The Role of the Forward

The Forward is a versatile player who can be the team's leading scorer, or a key defensive player. With dazzling individual flair, a Forward can sink amazing midrange jump shots and throw down power slams that energize the crowd. A Forward can also provide game changing rebounding and blocking abilities to a team.

Initial Character Creation

Since basic attributes change with height, a shorter stature will create a more offense oriented Forward, whereas a taller stature will create a Forward more specialized in defense. Carefully consider your Forward's height when planning out their eventual transition to SF (Small Forward) or PF (Power Forward).

Specialized Attributes

As a basic Forward, leveling up will improve your abilities offensively and defensively equally. A Forward's basic attributes provide for strong middle shots with faster running speeds than a Center. Their greatest contributions to their team are often assessed in terms of their middle shot, rebound, and block shot skills.

Basic Forward Gameplay

Basically, a Forward moves between the 3-point line and the center line below the basket. If your team lacks a Guard, your main role as a Forward will be assisting with passes. Without a Center, the Forward will lead on defensive rebounds. With both a Center and a Guard, your offensive play mainly involves covering your team's weaknesses.

Offensive Gameplay

1) Position - When the game starts, immediately get into a position between your teammate that is covering the paint and your teammate on the outside of the court. This position is mostly between the center key (or paint) line and the outside (or 3-point) line.

2) Shoot - A Forward's best kept secret is their middle shot. Besides being highly accurate, a middle shot is equally effective in pulling your opponents away from the paint so your rebounding teammate, usually a Center, can be more effective at grabbing missed shots.

3) Pass - As mentioned earlier, the Forward is a well-rounded position. Although Forwards are better known for their shots, they also play a vital role of moving in and out of the defense. Instead of having your Guard make direct passes from outside to near the hoop, the team will make more baskets if the ball goes through the middleman, the Forward.

4) Dribble - A Forward's dribbling skills will be best put to use only when you pull a fake. One quick dribble before your shot could prove highly effective in throwing off the opponent's defense Be careful though, a good defensive player can steal the ball if they are in good coverage position.

5) Offensive Rebound - The key to rebounding is close rim positioning. However, a decent opposing Center will usually dominate in this area. In this situation, a Forward should focus on retrieving secondary rebounds. In order to contribute to your team's rebounding, when your Center teammate shoots, use your quickness to tty and "crash the boards" for a chance at the rebound.

Defensive Gameplay

1) Position - As a defensive Forward, you usually guard an offensive Forward. When there is no Forward position on the opposing team, you play against the next offensively capable player. As a defensive forward , always be prepared to assist your guard in covering the opponents guard should they break free.

2) Steal - A Forward's steal skills aren't stellar, but your position still has the best vantage point for steals. The best placement for a Forward to steal is in between the opposing Center and Guard.

The Forward's Preferred Skills

Since you can only use points to purchase your training, stay away from purchases that aren't entirely necessary, especially in the early levels of a Forward. Here are some recommended Skills and FreeStyles that will improve your basic performance:

Recommended Training:

	Dunk/Lay-up: Always useful even after your positional transition.
	Jump: Helps your rebounds and blocks.
	Running: Helps you get to where you need to go.

Recommended Skills:

	Through Pass: Through Pass skill allows you to successfully pass the ball to a running teammate.
	Tip-in Shot Allows a Forward to tap the ball into the rim from a rebound.
	Double Clutch lets a Forward trick an opponent by displaying lay-up or dunk motion in one way, then immediately shooting in the opposite direction.
	Screen: This skill sets a pick to help your teammate get into an open shot position.

Recommended FreeStyles:

	Short Cut Jumper: A quick jump shot from the middle.
	Quick Lay-Up: A quick lay-up after a soft jump. There is no delay after the jump.
	Stand Still: This skill helps you stand your ground. The opposition just bounces off of you.