Starting a Great Career in Basketball

Every year, new fresh pros are drafted. There is no reason why you shouldn't make it too and be one of the most successful on the pitch. You should start polishing your skills at shooting, defense, and team play. You could easily become the best in the game. All that is needed is a lot of practice and dedication. Once you get the hang of it, you will be ready to stand counted among the best in the world.

Skills

You need to learn all the rules of the game very clearly. When you know the sport well, you will be able to play and understand it. You should learn the things that are to be expected as well as potential problems that you could face. Talk to people who are good in the game or go through websites. Talking to coaches and most especially joining a team can help you to a great extent. Basketball is not only physical, but mental too. If you lack in any of the areas, then you will fail miserably.

Physical shape

You need to be in the best shape physically. You should get to the gym and work out. You can shine on the court if you are able to outrun even the best players. The best players happen to be the best scorers, the best defensive players, and the best team players. To make it in all the categories, you should be in the best physical shape. Do your pushups; do core workouts, jump rope, and jump to increase the vertical leap, and so on.

Dribble

There are coaches that will tell you to only dribble using the fingertips. However, if you are keen about the greatest players today, you will notice that they make use of the whole hand as well. When doing moves that are more advanced during the game, you can find out what works for you and what does not and therefore you will be able to concentrate more on that.

Shooting skills

This is something that you really need to do. The best shooters in the game should be emulated and then you need to model the actions that they engage in. Shooting skills are best practiced with some music on. You do not have to be standing for this; you can lie down and simply shoot in the air. You also need to do some free throws until you have perfected it.

When shooting, you should use BEEF. This simply means:

B: balance. Ensure that you are well balanced and then shoot.

E: eyes. The eyes need to be on the basket as you shoot

E: elbow. The elbow should be towards the body as you shoot

F: follow through. Make sure that you do follow through with the shot. The shooting hand should be like one reaching into a jar.

Concentrate as you shoot too. You need to focus on the area where the ball is meant to go. Do not concentrate too much on the people around you. This goes hand in hand with awareness. When you are aware of the other players and the options as well as plays that are possible, you will be very precise when you shoot.

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Oklahoma City Deserves to Lose - Long Live the Sonics

It's funny to watch Oklahoma City fans get all pissy when Kevin Durant comes to town.

Wednesday night, the Golden State Warriors found their way to the MidFirst Bank Arena and as it was last year, the Thunder Faithful treated KD and his burner Twitter account to a healthy round of boos, taunts and signs proclaiming things like "Integrity Trumps Rings," which is the kind of thing you have to tell yourself when you get Dumped.

And there's no love lost between the fans or the teams. Russell Westbrook has never gotten over KD's it's-not-you-it's-me routine. Durant announced his plans in a web post. It wasn't quite "Taking my talents to South Beach," but then again, KD isn't quite Lebron either.

But the story is that Russ heard about Durant signing with Golden State through Twitter, which I could see being shocking. Russ found out he was dumped when KD changed his Facebook status.

That stings.

Last year he took it out on EVERYONE, averaging a triple double and taking home the MVP trophy and even one-upped KD on the size of the contract.

Durant, however, also took home an MVP trophy. From the NBA finals. It goes with his ring. And he's well on the way to another.

He'd been in Oklahoma eight years prior to leaving, seven of them with Westbrook. Both Westbrook and Oklahoma City fans had come to see him AS the franchise. He was their best player, their brightest light, all they knew.

And then he dumped them for a hotter, younger model. It's not you it's me.

And they turned on him like he was a traitor, which he kind of was. Instead of trying to figure out a way to beat the Warriors, Durant joined them. He's lucky he didn't pull that shit in Philly. We've been known to throw batteries.

But even in Oklahoma - a place I've never been, but imagine to be like living in a loaf of stale Wonder Bread, with about as much color and nightlife - things got chippy.

Westbrook and Durant faced off during the game, butting heads with their squads behind them. And for the first time, Westbrook got the best of Durant and the Thunder got a win.

I've watched Durant's career from the outset though. Because I live in Seattle. Most people forget that the Seattle Supersonics drafted him (and Westbrook, technically, though the team moved six days later), and he played his first season here, just before David Stern held this city hostage and let Clay Bennett steal the team. It wasn't quite the Colts moving in the middle of the night or even the Browns becoming the Ravens, but it was close.

You know who hasn't forgotten? Seattle. That should have been their team, their playoff runs, their shots at a parade.

But despite his public promises to keep the team in Seattle, scumbag screwhead Clay Bennett never had any intention of doing anything other than slinking back to Oklahoma City and there are emails to prove it. David Stern didn't care though. The city of Seattle, which was still paying off the arena they refurnished for the Sonics less than 15 years earlier and voters were a bit leary of building a new one.

So like the greedy bastard he was, Stern made the city an example and let Bennett take the team out of the 14th largest market in the country and move to the 45th.

It was shocking.

But it worked. Ask the Clippers. And the Chargers.

Which is why it's kind of funny to me when those fans feel somehow slighted or start talking about integrity.

YOU ARE THE MISTRESS. WHAT DID YOU EXPECT?

Shut up. Suck it up. You and your ill-gotten franchise deserve to be dumped, you philandering bastards. You deserve to lose. Forever. Or at least as long as Clay Bennett or his heirs own the team. I'm glad Kevin Durant jilted your asses and I'm even more glad he won elsewhere. I'm glad he rubs it in your faces and I hope this year it's James Harden, the guy you cast off, that crushes your dreams.

Sorry Thunder fans, but may the Curse of Clay Bennett live forever.

Long Live the SuperSonics.

Ah, but it's Thanksgiving so let's end on a high note.

This year I am thankful for a lot of reasons. I am thankful to be a Philadelphia Sports fan, where I get to root for Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons and Carson Wentz and Rhys Hoskins for the foreseeable future. I am thankful to have never worked for Charlie Rose. I am thankful my team didn't cheap out and sign Blair Walsh. I'm thankful for my beautiful wife and the baby that's ready to make an appearance any day now ("Embiid" is a great name for a boy or a girl, right?). I'm thankful that I live 3,000 miles away from the family whose politics I avoid on Facebook so I don't have to try and explain that "SAD!" is not a policy position or that NO ONE IS PROTESTING THE ANTHEM before I can eat pie. I am thankful to have met the Guru and the team behind the scenes who helped get this whole thing off the ground.

And of course, I am thankful for you, the listeners and readers.

Happy Thanksgiving, all.

Yeah.

By Lestro

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5 Player Schemes Promote Winning Ideals

When one equates the strategies used in football with those used in basketball one can conjure up a better approach to the game. In football, every player has a function and when carried out properly, you have positive results. Lineman block protecting the passer or open holes for the running back. Receivers and tight ends block down field or run pass patterns seeking space and separation. All these assignments are diligently synchronized for optimum results. And if the timing is perfect, a trap-block becomes a big gain or a well-timed break by a receiver becomes a first down reception.

In basketball, such diligence is sadly lacking. It's a mish-mash of ideas, each player skimming alone, not knowing the intentions of his teammates. What would happen if each player knew what the other four players were going to do, where they were going to be at any moment in the play? What would be the result? What's more, how could this be done.

