A step in the right direction: today's players might not shoot as well as they did 20 years ago, but their ever faster first steps make them harder to defend--and more exciting to watch. (NBA).

The attack takes place dozens of times every night in the NBA: Seconds after the ball crosses halfcourt and an offensive possession begins, teams get the ball in the hands of their best offensive option, and the process of breaking down the defense begins. It starts with one of the most basic moves in basketball, the first step. Without a strong first step, forget about driving to the basket. Forget about the open jump shot, too, because without the threat of a good move, defenders will get closer than your date.

In today's NBA, where crossover dribbles and hang time have a far bigger place in the game than the 20-foot jump shot, nearly all of the top scorers ...