HoopSkills Basketball Training & Coaching Blog http://www.hoopskills.com/blog Basketball Training and Coaching Discussions Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:03:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 en Basketball Training Drills: Jump Stop http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/basketball-training-drills-jump-stop/ http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/basketball-training-drills-jump-stop/#comments Fri, 21 Nov 2008 21:03:57 +0000 bschofield in falling forward and hitting the chair practicing the drill place a chair dribbling jumping and landing dribbling jumping and landing the chair and jump understand others to practice the jump drills the basket and jump jump stopped comfortably http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/?p=181 I have to keep covering this because I get asked so many questions about it. The jump stop is the most underrated move in the game of basketball and is taught at a young young age but never really mastered. Kids do lay up drills constantly where they just run at the hoop and jump off one foot and lay the ball up. Kids rarely do drills where they go at the basket and jump stop to get control and power in their layup and it needs to have greater focus in today’s game.

The only way to get better and comfortable at the jump stop is to practice it. We’re working on getting some film done for drills and putting them on the site for an example but for now you’ll have to search youtube for video on jump stops. Anyway, to get better at the jump stop let’s understand why the move should be used. First, you need to create space between you and the defender. Second, you need to gain control of your body and get the power in your legs.

A jump stop is done by dribbling, jumping and landing with both on the ground at the same time. I’m constantly asked about traveling on the jump stop and that happens you don’t land with both feet on the ground at the same time. I recommend that every game you talk to the ref before hand to get his/her interpretation on traveling with the jump stop because some don’t understand it as well as others.

To practice the jump stop simply take the ball, dribble it and jump in the air landing on both feet at the same time. Don’t worry about getting distance or space or anything, just get used to the move itself and that can be done standing in the same spot for 15 minutes. Once you feel comfortable, which is done when you have jump stopped comfortably after dribbling with each hand, then start to try to get some distance. Dribble, jump (off one foot) and land and do it over and over. This is going to feel funny at first but the key thing to remember is to make sure that you are landing with balance. If you find yourself falling forward or to a side then you are doing it wrong and you should go back to mastering the basic move of dribbling, jumping and landing.

When practicing the drill place a chair in the middle of the key. Take a ball and start at the foul line. Dribble directly at the chair and jump stop right in front of it as if the chair is the defender. Make sure you go straight up with your shot and knock it in. If you are falling forward and hitting the chair then you are doing the move wrong and need more practice.

Please feel free to email me on this or comment on the blog because I’m such a proponent of this move for players of all ages.

]]> http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/basketball-training-drills-jump-stop/feed/ NBA surprises this season… http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/nba-surprises-this-season/ http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/nba-surprises-this-season/#comments Wed, 19 Nov 2008 20:47:55 +0000 bschofield 2002 forever and injured forever solid solid numbers harris athletic credit for nene expect an injury anytime my biggest surprises change anytime predicted a breakout star forget marcus camby http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/?p=179 I love doing this so early in the year because this can change in a second and probably will, but these 3 players are my biggest surprises thus far.

3. NENE- The guy is averaging nearly 15 points and 8 rebounds a game after being non existent since being drafted in 2002. It seems he’s been around forever and injured forever but this season it is coming together. He still doesn’t have any plays drawn for him and probably never will, but he is a big body that is more athletic than given credit for. NENE isn’t going to make anyone forget about Marcus Camby as a defensive player but he is making up for the loss. I expect an injury anytime now that will knock him out for a few weeks, but enjoy this while you can.

2. Devin Harris- I love this guy. He’s on my fantasy team and earlier in the year I predicted he’d be a breakout star this season. Harris is a scoring point guard who gets to the foul line a lot, where he excels. He lit up AI in their matchup this season putting up 38 point points on an injured ankle. Since he came back from the injury he has put up 29 points and 8 assists a game and though i don’t think he’ll keep that up he is going to put up solid solid numbers. Harris has always been an injury risk and I don’t think that will change anytime soon because he’s a frail looking guy, but he is getting every chance in New Jersey to do stuff he never did in Dallas.

1. Andris Biedrins- Biedrins has always been a good defender and a strong rebounder but he’s taking it to the next level now. Early on he is averaging 17 points and 14 rebounds a game while having games of 22, 19 and 18 on the glass. He’s never been a productive offensive player and I do suspect his points per game to go down when Monta Ellis comes back but he’s turning into one of the best defensive players and centers in the Western Conference. He’s always been a little foul prone on defense due to his aggressiveness and that won’t change but he’s stronger, smarter and quicker to the ball this season. I don’t expect his rebounding to go much more than a board a game.
nd injured forever but this season it is coming together. He still doesn’t have any plays drawn for him and probably never will, but he is a big body that is more athletic than given credit for. NENE isn’t going to make anyone forget about Marcus Camby as a defensive player but he is making up for the loss. I expect an injury anytime now that will knock him out for a few weeks, but enjoy this while you can.

