Archive for February, 2010
Why does he/she do that? (BASKETBALL IQ)
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
I watch a lot of basketball - middle school, high school, college, pro games on a daily basis. While I’m watching these games I continuously ask myself “Why does he do that?” or “Why does he not do that?” Some of these questions I ask myself go a little something like this:
“Why does he not box out?” ; “Why does she dribble after getting a rebound instead of giving the ball to the PG?” ; “Why doesn’t he get his hands up, when he knows that he is a shooter?” ; “Why doesn’t she slow down, she is totally out of control?”……. These are just a few of the many questions that go through my head. When I ask myself these questions it continues to validate the thought in my head is that “today’s player” needs to continue to greatly enhance their basketball IQs! I had a coach tell me in the 8th grade that, “Basketball is 90% MENTAL and 10% physical!” I greatly believe that theory and statement!!! I think that if you are smart and tough that you can be a very successful player at most any level. Now, if you add skill to the equation it makes you a pretty dangerous player!
So…..how do you work on your Basketball IQ? One way is to study very successful high school, college or NBA players. 1) Watch how they make decisions and choices on the floor. 2 ) How they use screens, set screens. 3) How they handle the ball with pressure. 4) How they pass the ball. 5) How they run the floor and move without the ball. 6) How they defend on the ball. 7) How they defend off the ball. 8) How they communicate verbally and non-verbally on the court. 9) How they execute plays. 10) How they box out and rebound the ball.
Just like you study in school to recieve good grades and enhance your education. You have to study basketball and enhance your IQ to become a better player. I tell players all the time, basketball is a game just like monopoly, checkers, and chess. There are rules and a strategy to this game in order to win. The players that understand the rules and strategy are usually the best players and know how to win basketball games! Enhance your basketball IQ and become a better basketball player (example – Larry Bird was one of the smartest basketball players to play the game, period – watch the Larry Bird video)!!!
Tags: basketball iq, basketball training, hoop dreams basketball, strategy, tips, work ethic
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History of the Game – Larry Bird (All-Time Great)!
Sunday, February 28th, 2010
Larry Bird, rated the #1 shooter in NCAA HISTORY! From time to time I’m going to post information about players from the past. I believe that it is vital for any player to know the history of the game. To know about the players that came before them and paved the way for basketball to be played the way that it is now! Larry Bird is hands down one of the best players and best shooters to EVER PLAY THE GAME OF BASKETBALL! In this video, he makes a comment, “I believe a shooter is a player that can shoot from 15 to 18 feet and make 60 t0 70 shots in a ROW!!!” That is something to think about, for today’s players. Where do you stand with that? How many shots are you able to make in a row practicing? How many in a row in a game situation? How many shots do you shoot a day?
Also, Larry Bird was multi-faceted and versatile. He could not only shoot, but rebound, defend and pass the ball! He was a COMPLETE BASKETBALL PLAYER!!! For Larry Bird’s career he averaged – 24.3 pts, 10.0 rebs, and 6.3 assists. Sounds a lot like Lebron James! lol! Only thing is that Larry didn’t possess the body, talent and athletic ability that Lebron possesses. Larry Bird is someone that I would say plays the game of basketball purely and efficiently. He got the most out of himself every time he stepped on the floor. I have heard him say in numerous interviews that, he just wanted to be THE BEST POSSIBLE BASKETBALL PLAYER HE COULD BE, SO HE WORKED HIS HARDEST EVERYDAY!!!
Tags: basketball training, boston celtics, hard work, hoop dreams basketball, indiana state university, larry bird, nba, shooter, shooting the basketball, work ethic
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Hubie Brown – 5 Defensive Commandments!
Wednesday, February 24th, 2010
Hubie Brown, Hall of Fame Coach, and someone that I respect a great deal in regards to basketball knowledge, talks about the 5 Commandments on the Defensive End of the floor! One major point that he makes, and something that we teach at Hoop Dreams is to always push the ball away from the middle of the floor (reasons why? – 1) to keep away from the basket, 2) it’s harder to score, 3) less plays can be made to the sideline and the baseline). This is great information for anyone who is trying to become a better defender and overall basketball player!
Tags: basketball iq, basketball tips, basketball training, defense, hoop dreams basketball, hubie brown, nba
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Sam Cassell and the Mid-Range Game
Saturday, February 20th, 2010
Sam Cassell, one of the better point guards to play in the NBA, talks about the lost art of the MID-RANGE GAME. He gives tips on how to create space and get your shot off against defenders. Talks about players that he learned the mid-range game from by studying them. Also, that touches on a point, make sure that you are studying other players (NBA/College/Top High School) to learn from.
