Pitino/Meyer Partner Workout for Guards and Posts
Dribble & Juggle / Two-Ball Dribbling
(5-7 minutes of ball handling)
1. Dribble & Juggle: The player will use one of his hands (preferably the weak hand) to
dribble a basketball, while at the same time using the other hand to juggle a tennis ball.
This drill emphasizes learning how to handle the basketball without looking at it. The
player must keep eye contact on the tennis ball and learn how to “feel” the basketball.
Key Points:
*Be ball quick: Pound the basketball and keep the ball low. The player must sit into his
stance.
*Eyes up see the tennis ball.
*If you drop the tennis ball, you are not allowed to pick up the basketball to run to the
tennis ball (this would result in a travel call in a real game), but instead, you must keep
dribbling the basketball.
Variations / Additions to the drill: Once the player gets the basketball fundamental
down, he can then try to throw the tennis ball progressively higher and higher towards the
ceiling, and while the tennis ball is in flight, try to make some moves with the basketball
(between the legs, behind the back, etc.). The player can also try the “knee catch”
variation, which is where after throwing the tennis ball in the air, he lets it hit the ground
and then try to catch it on the bounce before it gets above knee height.
2. Two Ball Dribbling - Basic Sequence: The basic sequence consists of six different parts
in a stationary mode, and also while moving with the basketball.
Key Points:
*Eyes on the opposite net  see the entire floor.
*Be ball-quick  Pound the basketballs
*Sit into an athletic stance  be low and wide, not narrow and hunched over.
Stationary Moves:
Low Rhythm – The player is sitting into an athletic stance, looking straight ahead (at the
opposite net), and is dribbling both basketballs as quickly as possible no higher than knee
level at the same time (in rhythm).
Low Non-Rhythm – Same as Low Rhythm, but now as the player dribbles the two
basketballs no higher than knee level, he must alternate the two basketballs (one
basketball should be at knee level while the other is hitting the floor).
High Rhythm – Player stays seated, but now brings the basketballs to shoulder-height at
the same time. The basketballs should be in front of the player, not out to the sides, and
should go at least to the top of the shoulders, if not higher.
High Non-Rhythm – Same as High Rhythm but now the basketballs alternate (as one is
at the shoulder, the other should be near the floor).
One High, One Low – The most difficult of the sequence. The player must stay sitting
into an athletic stance, and dribble one basketball as high as possible, and the other as low
as possible to the ground. The player must work to pound both basketballs as quickly as
possible (Be ball quick).
Switch – One High, One Low – Same as above, but now the player switches which
basketball is high, and which is low.
Moving with the Basketball: The player will walk out to half court (slowly) doing one of the
two-ball dribble activities. He will start slow; get a rhythm and go fast enough to make a
mistake. On the way back from half court, a second two-ball dribble activity will be completed.
Three trips to the half line and back will complete all six two-ball dribble activities.
Shooting Warm-up
Wrist Extensions – Palms on the floor and in front of the knees. Fingers pointed away and
toward the knees. 15 seconds of each, 30 seconds total
*Shake it out between sets
Shooting Pocket – Swing your arm, quick stop, push the button under your elbow, high
one second follow through, trace it back down, 5 times
Lazy Man Shooting – No ball, one hand, add guide hand, 5 times each, total of 15
*Elbow on the floor and at your side; hold a high one-second follow through
Ralph Miller Drill – Top of the shot, top of the board, 13’ arc, hit the side of the board five times
Then make one from each block using the same arc
*Goal for the workout – all swishes or clean off the board
*Repetition is the key to becoming a great shooter.
*Discipline is an organized plan of attack. It is creating your plan to be successful.
*You must learn to shoot under the influence of fatigue.
*Mental toughness keeps you from quitting. Don’t surrender to mental or physical fatigue.
*Your workout should be shorter (45 minutes to one hour) and more intense. Higher intensity
repetitions simulate game situations.
Form Shooting with guide hand – Finish on your toes. Block, first marker, second marker,
elbow, foul line, elbow, second marker, first marker, block
Jump Shots – back up 2-3 feet from above nine spots. Be sure to shoot in your range
*Talk out your shot. If you are short, say “Back Half”. If you are left or right, say, “Keep in
straight”
Screen Shooting – Down Screen and Flex Cut
Three cuts (straight, curl and out) off the down screen on both sides by each partner.
Three cuts (over, under, out) off the flex screen on both sides by each partner.
Two sets for each partner. No out cuts by the posts.
Vary your finish or develop a strong go-to move.
Finishes/Moves off the down screen:
Jump shot, strong side drive or crossover move, shot fake to one dribble pull-up, one dribble to a
power lay-up, one dribble to a one foot lay-up, quick shot or runner off one or two feet, up and
under move
Finishes off the flex cut: 7 post moves:
Baseline drop step, middle drop step to jump hook, baseline turn, middle turn, up and under, Don
Nelson, jump hook
*Chair is the screener.
