What is the combo guard in basketball
A combo guard is a hybrid or combination basketball position that comprises certain skills of a point guard such as the ability to pass the ball as well as particular talents of a shooting guard such as the capability to score near the basket or near the perimeter areas of the court.
What are typical traits that the combo guard has in common with the point guard
Dribbling skills
In terms of dribbling the basketball, the combo guard is usually above average in that offensive skill set, similar to the traditional point guard.
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The combo guard could also utilize adept dribbling skills to attack the rim and/or create separation from an on-ball defender, which could then lead to scoring opportunities near the basket or near perimeter areas of the court.
Passing skills
Similar to the traditional point guard, the combo guard is generally capable of using above average passing skills to get the ball to open teammates for possible scoring options near the basket or near perimeter areas of the court.
The combo guard usually has the ability to execute a wide variety of basic and/or advanced passes to teammates when the opportunity presents itself.
Additionally, the combo guard could generate at least a handful of assists by passing the ball to teammates who are immediately able to score points via layups, dunks, or jump shots.
Defensive skills
The combo guard usually has the ability to defend against opposing point guards with a minimal amount of difficulty, particularly during man to man defense.
Also, the combo guard is usually able to guard certain areas and closeout on potential three-point shooters during zone defense.
The primary reason is because the combo guard, similar to the traditional point guard, possesses an adequate amount of speed and quickness as well as the capability to slide laterally.
This combination of speed, quickness, and lateral sliding ability gives the combo guard an opportunity to stay in front of most traditional point guards and contain the ball during man to man defense or move swiftly to the correct areas during zone coverage.
Also, as an added bonus, the combo guard is usually taller with greater size and length than the traditional point guard.
This makes it easier for the combo guard to potentially contest layups, mid-range shots, or three-point shots against opposing point guards who could be of a smaller size or stature.
What are typical traits that the combo guard has in common with the shooting guard
Scoring ability
The combo guard, similar to the shooting guard, is usually adept at scoring points near the basket or near the perimeter areas of the court.
The combo guard has the capability to score points by utilizing a series of layups, basketball cuts, or perimeter jump shots.
Moreover, if the combo guard possesses a sufficient amount of size for their position, then it could be possible for that same player to score points via a series of low post moves around the basket as well.
Athleticism
In addition to an adequate amount of speed and/or quickness as mentioned earlier, the combo guard could possess an sufficient vertical leaping ability, which could also be a notable trait of certain types of shooting guards.
The vertical leap could help the combo guard to execute a wide variety of acrobatic layups or high-flying dunks that would typically be very difficult to pull off for another player that may not be as athletic.
Furthermore, the vertical leaping ability could help the combo guard gather a handful of offensive rebounds or defensive rebounds, particularly after boxing out an opposing player during a field goal attempt.
Defensive skills
The combo guard generally has the capability to defend opposing shooting guards if necessary instead of only covering point guards, especially by way of man to man coverage.
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Basically, if the combo guard is approximately the same size as the opposing shooting guard, then that would be a fair match-up, at least in theory.
Moreover, as mentioned previously, the combo guard usually possesses a decent amount of speed, quickness, and vertical leaping ability.
Those attributes could help the combo guard stay in front of their assignment, especially as an on-ball defender.
What’s more, athleticism of the combo guard could be beneficial in terms of generating steals against the opposition or even blocking shots in some instances.
What are dribble moves that could be used by a combo guard
The types of dribble moves that could be utilized by a combo guard include the crossover dribble, between the legs dribble, and behind the back dribble.
Crossover dribble
The crossover dribble consists of action that occurs when a combo guard dribbles the basketball with one hand across their body and then catches it with the opposite hand, ultimately to generate scoring or playmaking opportunities.
The crossover dribble is potentially beneficial because it could help the combo guard create space and separation from an on-ball defender, primarily to attack the basket or take an open jump shot near perimeter areas of the court.
Between the legs dribble
Between the legs dribble consists of action that occurs when a combo guard dribbles the basketball with one particular hand between their legs and then catches the ball with their opposite hand.
In addition to that, there are two primary variations of between the legs dribble action.
In the first variation, which is also the standard form, the combo guard dribbles the ball between their legs with one particular hand as it is in front of them, and afterwards, the combo guard catches the ball once it is near the leg that is opposite the initial dribbling hand.
In the second variation, which is generally referred to as the reverse between the legs dribble, the combo guard dribbles the ball between their legs with one particular hand as it is behind them, and following that action, the combo guard catches the ball once it is near the leg that is opposite the initial dribbling hand.
It is also possible for a combo guard to dribble the ball between the legs while remaining stationary or while moving on the court.