Tags: basketball tips, creating space, hoop dreams basketball, mid range game, nba, pull up jumper, sam cassell, workouts
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Good Ol Fashioned “Mikan Drill”
Tuesday, February 16th, 2010
Here is the “Mikan Drill”, named after George Mikan (NBA great who played for the Minneapolis Lakers). This is a GREAT drill that helps you to improve on your footwork and ability to finish lay-ups with both your right and left hand. You will learn to use the correct footwork on a left hand lay-up as well as a right hand lay-up. This is a drill that we at Hoop Dreams use for our youngest players all the way up to our pro’s!
Tags: fundamentals, hoop dreams basketball, lay-ups, left hand, right hand, training, workouts
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DRILL OF THE MONTH
Monday, February 15th, 2010
“100/100/200″
You are sitting on the floor and the ball starts in your right hand and you will be using a “finger-tip dribble”.
1. You perform 100 “finger-tip dribbles” with your right hand.
2. Then lift both of your legs up and and dribble under both legs (while still sitting) and perform 100 “finger-tip dribbles” with your left hand.
3. Then lift up your left leg and perform 200 “finger-tip dribbles” with both your right and left in a “1-2 rhythm/alternating dribble” in the middle of both legs.
Once you get pretty good with it, you can time yourself and finish the drill in 2 minutes, then 1:45, then 1:30, so on and so forth. Continuing to beat your time and making your hands work harder.
Benefits of “100-100-200″
This will increase the speed and quickness in your hands, which you can use not only on the offensive end (getting shot off quicker, quicker and more intimidating dribble, pass the ball quicker) but also on the defensive end (deflecting passes and dribbles, stealing the ball, etc.).
Tags: ball handling, basketball tips, basketball training, dribbling, drills, hoop dreams basketball, improving, workouts
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The “LOST” Art of Moving w/o the ball by Rip Hamilton (NBA)
Sunday, February 14th, 2010
Rip Hamilton of the Detroit Pistons (NBA) gives tips on how to move without the ball. He also gives tips on how to move without the ball at a high level! This is the hardest way to guard an offensive player (someone who constantly moves without the ball). Add moving without the ball to your game and become a complete player!
Tags: basketball training, conditioning, cutting, endurance, hoop dreams basketball, moving without the ball, nba, rip hamilton
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When Does Next Season Start?
Saturday, February 13th, 2010
I have so many players that I speak with and work with who believe that improving is a quick fix. That if they work on something for a week, month or even two months that they will have MASTERED it! In my experience, anything learned and mastered takes a great deal of time and concentrated effort.
I just finished reading a book called the TALENT CODE by Daniel Coyle. The book talks about how to build skill, sustain skill and how to master a particular skill. In his studies he found that it either took 10 years or 10,000 hours to master a particular skill (i.e. playing defense, shooting, ball handling, passing, etc). I find this very true! Now, with that being said, the challenge I give to all of your players out there is where do you stand in that 10,000 hours at this very moment? Are you in your first 1,000 hours? 3,000? 5,000? 500?
So, now we go back to our initial question and that is – When does next season start? It starts now!!! If you want to improve your status (are you starting, coming off the bench, riding the bench) or accomplish the goals (to be all league, start, be a contributor, play more, make the team) you have set out for next season, that work begins now! What you work on now will be there for you next year! If you wait too long, you are in essence pushing the pause button on that “10,000 hours” needed for you to master the necessary skills in basketball!
GET TO WORK IMMEDIATELY!!! LETS GO HOOP DREAMERS, DREAM BIG!!!
Tags: basketball training, goals, hard work, hoop dreams basketball, persistence, skill development, skills, talent, work ethic
Posted in basketball tips, hoop dreams basketball | 1 Comment »
I-5 Elite’s Terrence Jones
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
Terrence (T-Jones) Jones leading I-5 Elite to the 2009 CenterStage (Las Vegas, NV) Championship! T-Jones played extremely well, with a lot of heart and effort and made all of his teammates around him better! Today (Feb. 11th, 2010) Terrence was named to the 33rd annual McDonald’s All-American Game, which will be played on March 31st, on ESPN (5pm)! Congrats T-Jones!!!
Tags: aau, basketball training, hoop dreams basketball, i-5 elite, mcdonalds all american, terrence jones
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Steve Nash talks about the Fundamentals of Passing!
Thursday, February 11th, 2010
Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns (NBA) talks about the fundamentals of passing. Being able to use both his left and right hand to make passes and taking pride in passing!
Tags: Basketball, basketball training, hard work, hoop dreams basketball, nba, passing, steve nash, work ethic
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