To understand my apotheosis, let's look at the various aspects of the game. In basketball, the objective is to score more points than your opponent. To do this requires having a higher shooting percentage, and/or much better rebounding stats, and/or lesser numbers in the turnover department. A major factor in these numbers is how well a team creates space. Space is how a team establishes passing, shooting and driving lanes. When there's space, passing is on target and shooting rhythms result in higher percentages. Space also allows for a more controlled shooting stance which also ups percentages. When faulty, turnovers result and shooting percentages go down. Creating space should be the objective of every player on the team whether they are directly involved in the play or not.

To create space, several factors need to be put into play, namely movement, balanced offensive threats and dictating defensive alignment. When there is movement, the defense is more focused on guarding their man rather than helping teammates. This movement stretches the defense enough to where space is created. Even fake movement or the threat of movement keeps the defense preoccupied negating a sagging defense and rebounding opportunities.

If only a few players are offensive threats, the defense hones in on these players stifling their effectiveness. Thus, it is imperative to have a balanced offensive strategy that involves all five players. When all five players act as integral participants in passing, rebounding, screens, shooting and drives to the basket, then the defense must guard against multiple threats, not just a few. Likewise, such a strategy allows less skilled shooting players to perform specific functions at which they can excel. They feel they have purpose.

Any offensive strategy has a counter defensive strategy. It could be man-to-man, switching man-to-man, or various zone alignments. By implementing various offensive strategies, especially when successful, one can dictate how the defense counters it. Such manipulation can offer advantages in things such as match ups, better shooting and rebounding opportunities as well as reducing turnovers.

Creating space can also be done by inhibiting or impeding the opponent's movements. Screens are a common method of restricting coverage by a defender. Space can also be accomplished by creating confusion in the opponent's defensive alinements. When they switch on defense, there are minute opportunities to gain an advantage. For instance, in a pick-and-roll situation, the screener can peel off toward the basket creating not only a scoring opportunity, but also mismatches. These might be tall over short, fast over slow, competent over insecure.

Impeding or inhibiting an opponent can also be accomplished by creating traffic congestion. When opponents have to avoid their own teammates to get into the proper defensive positions, it generates momentary shooting, passing, and driving opportunities. This can be accomplished by congregating offensive players in a small area then suddenly dispersing. And if the dispersion is done in a way that creates confusion or switching, then congestion can result and opportunistic space generated

Another way of creating traffic congestion is to incorporate two or three-man screens. If the screeners disburse in multiple directions, the defenders have little time to react and communicate thus not only creating confusion but also court congestion. This allows offensive players to momentarily separate from defenders and with a separation of four to six feet, this is more than enough to safely catch a pass, shoot a basket or drive for a layup. In zone defensives, such screens can negate coverage and likewise open up space.

Another offensive ploy is to stretch the defensive by making them guard more closely. In this way the defensive is not able to sag and help out other defenders. Being a scoring threat is one way. But there are also passing threats, driving threats, and rebounding threats. Keeping your defender preoccupied with these threats either by illusions (fakes) or realistic movements helps the team effort. For instance, jumping, reaching up for a fake pass creates a momentary defensive commitment, one that creates an offensive advantage. Likewise, moving your defender to an uncomfortable area where you have an advantage, let's say for driving or rebounding is another strategy.

Rebounding, especially on offensive, is not given its due importance. Rebounds not only give the offense another chance to score, they also mess with the opponent's alignment. Defenders are out of position and not on their man. This can also result in mismatches all of which allow easy scoring opportunities.

While shooting percentages sit at the top of the stats, one statistic often overlooked is the points scored per possession. A team shooting in the med forties can beat a team shooting over fifty percent if they have an advantage in points scored per possession. Elite teams average around 1.2 points per possession because they are more efficient with the ball, they take good shots, avoid turnovers and get a goodly share of rebounds-thus more possessions. Such a strategy promotes a winning season.

So, in drawing up a scheme, rebounding should be an integral component. By having players positioned for rebounds, either moving through the lane or in it, ups the possibility of getting the rebound. In addition, when shooting opportunities are in sync with rebounding advantage, the point per possession will go up. When such a scheme becomes successful, opponents will counter by placing more emphasis on rebounding thus leaving holes in their defense.

Another factor in rebounding depends on the shooter's touch and the analytics where the ball might fall. With most shooters, missed shots fall in a certain pattern, either close to the rim or further out, either beyond or in front of basket. This analytic is important on 3-point attempts where misses occur 60-70% of the time. Knowing where the ball is likely to land for a given shooter provides the team a decided advantage. Including this factor into rebounding schemes ups the points per possession.

Another component of any offensive scheme is how well the team transitions to defense. A certain number of players should be responsible for down court defense. However, this responsibility can shift depending on the play's parameters. While normally this is the duty of the two guards, certain schemes may have them under the basket. Thus, all five players should be schooled in this transition process and know exactly when and where their responsibility begins. There will always be the gamble whether to crash the boards or play it safe and retreat.

The offense is most vulnerable when there's a defensive rebound or a sudden turnover. Usually a rapid retreat is in order, however, when the opponent's advance is momentarily delayed by blocking passing lanes or forcing a backward dribble, the rest of the team can get back and set the defense. So periodically teams should implement this delaying strategy.

Being aware of the aspects of time and timing is another factor that determines the success of a team. A college team is allotted a 30-second shot clock while the pros get only 24-second. In college, a team is given 10-second to avoid a back-court violation while the pros are given 8-seconds. Both are given 5-seconds to make a out of bounds throw-in. Both have a 3-second lane violation rule. Working within these time restrictions become part of offensive strategies. Taking too long hurries the setup while shooting too early may overlook weaknesses in the defense.

Timing is an aspect reflecting how well players and their strategies mesh together. In football, it the dominate factor in the success of a play. A defensive lineman need only be delayed a fraction of a second to help the running back break free. The same goes for passing plays where the timing between the quarterback and the receiver must be precise. Such timing is set by the structure of the play. In football, there are also option reads that restructure the play based on opponent's coverage.

In basketball, such precision is rare. Timing is induced only after teammates become uses to each other's tendencies. This could take a good part of the season, especially if it is not induced through well-timed structured plays. As I mentioned earlier, if every team member knew where his teammates would be at any given moment and where they were headed, positive results would occur. Likewise, when each player knows what his function or responsibility is then there's a collective effort that supports the objectives of the team.

Read more »

Basketball

When one equates the strategies used in football with those used in basketball one can conjure up a better approach to the game. In football, every player has a function and when carried out properly, you have positive results. Lineman block protecting the passer or open holes for the running back. Receivers and tight ends block down field or run pass patterns seeking space and separation. All these assignments are diligently synchronized for optimum results. And if the timing is perfect, a trap-block becomes a big gain or a well-timed break by a receiver becomes a first down reception.

In basketball, such diligence is sadly lacking. It's a mish-mash of ideas, each player skimming alone, not knowing the intentions of his teammates. What would happen if each player knew what the other four players were going to do, where they were going to be at any moment in the play? What would be the result? What's more, how could this be done.