Between the legs dribble is generally effective because it could be used to diminish the effectiveness of on-ball defense, particularly as it relates to footwork and/or hand movement within a proper defensive stance.
However, a possible limitation of between the legs dribble is that it is not highly effective against very aggressive on-ball pressure.
Behind the back dribble
Behind the back dribble consists of action that occurs when a combo guard dribbles the basketball with one particular hand behind their back, as the name implies, and then catches the ball with their opposite hand.
Furthermore, behind the back dribble action is usually most effective when it is used as a counter move to certain on-ball defensive actions.
Basically, if an on-ball defender attempts to cut off the combo guard’s driving lane towards one direction or if an on-ball defender reaches in to try to steal the ball while it is being dribbled, then the combo guard could possibly react with behind the back dribble action.
What are types of passes that could be used by a combo guard
The types of passes that could be used by a combo guard include basic passes such as the chest pass, bounce pass, and overhead pass as well as additional passes such as the skip pass, lob pass, or drift pass.
Chest pass
The chest pass is comprised of offensive action that occurs when a combo guard in possession of the basketball throws it with two hands from their own chest area towards the chest area of a teammate.
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Generally speaking, the best time for a combo guard in possession of the ball to consider using the chest pass is when the receiver of that pass is not too far away and when the on-ball defender is not applying an above average amount of defensive pressure.
Bounce pass
The bounce pass consists of offensive action that occurs when a combo guard in current possession of the basketball throws it with a sufficient amount of strength and at a certain angle to the floor so that a teammate can receive it, preferably near their chest or waist area.
Generally speaking, the combo guard should consider using the bounce pass when one or more defenders’ hands are high and because of that, it could become difficult to throw an effective air pass without the possibility of a deflection/interception occurring.
Overhead pass
The overhead pass is comprised of offensive action that occurs when the combo guard in current possession of the basketball places it over their head before throwing it with two hands towards a teammate that is able to receive it.
Generally speaking, the combo guard in possession of the ball should consider using the overhead pass typically if the potential receiver of the pass is a significant distance away from them.
Baseball pass
The baseball pass consists of offensive action that occurs when the combo guard in possession of the basketball throws it to a receiver, typically using a throwing motion that is somewhat similar to a pitcher’s throw in the sport of baseball.
The combo guard could perform the baseball pass to generate a quick scoring opportunity such as a fast break layup, particularly before the defensive team is fully prepared to stop the offensive execution.
Drift pass
The drift pass consists of offensive action that occurs when a combo guard in possession of the basketball generally accomplishes dribble penetration towards the baseline near one side of the lane and afterwards, that same player executes a quick pass to the opposite corner or opposite wing of the court.
Kick pass
The kick pass, also known as the kick out pass, includes offensive action in which a combo guard that has possession of the basketball while already near the basket or at least moving towards it, throws the ball to a teammate that is near one of the perimeter areas of the court.
The combo guard can use the kick pass to create scoring opportunities, especially from three-point range or even utilize it to generate additional offensive playmaking opportunities such as more ball movement, particularly around the perimeter or dribble drive action towards the basket.
Lob pass
The lob pass consists of offensive action that occurs when a combo guard in possession of the basketball throws it into the air with a high arc, usually over at least one defender, to a teammate who could catch the ball and potentially score.
The lob pass could be used by the combo guard to get the ball inside to the team’s best low post players and in certain instances, it could also be utilized alongside alley-oop action to create a quick scoring opportunity at the rim.
No look pass
The no look pass, also occasionally referred to as the blind pass, features offensive action that occurs when a combo guard in possession of the basketball throws it to a teammate without looking directly at that same teammate.
The no look pass could be utilized as a tactic to deceive or mislead one or more defenders which could then generate possible scoring opportunities that might not have been available otherwise.
Pitch ahead pass
The pitch ahead pass consists of action that occurs when a combo guard, particularly in the backcourt, throws the basketball ahead to another player, typically in the frontcourt and usually near one of the wings or corners.
The combo guard could use the pitch ahead pass to create scoring opportunities for the offensive team while simultaneously diminishing or totally negating the potency of the defensive team, especially during transition offense.
Pocket pass
The pocket pass consists of action that occurs when a combo guard in possession of the basketball throws it to a teammate, particularly between the open space of an on-ball primary defender as well as an adjacent off-ball secondary defender.
Moreover, the pocket pass is often executed as a bounce pass and it is frequently utilized following an on-ball screen such as the pick and roll or pick and pop.
Skip pass
The skip pass consists of action that occurs when a combo guard in current possession of the basketball passes it to another non-adjacent offensive player, usually on the opposite side of the court.
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