How To Train Your Basketball IQ

A common phrase used all the time by coaches is you need to improve you basketball IQ. When you break it down basketball IQ encompasses a lot of skills and areas of the game that one can improve to increase their IQ. In reality it is probably too broad of a term and should be broken down and explained to each individual relating specifically to their game. We want to share with you some areas of focus that will help you improve your basketball IQ as well as help you understand when a coach tells you to improve your IQ but doesn’t clarify which area of your IQ you should focus on.

When we talk about basketball IQ we aren’t referring to how smart you we are looking at your overall basketball knowledge and how you apply it to playing the game. There are a few areas you can focus on to improve your IQ.

Basketball IQ Space and Movements

Learn and study what basic movements and spacing should look like in the game of basketball. What do we mean by this? Understand all the basic skills and be willing to use all of them at any time like shooting, passing, ball handling, attacking the rim, rebounding, and screening. Understanding spacing is crucial to you being efficient on offense and a good teammate. Learn to drift to corner on drives, fill open spaces around the perimeter, cut back door when your dribbled at, and understand when to get out of the way.

Basketball IQ & Your Team System

Understand your teams systems and what your coach wants you to do in it. Try to learn your teams system inside and out. You want to be able to know every position in your teams offenses and defenses. Not only can you fill in for any position on your team but you can also help out lower basketball IQ teammates do their job more effectively. Make sure you understand your role in your teams systems and you apply yourself to being a master of that role. It doesn’t mean that your role can’t grow and change but master what you are given now and then watch how your coaches trust grows with you as your IQ increases.

Basketball IQ and Homework

Finally study the game. Watch NCAA and NBA games to learn from the top players in the world. Try not to get caught up in the flash and entertainment side of the games and watch the offenses/defenses they use. Watch players that play similar positions as you or watch players that play the same style that you want to emulate. When watching teams like Duke, Kentucky, and Wisconsin watch how their offenses are effective but very different. You may not ever run these offenses but you may play against teams that do. As you play more and study more you will learn that there aren’t that many different styles of offenses and they copy each other in some way or another. Don’t just watch video of games… go and see them in person. It will give you a different perspective and allow to appreciate the athleticism and skill it takes to get to the next level.  Your coaches and basketball trainers are uniquely qualified to help you train your Basketball IQ.

 Basketball Training & Free Throw Tips

The free throw (n) – a rather unexciting part of the game of basketball, yet a very important one.

If you want to win close games, you’ve got to make free throws.  If you want to lose a close game, and subsequently wake up in the middle of the night thinking about it a year or two later, miss a late free throw.  There are so many reasons that free throws are important that I could write a book about it, but I want to skip that for now and give you some tips to aid you in converting your precious, valuable free throw opportunities.

Free Throw Routine

One thing that all players need is a free throw routine.  A free throw routine is something that you do every single time you take a free throw.  For me, its dribble the ball three times, spin the ball, and shoot.  It’s been that way since I was 12 years old.  Your routine eventually gets stored in your muscle memory, and helps tell your body “Oh okay, I’m shooting a free throw again.  I know how I’m supposed to do this”.  Your routine aids you in getting mentally and physically ready to shoot regardless of gym location, game situation or crowd noise.  This is a very important component of the free throw.  If you don’t have a routine, see if you can develop one that you’re comfortable with next time you go out to practice.

Relaxation and Visualization at the Free Throw Line

Good free throw shooters relax and visualize the “make” at the free throw line.  You can see relaxation when players take a huge breath before they get ready to shoot.  You always want to get into a relaxed state and start thinking about the shot you are about to make instead of the hard foul you just took, the shot you just missed or the game situation.  Some players really do a good job of visualizing by shooting an imaginary shot at the basket before they get the ball from the referee.  Sometimes it can look funny, but you shouldn’t laugh at these players.  Do you know why?  Steve Nash, who is #1 in NBA history in free throw percentage, makes a practice of this.  It’s a proven system that works.

Follow Through On Every Free Throw, Even An Air Ball

I ask my players all the time these two questions.  “Is anybody rushing you at the free throw line?”  “Is anybody trying to block your shot at the free throw line?”  The answer to both of these is no of course.  Then I ask, “Then why not follow through on your shot?”  Sometimes in a game you’re not able to fully follow through because of being off-balance while shooting, but at the free throw line there is no excuse.  You want to finish your shot by following through and giving yourself the best chance to make the shot.  You should hold your follow through until the ball hits or goes through the rim.  There’s no need to rush and truncate your trajectory by not following through at the free throw line.  The follow throw here can only help you, not hurt you.

We just gave you three great tips for the free throw line.  The best way to get better at free throws is to practice, practice, practice and to get with your basketball trainer to work out the kinks.  Good luck with your basketball training at the free throw line and happy shooting!

Are you Training For Basketball Contact?

If you look at the long history of basketball you find that the sport was originally not intended to have much contact in it even though it was invented as a way for athletes to stay in shape when it was too cold to play football outside. In the general public it is perceived that there isn’t supposed to be much contact in basketball when in reality the higher the competition the more contact is a practiced part of the game taught by coaches and trainers.