To understand my apotheosis, let's look at the various aspects of the game. In basketball, the objective is to score more points than your opponent. To do this requires having a higher shooting percentage, and/or much better rebounding stats, and/or lesser numbers in the turnover department. A major factor in these numbers is how well a team creates space. Space is how a team establishes passing, shooting and driving lanes. When there's space, passing is on target and shooting rhythms result in higher percentages. Space also allows for a more controlled shooting stance which also ups percentages. When faulty, turnovers result and shooting percentages go down. Creating space should be the objective of every player on the team whether they are directly involved in the play or not.

To create space, several factors need to be put into play, namely movement, balanced offensive threats and dictating defensive alignment. When there is movement, the defense is more focused on guarding their man rather than helping teammates. This movement stretches the defense enough to where space is created. Even fake movement or the threat of movement keeps the defense preoccupied negating a sagging defense and rebounding opportunities.

If only a few players are offensive threats, the defense hones in on these players stifling their effectiveness. Thus, it is imperative to have a balanced offensive strategy that involves all five players. When all five players act as integral participants in passing, rebounding, screens, shooting and drives to the basket, then the defense must guard against multiple threats, not just a few. Likewise, such a strategy allows less skilled shooting players to perform specific functions at which they can excel. They feel they have purpose.

Any offensive strategy has a counter defensive strategy. It could be man-to-man, switching man-to-man, or various zone alignments. By implementing various offensive strategies, especially when successful, one can dictate how the defense counters it. Such manipulation can offer advantages in things such as match ups, better shooting and rebounding opportunities as well as reducing turnovers.

Creating space can also be done by inhibiting or impeding the opponent's movements. Screens are a common method of restricting coverage by a defender. Space can also be accomplished by creating confusion in the opponent's defensive alinements. When they switch on defense, there are minute opportunities to gain an advantage. For instance, in a pick-and-roll situation, the screener can peel off toward the basket creating not only a scoring opportunity, but also mismatches. These might be tall over short, fast over slow, competent over insecure.

Impeding or inhibiting an opponent can also be accomplished by creating traffic congestion. When opponents have to avoid their own teammates to get into the proper defensive positions, it generates momentary shooting, passing, and driving opportunities. This can be accomplished by congregating offensive players in a small area then suddenly dispersing. And if the dispersion is done in a way that creates confusion or switching, then congestion can result and opportunistic space generated

Another way of creating traffic congestion is to incorporate two or three-man screens. If the screeners disburse in multiple directions, the defenders have little time to react and communicate thus not only creating confusion but also court congestion. This allows offensive players to momentarily separate from defenders and with a separation of four to six feet, this is more than enough to safely catch a pass, shoot a basket or drive for a layup. In zone defensives, such screens can negate coverage and likewise open up space.

Another offensive ploy is to stretch the defensive by making them guard more closely. In this way the defensive is not able to sag and help out other defenders. Being a scoring threat is one way. But there are also passing threats, driving threats, and rebounding threats. Keeping your defender preoccupied with these threats either by illusions (fakes) or realistic movements helps the team effort. For instance, jumping, reaching up for a fake pass creates a momentary defensive commitment, one that creates an offensive advantage. Likewise, moving your defender to an uncomfortable area where you have an advantage, let's say for driving or rebounding is another strategy.

Rebounding, especially on offensive, is not given its due importance. Rebounds not only give the offense another chance to score, they also mess with the opponent's alignment. Defenders are out of position and not on their man. This can also result in mismatches all of which allow easy scoring opportunities.

While shooting percentages sit at the top of the stats, one statistic often overlooked is the points scored per possession. A team shooting in the med forties can beat a team shooting over fifty percent if they have an advantage in points scored per possession. Elite teams average around 1.2 points per possession because they are more efficient with the ball, they take good shots, avoid turnovers and get a goodly share of rebounds-thus more possessions. Such a strategy promotes a winning season.

So, in drawing up a scheme, rebounding should be an integral component. By having players positioned for rebounds, either moving through the lane or in it, ups the possibility of getting the rebound. In addition, when shooting opportunities are in sync with rebounding advantage, the point per possession will go up. When such a scheme becomes successful, opponents will counter by placing more emphasis on rebounding thus leaving holes in their defense.

Another factor in rebounding depends on the shooter's touch and the analytics where the ball might fall. With most shooters, missed shots fall in a certain pattern, either close to the rim or further out, either beyond or in front of basket. This analytic is important on 3-point attempts where misses occur 60-70% of the time. Knowing where the ball is likely to land for a given shooter provides the team a decided advantage. Including this factor into rebounding schemes ups the points per possession.

Another component of any offensive scheme is how well the team transitions to defense. A certain number of players should be responsible for down court defense. However, this responsibility can shift depending on the play's parameters. While normally this is the duty of the two guards, certain schemes may have them under the basket. Thus, all five players should be schooled in this transition process and know exactly when and where their responsibility begins. There will always be the gamble whether to crash the boards or play it safe and retreat.

The offense is most vulnerable when there's a defensive rebound or a sudden turnover. Usually a rapid retreat is in order, however, when the opponent's advance is momentarily delayed by blocking passing lanes or forcing a backward dribble, the rest of the team can get back and set the defense. So periodically teams should implement this delaying strategy.

Being aware of the aspects of time and timing is another factor that determines the success of a team. A college team is allotted a 30-second shot clock while the pros get only 24-second. In college, a team is given 10-second to avoid a back-court violation while the pros are given 8-seconds. Both are given 5-seconds to make a out of bounds throw-in. Both have a 3-second lane violation rule. Working within these time restrictions become part of offensive strategies. Taking too long hurries the setup while shooting too early may overlook weaknesses in the defense.

Timing is an aspect reflecting how well players and their strategies mesh together. In football, it the dominate factor in the success of a play. A defensive lineman need only be delayed a fraction of a second to help the running back break free. The same goes for passing plays where the timing between the quarterback and the receiver must be precise. Such timing is set by the structure of the play. In football, there are also option reads that restructure the play based on opponent's coverage.

In basketball, such precision is rare. Timing is induced only after teammates become uses to each other's tendencies. This could take a good part of the season, especially if it is not induced through well-timed structured plays. As I mentioned earlier, if every team member knew where his teammates would be at any given moment and where they were headed, positive results would occur. Likewise, when each player knows what his function or responsibility is then there's a collective effort that supports the objectives of the team.

Read more »

Basketball: 5-Player Schemes Promote Winning Ideals

When one equates the strategies used in football with those used in basketball one can conjure up a better approach to the game. In football, every player has a function and when carried out properly, you have positive results. Lineman block protecting the passer or open holes for the running back. Receivers and tight ends block down field or run pass patterns seeking space and separation. All these assignments are diligently synchronized for optimum results. And if the timing is perfect, a trap-block becomes a big gain or a well-timed break by a receiver becomes a first down reception.

In basketball, such diligence is sadly lacking. It's a mish-mash of ideas, each player skimming alone, not knowing the intentions of his teammates. What would happen if each player knew what the other four players were going to do, where they were going to be at any moment in the play? What would be the result? What's more, how could this be done.

