Finishing at the Rim

with Danielle Viglione,
Sacramento Skills Academy;
10 years in the WNBA (Sacramento Monarchs) and overseas;
played for the University of Texas; holds the Texas all-time record for 3-pointers made in a career; her career scoring average ranks fifth all-time in school history

As statistics show, the most successful teams get to the paint! In this video, you will learn valuable techniques and drills that will improve your players' ability to both get into the lane and finish at the rim.

Using a series of drills, Danielle Viglione demonstrates how to increase your team's effectiveness at the rim. By working up from basic finishes all the way to combining finishes in a team drill, Coach Viglione gives a multitude of options for teaching players how to score at the rim. She provides detailed coaching points and thorough examples to show how to increase your players' finishing ability.

Basic Finishes

Using two balls to force players to have balance and concentration, Coach Viglione discusses basic finishing moves around the basket, focusing on keeping the ball high and finishing high. From Mikan moves to reverse layups, players practice finishing around the basket with both hands. Viglione also utilizes chairs to work on different angles, addressing the issue that many young players have of not taking long steps to the basket while simultaneously focusing on proper footwork.

Two-Foot Finishes

Progressing from jumping off one foot, Viglione moves on to jumping and finishing off two feet practicing from various angles. Using the phrase "one step, one dribble" helps players understand no wasted steps while gathering yourself when attacking the rim. Viglione shares insights into how to react to the defense, counter moves and protecting the basketball.

Two foot finishes are important to teach because they help players play under control, more balance and power around contact, and allow for counter pivots and moves.

Jump Hook Finishes

The next phase of the video discusses the jump hook. Viglione teaches how to protect the ball and finish high over the defense, and, the two different ways of gathering yourself when attempting the move.

Position Finishes

Putting all the finishes together in a team setting, players practice their moves while rotating from all the positions along the perimeter. A valuable drill displayed in this segment works on finishing against a defender, beating them with their foot and shoulder, and separating from the defense. This also progresses to reading the next defender in the paint and the options for the offensive player.

Turning Into Your Power Finish

This portion of drills teaches players how to turn into the shot (square up) and finish strong after a rebound while protecting the ball. These drills are done individually and with a defender, working on scoring against contact and using counter moves.

Team Finishing Drills

Coach Viglione wraps it up with competitive team finishing drills, allowing players to work on all the moves they've practiced.

The progression of drills displayed in this video will give your players multiple options of finishing at the rim and the ability to react to the defense to choose the right move at the right time!

67 minutes. 2017.