Fans, parents, and spectators get upset when a player is knocked to the ground or bodied out of the way during game play but the way the game is played now those things are just part of it and you should be prepared for them. Typically players get pushed around in the paint, when finishing at the rim, and by bigger stronger athletes on defense. There are steps to you can take to improve your ability to finish, navigate the paint, and hold your ground on defense.

Adding lean flexible muscle, improving balance, and practicing against tough physical players constantly can improve your ability to be a physical force on the floor. First of you need to develop muscle that will improve your strength, explosiveness, and prevent injuries. For basketball players they need to have extremely explosive hips, strong shoulders, and strong backs. Along with strength training basketball players need to eat! Especially since along with trying to grow muscle you are usually training or playing 5 plus days a week burning large amounts of calories.

Try to maintain a diet hi in protein and good carbohydrates while staying away from soda, fast food, processed foods (foods that come prepackaged). Second you need to improve balance by strengthening lower body joints (knees & ankles), improving core strength, and master basketball footwork. Single leg exercises and balance exercises will improve knee and ankle strength and prevent injuries. Core strength exercises are easy to find but need to be done every workout. Focus on your footwork needs to be an everyday focus in practice and when working with your skill development coach. Finally playing and practicing against bigger, stronger, and more physical players will teach you to adapt and play through contact.

You will begin to learn how to control your body after contact and just get used other players try and bully you. Also playing against bigger stronger athletes will also teach you how to play against better competition. Your body will also naturally adapt and get stronger if you consistently play against more formidable players. Remember all of these things will come over time and they are a continuing process. Just because you lacking body weight, size, or balance right now doesn’t mean those things won’t come and you can’t overcome them now. If you’re smaller learn to use moves to counter defenders trying to bully you and when fouled punish them by making shots and then making free throws. Just look at player like Kevin Durant and Steph Curry they aren’t the most physically imposing players but they are two of the best players in the NBA. This article was a contribution from Denver basketball trainer Erik Buehler.

Basketball Trainer – Have You Found One Yet?

You’ve taken a big step as a basketball player once you decide you need personalized basketball instruction.  Many players don’t see the need, let alone possess the desire, to go and get another basketball coach.  As a player who is looking to work with or is already working with a trainer, you’ve shown a special level of love for the game, humility, passion and work ethic.  You’re on the right track.  But all basketball trainers are not created equal, and all of them are not worth your precious time as a basketball player.  How do you know when you’ve found a good trainer?

Basketball Trainer Experience

A good basketball trainer will have some experience playing high-level organized basketball.  They don’t have to be the greatest player in the world (many of the best trainers are not), but they should have at least played high school Varsity basketball, and preferably college basketball or some level of professional basketball.  If your trainer played college basketball, that probably puts them in the to 5% of all basketball players.  The reason for this is that they can offer you tips and expertise that quality high-level players are using, because they’ve been around them and played against them.  They have also been exposed to high-level basketball instruction from high-level coaches that help inform their training.  There is nothing wrong with an inexperienced trainer doing his or her best to help you, but be mindful that his or her ability to develop you into the player you want to be may be limited.

Trainer Knowledge and Basketball  Communication

It’s been proven that the best players don’t necessarily make the best coaches and trainers.  The reason for this is that as a player sometimes you can get away with natural talent, athleticism and instinct to guide you to success.  However a basketball trainer is responsible for transferring his knowledge and skills to you the trainee, so he must be knowledgeable and able to communicate.  You want a trainer who can break down important concepts to you, and communicate to you why critical adjustments need to be made.  Your trainer can’t give you his instinct and athleticism, but he can give you knowledge, tips and anecdotes from his basketball life to help you grow.  Don’t spend your precious time or resources with a trainer only because of his playing resume.  If he is not able to build your IQ and skills through effective communication of basketball knowledge, he is not worth your time.

Motivation

A good basketball trainer cares about you improving as a basketball player.  He may care about building his training operation also, but that should never stop him from keeping first things first.  And that first thing is helping you to become a better player.  There are trainers out there who are more concerned about you being one of the foundations of their training business than them being one of the foundations of your basketball development.  If you are a good and well known player in your area, make sure that you are not being used as a promotional tool for a lackluster trainer.  There are a couple of ways you can tell if your trainer’s motivation is in the right place.  Is he giving you good feedback on a consistent basis?  Has he helped you add anything to your game recently?  Is he introducing new skills, drills or tactics to help you improve?  Is he tracking your development and communicating that to you?  Proper motivation is key in a trainer you are going to invest your precious time and resources in.

Is Your Basketball Trainer Invested In You Or Himself?

Your basketball trainer should be invested in your basketball journey.  If you have a trainer who is not, you are missing out on not only a great experience but a key part of the development process.  Invested trainers are committed to seeing you in game action with your school or club team or at least on tape if they are very busy trainers.  This is in part to see your hard work pay off but also to get gameplay feedback to help you improve further. An invested trainer will know when your school or club tryout date is and build a training plan designed to help you peak at the right time.  A trainer may send you written feedback or encouragement before that big day as well.  What you don’t want in your training experience is to just show up and go home, show up and go home once or twice a week.  If that’s all you are getting from your trainer, you may be getting the short end of the stick.  The best trainers we’ve seen attend games, provide constant feedback and encouragement, prepare players for tryouts and even connect players with club and college coaches.  Trainers like this understand that development is constant, and it is not just confined to the training gym.  This is the type of trainer you want.

