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.

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!

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.).

Gilbert Arena’s and Ray Allen talk about the Art of Shooting!  What it took for them to be able to shoot the way they do!  Gilbert Arena’s say’s he shoots 1,000′s of shots a day!  Ray Allen say’s the ball has to be a part of your body!

Kumbeno Memory is refining Oregon’s basketball talent