A Different Viewpoint
When you look at what others have to say about various things in the NBA, you will get a wide variety of answers. You can ask questions like, "who is the best basketball player today" and you will get a long list. You can ask, "what is the best team in the NBA" and you will also get several answers. The sole reason is because people are different and as a result what they think is different too. However, is there an influence to why this is? When you look at certain NBA fans, they will have their favorites and dislikes. They will probably like certain teams and players and hate others with the same passion. This can be because of ignorance or lack of knowledge.
The NBA Basketball Mindset
Being an NBA fan and a basketball coach I have been constantly searching for the secret to what makes a successful basketball player. I have come to find that the secret for basketball success is the same secret for success in any area of life and that is the mindset of a person. Did you ever think about the fact that an NBA basketball player was born without a basketball and did not know of basketball until he was exposed to the game, meaning he learned how to play the game during his life. For some it means starting to play when they are two or three years old and others you find started as late as 15 or 16. Personally I started playing when I was 8 years old.
How to Become a Better Free Throw Shooter - A Basketball Training Article
When I was a young man, a friend of mine invited me to a foul shooting competition that was being held at a local gym. At the time, I didn't even know these things existed and I was fascinated by the amount of players that were there. Some guys were not basketball players at all but were there for the competition. I immediately judged everyone based on appearances and picked my favorites. I was completely wrong about who would win and who wouldn't. My friend was an incredible foul shooter and won the competition for his age group that day. The competition was a best of 25 free-throws with the highest scores winning prizes. I studied the best shooters as some ended up going into over-time because nobody was missing.
Great Basketball Players are Coachable
I follow a lot of recruiting throughout the country and one word that is often thrown around is the word '"coachable'". I got that label as a younger player and I took it as a compliment. Problem was I didn't really understand what it meant in relation to my skills as a basketball player. Is being a coachable player a skill? Of course it is and let's discuss why. First, let's go into what being coachable is and go from there. A coachable player is one that is willing to take constructive criticism in any form and learn from it. Coachable players want to improve and understand that when they are being coached it is for their own good and for the good of the team.
Basketball Dribbling Secrets, Tips, And Drills
It doesn't matter whether you're a guard, forward, or center, good ball-handling skills are essential in basketball. In today's competitive age, you better be ready to put the ball on the floor. Even centers and power forwards are becoming more versatile than ever, raising the bar of competition with every year that passes. Dribbling a basketball does not mean fancy moves that break your defender's ankles, it simply means the ability to handle the ball and reach your desired objective. These "desired objectives" are the real secrets to dribbling a basketball. Understanding these secrets will make you a better ball-handler practically overnight. There are 3 secrets, and they are as follows: 1) Protect the ball - The 1st objective of dribbling is to make sure you don't turn it over.
An Undying Love For the Game
When Michael Jordan first came into the league, he was considered to be a great player. He had scored the game winning basket against Georgetown in the NCAA finals game and went on to have a successful sophomore year. Later on, he would average 28 points as a rookie, an unheard of amount. After that first season, people knew Michael was the real deal. Michael Jordan did struggle to keep a strong identity, struggling with his father"s death. He would eventually quit basketball and then return for 3 more NBA titles. By this time, he was considered by some, the greatest player of all time. He did however, return for two more years playing alongside Kwame Brown, but failed to make the playoffs in both of them.
A League of His Own
When Carmelo Anthony first came into the league in 2003, he was considered to be a good small forward. At 6" 8, he has the size and the strength to play effectively. However, his name was behind players such as Lebron James and Wade. Carmelo had previously led the Orangemen to the NCAA title with a double-double. Drafted by the Denver Nuggets, Carmelo looked as if was going to make an impact. In his rookie year, he averaged about 20 points and 5 rebounds. He finished behind Lebron James for the rookie of the year award. However, players such as Chris Bosh were making vast improvements. Carmelo had disappointing second and third years, not playing to his potential.
Exceeding the Hype
Lebron James was one of the most hyped players in NBA history. He was already on the front page of a major sports magazine his junior year and was dominant in inter league play. Lebron held many strengths in his game, such as the ability to pass which wowed people and fans alike. It was wondered where teams were tanking on purpose to have better chance to get him. Lebron won every high school player of the year award his final year in high school and seemed destined for greatness. Newspapers from all parts of the world were eager to see how he would pan out. Many people also had doubts about whether he would be as good as advertised. They felt that many high school players were just not ready to play the game.
Basketball Drills - Dribbling Ball Handling
When I was in college young players would always ask ways that I got good at handling the ball or if there were any drills that I used to get better. I love teaching ball handling and thought it would be a great topic to cover in this article. Of all the coaches I was taught by the most memorable one was Rick Majerus. This man is amazing. Not only is he funny but he called me names that to this day I don't know what they are. I could listen to his stories for hours but he was an absolutely incredible teacher. He told me something one day about a player that he coached while he was an assistant at Marquette under Al McGuire, Doc Rivers. Young guys bear with me.
The Comeback of the Year
Amare Stoudemire suffered a serious injury which made him unable to play. He was an emerging force in the NBA and is known for is dunks and inside play. He averaged 26 points the year prior and was good on the glass. He was also playing with Steve Nash, one of the best play makers in the NBA. Amare luckily signed a large lucrative contract which meant that if he was unable to play anymore, he would have security. However, the injury really dampened the Suns team. Some felt that Amare"s rough style of play also helped contribute to his downfall. He had only played 3 games before getting hurt, losing the entire season of play. His contribution to the team was needed and without him, the team was much weaker.