You’ve made a quality decision to seek out a basketball trainer.  Now don’t short yourself in the execution – find yourself a good one.  Connect with a trainer in your area who is experienced, knowledgeable, properly motivated and invested, and you will be making one of the best decisions of your basketball life.  Here at www.basketballtrainer.com, we’re pleased to help you with that process.

Train To Guard Carmelo Anthony

Sorry kids, the headline is misleading.  You’re probably not going to be able to successfully guard Carmelo Anthony.  Even if somehow you got the opportunity to defend him, he’s 6’8”, 250 pounds and one of the strongest and most versatile scorers the NBA has seen.  If you played great, sound defense on him, Carmelo would still probably be able to overpower you or shoot over you.  That’s just the way it is.  However, you do you have a chance to guard the Carmelo Anthonys you see in your basketball life.  And when I say Carmelo Anthonys, I am referring to guys are who are super talented scorers.  You’ve seen guys like this, guys who you can’t identify as merely shooters, drivers or post players, but guys who have the talent for simply scoring the basketball.  Here are some tips for guarding those types of guys.

Do Your Defensive Work Early

Unless the talented scorer you are defending is a point guard, you will have the chance to do your work early.  And that means stopping your man from getting the ball when and where he wants it.  An effective strategy is to make body contact early and make your man fight through you to get to the basketball.  You don’t want to foul him, but you do want to play aggressive (and physical) deny defense.  When a scorer has to work hard to get the ball, this accomplishes a couple of things.  One, he may decide not to fight every possession and may take some offensive plays off.  Two, his teammates trying to get the ball to him may see him struggling to get open (and not getting open cleanly) and may look elsewhere on a couple of possessions.  And lastly, doing the extra work to get the ball can tire a scorer out by the end of the game and may make him less effective by that time.

Speed a Scorer Up

When great scorers get the ball, they have many options available to them.  The really great ones feel like that they can do anything with the ball, and that can sometimes be a detriment.  Instead of letting a scorer get the ball and dictate the possession, speed him up.  Put defensive pressure on him at the catch and make him make a quick decision.  This can lead to him passing the ball quickly or rushing into a quick, poorly selected shot.  The worst thing you can do is let a scorer size you up for one or two seconds and find the weakness in your defense he wants to exploit.  Many scorers are used to doing this and are not used to be making quick, high quality decisions.

Change the Defensive Look

Another thing you can do to help your cause is to change how you defend a scorer throughput the course of a game.  Good scorers take note of how they’re being defended and will adjust to that defense in just a handful of possessions.  If you’ve been guarding someone straight up for the first quarter, maybe at the beginning of the second quarter you take away the driving lane to the right and force him to drive left.  This doesn’t allow him to get comfortable and dictate possessions like he wants to, and it also takes away one of his options – one less thing for you to worry about.  If you continue to change looks throughout the game, you will make the scorer’s job tougher than it normally would be and you can more effectively stop him from having a career night against you..

Guarding the Carmelo Anthonys of the world is not easy.  These tips can really help you slow a good one down, or at the very least make his job tougher.  However if you really want to improve at the nuances of high-level defense, contact an experienced basketball trainer in your area today.  Remember that working with a basketball trainer can help you step up your defensive game and happy guarding!

College Basketball Decisons

Do you want to play college basketball? It’s okay to answer yes. Most people will tell you that it’s a long shot to make it to the college level, but it’s not up to most people whether you get there or not. It’s largely up to you. If you want to play college basketball in the near future, there are some questions you should be asking yourself now to get yourself ready. Here are a couple of questions to help get you started.

Do I love the game of basketball?

This is an important question because no matter what college you attend, you will be dedicating a lot of time to team practice, individual practice, film study and travel as a part of the basketball team. You don’t have to love the game of basketball to play at the college level (I knew guys who didn’t), but you have to be willing to commit the time to being what I like to call a “full time student athlete”. This means sacrificing some of the recreation time non-athlete students get and dedicating it to basketball. If you don’t love or at least really like the game of basketball, that time can quickly start to feel like a burden and college basketball may not be a fit for you.

Am I good enough to play college basketball?

It is important to gauge whether you have what it takes to seriously pursue playing college basketball. There are a couple of ways to determine this if you’re not sure. You can attend local college basketball games and look to see if you’d be able to play with the guys on the court. Be honest with yourself. Also, do a little research and identify the players being recruited by colleges in your area. Watch their games, and also see if you can go to open gyms where they are playing so you can compete against them. In so doing, you can determine where you’re at in relation to other college basketball prospects and players in your area.

What can I do to improve my chances of playing college basketball?