To understand my apotheosis, let's look at the various aspects of the game. In basketball, the objective is to score more points than your opponent. To do this requires having a higher shooting percentage, and/or much better rebounding stats, and/or lesser numbers in the turnover department. A major factor in these numbers is how well a team creates space. Space is how a team establishes passing, shooting and driving lanes. When there's space, passing is on target and shooting rhythms result in higher percentages. Space also allows for a more controlled shooting stance which also ups percentages. When faulty, turnovers result and shooting percentages go down. Creating space should be the objective of every player on the team whether they are directly involved in the play or not.

To create space, several factors need to be put into play, namely movement, balanced offensive threats and dictating defensive alignment. When there is movement, the defense is more focused on guarding their man rather than helping teammates. This movement stretches the defense enough to where space is created. Even fake movement or the threat of movement keeps the defense preoccupied negating a sagging defense and rebounding opportunities.

If only a few players are offensive threats, the defense hones in on these players stifling their effectiveness. Thus, it is imperative to have a balanced offensive strategy that involves all five players. When all five players act as integral participants in passing, rebounding, screens, shooting and drives to the basket, then the defense must guard against multiple threats, not just a few. Likewise, such a strategy allows less skilled shooting players to perform specific functions at which they can excel. They feel they have purpose.

Any offensive strategy has a counter defensive strategy. It could be man-to-man, switching man-to-man, or various zone alignments. By implementing various offensive strategies, especially when successful, one can dictate how the defense counters it. Such manipulation can offer advantages in things such as match ups, better shooting and rebounding opportunities as well as reducing turnovers.

Creating space can also be done by inhibiting or impeding the opponent's movements. Screens are a common method of restricting coverage by a defender. Space can also be accomplished by creating confusion in the opponent's defensive alinements. When they switch on defense, there are minute opportunities to gain an advantage. For instance, in a pick-and-roll situation, the screener can peel off toward the basket creating not only a scoring opportunity, but also mismatches. These might be tall over short, fast over slow, competent over insecure.

Impeding or inhibiting an opponent can also be accomplished by creating traffic congestion. When opponents have to avoid their own teammates to get into the proper defensive positions, it generates momentary shooting, passing, and driving opportunities. This can be accomplished by congregating offensive players in a small area then suddenly dispersing. And if the dispersion is done in a way that creates confusion or switching, then congestion can result and opportunistic space generated

Another way of creating traffic congestion is to incorporate two or three-man screens. If the screeners disburse in multiple directions, the defenders have little time to react and communicate thus not only creating confusion but also court congestion. This allows offensive players to momentarily separate from defenders and with a separation of four to six feet, this is more than enough to safely catch a pass, shoot a basket or drive for a layup. In zone defensives, such screens can negate coverage and likewise open up space.

Another offensive ploy is to stretch the defensive by making them guard more closely. In this way the defensive is not able to sag and help out other defenders. Being a scoring threat is one way. But there are also passing threats, driving threats, and rebounding threats. Keeping your defender preoccupied with these threats either by illusions (fakes) or realistic movements helps the team effort. For instance, jumping, reaching up for a fake pass creates a momentary defensive commitment, one that creates an offensive advantage. Likewise, moving your defender to an uncomfortable area where you have an advantage, let's say for driving or rebounding is another strategy.

Rebounding, especially on offensive, is not given its due importance. Rebounds not only give the offense another chance to score, they also mess with the opponent's alignment. Defenders are out of position and not on their man. This can also result in mismatches all of which allow easy scoring opportunities.

While shooting percentages sit at the top of the stats, one statistic often overlooked is the points scored per possession. A team shooting in the med forties can beat a team shooting over fifty percent if they have an advantage in points scored per possession. Elite teams average around 1.2 points per possession because they are more efficient with the ball, they take good shots, avoid turnovers and get a goodly share of rebounds-thus more possessions. Such a strategy promotes a winning season.

So, in drawing up a scheme, rebounding should be an integral component. By having players positioned for rebounds, either moving through the lane or in it, ups the possibility of getting the rebound. In addition, when shooting opportunities are in sync with rebounding advantage, the point per possession will go up. When such a scheme becomes successful, opponents will counter by placing more emphasis on rebounding thus leaving holes in their defense.

Another factor in rebounding depends on the shooter's touch and the analytics where the ball might fall. With most shooters, missed shots fall in a certain pattern, either close to the rim or further out, either beyond or in front of basket. This analytic is important on 3-point attempts where misses occur 60-70% of the time. Knowing where the ball is likely to land for a given shooter provides the team a decided advantage. Including this factor into rebounding schemes ups the points per possession.

Another component of any offensive scheme is how well the team transitions to defense. A certain number of players should be responsible for down court defense. However, this responsibility can shift depending on the play's parameters. While normally this is the duty of the two guards, certain schemes may have them under the basket. Thus, all five players should be schooled in this transition process and know exactly when and where their responsibility begins. There will always be the gamble whether to crash the boards or play it safe and retreat.

The offense is most vulnerable when there's a defensive rebound or a sudden turnover. Usually a rapid retreat is in order, however, when the opponent's advance is momentarily delayed by blocking passing lanes or forcing a backward dribble, the rest of the team can get back and set the defense. So periodically teams should implement this delaying strategy.

Being aware of the aspects of time and timing is another factor that determines the success of a team. A college team is allotted a 30-second shot clock while the pros get only 24-second. In college, a team is given 10-second to avoid a back-court violation while the pros are given 8-seconds. Both are given 5-seconds to make a out of bounds throw-in. Both have a 3-second lane violation rule. Working within these time restrictions become part of offensive strategies. Taking too long hurries the setup while shooting too early may overlook weaknesses in the defense.

Timing is an aspect reflecting how well players and their strategies mesh together. In football, it the dominate factor in the success of a play. A defensive lineman need only be delayed a fraction of a second to help the running back break free. The same goes for passing plays where the timing between the quarterback and the receiver must be precise. Such timing is set by the structure of the play. In football, there are also option reads that restructure the play based on opponent's coverage.

In basketball, such precision is rare. Timing is induced only after teammates become uses to each other's tendencies. This could take a good part of the season, especially if it is not induced through well-timed structured plays. As I mentioned earlier, if every team member knew where his teammates would be at any given moment and where they were headed, positive results would occur. Likewise, when each player knows what his function or responsibility is then there's a collective effort that supports the objectives of the team.

Read more »

Leo Ferris: The Man Who Saved The NBA

The early days of basketball often seen slow fan-unfriendly low scoring matches that often left spectators bored. Games often only got into the 40's and many of the best players averaged less than 15 points a game. Many early basketball games looked more like a glorified version of the children's game of keep-away than an action packed professional sport. This style of play culminated in a game between Minneapolis and Fort Wayne, where the Pistons of Fort Wayne held the ball most of the second half nursing a 1 point lead over the Lakers. The Pistons would win 19-18 in the lowest scoring game in NBA history. Prior to that the fewest points ever score 33 points, just 4 fewer than both teams scored, and that game was one the opening night of the NBA, or BAA as it was called back then.

