What Is Iso In Basketball? How To Get Better At It
Isolation moves are referred to as iso in basketball. Isolation moves are one-on-one plays in which the ballhandler has space to maneuver and attack the defender. Players like Allen Iverson, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James have made iso moves famous.
Isolation play in basketball refers to a strategy in which a player is isolated on one side of the court with the ball, while the other four players on the team spread out and give the player with the ball room to operate.
The goal of isolation play is for the isolated player to create his or her own shot opportunity or to drive to the basket for a layup or dunk. This strategy can be effective in certain situations, but it also has some drawbacks.
Advantages of isolation
One advantage of isolation play is that it can be a very effective way to score points. When a talented player is given the ball and allowed to operate in space, he or she can create scoring opportunities that might not be available in a more structured offense.
In addition, isolation play can be a good way to exploit mismatches in size, speed, or skill between the isolated player and his or her defender.
Disadvantages Of Isolation
However, there are also some downsides to isolation play. One is that it can be a very individualistic style of play, which can be detrimental to team cohesion. When one player is given the ball and allowed to operate on his or her own, it can create resentment among other players who may feel left out.
In addition, isolation play can be predictable, as defenses can often anticipate where the ball is going and how the isolated player is going to try to score.
Another potential problem with isolation play is that it can be physically demanding for the isolated player. When a player is constantly driving to the basket or taking shots, he or she can become fatigued more quickly than if the offense was more evenly distributed among all five players on the court. This can lead to a decline in shooting accuracy or overall performance as the game goes on.
The Iso Move
Iso moves are excellent for establishing one-on-one encounters. They can also be used in isolation or away from screens. Iso players must have exceptional footwork, ball-handling abilities, endurance, confidence, and the ability to score from any position on the court.
Isolation moves in basketball refer to a range of techniques used by a player to create space and get open for a shot attempt or drive to the basket. There are several different types of isolation moves that players can use, including crossover dribbles, step-back jump shots, and hesitation moves.
The Drive and Pull Up Iso Move
Dribbling towards either side of the free-throw line is required for this iso move. While using quick crossovers, create enough space between yourself and your defenders to allow you to penetrate their territory. This gives them more room to maneuver.
Iso Move on the Perimeter
If your player is outside the three-point line, they must first gain control of their defender by using various dribbling moves and fakes before penetrating their territory for a jump shot or making some sort of move at the basket, such as taking it off the glass.
The Iso Drive
To perform an iso drive, you must have excellent footwork, endurance, ball-handling skills, confidence, and quick crossovers or between your legs, which causes defenders to lose balance, allowing you to penetrate in any direction you choose.
When performing Iso drives in basketball, players should use various crossover combinations until there are enough steps created toward either side of the throw line for them to penetrate the defender’s territory.
Iso Drive from a Corner
If your player is in the corner, there should be enough space between them and their defenders to allow for penetration, which they can do by using quick crossovers or around his back until he has created enough room to drive forward towards the free-throw line on either side.
Iso Drive on Perimeter
Outside of the three-point range, iso players must first create separation from their defenders so that they can perform an explosive move at any time before driving past them down toward one sideline.
Using a variety of fakes with ball-handling moves such as between-the-legs dribbling followed by a cross-over step forward.
The Iso Pull-Up
Iso Pull-Ups are isolation moves used by Iso athletes. It’s an excellent way to build game momentum.
It can be used off of screens, and pull-ups give your player the space to execute an explosive move at any time, leaving their defenders vulnerable to penetration in either direction.
Different Ball Handling Combinations:
- Crossover Dribble: One of the most commonly used isolation moves in basketball is the crossover dribble. This move involves dribbling the ball with one hand, then quickly crossing the ball over to the other hand, causing the defender to shift their weight in the wrong direction. This creates an opportunity for the offensive player to drive to the basket or take a jump shot.
- Step-Back Jump Shot: Another popular isolation move is the step-back jump shot. This move involves dribbling the ball towards the defender, then taking a step back and quickly jumping up to take a shot. The step-back jump shot is effective because it creates space between the offensive player and the defender, giving the offensive player an open shot attempt.