If you determine that you aren’t good enough to play college basketball, is there anything you can do to get good enough? Is there a skill you can develop into being “college level”? Maybe this is something like shooting, rebounding, or perimeter defense, three things that every college program needs.

How are my grades?

It is a common misconception that it is all about skills and not about the total student athlete at the college level. If you are a high school All-American player, it may not matter if you barely do enough to get by in the classroom. That may be good enough. For everybody else, grades can be a bigger factor. At smaller colleges and universities if you are a good student you may be eligible to receive financial assistance based on your grades. If you don’t need financial assistance, good grades can still be a draw for a college coach. Schools that are members of the NCAA, for instance, are required for their teams to achieve certain academic standards. If the highly recruited players on the team are not contributing positively to holding those standards, the rest of the team can pick up the slack. An opportunity to join a quality team as a good student and a decent basketball player could be your ticket in. Conversely, being a poor student may keep certain doors closed to you.

What college do I want to attend?

A lot of kids don’t think about this question, and they should. Every college or university may not be a fit for you, and you might want to think specifically about it. Is there a school in the city or state I’d like to be in? Is there a school that offers a perfect degree program for me? Will I have a chance to get playing time at this school? Does the team play a style that I can be successful in? Thinking more specifically can help you to make not only a good basketball decision, but also a good life decision. Also, the benefit of identifying the school you want to play at is that you can make a concentrated effort of getting into that school and onto that team. Making contact with the head or assistant coaches, researching the roster and seeing where you fit in, and training with a more specific purpose are all things you can do once you identify what school or schools you’d like to attend.

These are just a couple of questions you should be asking yourself if you are thinking about playing college basketball. Get with your local basketball trainer, who should have experience playing at the college level, to help you answer these and other important college basketball-related questions.

Your College Basketball Season is Over – Now What?

Get Better

Somebody out there is working harder than you to take your spot.  It is your coaches’ job to replace you and your job not to be replaced

Meet with your Head Coach

The first step to getting better is finding out what your coach believes are your weaknesses and how you can address these weaknesses.  If you coach is meeting with your 1-on-1 following the season, seek him or her out and ask what you can do to get better.

Individual basketball workout plan

Develop a daily plan that includes on-court skill work as well as strength and conditioning.  One of the most common things that a player says they need to address in the off-season is to become bigger, faster and stronger.  The best way to do this is to make a plan and hold yourself accountable.  Chart your makes and misses in your individual workouts.  Time your sprints.  Chart you bench press totals.  Once you start doing this, you now have numbers to beat each day, week and month.  This is a great time to find a basketball trainer. 

Competitive Leagues

Be careful here … pick-up basketball can often be a waste of time and a place to practice bad habits.  Sometimes, a game of 2-on-2 or 3-on-3 can be more beneficial than 5-vs-5 with no defense, around the back passes off the backboard and fast break lay-up after fast break lay-up.  Nobody gets better.  If you are going to play 5-vs-5 the best thing to do is to get into a well-organized structured league with officials and players that are BETTER THAN YOU.

Stay in contact with your teammates

Just because the season is over doesn’t mean you should stop communicating with your teammates.  With social media it doesn’t matter if your worlds apart.  Make it a point to drop a teammate an e-mail, text, tweet, etc… to stay in touch and keep communication lines open year round.  Everybody loves a great teammate.

Reach out to new recruits

Shunning new recruits is a sign of weakness and jealousy.  Welcome the new guys with open arms no matter how you feel about them.  Trust your coach and use the new guys as motivation while helping them at the same time.

Give back

The summer is a great opportunity for you to not only work on your game but also to give back to younger players.  Working at a summer camp can afford you to do both.  During the camp session you can teach skills to young hungry players, referee their games and maybe even get the opportunity to coach a team for a week.  During your “down-time” you can work out with a teammate or by yourself, play competitive pick-up at night, go for a run, hit the weight room, talk to a College of High School Head Coach and just spend a week around the great game of basketball in a different environment.  Anohter great way to give back is to visit with your old high school program.  Most if not all programs no-a-days runs a summer program.  Contact your old high school coach and ask him or her if you can come help out, work out with the team or simply visit with them get better.

Don’t Wait

The video games, movies, malls, theme parks, oceans, lakes, and all those fun things will be there once your college career is done.  You only get once chance to play and that window closes very fast.  Your playing days will be over before you know it and you don’t want to regret the fact that you didn’t constantly try to better yourself.

 BasketballTrainer.com would like to thank Coach Eric Werntgen of UMFK for this insightful contribution.

5 Steps to Developing Your Basketball Sweet Spot

Do you know what a basketball sweet spot is?  Here’s a better question – do you know where YOUR sweet spot is?  A sweet spot is a spot on the floor that you love to shoot from because you can make that shot!  You own that spot.  You can knock it down with your eyes closed… okay, maybe not really with your eyes closed, but you get my drift.  It is a spot where you want to get and shoot the ball because you’re very good at it.  Kobe Bryant has his elbow jumpers.  David West has the short corner.  Lamarcus Aldridge has his 18 foot free throw line extended jumpers.  And you can have one too.  I believe that every player should have a sweet spot, and if you currently don’t have one, here are a few steps to developing a good basketball sweet spot.