*Come off the screen late, never early. You are better to be a second late than a second early.
*Set up your cut by jab stepping into the defense, make contact with the defense and show your
hands to the rim to fake.
*You must cut shoulder to shoulder with the screener preventing a gap. Shoulder to hip would be
even better.
*Cuts off the down screen are straight, curl and out. Signal your cut with your hands and voice.
Inside hand to curl, outside hand to straight cut, and both hands up to out cut. On an out cut, clear
the screen, push back, and sprint to where you want the ball.
*Locate and read the defense. If your defender gets screened, straight cut. If the defender comes
on the man side of the screen, curl cut. If the defender jumps the screen, out cut. .
*Run the ball into your hands when receiving a pass.
*Hands are ready with your thumbs together and your knees are bent to create a low and loaded
position.
*The passer centers the shooter into the shot. Every shot is a pass. Every pass is a shot.
*Fight to get your feet into position. The difference between good and great players is footwork.
*Strong side drives and crossover moves – If the defenders hands are down, circle tight with the
ball from shoulder to shoulder. If the defenders hands are up, rip it through knee to knee with an
elephant move. You must straight line drive. Get body on body. Be your own best screen. Do not
play side to side or arc yourself.
*On the shot fake, when the ball comes up, you stay down. You must remain low and ready to
attack the defense when they rise out of their stance. You should start your shot by showing the
ball and looking at the rim. Sell it to the defense with a violent ball fake. Move your head and lift
the defense up. Be ball quick, ball strong and ball tough.
*Drive into the NBA charge arc to put the defense in jail because the rim and net prevent the
shot block. Get one shoulder inside the arc and finish with the opposite hand.
*Moves on the move i.e. dribble moves. Come at the man small and explode by him tall.
3’s, 2’s, and 1’s
*The six spots are corner, wing, pro spot, pro spot, wing and corner. Posts can play from the
short corner, side, elbow, elbow, side and short corner.
*40 points is a perfect quarter.
*Shoot a three (3), shot fake to a one-dribble mid-range jumper (2) and jab step to a strong side
drive or crossover move with one or two dribbles to a finish at the rim (1).
*Shoot from the left corner, the left wing and the left pro spot and then two free throws.
*Shoot from the right pro spot, right wing, and right corner and then two more free throws.
*Set a goal for each quarter to reach or exceed.
Spin Out Drills
*Dribble toward the three-point line and then spin catch a pass. Defense comes behind. Read the
defenses up hand. Attack it. Strong side drive, cross over move, jump shot, shot fake, etc. Posts
should start in their shooting range. PLAY OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS AT ALL TIMES! WE
DO IN THE GAME!
Dribble Out Drills
*Dribble out past the three-point line and keep your dribble alive. Read the defense and attack.
Posts should start in their shooting range.
Dribble Attack Moves vs. Two Defenders
Start with the offensive player at half court near the sideline. Put a chair as a defender near the
three-point line. Partner has a blocking pad on the opposite block and is the second defender.
Make a dribble move to go by the first defender. Help defense arrives. Make a second move on
him to finish at the rim or in the lane. Change locations of the first defender (chair) and the angle
at which the help defense arrives. Post should start in their shooting range (elbows and short
corners) and begin the action with a shot fake to go around the chair and then attack the rim and
finish versus the blocking pad/help defender.
1 on 1
*Start with a closeout. Sprint two thirds of the way there, chop your feet and breakdown into a
stance, get your front hand on the ball, back hand should be active to sickle/deflect a pass, play
with an even stance, your feet should be parallel to his feet, if you want him to go right, split him
with your left foot, if you want him to go left, split him with your right foot, don’t let him beat
you the same way two times in a row, make him do something different to beat you, put your left
hand on the ball versus a right handed shooter with the ball in his shooting pocket. You must
have bent limbs (arms and legs). Your weight should be on the balls of your feet. Try to arc the
dribbler, no straight line drives. On the shot, get your left hand to the ball and call “shot” vs. a
right-handed shooter, make him shoot it higher, quicker, a little left or right, bother the ball.
After the shot, split the offensive player with your left foot and reverse pivot into his legs to
block him out and then pursue the basketball. ALWAYS PLAY OFFENSIVE REBOUNDS! WE
DO IN THE GAME! Offense is allowed three dribbles per possession. Play from various spots
i.e. top, pro spots, wings, corners, low post, etc. Posts should start with a flash and a spin catch to
begin action.
*If time allows, play an additional quarter(s) of 3’s, 2’s, and 1’s.
Free Throw Game, Plus 4, Minus 4
*Each free throw made is a plus one. Each one missed is a minus one. Alternate one shot at a
time. Play until you one person gets plus four or minus four.
Groove Your Shot
*Four to six feet from the hoop. You should arc around the basket to various spots.
*10 one handed makes
*10 makes with your guide hand