- Hesitation Move: The hesitation move is another effective isolation move that involves faking a move in one direction, then quickly changing direction and driving towards the basket. The hesitation move is effective because it forces the defender to hesitate and give the offensive player more space to work with.
- Spin Move: The spin move is an effective isolation move that involves faking in one direction, then quickly spinning in the opposite direction and driving towards the basket. This move is effective because it creates space between the offensive player and the defender, giving the offensive player an open shot attempt.
- Jab Step: The jab step is another effective isolation move that involves faking a shot attempt, then quickly driving towards the basket. The jab step is effective because it forces the defender to react quickly and often creates space for the offensive player to get open for a shot attempt or drive to the basket.
Overall, isolation moves are an important part of basketball strategy, particularly in situations where a team needs to score quickly or take advantage of a particular player’s strengths. However, it is important for players to use these moves in moderation and as part of a larger offensive scheme that also involves ball movement and team play. When used effectively, isolation moves can be a powerful tool for creating scoring opportunities and winning games.
Best Iso Players in the NBA Today
The NBA is full of talented players who are capable of scoring points in isolation situations. Here are some of the best isolation players in the NBA today:
- James Harden: Harden is one of the best isolation players in the NBA today. His combination of size, strength, and skill makes him a formidable opponent for any defender. He is particularly effective at drawing fouls and getting to the free throw line, and his ability to create his own shot opportunities makes him a constant threat on the offensive end.
- Kevin Durant: Durant is another elite isolation player who is capable of scoring from almost anywhere on the court. His size and shooting ability make him a difficult matchup for any defender, and his ability to create his own shot opportunities makes him one of the most dangerous offensive players in the league.
- Damian Lillard: Lillard is one of the best isolation players at the point guard position. His combination of speed, shooting ability, and ball-handling skills make him a difficult matchup for any defender. He is particularly effective at driving to the basket and finishing in traffic, and his ability to knock down shots from beyond the arc makes him a constant threat from anywhere on the court.
- Kyrie Irving: Irving is another elite isolation player who is capable of scoring from almost anywhere on the court. His quickness and ball-handling skills make him a difficult matchup for any defender, and his ability to finish at the rim and knock down shots from beyond the arc make him a constant scoring threat.
- Kawhi Leonard: Leonard is an elite isolation player who is particularly effective on the defensive end of the court. His combination of size, strength, and defensive skills make him one of the best two-way players in the NBA. On the offensive end, he is capable of creating his own shot opportunities and knocking down shots from almost anywhere on the court.
- Devin Booker: Booker is another young player who has emerged as one of the best isolation players in the NBA today. His combination of shooting ability, ball-handling skills, and creativity make him a difficult matchup for any defender. He is particularly effective at creating his own shot opportunities and knocking down shots from beyond the arc.
Overall, these players are some of the best isolation players in the NBA today. Their combination of size, strength, speed, and skill make them difficult matchups for any defender, and their ability to create their own shot opportunities makes them constant scoring threats on the offensive end.
Drills to Become Better at Iso Ball
One-on-One Drills
One-on-one iso drills are an excellent way to teach your player the importance of ball fakes and dribble combinations when performing Iso drives.
You can also do one-on-two or three-on-three iso drills, which require the defender to use different techniques for defending against an iso move by creating defensive vulnerability, as this drill does.
Ball Fakes and Dribbling Combinations
Performing various types of ball fakes in conjunction with various dribbling combos such as between your legs, crossover step forward, crossover step back, and so on, gives you room to use explosive moves such as iso jump shots at any time (a shot performed off of one leg).
Iso layups are shots performed of one or both legs. Iso explosiveness refers to how you explode in any direction you want with no chance of the defender recovering.
Ball Handling
Ball handling drills are an excellent way to improve your iso moves because they improve your ball control, dribbling combinations, as mentioned earlier, and ankle endurance.
Conclusion
So there you have it! Basketball players use iso moves to get past their defenders and down to the free-throw line. Iso pull-ups can be done from the corner or from outside the three-point range.
Iso explosiveness allows your player to explode in any direction they want with no chance of defenders recovering because it creates defensive vulnerability, which is what players want when performing an iso move on defenders.
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