Basketball cannot be played without different types of things and tricks that we see in games every other day. The thing is, basketball is a vast game where both of the teams playing against each other try to implement as many techniques as they know so that they can win the match. Winning the match indeed costs many skills and determination that might not be found in different players. Not only that, there are some exceptional cases that can turn the whole game around and benefit the opponents in the best possible method. Turnover is undoubtedly one of those scenarios that can change the whole game around.
Turnover can be explained as the possession lost when the player tries to score by putting the ball through the basket. Not only losing the possession but the ball should be landed into the hands of the opponents in order to be considered as a turnover.
You might now be thinking that how is that so crucial that it can change the whole game around? Well, yes, it is actually accurate that the turnovers can turn the whole game. Even the team that is winning by a good margin can collapse if the turnovers start to pull out.
Also Read: How Field Goal Work in Basketball?
Understanding different aspects of turnover
There are some crucial things behind the turnovers that should be understood if you really want to know how things work in basketball. The first thing that you should know about turnovers is that when player losses the possession on the offense and then the other team gains the possession instantly, it will be counted as a turnover.
No other scenario will be counted as the turnover, and you will have to infuse this in your mind. If the player losses the ball along with the possession by throwing the ball out of the court during the offense, it will not be considered a turnover. The primary reason behind that is that the opponent team did not get possession in that scenario.
The involvement of both of the teams is necessary in order for the turnover to be counted. Other than that, it is very unlikely for the opposing team to gain possession and winning the turnover if the things mentioned above are not matched. That is why most of the players take a considerable amount of time to put the ball through the net in the crucial moments so that they won’t lose possession and create difficulties for their team.
How can turnovers happen in a basketball game?
To proceed further and understand the subject a little more briefly, you will have to take a look at how turnovers can happen in a basketball game. It will help you see all the scenarios that can transform into a turnover, and then you will be able to avoid them in your professional career. So do not skip any of the scenarios mentioned below for a complete understanding of the turnovers.
1. Boundary Line Violation
It is one of the common ways to gain turnovers from the teams, and that is also where most of the players make blunders. When a player is charging towards the basket by dodging multiple players from the defense of the opposing team, he should also take care where he steps and where he not. If he has possession and ball in hand, the player cannot cross the border or even touch it, or else it will be called a foul.
After any player has committed this foul, the possession will be instantly gained by the opposing team, and it will be considered as the turnover. So it is better to keep in check wherever you go on the court and keep your mind open. Dodging and sprinting are undoubtedly good, but controlling them can be challenging in different cases. So keep this point in mind!
2. Missing the shot
Turnover can also happen if the player misses the shot when he is charging towards the basket and can’t make it through it. But there are some important things here that should be considered. The turnover will only be counted when the player throws the ball towards the net, and it bounces back in the court. After bouncing back in the court, it should be gained by the opposing team to be considered as the turnover.
If a player actually throws the ball and it goes beyond the court even by touching the hoop, the turnover will not be considered. It will not be an instant gain, and the team will surely be able to recover in that time to proceed with a proper plan. But if the shot misses and lands in the hands of an opposing player, it can turn out really bad for any team unless you have some fantastic defenders that can stop the player from scoring some crucial points.
3. Stealing the ball
Stealing is not a child’s play in basketball, especially if you are playing in a professional league where players with massive experience play. It is tough to steal a ball from the offensive player who is going to score, but it is still possible. If the defensive player succeeds in stealing the ball from the offensive player, it will be considered as the turnover.
In other words, you cannot lose possession of the opposing team when trying to attack or score points. The first reason is, your team will not be ready for the instant changes in the positions. The transformation of offense to defense can be arduous, and that is why it can become hard to defend the ball after losing it. So if you want to avoid this situation in a basketball game, you will have to look out for the defending players marching towards you. If you find yourself in a very difficult position, it is better to pass the ball to your teammate rather than score the points yourself.
4. Fouls
Other than the things mentioned above, the only way to create a turnover is to commit a foul. Fouls themselves can be nasty for a team and can create consequences, and if the team gets turnover for that specific foul, the trouble can be doubled. There are different types of fouls that can result in turnovers, and some of them are mentioned below so that you can understand them better.
- Technical fouls
- Ball carry fouls
- Clock fouls
- Offensive fouls
- Boundaries violation (as mentioned above)
- Shooting fouls
There are some other types of fouls as well that can result in turnovers. But to be on the safe side, you will have to keep all of the fouls mentioned above in your mind. It will help you trigger your mind whenever you get in a position where a foul can be committed. You will automatically try to avoid that because you will know what can happen due to it.
How can you avoid turnovers?
This is one of the questions that can ease your life if you can get the natural solution for this problem. But as you might already know, it depends on. You can unquestionably avoid turnovers, but the thing that will matter the most is that how you react and perform on the court. No magic will help you avoid turnovers other than the magic of your skills.
So, if you are willing to avoid turnovers when you are going to score, you will have to understand the defense of the opposing team. You will have to check how the defense is moving and what techniques they are implying. Check if they are rushing towards you or keeping their distance to protect the basket so that you won’t actually be able to put the ball through. After checking all these things, you will have to make a decision and then put the ball through the basket so that you can score. In an unfortunate scenario where a turnover is created, your team will have to be ready to defend it with all of their might.
How to create turnovers?
Well, we have seen how to avoid turnovers; it is now time to see how to create some to change the pattern of the whole game. In order to create turnovers, you will have to rely on two situations. The first situation is that the offensive player fails to score the points, and the ball lands in your team’s hands after rebounding. The second situation is that the defending player steals the ball from the offense and creates a turnover to rush towards the basket on the other side. The third situation is, the offensive player commits a foul for which a turnover will be awarded to the opposing team. But you can only rely on the second situation because that is where your team will have to play the role.
You can steal the ball from the offense by checking how the player moves on the court. You will also have to take a look at the playing style of the player and see if the player is too confident of himself. After that, you can act accordingly and steal the ball by compromising the court for the offensive player, making him confused, or use other techniques that can work well for the scenario.
The Verdict
Turnovers are fun to watch as you are cheering for one team and the other team gets the possession within a second, changing the whole environment. But if you are a professional basketball player, you must know how turnovers work and how you can defend and create turnovers as per your situation.
I have been playing basketball for more than a decade now, and my passion and enthusiasm for it drove me to write about it. I am Ahmed, a professional basketball player and a fan who has now become a writer to help fellow basketball players and enthusiasts to opt for the best possible basketball accessories and essentials. Stay tuned to feast yourself with the content you might not have seen anywhere else.