This pace bored fans, many of whom were promised an action packed fun experience and attendance and interest in the new league had begun to dip. The NBA needed a solution and needed it fast. The solution was an ingenious one and one that would revolutionize the game as we know it. A simple clock, with just 24 seconds on it would forever change the game.

The clock was the brain child of Syracuse Nationals general manager Leo Ferris, a man that the NBA has long forgotten in one of the biggest travesties in the games history. Ferris, is as important to the early days of the NBA as anyone and one could argue that without Ferris there would be no NBA today; and there definitely would be no Atlanta Hawks, or Philadelphia 76ers. The NBA would look much different today without Ferris's input all those years ago.

Ferris got his start with basketball not in the NBA but in the NBL when in 1946 he helped found the Buffalo Bisons. The Bisons were pretty much a failure in upstate New York and after only 13 games the Bisons picked up and left the shores of Lake Erie and heated to the American Heartland in Molina, Illinois. Technically, the team played in Molina and Rock Island, Illinois and Davenport, Iowa but most of their games were played in Molina. The team was called the Tri-Cities Blackhawks and while they struggled the foundation of one of the longest tenured NBA teams was laid. The Blackhawks would eventually move to Milwaukee, where they took on the moniker Hawks, and than move to St Louis and finally to Atlanta.

Shortly after the team moved to Tri-Cities Ferris would go on to make one of his first major shake ups of the basketball world when he signed Pop Gates for the all-black New York Ren's to a contract. African-American players had played in the NBL before, but only during the early 1940s when World War II had taken a lot of the white players from the NBL. Gates was the first black player signed to a contract when there was not a necessity for them, and the first one signed because of his skill and talent and not because the league needed players. Gates would re-join the Rens when they joined the NBL as the Dayton Rens two years later.

After only a season with the Blackhawks, Ferris returned to his native upstate New York and began as the general manager of the NBL's Syracuse Nationals. As manager of the Nationals he scored a huge coup for the Nationals and the NBL when he lured highly coveted big man Dolph Schayes away from the New York Knicks of the upstart BAA.

The BAA and NBL rivalry only got worse, with the BAA stealing away most of the best players from the NBL and starting in 1948 the BAA started taking the best teams as well. In 1947 the Minneapolis Lakers, Rochester Royals and Indianapolis Kautskies left the NBL for the BAA. The Nationals were now in an uncertain league and they and the NBL desperately needed to find a solution, and Leo Ferris would find that solution.

Starting in the spring of 1949 Ferris started meeting with executives of the BAA, at first it was an attempt to possible get the Nationals into the growing league, but would soon expand to merging the two leagues. The talks ended in August of 1949 when an agreement was reached to merge the NBL and BAA and form the NBA. The BAA only wanted to absorb two teams; the Nationals, and the upstart Indianapolis Olympians; who would replace the Jets. Ferris managed to talk the BAA into accepting both of those teams, as well as the Denver Nuggets, Sheboygan Redskins, Anderson Packers and the Blackhawks. He originally wanted the merger to include Oshkosh, Hammond and Dayton, but financial backing ruined Oshkosh's attempt to relocate to Milwaukee and Hammond was thought too close to Chicago where the BAA already had a team. The Rens of Dayton were not allowed to join because their players consisted of black players. In addition to the Rens not being allowed to join, black players on Syracuse also had to be let go.

The merge proved successful as the 17 team NBA seen initial success, but the old NBL teams had given up too much power in the merger and despite Ferris's best efforts the league kicked out 5 of the former NBL teams the next season.

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The Best Basketball Positions

Nowadays, it is common to see players who are able to play multiple positions on the court. As everyone knows, there are only five players allowed on the court from each team. Each position on the court can be seen more as a role more than a position. As stated before the game of basketball has developed over the years where you can see players develop a more hybrid role and play more than one position.

Point Guard:

This person tends to be in the leadership role on the court, as he/she brings the ball up every time and runs the plays. The point guard needs to be the best ball handler, dribbler, and passer out of most of the players on the team. The point guard is responsible for bringing the ball down the court on initiate the plays. The point guard tends to be the smallest and fastest player on the team as well and uses their knowledge of the game to coordinate the offense. Not necessarily known for their shooting because that is not their primary role on the court. However it is common to see point guards take just as many shots as other players on the court too.

Shooting Guard:

This player is also one of the smaller players on the team. The shooting guard has to obtain skills such as dribbling fast, passing and having good court vision as well as the point guard would. The shooting guard also has similar skills as the point guard such as bringing the ball down the court and setting up offensive plays. The shooting guard tends to be the player who takes the most shots on the court. The shooting guard also tends to be three point specialist and accurate shooter. In terms of height, shooting guards tends to be taller than point guards and are more accurate shooters than point guards.

Small Forward:

The interesting thing about small forwards is that they usually have the skills and capabilities to play inside and outside. Skills such as ball handling, passing, court awareness, post moves, and occasional shooting.

Power Forward:

The power forward on a basketball team is usually the second tallest players on the team, who are close to the center in attributes and playing style, but is faster in speed. A power forward has the role of playing under the hoop or play in a wing or corner areas on the court. Most power forwards in today's game tend to have a more developed shot and it is more common to see power forward shooting three pointers.

Center:

On the offensive end of the court the center is responsible to get open in the paint for an easy bucket by using techniques such as jump shots, hook shots, and be precise in using the backboard to make a basket. On the defensive end of the court the center is responsible for locking down the paint on defense by blocking shots and passes and getting rebounds.

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The Best Basketball Positions

I have watched many heartbreaking stories on YouTube about children with deadly diseases that eventually take the life of these little children and the parents more times than not ask how come God took the life of my little child. I have been looking into this question and what I have found is very upsetting.

So far I have found that God has given man cures to many diseases the problem is that man is so greedy that man would rather keep the cure secret and make a lot of money from pharmaceuticals designed to keep them wealthy and at the same time watch while your loved ones slowly die. God says that man has a sinful nature and is naturally evil. I can't think of anything more evil than this.

I keep hearing about all the advances in modern medicine today and about how we are much better off today than we were 50 years ago. I would agree with this statement as far as the advances in traumatic medicine is concerned but what happened to the rest of the industry?

The last disease that was cured to my knowledge was polio way back in in 1953. I hate to burst anyone's bubble but that was 65 years ago! What has the medical profession been doing for the last 65 years? It looks to me that today's medical profession is more concerned with selling high priced drugs than curing anybody of anything.

Back in 2001 my wife was diagnosed with a fatty liver, type 2 diabetes, hypothyroidism, high blood pressure and depression. For the last sixteen years the medical doctors have put my wife on about twelve different medications. The cost of these medications to the insurance company came to over $3,000 a month or $36,000 a year.

She would shoot up two different types of insulin a day plus take three different pills for her type two diabetes. She would take one pill a day for her hypothyroidism, three pills for her depression and another three pills for her high blood pressure.

It seemed like whenever we would go to the doctor we could add another pill to our family of drugs. After sixteen years of this I decided I would look into this myself because after all this time and money my wife wasn't feeling any better than when we first went to the doctor sixteen years ago.