1. General Repetitions Repetition is an underrated development tool.  It might take your brain one or two repetitions to register something, but it takes you body much longer to register something and make it instinctual.  We’ve all heard of muscle memory.  That comes by repetition.  If you want to build a sweet spot, start by getting repetitions of MAKES.  I recommend at least 40 makes in whatever spot you choose.  That can be broken down into 20 makes at the beginning of your workout, and 20 makes at the end.  You don’t need a partner for this.  Get 40 makes of ball-in-hand jump shots from whatever spot you choose.

2. Varied Repetitions Along with stationary reps, incorporate dribble-into reps and catch-and-shoot reps.  These were very effective for me when I was playing and working on my game.  If you are working on shooting the right wing 3 pointer for example, practice dribbling down with either hand as if in a delayed fast break.  Make 5 shots dribbling down with either hand, then get 10 makes off a pass (being ready on the catch) from a teammate.  For the super serious shooter, also incorporate reps off of cuts.  Set up cones as screeners and curl cut into your spot.  Then straight cut into your spot.  Set an imaginary screen then cut into your spot as the screemer.  The more you are used to getting the ball in your spot in various ways, the more comfortable you will be in that spot come game time, when anything can happen.

3. Contested Repetitions I’m giving this its own focus because this needs special attention.  Most of us practice shooting without defense, but we also need practice with defensive pressure!  You’d be lucky in any competitive game to get more than 5 wide open shots.  You need to be able to shoot with small amounts of daylight.  Do contested reps with a buddy.  Have him or her pass to you then close-out to try and block your shot.  This will help you get your shot off quicker, and will get you practice negotiating defenders while still staying focused on your shot.

4. Mini Basketball Games The next step to getting your sweet spot going is to play mini games.  Play 1-on-1 with a buddy and try to get to your sweet spot to score once every three times you have the ball.  Play games by yourself you shoot 20 times from your sweet spot and mark your percentage.  Give yourself rewards and consequences for certain levels of performance.  Play the “Beat Lebron” game from your sweet spot in a 7 game series and see if you can win the series.  Play games with consequences like this outside of shooting reps and full-court games to get yourself comfortable with your sweet spot.

5. Development Scrimmage The ultimate test (and ultimate confidence-builder) is 5-on-5 full court basketball  action.  In the 5 on 5, practice different ways of getting to your sweet spot with and without the ball, and work on getting your shot off against live defense.  You don’t want to give away what you’re doing to the defense, so only look to shoot from your sweet spot once every 4 times you have the ball. In the other times you have the ball, practice passing from that sweet spot and faking and driving from that sweet spot.  Also remember to try to use screens to get yourself open as the screener at your sweet spot.

We’ve given you 5 doable steps to developing your sweet spot.  Implement these steps for a month and see the results you get.  If you need help with shot form, cutting or screening technique, or being ready on the catch as it relates to your sweet spot, contact your local basketball trainer to help you.  Getting feedback in your loop is critical to accelerating your rate of improvement.  We can’t wait to see you owning your sweet spot!

Do You Have The Basketball Skills To Drive Defenses Nuts?

Most youth basketball players that are good scorers have only one maybe two skills that lead to most of their points. Most kids can shoot, attack the rim and finish, or score using post position. Basketball trainers and coaches love kids that do all of these things and coaches are constantly frustrated by trying devise defensive schemes that stop each of these scoring methods. If players can add the skills discussed below to their offensive games they will increase their playing time and frustrate all the defenders they face.

1. Master shooting 3’s, pull up jumpers, and catching and shooting from all locations:

Be willing to put in the time needed to be a good 3 point shooter not just from one spot but any on the three point line.

Pull up jump shots are a dying skill accept in the NBA. Why is this? Probably a few reasons players don’t put in the time to master the skill, coaches only each 3’s and layups, or lack of understanding of when to shoot them. If you put time and focused development into shooting pull up jumpers they can help you score when driving to the basket isn’t an option (against taller/longer defenders or shot blockers).

Learn to shoot off of screens or flashing against zones. The key to this skill is setting up the screen/cut and then having hands and feet ready for a quick release shot. Watch Ray Allen, JJ Redick, and Steph Curry away from the ball and their footwork as they catch and shoot. Also understand great shoots don’t just have long distance range they have great touch 15 feet and in

2.  Master scoring with your back to the basket:

Try not to automatically think playing with your back to the basket means you have to always be in the post. Yes, being able to catch the ball inside and score is always a good thing but back to the basket scorers can use their body to gain position in other areas as well. The high post is one area where you can use your body to seal defenders and catch the ball with a winnable advantage to score. Also creating a position in the short corner/European post can allow you to catch the ball and score within 10 feet of the basket. These are two spots on the court that can give you great scoring opportunities but you must be ready for contact and indicate contact to gain the position.

3.  Master attacking the rim:

The reason I saved this one for last is because I think being good at the first two can set you up to be great at attacking the rim. Understand that if you can’t shoot then defenders can play off of you and limit your opportunities to attack the rim. On the other hand if all you can do is shoot then defenders will pressure you outside of your range. If you’re good at both then they will limit your touches, play you very physical, and deny you the ball that is why you need to be able to great space using your body.

