Basketball is the most popular game on the planet and permits any generalist to play the game. This sport is celebrated mainly in the west, and people of all ages love the idea of a Basketball game on the court.
The game is not quite common in India but is only included in some curricula of schools and colleges with not any district or national tournament. Apps have allowed players to play a fantasy version of the game where you can create a team choosing your favorite players based on their live performances. You can download Basketball fantasy app from the app store and get a first-hand experience if you love the game of Basketball.
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To get you more associated with the sport, in case you’re not, let us check out the various positions Basketball players need to fill in the matches.
Center
The center in a Basketball match is the tallest player on the team. They are positioned in front of the opposition’s basket and are responsible for grabbing rebounds, going for the dunk, and aiming for the basket through close shots. Players in the center never make mid-range shots or travel beyond the mid-arch of the playing court. When the team’s game switches to defense, this player is in charge of blocking the shots that come in. The player has to stop these attacks in a way that opens up space for other team players to move ahead with an attack on the opposition. Centers fight for the rebounds as they are the most physically capable players on the entire team and hold the most crucial role in the offensive and defensive game.
The best names to have adorned this position are Shaquille O’Neal, Demarcus Cousins and Rudy Gobert, whose feats are known in every corner of the sports world and outside.
Power Forward
This position comes second to the center, but they shoulder a much larger responsibility than them. Power Forwards are almost as tall as centers but have more speed in their movement around the court and better overall reflexes. They usually can score critical three-pointers in the Basketball game more consistently than other players on the team. Power forwards are responsible for blocking and scoring shots into the basket, but they also have to take longer shots than the center player. The idea of the basket has to be more clear to them, and the margin of error is widened because they maintain a greater distance from the rival team’s basket.
Some great power forwards worth mentioning are Anthony Davis, Paul Millsap and Draymond Green, who have made a significant impact through their thrilling performances.
Small Forward
Small forwards are players with varied skills who play around the entire Basketball court. They can play against large and small players and strategize the best ways to block and move their team ahead throughout the game. Small forwards can also score from both shots on the close and long that are much further away from the basket.
These players should be a master of dribble moves and must present their A-game at all times. They are technically the all-rounders in the team and must be able to do everything. Small forwards are also the second-best or third-best shooters on the Basketball team. Le Bron James and Kevin Durant are the top names to have graced this position.
Point Guard
This player is the best passer of the game and a master dribbler. He is solely responsible for moving the ball into the best spaces so that the main shooters can score their shots. They are responsible for defending their position in the game; the point guard goes up against the point guard. The primary purpose of this player remains to steal the ball at the perfect moment and pass it on to the most nearby player who can make a perfect shot into the basket.
Players in this position must have an expansive vision of the court to locate the receivers and carry the ball to their side. The best-known point guards in the present Basketball games are Stephen Curry, Chris Paul and Russell Westbrook, among the top three.
Shooting Guard
The shortest player on the team is usually appointed as the shooting guard in Basketball. This player is a lethal threat to the opposition and the best weapon on one’s team. He is the master of setting up offensive plays and is often a nuisance if his skill level is top-notch. These players have the most superior hand in shooting and can dunk from the extremes of the court without dribbling like a rabbit between players.
The shooting guard’s main objective is to read the space created in the play and master simple shots that will shock the other team and catch them off guard. They have to realize their position in the game quickly and work towards it without getting distracted by the play of other Basketball players on the court. Thus shooting guards are the most headstrong players in a Basketball game and exercise the most control.
The late Kobe Bryant is the name that has been immortalized as the best shooting guard in the history of Basketball gaming.
In Conclusion
Basketball looks easy, but the game requires players to be physically at their peak form in every match. Players must travel up and down the court several times and jump at every other instance to grab, steal or block an incoming shot at every second of the game. Body power is essential in this game, and players need to be jacked up just right to perform at their best level. These positions are carefully explained to give you a clear idea of what sort of skills and expertise are required to fill in the many roles on a Basketball team.