The next time my wife went to the doctor I went with her. I started from the beginning of my wife's troubles and asked the doctor what had been done to get rid of her fatty liver. Her doctor told me that there's nothing they could do for a fatty liver there was no magic pill. Since all her medical problems began with a fatty liver I figured this was a good place to start my investigation.

I have heard many people make fun of the internet but as long as you "consider the source" there are some very smart people teaching medicine for free. I listened to an hour and a half lecture by Robert H. Lustig MD, UCSF Professor in the division of endocrinology. The program I listened to was called "Sugar the Bitter Truth." Towards the end of his lecture he mentioned that apple cider vinegar dissolves the fat from the liver.

We used one tablespoon of Braggs Organic apple cider vinegar in eight ounces of purified water once in the morning and once in the evening. I knew it would take some time to dissolve the fat from her liver because she has had this condition for over sixteen years. After about three months she started losing weight and felt more energetic.

My wife used the apple cider vinegar for a little over a year and went from 153 pounds to 118 pounds. We then went to her doctor and scheduled more blood tests. After talking with her doctor I asked him how her liver test scored and her doctor told us that she no longer had a fatty liver and her blood tests came back in the normal range.

With my wife's liver now back to normal we started looking into ways to stop my wife's type 2 diabetes. I was watching on YouTube a doctor named Dr. Jason Fung. Dr Fung graduated from the University of Toronto and he is currently practicing medicine at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles.

Dr. Fung has several programs on YouTube and I listened to as many as I could find. Dr Fung was saying that the current medical establishment is treating type 2 diabetes all wrong. He said that giving a diabetic insulin would be the same as giving an alcoholic alcohol to cure his alcoholism. He also said that the insulin prevents your body from burning fat so the more insulin you take the fatter you get. Dr Fung also says that diabetes is a dietetic problem that can be corrected with the proper diet.

On July 7 2018 my wife went on Dr Fung's low carb, high fat diet. immediately she stopped injecting the two types of insulin she used daily and after about five weeks she stopped taking her diabetic pills. (Invokana, Januvia and Lisinopril).

When she first went on the low carb, high fat diet we would test her blood sugar levels three times a day. The rule of thumb we used was if her blood sugar tested around 150 we were satisfied with that. We noticed on this diet that her sugar levels gradually started coming down. When her sugar levels hit in the 130's she would eliminate one of her pills. When her level consistently hit the 120's she would then eliminate another pill.

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How to Light Up Your Basketball Court

Both Synthetic and wooden flooring surfaces are widely used for Badminton courts or as multi-sports courts in schools, colleges and community sports centers. The synthetic sports flooring's come in a variety of bright color combinations, logos and markings to produce an impressive and inviting appearance of a sports facility.

However, frequent use of the sports surface flooring causes accumulation of scuff marks and dirt on the surface from the shoes worn by the athletes. The accumulated dirt and scuff marks make the floor look dull, dirty and worn out, which necessitates regular cleaning and maintenance to retain its shine and safety.

Given below some tips about how to clean and maintain the synthetic Badminton court flooring for long and repeated uses.

Daily maintenance do's and don'ts:
• Check and remove sticky substances such as tapes, chewing gum, etc. Be careful and gentle while scraping the surface.
• Use a microfiber dust mop, specially designed for indoor sports surface floorings, to clean the entire surface. Avoid using commercial mop heads because they leave residues on the floor. Make sure, you are using the right moping surface meant for your surface- wooden or synthetic.
• Avoid using ammonia-based cleaners or full strength strippers. Use only the floor cleaner as suggested by the manufacturer to clean the surface.
• You can use an auto-scrubber with the recommended floor cleaning solution to clean the synthetic surface. But never use the auto-scrubber on a wooden surface. If you are using battery operated auto-scrubber charge the battery well before use to avoid acid leaks
• In buildings where air-conditioning is not available use circulating or ventilating fans.
• To clean the floor before an important tournament or event, use clean spirit / thinner/ white vinegar and mop the floor in one direction to regain the shine.
• Restrict using street shoes in the court. No leather shoes or sandals should be allowed on the flooring. Only sneakers with white soles should be allowed.

Maintenance tips for wooden floors

o Power sanding should be done every 2-3 years interval. It removes minor undulations, resulted from the repeated use and restore coarseness needed for good grip. Also it gains a fresh look.

o Use antiskid surface coating time to time to enhance foot-grip for the players.

o Damaged planks must be replaced immediately to retain the healthy playing conditions.

o Scrape off the old paint near the badminton net poles and apply fresh paint. Give an overall fresh look to your badminton court flooring with a periodic repaint of your existing net poles.

o It is important to keep the sports surface clean. This can be done using hand pads with eco- friendly wooden floor cleaning liquid to remove dirty and rigid gum.

It is highly imperative to have clearly visible court line markings to help players take correct judgments in a fraction of a moment during the game. The bright marking lines also improve the overall look of the court.

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How to Light Up Your Backyard Basketball Court

Passionate about basketball! Why not install a basketball court in your backyard? The good news is that it is one of the simplest backyard courts that can be installed. And, after installing it, you can enjoy endless hours of basketball fun in the comfort of your home. To avoid interruptions to your game, why not install backyard basketball court lighting so that you can play as and when you feel like!

However, while lighting a backyard basketball court, certain factors need to be borne in mind:

Building codes

There are specific building codes such as height restrictions, proximity to the border, foot candle limitations, etc. The building code may set a limit on the height of the light pole.

Light Spillage

This is when light spills to areas such as your neighbor's premises and causes a disturbance to them. Light spillage can be controlled by limiting the foot candles of your light.

Cost

This is also an important factor to be considered while the installation of lights for the court. The various expenses involved are the cost of the fixture, installation cost, maintenance expenses, and operating costs. It is vital to choose the lighting from a reliable supplier so that you can reduce your operating and maintenance expenses.

Let me explain how to plan the lighting:

• Sport lighting standards are measured in "foot candles" which implies the illumination per square foot. A backyard basketball court is 30'*35' in dimensions. For this size of the court, the lighting required is 10-19 foot candles.
• The lighting requirements for an outdoor court are different from that of an indoor court.
• The lighting required is also dependent on the audience watching. Obviously, a backyard court will have a limited audience. So you can install a lower intensity of light.
• The lighting required by the basketball court also depends on the size of the court.
• Lighting should also be sufficient for the sidelines as well.

After this, we come to the choice of lights.

Options for lighting used for a backyard basketball court:

Luminaires: They are made of cast aluminum and use the lighting technology Pulse Start Metal Halide(PSMH) which ensures a long life and low energy consumption.

LED lighting: LED lighting has become more prevalent now. This type of lighting has a high initial cost but proves economical in the long run. This is because of low power consumption and long life.

With all the information, what are you waiting for? Install a backyard basketball court to enjoy endless hours of fun!

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Defensive Basketball Techniques

Defensive techniques used in preparing for football games can be applied to those used in basketball. In football, the aim is to use schemes, formation, and techniques which limit the advancement of the ball. One technique is to identify the tendencies and find ways to counteract them. For instance, in basketball, if you found a way to decrease the opponent's shooting percentage by five percent, that could create a differential of six to eight points. That's a worthy accomplishment.