When you become a good shooter shot fakes become your best friend when it comes to attacking the rim. Once you get an opportunity to attack the rim you must be ready to finish with both hands, using the backboard, not using the backboard, and absorb contact. Finally once you can get past your defender and they know you can finish the job around the rim you can set up the pull up jump shot and find this will be the easiest way to get your shot off as a scorer.

We don’t need to say a word.  He said it all.

Basketball Players Want to Know…What Made Michael Jordan So Great?

I was 14 years old when Michael Jordan made his famous “last shot” against the Utah Jazz in Game 6 the 1998 NBA Finals.  That shot helped the Chicago Bulls secure their 6^th NBA Championship, and Michael retired (for the 2^nd time) in the offseason thereafter.  I was a senior in high school when Michael made a brief two year comeback with the Washington Wizards.  By the time he retired for good, Michael Jordan was considered by many as the greatest basketball player of all time.  He finished his career with the highest career NBA scoring average (30.1 PPG) and the most Finals MVP, finishing with six.

Today, Lebron James is the king of the court.  Many people believe that he is or has a chance to be the greatest basketball player ever, even better than MJ, Kareem Abdul Jabbar and some of the other NBA legends.  I work with kids today who weren’t alive to see Michael Jordan play basketball, but who are very familiar with Lebron James.  It shouldn’t come as a shock that many kids today know the name Michael Jordan (in part because of his still-popular shoes), but don’t know what made him great as a basketball player.  For that reason I thought I would take some time to talk about some of the things that made Michael Jordan so great.

Physical Tools

Similar to Lebron James, Michael in his prime was considered the best athlete in the NBA.  He was a player who was extremely quick and extremely explosive.  His height and weight were similar to Kobe Bryant’s (6’6” and around 200 pounds), and it was reported that Michael had a 40+ vertical and ran a sub 4.4 40 yard dash time.  His basketball trainer, Tim Grover, helped him reach is potential physically.  Also notable were his large, strong hands.  Michael was able to palm and hold the ball while in motion, which aided him in finishing at the rim and making effective one-handed shot and pass fakes.

Basketball IQ

Michael Jordan credits Dean Smith as one of his biggest basketball influences.  Dean Smith was Michael’s legendary college coach at North Carolina, and it’s been said that he was the only man who could hold Michael Jordan under 20 points per game.  Whereas a lot of today’s stars enter the league with a year or less spent playing college basketball, Michael spent 3 years at North Carolina playing and learning the game under Dean Smith.  Although he was a 1^st Team All-American as a sophomore, Michael stayed another year in school, racking up the college player of the year award before entering the league ready to star.  Jordan averaged 28 points per game as a rookie in the NBA, something that has not been done since.  He had a solid foundation of basketball IQ that allowed him to be an NBA All Star all the way until he was 40 years old.

Complete Game Production over Flash

Michael was a very efficient offensive basketball player, and that was in large part because he was largely a no-nonsense offensive player in his prime.  The fancy ball handling moves that many guards today love to utilize were not in Michael’s arsenal.  He was a great north-south player that didn’t waste time playing with his defender.  When facing the basket from the wing he utilized a hesitation dribble or crossover to get to a pull-up jumpshot or athletic finish at the rim.  In the post, he utilized a fadeaway jumpshot to elevate over defenders or a pump fake to get defenders in the air or off balance.  By almost all accounts of players who played against him Michael had no “holes” in his game.  He could drive right as well as drive left.  He could shoot the pull-up jumper going either direction and could shoot the turnaround fadeaway in the post turning over either shoulder.  There was not any one thing he was uncomfortable doing on the offensive end, which made him a very dangerous offensive player.  The highlights you see of Michael Jordan finishing at the rim are entertaining and sometimes awe-inspiring, but Michael’s game was always built on sound offensive principles.

Competitive at Both Ends of the Floor

Michael is considered one of the best perimeter defenders in NBA history.  He was a feared defensive player along with being a feared scoring threat.  It is very uncommon for a player to be “elite” on both ends.  How good was Michael on the defensive end?  Well, Michael Jordan was the first player to ever record 100 blocks and 200 steals in a single season, and he did it twice.  Let’s put that in perspective.  The best perimeter defender in today’s game many say is Lebron James, and he has never recorded 200 steals OR 100 blocks in a single season, let alone doing them both together.  Michael recorded 200 steals in six seasons, leading the league in that category three times, and recorded 100 blocks twice.  In 1988, Michael Jordan became just one of 5 guards to win the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award.  He also led the NBA in scoring (35.0 PPG) and steals (3.2 SPG) that season.  Talk about doing it at both ends.

