I remember watching a college game last season where Salvado absolutely dominated the court, leading the Heavy Bombers with 15 points while shooting an incredible 4-of-5 from downtown. What struck me most wasn't just his scoring ability—it was how he created those opportunities through exceptional passing. You see, great shooting often starts with great passing, and that's something I've come to appreciate deeply throughout my years studying and playing basketball. When we talk about elevating our game, we tend to focus on flashy dunks or deep threes, but the real secret weapon lies in mastering the art of passing. It's the connective tissue that transforms five individual players into a cohesive unit, and today I want to share seven essential techniques that have completely transformed how I approach this beautiful game.

Let me start with what I consider the most underrated pass in basketball—the bounce pass. Now, I know it doesn't get the same love as no-look passes or alley-oops, but when executed properly, it's arguably more effective. The key is understanding angles and timing. I've found that releasing the ball about two-thirds of the distance between you and your teammate, aiming for it to bounce approximately 3-4 feet in front of them, creates the perfect trajectory. The ball should arrive at waist level, making it easy to catch and immediately transition into a shot or dribble. What makes this pass so valuable is how difficult it is to intercept—defenders would need to practically get on their knees to steal it. I've personally witnessed how this simple technique can dismantle even the tightest defenses, creating scoring opportunities exactly like those Salvado capitalized on with his downtown shooting.

Moving to chest passes, they're the bread and butter of basketball passing, yet so many players get the fundamentals wrong. The power should come from your chest and shoulders, not just your arms. I always teach players to snap their wrists through the pass, creating that perfect backspin that makes the ball easier to catch. The target should be your teammate's chest numbers—that sweet spot where they can immediately react. When I'm working with young point guards, I emphasize that a crisp chest pass arriving at precisely the right moment can mean the difference between an open three-pointer and a contested shot. Think about Salvado's shooting performance—those 4 successful threes likely started with well-executed fundamental passes that created the space and timing he needed.

Now let's talk about overhead passes, which I absolutely love for breaking presses and feeding the post. The beauty of this pass is its versatility—you can see over defenders while maintaining control. I teach players to keep the ball high above their forehead, using their body as a shield. The release point is crucial—too low and it gets stolen, too high and you lose accuracy. From my experience, the optimal release comes from extending your arms fully while stepping into the pass, generating power from your core rather than just your arms. This technique becomes particularly valuable when you need to make long passes across court, similar to those that would set up players like Salvado for open three-point opportunities.

The behind-the-back pass tends to get a bad reputation as being flashy and unnecessary, but when used judiciously, it's incredibly effective. I'm not advocating for Harlem Globetrotter-style theatrics, but rather practical applications in specific situations. The secret lies in keeping the motion tight and controlled—your elbow should barely extend past your hip. I've found that the best time to use this pass is when driving to the basket and drawing help defense, allowing you to quickly dish to an open shooter without telegraphing your intention. It's exactly the kind of surprise element that keeps defenses honest and creates the shooting windows that players like Salvado thrive on.

No-look passes represent another misunderstood technique. The goal isn't to show off—it's to deceive defenders while maintaining perfect awareness of your teammates' positions. This requires what I call "court mapping"—constantly tracking where everyone is without staring directly at them. Through years of practice, I've developed the ability to sense where my teammates prefer to receive passes, much like how a quarterback knows his receivers' routes. When executed properly, this technique freezes defenders just long enough to create scoring opportunities. I imagine this is exactly how many of Salvado's looks were created—through passes that defenders never saw coming until it was too late.

The wrap-around pass has saved me countless times when facing aggressive closeouts. When a defender rushes at you with high hands, slipping the ball around their side can create immediate advantages. The technique involves cradling the ball with one hand while using your body to shield it from the defender. I prefer using this pass when I've drawn two defenders and need to quickly hit the open man. The margin for error is slim—maybe 2-3 inches in terms of placement—but when done correctly, it leads to the kind of clean catch-and-shoot situations that result in high-percentage threes.

Finally, let's discuss the baseball pass, which I consider an essential weapon in transition offense. Many coaches discourage this pass, but I've found it invaluable for beating defenses down court. The key is proper grip and follow-through—you want backspin rather than sidespin for accuracy. I've completed passes covering nearly 70 feet using this technique, leading to easy baskets before the defense could set up. While Salvado's downtown shooting showcased his scoring ability, I'd argue those opportunities were created by teammates who mastered various passing techniques, including the often-overlooked baseball pass.

What separates good passers from great ones isn't just technical proficiency—it's understanding when and why to use each technique. Through my experience both playing and coaching, I've learned that the best passers read defensive schemes like chess masters, anticipating movements two or three steps ahead. They understand that each pass has its own rhythm and purpose, much like different instruments in an orchestra. The bounce pass provides security, the chest pass offers reliability, the overhead pass delivers range, while the flashier techniques create unexpected advantages. This comprehensive understanding transforms ordinary players into court generals who can consistently create high-percentage scoring opportunities for their teammates.

Looking at Salvado's efficient shooting performance—4 out of 5 from three-point range—I see the culmination of effective passing creating optimal shooting conditions. Those numbers don't happen by accident. They result from passes delivered at the right time, to the right spot, with the right pace. Throughout my career, I've witnessed how mastering these seven passing techniques can elevate an entire team's offensive efficiency. The beautiful part about passing is that it's the ultimate team skill—it makes everyone better. While scorers like Salvado rightfully earn recognition for putting points on the board, astute basketball minds understand that those points are often created through the subtle artistry of passing. That's why I always emphasize to young players: if you want to truly transform your game, start by transforming your passing.