Let's begin by looking at the man-to-man defensive techniques. One of the first determinations is the dominant hand of your opponent; either right-handed or left-handed. This is the shooting hand, and it determines how you guard your man and obstructing the shooting path. The next determination is which foot is the pivot foot. This can change with possessions and determines the drive side tendency, frequently to the non-pivot foot side. Another tell is the hand position on the ball. Shooting hand behind the ball indicates preparing for a shot. Hands to the side of the ball indicate preparing to pass. Hand on the upper part of the ball indicates preparing to dribble and which hand indicates going left or right.

Another indicator is dribble patterns. Players who dribble between the legs or behind the back do so in repeated patterns prior to shooting or driving to the basket. Knowing that tendency gives the defensive player a slight edge, a fraction of a second to contest the shot or dribble drive. Contested shots or drives decreases the scoring percentage and by how much depends on the agility and quickness of the defensive player. It also depends on the player's ability to read and react to indicators.

Reading tendencies can likewise assist in making steals. By watching dribble rhythms and patterns, the defensive player can predict where the ball is going to be and can poke at that spot deflecting the ball. Such a move requires knowing at what point to attack and with practice become instinctive instead of mental. Targeting too early allows the opponent to redirect the dribble and too late leaves the defender out of position. The attack point is usually as the dribbled ball is ascending to the opponent's hand where a dribble follows the predetermined pattern. Stealing the ball in this way not only wreaks the opponent's confidence, but it also adds two points to the scoring differential. It stops a scoring attempt averaging one point per possession and allows a scoring opportunity by the defense averaging one-point per.

Team defense combines the aforementioned techniques but adds coordinated moves of helping out. This could be impending or cutting off passing lanes or even trapping a stationary player and obstructing passing or shooting lanes. Other times it's correcting a mismatch such as a short player guarding a tall one, or an exceptional shooter facing a mediocre defender. Helping out is a constant risk-reward choice as double-teaming can have positive results or it can leave an opponent completely open. Thus, helping out requires all five defensive players working as a team. This means when one player moves to help out, the defensive responsibilities of the other three changes.

How it changes depends on the skill set of your opponents. For instance, a low-percentage outside shooter requires less attention than an inside center who dominates the paint scoring and rebounding. Such a player would require special treatment including double-teaming, sagging defense, and/or denying him the ball.

A major defensive problem is dealing with screens, the peel-off, and resulting mismatches. This is where analysis of tendencies can become a big advantage. Do they use the screen to set up an open shot or a drive to the basket? Or do they use it as a slip screen where the screener peels off toward the basket? How you defend it depends on their tendencies and the scoring threat of the players involved. Good defense requires making calculated choices that result in the best outcome.

Any defensive team is not going to be able to shut down an offense. Instead, the objective should be to limit points per possession. Defensive rebounding plays into this scenario as limiting second chances greatly reduces points per possession. While the defense has an advantage by being closer to the basket, it can up this advantage by solid rebounding techniques. Blocking out your opponent is basic, but defending likely landing spots is just as important. For instance, missed mid-range jumpers fall closer to the basket versus long three-pointers. Layups and put-backs are closer yet. Using this information can increase the rebounding percentages.

In addition, rebounding position is more important when facing taller, more athletic players. Blocking out is not enough, one must keep one's opponent off balance by maintaining contact and restricting their jumping ability.

Switching is another defensive ploy where players pass off guarding responsibility to another player. This could be a verbal or non-verbal exchange and is commonly employed in high-screen pick and roll situations. Most of the trouble in this area is that the switch is not definitive and one or both offensive players have an advantage. Players get caught in that area of indecision and offensive players are left uncontested. Communication is a must remedy for such situations. Likewise, going to a mini-zone defense helps correct such mismatches and allows players to regroup.

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Speed-Shift Manual Transmission Drag Racing

Speed-shifting is a technique used during a car racing drag race where the driver shifts as quickly as possible to match the rapid acceleration of the vehicle. The secret to performing a speed-shift on a manual transmission for a car racing drag race is to know when your engine is reaching its maximum power during each gear and to shift accordingly.

Use a dynamometer to figure out the correct power-band of each gear of your manual transmission. While many people believe that the engine is putting out the most power right before the red-line, the maximum power-band actually occurs somewhat before that. Most repair garages have a dynamometer and will perform the job for you.

Consider purchasing an outboard tachometer with a lighted shifting indicator, which can be adjusted to reflect the maximum power-band of each gear. Since you will be able to see the shift light indicator in your peripheral vision, you can keep your eyes safely on the road and still know the best time to perform your speed shift.

Implement the speed shift technique for your manual transmission by revving your engine before your launch from 2000 to 3500 rpm, depending upon the low-end torque of your vehicle (the more torque you have, the less you will need to rev your engine). Remember that the less you spin your tires, the quicker your launch will be.

Try to shift about 200 to 300 RPMs before you hit the optimum power-band for each gear. This will help to compensate for your reaction time to seeing the shifting indicator light, which may be as much as a second or even more.

Keep your foot on the gas during each speed-shift. This will cause your engine to rev high while the clutch is depressed, so you will need to make your shift quickly enough so that you do not approach the red-line, which can either burn out your engine or cause the rev limiter to kick in and shut off your engine. Either way, you will lose the drag race!

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Throw Bounce Pass in Basketball

"I discovered early on that the player who learned the fundamentals of basketball is going to have a much better chance of succeeding," said John Wooden, one of the most successful coaches in the game. And the arsenal of fundamental offensive weapons includes the bounce pass. Learn to do it right in order to succeed on the court.

Stand with feet shoulder width apart. Bend slightly at the knees for a good athletic position, being able to move your feet and body in response to defensive pressure.

Grab the ball between both hands. Run the fingers along the outside of the ball, pointing the fingers at your target. Place the thumbs behind the ball.

Pull the ball back in towards your chest. Keep your forearms and elbows lined up directly behind the ball so that you can draw a straight line from your elbows through your wrists, fingers and ball to your target.

Bend down slightly at the waist, pointing your chest, fingers and forearms at the ground.

Step straight toward the target. It is helpful to lead with the leg on the same side of your body as your dominant hand, but that might not be an option during a game. Practice leading with each leg until you become proficient with both.

Fire your pass using the momentum of your body and power of your legs. Shoot the energy through your elbows and forearms, moving both arms straight at the target simultaneously. Pass the ball off of your thumbs, aiming at the ground a little more than half way to your target.

Follow through straight at the spot on the ground you're aiming for. Extend your arms straight and allow your upper body to drift toward the pass, using your lead leg to finally stop your momentum.

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Stealing Ball in Basketball

Stealing the ball in basketball is a deceptively simple move. The actual process is straightforward -- swipe the ball away from someone when they’re dribbling, grab the ball as it’s in the air during a pass, or swat the ball away from the other player so that another of your teammates can grab basketball. But knowing when to try to for the steal and when to avoid the risk of a foul is difficult. Target players who are sloppy with the ball or who are showing you what they’re about to do.