Consistency

There have been many great players in NBA history, but only a handful operated at an All Star level from day one until they hung their shoes up.  As mentioned previously, Michael Jordan was named an All Star as a 21 year old rookie.  That was in 1985.  Michael retired for good in 2003 at the age of 40, and was also an All Star in his final season.  He was chosen as an All Star every year of his career he was eligible.  Michael led the league in scoring a record 10 times, and is only one of two players (along with Wilt Chamberlain) to lead the league in scoring 7 consecutive seasons.  There was never a season where he averaged less than 20 points per game.  On the other end, Michael shares the record with four other players for most selections to the All Defensive First Team with nine.  He was consistently active and effective on both ends of the floor throughout his career.  Some players operate at an elite level for 5 years, or maybe 10, but Michael Jordan was an All Star level player in three different decades.  That’s pretty special.

There is more to the greatness of Michael Jordan… like his finishing ability, his late game heroics, and his legendary trash-talking, but I won’t bore you with more words.  When you get a chance pull up some old Chicago Bulls games and see for yourself.  Mr. Jordan might inspire you to chase greatness like he did a generation of young players before you.

Watch Playoff Games Like A Basketball Trainer

Spring time always brings us great basketball.  Between February and June, basketball fans are treated to the high school basketball playoffs, the NCAA Tournament, and the NBA Playoffs.  The NBA features the highest level of basketball play, and the playoffs are where elite teams and players bring elite intensity and focus.  As a basketball fan, it is usually fun to watch all of the games and players, but youth basketball players can learn a few things about the game by intently watching certain players.  Imagine if you watched games like a basketball trainer does.  Here’s a quick list of some players to watch this postseason.

Player: JJ Redick

Position: Shooting Guard

Team: Los Angeles Clippers

What to Watch: Off-Ball Movement

JJ Redick is one of the best shooters in the NBA, and he has mastered the art of moving without the ball.  JJ is better at catching and shooting than creating his own shot off the dribble, so it is important for him get open and be ready to shoot on the catch.  When you watch JJ on offense, watch for two things.  One is how he uses off-ball screens.  JJ is really good at setting his defender up for the screen and watching how they play him to determine what cut he makes off that screen.  Depending on how he’s being defended, JJ will either curl or fade, making sure to cut explosively either way.  Once he gets himself open, watch how JJ catches the ball.  He is almost always ready to shoot as soon as the ball hits is fingers.  He utilizes a jump-stop catch on fade cuts and a 1-2 catch on curl cuts.  If he doesn’t catch the ball with enough space to shoot, he has also mastered the skill of taking one dribble and going right into a pull-up jumpshot.  What he does sounds easier than it really is, so you shooters out there make sure you watch him carefully to pick up the nuances of getting open without the ball.

Player: Tony Parker

Position: Point Guard

Team: San Antonio Spurs

What to Watch: Pick and Roll

Tony Parker is clearly one of the best point guards in the NBA, and he is also one the most efficient ones.  He consistently shoots right at around 50% on field goal attempts, which is an amazing number for a point guard.  He achieves this efficiency in part by being excellent off the pick and roll.  Because he can use it well, he doesn’t have to work as hard as some other guards in order to get a decent shot off.  Tony is quick, but he is not as explosively athletic as some others.  He is effective in the pick and roll because of how he sets defenders up.  The thing to watch with Mr. Parker is that he generally makes no secret that he is about to get into the pick and roll.  He uses his screening teammate as someone his defender has to also worry about.  Whereas a lot of guards see the screen and immediately attack it, Tony reads how his defender is going to respond to the impending screen.  He is equally as effective rolling tight off his screening teammate’s shoulder or turning down the screen and exploding in the opposite direction.  When he comes off the shoulder using the screen, he is great at knocking down the pull-up jumper if the roller isn’t open.  When turning the screen down he is still explosive and still cognizant of his screening teammate, who he is able to hit many times with an overhead pass for an open jumper.  A lot of times this is Tim Duncan knocking the jumper down.  Definitely watch Tony Parker this offseason if you want to learn better how to use the pick and roll.

Player: Zach Randolph

Position: Power Forward

Team: Memphis Grizzlies

What to Watch: Offensive Post Game

NBA veteran Zach Randolph has one of the best post games in the league.  While he has never been considered one of the best athletes at his position (he rarely dunks), he has been able to average over 17 points per game in his career.  When you watch Zach, also affectionately known as Z-Bo, watch for two things.  When he receives the ball with his back to the basket, he is generally able to make quick decisions.  Watch how often he goes to score using two dribbles or less, and when he does go to shoot, watch how quickly he gets off the floor.  Although Zach could be considered relatively undersized and not a “great” athlete, he is able to be very effective in the post because of quick decisions, using his body to protect the ball and being explosive off the ground.  When Zach receives the ball and faces up, watch how he utilizes the face-up jump shot to open up his game.  Since defenders know Zach is willing to take (and capable of making) that jumpshot, he’s able to use a pump fake to get defenders in the air and then drive to the basket.  You young big men can learn a lot from watching Zach Randolph this postseason.

While you’re enjoying the NBA playoffs, take the time to mix a little business with pleasure.  Try to pick up on one or two things from these players that you can use to enhance your game, whether it is moving without the ball, using the pick and roll or scoring in the post.  Enjoy the playoffs and remember to never stop learning as you take in all of this great basketball.  Why not take your wish list of skill development to your basketball trainer and ask for his / her help.

