Galen Harkness • February 21, 2024

3 Tips for Being Crafty or Clever on the Court

3 Tips for Being Crafty or Clever on the Court

3 Tips for Being Crafty or Clever on the Court


1. Master the Art of Deception: Use head fakes, pump fakes, and no-look passes to mislead defenders. The element of surprise can open up scoring opportunities and create space for you and your teammates.


2. Develop an Unpredictable Game: Incorporate a variety of moves into your game, such as step-backs, euro-steps, and floaters. Keeping your defender guessing what you'll do next is key to gaining an edge.


3. Perfect Your Footwork: Efficient footwork is the foundation of craftiness. Work on pivots, quick direction changes, and using your body to shield the ball. Good footwork can create shooting and passing lanes where none seem to exist.


2 Actionable Steps to Develop Craftiness and Cleverness


1. Drill Under Pressure: Practice your moves against live defense in practice scenarios. This will help you adjust to real game situations and learn how to read defenders' movements to exploit their weaknesses.


2. Study the Greats: Watch game footage of crafty players like Steve Nash, Manu Ginobili, or Chris Paul. Notice how they use timing, spacing, and creativity to their advantage. Try to mimic and adapt their moves into your game.


Inspirational Quote


"Creativity is seeing what everyone else sees, but then thinking a new thought that has never been thought before and expressing it somehow." - Steve Nash


When Players are Ready, there are two ways EYG Can Help:

  1. Training - https://www.eygbball.com/eyg-training
  2. Camps -  https://www.eygbball.com/eyg-camps
Youth basketball player training alone in gym focusing on skill development and improvement instead

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By Galen Harkness • February 20, 2026
Why Simple Dominates Basketball I like watching NBA clips of individual players. Yes — they are athletic. But that is not what catches my attention. It is how simple they keep the game. One or two dribble moves. Change of speed. Change of direction. Control of pace. They are intelligent with the ball. Fans enjoy highlights and Top-10 plays. But at the highest level, it is simple basketball that dominates games. The Truth Most Players Miss Great players are not doing ten moves. They are doing one move well. Then they read the defense and react. Watch clips of Houston Rockets guard Reed Sheppard: Change of speed Strong footwork One decisive dribble move Finishing with both hands Nothing complicated. Just efficient basketball. What Players Should Do Instead of Just Watching Watching highlights should not be entertainment only. It should be learning. Pick one thing you notice. Then go work on it. Not ten skills. Not a new move every day. One skill. Repeated with purpose. That is how improvement actually happens. Why This Matters Simple skills win possessions. Simple decisions win games. Players who master the basics move: From bench → starter From starter → best shooter From shooter → leading scorer From high school player → college opportunity The game rewards players who execute simple things at a high level. How EYG Helps At EYG Basketball, we work with players who are ready to work. Players who want real development — not hype. We help athletes build: Ball control Footwork Shooting consistency Game decision-making Confidence through repetition If you are ready to improve, we are ready to help. 👉 View current EYG opportunities: https://app.upperhand.io/customers/165-eyg-basketball/events https://app.upperhand.io/customers/165-eyg-basketball/events