Look for players who are sloppy dribblers, or who expose the ball when they pick it up. Someone who doesn’t seem to have a very tight grip on the ball as he prepares to pass -- especially if he’s holding the ball away from his body -- could be a suitable target if you’re fast enough. Loose dribblers who don’t keep that ball under control might be unwittingly offering you extra time to snatch the basketball away mid-dribble.

Watch players to see how their bodies move before they make certain plays. Some players telegraph what they're about to do. For example, if someone is about to turn to the right and throw the ball to a teammate, she might keep her arms still but turn her shoulders a bit. She’s attempting to fake you out by leaving her arms still, but her body is giving out clues that she’s going to turn. Looking at the player’s torso and shoulders can help you spot such moves.

Act a bit lazy yourself as you zero in on a ball you want to steal. In a January 2014 article on top defenders in college basketball, players told "Sports Illustrated" that they try to seem like they’re “off-guard” or “resting,” when in fact they’re watching the ball and waiting for a moment to strike. These tactics can make the player with the ball assume you’re not much of a threat, and he might be less likely to protect the ball carefully.

Keep an eye on where nearby offensive players are standing. You might have an opportunity to intercept a pass. If the player holding the ball decides you aren't looking and throws the ball to another player nearby, you'll be in a better position to dart in front of the intended target. Instead of trying to snatch the ball out of the air from the side, be ready to place yourself in the path of the ball so you're the one who gets it.

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Dribble Basketball Between Your Legs

Many players in basketball dribble between their legs as they focus on the court action in front of them. Dribbling is also a great way to elude a defender.

Stand with your feet staggered about shoulder-width apart, with the toes of your back foot even with the heel of your front foot.

Hold the ball in your dominant hand.

Bend your knees a touch.

Bounce the ball to a spot directly underneath you so that it bounces up on the other side of you.

Contact the ball with your other hand, returning the ball to the front by bouncing the ball at the same spot.

Keep a continuous motion front-to-back-to-front until you feel comfortable, and can do it without looking.

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Tips on Playing Basketball Tip-In

Improve your rebounding basketball, free throw shooting and jump shot skills with a fast-paced game of tip-in.

Establish a set order of player rotation that never alters during the game.

Allow the first person to shoot a free throw to start the game. This is called "breaking the ice." The first successful free throw of the game counts as two points no matter who makes it. All subsequent free throws are worth one point.

Let the second player rebound the ball and shoot it if the first player misses the free throw. The ball can't bounce more than once before being retrieved and shot. If the ball bounces more than once and the player doesn't get it, the player's turn is forfeited. The next player in the rotation steps out to the three-point line and shoots to restart the game. The three-point shot is only worth two points.

Make sure you jump every time before you handle the ball. Unless you're shooting the free throw, you're never allowed to touch the ball while your feet are on the ground.

Play continues in this manner, rotating in the set order until a player makes a basket. Any shot made during this part of the game counts as two points.

Shoot free throws after making a basket. Each free throw is worth one point.

Continue to shoot free throws until you miss one. There's no set limit to how many in a row you can make.

Play continues after a missed free throw in the same manner as before.bas

End the game whenever a player gets exactly 30 points. If a player goes over 30 points, the player's score automatically drops to 19 points.

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Spin Move Tips for Basketball Game

You envy NBA players that can slash to the basketball hoop, driving straight at the best defenders in the world with reckless abandon only to pivot and spin. There's a tornado of elbows, a symphony of sneaker squeaks, and, suddenly, the ball is in the hoop. The original defender still stands there trying to make sense of it all. You can vanish like a pro using their powerful weapon -- the spin dribble.

Dribble just off to the side of the hoop straight at your defender. Go slightly to the right of the basket if you are dribbling with your right hand or just to the left of the cup if you are dribbling with your left hand. You need to compensate for the lateral movement of the spin.

Pound the ball for a power dribble just as you meet your defender. Turn and lower your non-dribbling shoulder at the defender's chest. Dropping your shoulder and turning your body starts the spin, protects the ball and fakes a move in the opposite direction of the spin.

Turn your non-dribble foot sideways, planting it between the defender's feet. Allow your body weight to shift forward onto the foot. Shift the weight of your body onto the heel, raise your toes off the ground slightly and prepare to spin.

Launch off the toe of your dribble-side foot, turning your back at the defender. Spin like a top on the heel of your plant foot. Keep your dribble-side foot tight to the body to increase the speed and control of your spin.

Keep the palm of your hand above the ball and use the force against your fingers to control the dribble during your spin. Swing the ball around your body and dribble once more with that hand. Continue your dribble with the opposite hand, keeping your body in between the ball and defender as you complete the spin.

Explode off the ball of your lead foot. Your hips will still be a bit cockeyed, so you'll have to swing your back leg around your lead leg in order to get into a normal drive.

Read the defense and drive to the hoop, pass the ball or move to the open spot for a jumper.

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How to Do Finger Roll in Basketball

Sometimes you have to go full speed, changing directions and jumping hard, in order to split the defense. But the hoop comes at you fast when you're dribbling all out, making a soft finish nearly impossible. The finger roll allows you to attack the hoop at full speed while finishing soft, increasing your chances for a bucket.

Forward Rotation
Dribble straight at the hoop; there's no need to angle yourself to the backboard like a layup. Pick up your dribble with both hands at the waist while running and jump off your lead foot. Lead with your left foot if you intend to shoot right-handed and your right foot if you want to shoot left handed. As your body drifts towards the hoop, use the momentum generated by your legs to cup the basketball in the palm of your shooting hand and raise the ball to the hoop. Release with a flip of the fingers at the top of your jump. Reach as close as you can to the lip of the rim for a soft shot, even at full speed.

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Spin Basketball on Your Finger

After you master dribbling, passing and shooting, you may have time for showboating. Spinning a basketball on your finger has no practical in-game purpose, but it sure does impress. Practice it in your bedroom, watching TV in the living room or while your walking to school. Just don't waist precious court time acquiring this Globe Trotter's trick.

Find the Cross-seam Center
Find one of the two spots on the ball where four straight seems intersect to create a cross, left and right of the logo. Palm the ball, placing one of these crosses down in the middle of your palm. Hold the ball palm up at eye level and turn your hand in toward your face, then quickly snap your hand in the opposite direction, twisting a uniform spiral around the cross-seam while lofting it up in front of you. Unravel your hand with your index finger pointing straight up during the throw. Catch the spinning ball by balancing it on your index finger on the cross seam. The ball will spin longer on your fingernail and you can slap it lightly to keep it spinning.

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360 Basketball Dunking Tips

Sure a dunk is flashy, but a 360 dunk is FLASHY. It's like comparing Ames, Iowa, to Las Vegas.

Attempt a 360 dunk when the court is void of any people in front of you, such as on a fast break.

Approach the basket with speed.

Make a jump stop by planting both of your feet at the same time 6 to 8 feet from the basket.

Angle your toes in the direction you plan to spin when you jump stop.

Hold the ball with both hands.

Toss your shoulders a bit in the direction of your spin as you jump.

Look over your shoulder in the direction that you're spinning, keeping your chin near your shoulder.

Find the rim with your eyes before your body rotates completely.

Bring the ball around your body.

Extend toward the rim.

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