Why Basketball Trainers Love NBA All-Star Lamarcus Aldridge

After a long night of basketball training, three basketball trainers got together for a discussion of NBA playoffs.  One player rose to the top of the discussion.  University of Texas alumnus Lamarcus Aldridge is one of the premier power forwards in the NBA today.  He is the best player on a playoff team in the tough Western Conference, and he is living up to his potential as the Number 2 pick of the 2006 NBA draft.  Lamarcus is a player who was recognized for his ability as a high school All American, but didn’t come into the NBA with as much fanfare as some of the other current stars in the league.  Over time, Lamarcus has developed and refined his game to become exactly the type of player that basketball trainers and coaches love.  Here is why we love Lamarcus Aldridge.

Basketball Trainers Love Consistency

Basketball trainers love Lamarcus’ consistency.  In the 2013-2014 NBA season, Lamarcus averaged 23.2 points and 11.1 rebounds.  He had the celebrated “20-10” season (points and rebounds).  20-10 is a benchmark for elite big men.  It means that they are handling their business in both the scoring and rebounding departments on a consistent basis.  As a former power forward, I can tell you that it takes great effort to consistently score and rebound as those elite levels.  Do you know how many players averaged 20-10 during the 2013-2014 NBA season?  Only 4.  The other players were Kevin Love, Demarcus Cousins and Al Jefferson.  That’s pretty good company.  Lamarcus’ teammates could count on his production every night, as he only scored in single digits once during the season, and that was in a blowout win for his team.  Lamarcus shows great leadership by producing at high levels for his team night in and night out.

Basketball Trainers Love Guys Who Take Their Skills To Work

Basketball trainers love that Lamarcus goes to work.  If you’ve played basketball in various leagues and gyms around your city, you’ve undoubtedly heard the expression “go to work” when a certain player gets the ball.  The phrase “go to work” refers to asserting yourself to score!  Your teammate tells you to go to work when he knows you have the talent to score and he wants you to go do it.  Believe it or not, a lot of good players don’t possess the ability to score 1-on-1 when the defense KNOWS they are trying to score.  Some players pick their spots and shoot when they’re open and some players require on-ball or off-ball screens to get them in a position to score.  It’s a great luxury for a team to have a guy who can consistently get his own shot when his team needs a bucket.  Lamarcus didn’t always show this ability.  He used to be a player that seemed not to want the responsibility to score on-call.  But now, as a more mature player, Lamarcus can score when needed.  It takes a lot of skill, mental toughness and leadership to consistently be the guy your team looks for to score, and to deliver.  We appreciate players who are confident and skilled enough to go to work on a consistent basis.

Versatility In Skill Development

We love the fact that Lamarcus Aldridge is versatile and mature.  Versatility means the ability to do multiple things.  As it relates to basketball, we are usually talking about offensive skills.  Maturity refers to making smart decisions.  We also are normally talking about offense but in this case it applies to defense as well.  Lamarcus is a player who can score in the post, who can score on jump shots, and can even shoot the 3 point shot.  When he came into the league, however, he was known more as a jump shooter.  Some considered him a little soft, but none could deny his skills.  Versatile forwards like Kevin Garnett, who Lamarcus admired growing up, influenced up-and-coming big men to do more than just use their size in the post.  Today, you see some big players who take this too far, and do everything EXCEPT for post-up.  As Lamarcus has matured, he has learned to harness his versatile skillset and now he truly does take what the defense gives him. When he has shorter or weaker opponents, he takes them into the post, using his strong frame to get high percentage looks at the basket.  When he has slower or larger opponents, he still utilizes his deft jumpshot.  On defense, Lamarcus has learned to use his physicality and length to bother opponents, and he will even take charges from time to time.  When you watch Lamarcus Aldridge, you are watching a player who is getting the most out of his all-around talent on both ends of the floor.

Individual Skills With Team Mindset

One of the biggest reasons trainers love Lamarcus Aldridge is because he’s a star who is also a team player.  You know as well as I do it is not a given that a star will be a team player.  A lot of times stars can believe in themselves so much or believe in their teammates so little that they are always demanding the ball and belittling teammates for making mistakes.  You see none of that with Lamarcus.  Lamarcus is a willing screen-setter for his talented wing teammates, and he keeps an even-keel attitude on the basketball court whether he or his teammates aren’t playing well.  By all accounts he seems like a guy players love to play with.  Lamarcus plays with All Star point guard Damian Lillard, who is a 21 point per game scorer himself, and the two have good on-court chemistry.  There is no Shaq and Kobe feud in the Blazers lock room.  Lamarcus has done a good job of balancing high individual production with a team-first attitude and a positive relationship with teammates.  You gotta love it, and we do.

Lamarcus Aldridge is a player that trainers and coaches love because of how he plays the game from night to night, and because of how he interacts with his teammates.  He is a player young stars can learn a lot from, in both his tangible skills and his intangible attitude towards the game and teammates.  We salute Lamarcus Aldridge and will be cheering him on the rest of his All Star career.  Go Big L!