How to Watch Games as a Player and not just a Fan

With the NBA playoffs on TV there is plenty of great basketball to watch.

Players need to make it a point to watch games a player as opposed to watching them as a fan.

What exactly does this entail? Here is a list of a few things to look out for when watching games as a player.

1. Pay attention to team defensive concepts (help defense, rotations, switches, pick and roll defense etc) and notice what particular players and teams are good at them.

2. Pay attention to how players move off the ball - look for off ball screens, back cuts, and other off ball actions that contribute to the flow of an offense instead of focusing on the ball the entire time

3. Watch how players communicate effectively and talk on the floor.

4. Look at how the best slashers attack and how consistently low they are when doing so.

5. Take note of player's body language and how that can affect a team either positively or negatively.

These are just a few examples and there are plenty of other things that can be looked for players looking to get more out of watching games.  The point is that we all love highlight plays and big moments, but in order to get the most out of watching games, players should put an emphasis on the details and the little things more often than not.

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