of very simple moves. The first move is the pump fake where you can get the defenders off their feet or keep them on their toes.  Then, you can add a jab step on top of the pump fake, so the defender reacts to that move as well.  The moves will keep the defender guessing while you read their reactions and possibly take one dribble off the jab step and pull up for a jumper.

This move is an add-on to the previous lecture of the pump fake, jab step, one dribble move.  Instead of pulling up for a normal jump shot, you take a step back for a jumper.  The step back jumper is there to create even more space from the defender for a shot.

The pump fake, step through, pull up is a move to use after you have picked up your dribble.  Once you pick up your dribble, you can use the pump fake to look like you are going to shoot.  When players do pump fake, there are many occasions that defenders fall for the fake and would get in air and go right by them.  When that happens, you have the opportunity to step through and get a shot off.

The pump fake, spin off pivot, pull up is another move to use after you have picked up your dribble.  When you pump fake, there are times when defenders will not jump past you.  However, the pump fake does stop them in their tracks, and there is a split second to pull off a move like this one.  If the defender does not jump, it means that the defender is still in front of you.  You can counter by pivoting 360 degrees away from the defender and pull off a shot.  It is a difficult move to pull off, but it can be a effective one if used correctly. 

The stationary one dribble between the legs, pull up is a creative and flashy move to use to get a jump shot off from the triple threat position.  This move is very similar to jab step, pull up, but instead of taking a normal jab step, I would add a dribble between the legs to the move.  When you add the dribble to the jab step, it adds an element of surprise making the defender think that you are going for the drive.  Meanwhile, your intention is to bring the ball back to the shooting pocket to go up for a shot.

The one dribble between the legs, pull up is a similar to the stationary between the legs move, but you use this particular move to pull up off of a drive.  I can either take a push jab step or the first step to drive, then I can come to a stop, go between the legs, and set my feet to go up for jump shot.  When defenders are worried about the drive, you can this move to stop on a dime and pull up.

The swinging, drawing foul pull up is a great move where you have an opportunity to get a foul call and get yourself to the free throw line.  Sometimes, defenders will like to guard their opponents up close and get their hands tracing the ball.  This scenario presents a great opportunity to swing your arms across your opponent's arms to potentially draw a foul.  Even though you get fouled with this move, you can still go up with the shot and possibly make the shot with the foul call that is in your favor.

This is Kobe Bryant's one dribble, spin move pull up, and this is one of my favorite moves from the triple threat position.  I named this particular move after Kobe since he is so well-known for pulling this move off in many of his games.  It is definitely a move that requires a high skill level of footwork.  With this move, you take one dribble to show that you are going to drive, but you end up pulling a quick spin move to release a fade away jumper on the defender.

Before you get started with these moves, I just want to send you off with some final tips that will be helpful for you.  Hopefully, these tips can be beneficial for you.