No matter how good a post (or inside) player you are, you'll be even more effective offensively if you develop a good jump hook. It's such an effective move for so many reasons, it's a wonder more players don't use it as a big part of their game down-low.

Even in the NBA, surprisingly few players use a jump hook. A few players that do use it that quickly come to mind are Tim Duncan (no surprise, he's got the whole package), and Kevin Willis (who is nearing the end of his career, but has used a jump hook as a big part of his game for quite some time).

Why don't more players practice and use the jump hook? My theory is that it isn't taught much at the high school or college level, and it also isn't all that glamorous. But having a pretty shot isn't really what the game is about. Being effective and helping your team win is all that really matters.

The jump hook works for a variety of reasons:
1.) It's usually shot from within a few feet from the basket, so immediately you have some level of advantage simply by your proximity to the basket
2.) You typically shoot off of a strong, two-foot plant, so you're usually in balance and are able to get good lift on the shot
3.) By turning your body away from the defender (so that your body is between the defender and the ball), you automatically create space to get the shot
4.) Because of the space it helps create between you and the defender, it's especially useful for getting your shot off against taller defenders, or if you don't have great jumping ability

You don't have to have great form to have an effective jump hook. Just practice it over and over again. Work on getting good lift on your shot. Work on keeping space between you and the defender (by turning your body so that your non-shooting shoulder is closest to the defender's chest).

It's a great shot to use when you catch the ball close to the basket, either in the middle of the key, or even on the block. It's also a great way to follow-up a missed shot in an offensive rebound situation. And remember to get a good angle and use the glass whenever possible.

Make the jump hook a bigger part of your inside game and you'll be a more effective inside scorer.

Be a better scorer (and finisher)

There are many factors that come into play in terms of you becoming a better scorer: playing time, shooting ability, athletic ability, confidence, and the skill level of teammates (in terms of setting screen, passing, running plays), etc. That being said, I've broken the topic down into several important aspects that you can focus on to increasing your scoring average.

Improve your scoring: Get your shot off quickly
No matter how great a shooter you are, or how good you are at driving to the basket, if you are slow at getting your shot off, you'll pay for it come game time. A key element in scoring is having or creating space for yourself to shoot the ball (whether it's a jump shot or off of a drive). Taking too much time to shoot or drive the ball gives the defense time to react and take away the precious space you need to be an effective scorer. So work on getting your shot off more quickly than you already do.

How can you get better at having a quick shot? Work on it in practice (team practice and when you do your own personal workouts). Work on getting your shot off more quickly than you already do. Speed up your shot (and drives to the basket) while maintaining form and effectiveness. Practice it over and over again, and this will carry over to game situations.

Improve your scoring: Learn to shoot in a variety of ways
Many players excel in shooting the ball in one particular way (for example: coming off of a screen). But really good players excel at shooting the ball in a variety of ways and situations.

Work on shooting the ball off of a dribble, off of a jump stop, coming off of a screen, from a stand-still, leaners in the lane, and off of a drive. Really good players can shoot well from all of these different situations. Average players are typically good in only one or two.

Practice dribbling full speed from half court, coming to a jump stop around 10-15 feet from the basket and exploding up for jump shot. Practice pump-faking, dribbling hard to the basket and putting up a shot with your off hand. Put a folding chair or other item on the court (as if it's a teammate setting a screen), spin the ball to yourself as if you're coming off of a screen and knock down the jumper. Work on all these different ways of taking shots and you'll be that much better in those situations when it's game time.

Improve your scoring: Take good shots
Another important aspect of being a good scorer is simply taking good shots. This means taking shots within your range, when you're open (open meaning having the space to get the shot off). Sometimes players get into a bad habit of forcing shots just because they want to make sure to get a certain number of shots in a game, or haven't touched the ball on offense for a long period of time. That's not a good habit to get into.

If your range is 15-17 feet, don't take a 22-footer with a defender hanging all over you. If you're a good face-up jump shooter from the perimeter, don't take a guy off the dribble and throw up a leaner in the lane. Know your range. Know the spots on the floor that you shoot well from. Know the types of shots you excel at, and put yourself in a position to get those shots in practice and game situations and you're shooting percentage will increase.

Of course, game situations change certain things and you may be in a position to take some shots you normally would not to beat the clock, or your coach may set up a play for your team to get a certain shot and you end up shooting something your normally wouldn't. But in general, take high percentage shots that you have a good chance of making, and you'll improve your shooting percentage (and therefore will appear to be a better shooter than someone who throws up anything, from anywhere, at anytime).

Improve your scoring: Work on your form
It goes without saying, but improving your form will improve your shot and thus your scoring ability. Every great shooter works on getting a feel for the ball, grooving their shot, and working on that muscle-memory that is so key to being a good shooter.

