FOCUS ON THREE KEYS

Stripped of the subtleties of strategy, basketball involves getting the ball, firing it at the basket and following through. Here, Bill Russell makes the first key maneuver, his long arm intercepting a ball in flight. For the others, turn the page

Protecting the ball with shoulder and hip, Tom Heinsohn gauges distance in preparation for hook shot

Level with basket rim, hands reach to tip in ball if it misses or slap it away to defending teammates

THREE PHOTOS

JOHN G. ZIMMERMAN