Larry Bird used to go to the arena hours before a game to shoot by himself to get his shot grooved in for the game that night. He'd shoot hundred of jumpers from all over the court to work on his form, get a feel for the ball, and get himself dialed in for the game. So work on improving your form in practice, and in your personal workouts. Emphasize keeping your elbow in, extending your arm, getting good backspin on the ball, and the follow through. Like anything in life, the more you work at it, the better you'll be. Having good form and improving it over time will make your shot that much more consistent, which is a key to being a solid offensive player.

Improve your scoring: Learn to finish
Great players finish plays. Faking a guy off his feet, dribbling into the lane, throwing up a pretty shot, and clanking it off the rim…it's a great play, but there was no finish. Darting out into the passing lane, stealing a pass, dribbling the length of the court, and blowing a lay-up…it's a great play, but there was no finish. Playing great defense on a guy, forcing him into a bad shot, then forgetting to block out, so he grabs the rebound and scores a lay-up…great defense, but there was no finish.

Of course, not finishing a play doesn't take away the good parts that happened before the blown lay-up or missed block-out. But being a good player means playing well from start to finish, and eliminating lapses in focus and execution. Finishing plays and eliminating lapses will improve your game. A big part of learning to finish plays is just being mindful of keeping your concentration level high.

It takes practice and experience to maintain your focus for longer stretches of time, and for the duration of a play or series of actions. Work on kicking your concentration level up a notch as a play is coming to a head and finish it off strongly. Your job isn't over when you make a good steal, get a defender off-balance with a cross-over dribble of head fake, or stop your opponent's first move…that's the point in time where you maintain your focus, complete the play, then do it all over again. That's where you show your heart as a competitor.

One thing to add to your offensive game

Work on using the backboard more. It sounds simple, but how many players do you know that really practice shooting bank shots? I don't know too many. You can set yourself apart from a lot of players if you become expert at using the backboard.

It's especially useful for post moves from the block (this one is fairly obvious), mid-range jumpers from the wing, and those slightly off-balance, slashing shots through the lane.

The number one advantage is that a bank shot forces you to concentrate more, because you really have to pick a spot on the backboard that you'll shoot at as a target. This allows you to more easily block out other distractions (like a defensive player lunging out at you).

Watch Tim Duncan play over the course of a few games and you'll be amazed at how many shots he shoots off the backboard. He does it for a reason: it works.

How do you get better at using the backboard? The same way you'll get better at every other aspect of your game: practice. Not slow, lackadaisical practice, but focused, game-speed practice. Work on it until pulling up from the wing at 15-feet and kissing a shot off the backboard is as simple for you as a lay-up.

Strength training with traditional weights is an important part of any good basketball training program. But with all the new equipment, and new training techniques available today, weight training as it was done 15 or 20 years ago is truly a thing of the past.

In addition to the traditional weight lifting exercises, there are a variety of sport-specific exercises and techniques you should include in your strength training workouts.

Things to remember:
- Always warm up properly before lifting weights
- Always have a spotter or trainer available to assist you during exercises
- Only lift weights that are comfortable for you (never try to show off by lifting more than you are able to)
- Always consult with your coach, parent, or trainer before starting a weight training program

Here is a list of some of the basic weight lifting exercises you will likely want to include in your training program:

- Bench press
- Incline bench press
- Bicep curl
- Tricep press downs
- Squats
- Lunges
- Shoulder press
- Leg extensions
- Leg curls
- Calf raises

But what is also very important, is how you do these exercises. Emphasizing power and explosiveness during your workouts is a key:

- Use power during the exertion part of the exercise
In otherwords, rather than go through the full range of motion very slow and methodically, power-out or up when doing the exercise. Always be under control and make sure to use good form, but using power in addition to strength during the exercise pays big benefits.

For example, say you're doing bench presses. Once you bring the weight down to just above your chest and are about to push the weight away from your body, do so with power. Don't just raise the weight, raise it like you are pushing against something, and trying to push it away as quickly as possible. Again, don't jerk the weights, but use a controlled, yet powerful motion to build strength and power.

- Emphasize full range of motion
The best way to train your muscles, especially for a sport like basketball, is to train through a full range of motion. For example, if you're doing a shoulder press (where you sit in a workout chair, and raise either dumbells or a barbell from your shoulders to up above your head), you'll want to go through that complete motion. Don't stop short at the top or bottom of the exercise.

If you only go through part of the motion, you're not utilizing your muscles completely. The best way to strengthening your muscles, and keeping them lithe and flexible, is to train through the full range of motion.

- Balance exercises
The new breed of professional trainers utilize balance-based exercises to effectively train athletes. Most sports, but especially basketball, require great body balance. Think about it: leaping to grab a rebound...lunging to tip a pass...sprinting out to grab a loose ball...all require great balance.

Doing certain exercises on an exercise ball (to help strengthen your abdominals and body balance), or using a BOSU balance trainer, are amazingly effective ways to help train your overall body (as a unit), and work on your balance. As your body adjusts, compensates, and focuses on keeping you on balance throughout the exercise, you're actually building strength and body balance.