]]> http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/nba-surprises-this-season/feed/ ESPN to hold first ever College Hoops Marathon http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/espn-to-hold-first-ever-college-hoops-marathon/ http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/espn-to-hold-first-ever-college-hoops-marathon/#comments Mon, 17 Nov 2008 17:50:26 +0000 bschofield starts memphis playing and ends t 23 consecutive hours basketball a great thing and espn kickoff the season love this my wife starts memphis playing and ends t 23 consecutive hours basketball a great thing and espn kickoff the season love this my wife http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/?p=176 I love this…My wife won’t. 23 consecutive hours of basketball is a great thing and Espn is using it kickoff the season. It starts with Memphis playing and ends with North Carolina and Kentucky. Click the link below for details.

ESPN MARATHON

]]> http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/espn-to-hold-first-ever-college-hoops-marathon/feed/ Lebron from the foul line… http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/lebron-from-the-foul-line/ http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/lebron-from-the-foul-line/#comments Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:00:57 +0000 bschofield dribble half court and dunks dribble half court and dunks it amazed dunk a dribble finger roll and the steal and literally takes amazed head high and amazed anymore watch the dunk http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/?p=174 I had to write on this. I have watched the dunk about 25 times now and I’m not amazed anymore that he took off that far away during a game. I’m not amazed that he is head high with the rim. I’m not even amazed that he could’ve made that dunk from an additional 3-5 feet away. I watch the dunk because what amazes me is the entire play. He gets the steal and literally takes one dribble from half court and dunks it. I would like everyone to try that the next time you go to the gym to play ball. Try for a one dribble finger roll and see what that is like. I used to do drills that involved 3 dribbles from foul line to foul line but Lebron takes one dribble from half court and dunks it easily with feet to spare. Here’s the video in case you missed it and it includes the entire play:

Lebron, steal…dribble…dunk

]]> http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/lebron-from-the-foul-line/feed/ D’Antoni has the Knicks rolling http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/dantoni-has-the-knicks-rolling/ http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/dantoni-has-the-knicks-rolling/#comments Mon, 10 Nov 2008 20:55:15 +0000 bschofield eddy curry and stephon marbury wilson chandler and quentin richardson stephon marbury now the knicks actuallly zach randolph sound a knicks fan play subpar remember fans double figures and http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/?p=172 4 out of 6 doesn’t sound like much unless you are a Knicks fan right now. The Knicks actuallly are playing better than .500 and looking good doing it. They don’t need Stephon Marbury to lose games for them and the smartest thing they’ve done is sit him down. They have athletes and they sure look like they are having fun playing for Coach D so far this year.

Led by Zach Randolph at 20 a game, the Knicks still feature 6 players averaging over double figures and are getting some great play from Wilson Chandler and Quentin Richardson. I didn’t know if I’d see Richardson be any good again in his career but here he is. The sleeper of the bunch is Nate Robinson who is going to get votes for 6th man of the year if he stays healthy. He is fast, athletic and can shoot the ball and is playing free again and man is he fun to watch. The only weak spot I really see is Duhon but he’s a pass first point guard that the team needs but so far his play has been subpar.

Remember fans that this is all without Eddy Curry and Stephon Marbury so far and I don’t see that changing any time soon. Both would be traded if any team actually wanted them and their ridiculous contracts.

The Knicks are playing well right now and having fun and you know that D’Antoni is happy to be proving that his system works away from Steve Nash right now. He took up a new challenge and is showing us all why he’s one of the best in the business.

]]> http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/dantoni-has-the-knicks-rolling/feed/ Billups and Iverson to play for new teams tonight http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/billups-and-iverson-to-play-for-new-teams-tonight/ http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/billups-and-iverson-to-play-for-new-teams-tonight/#comments Fri, 07 Nov 2008 21:12:54 +0000 bschofield traded andre miller chauncey billups nuggets andre miller carmelo anthony billups iverson andre miller miller miller the pistons and iverson chauncey billups detroit see detroit http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/?p=170 Chauncey Billups came into this league as a lottery selection out of the University of Colorado and then proceeded to fall flat on his face in Boston as a rookie. He was quickly shipped off to Toronto, Denver and Minnesota in subsequent years. He always had something special but could never quite put it together. Once he got to Detroit he was actually given the team and did something with it averaging nearly 18 points and 7 assists during his time there. He distinguished himself as a team first point guard who could and would take and hit the big shot when his team needed it. Billups is a great defender who is very strong and physical but not the greatest or most gifted passers. He takes care of the ball but as assists go he had more than 8 assists per game average only once in his career. People think that Denver is getting this brilliant point guard who takes care of the ball and really passes well and that guy is the one they traded in Andre Miller. Chauncey Billups is good and a much more refined offensive player than Andre Miller but they are comparable players because they are guards who can post up and are great finishers inside of 10 feet. Billups is a superior shooter compared to Miller but Miller is a better passing point guard. Here’s my point…we can expect the same Nuggets that had Andre Miller/Carmelo Anthony as we are going to get with Billups.

As for Iverson in Detroit, now this is something that I want to see. Detroit is notorious for being a methodical bunch but that will soon change. Iverson wouldn’t have been acquired if the PIstons were playing slow down hoops. Hamilton and Rasheed can run all day long and we are going to see a new up tempo version of the Pistons and Iverson will lead the way. Chauncey is a great player but Iverson is one of the 10 most talented players EVER. If he were 6*5-6*6 we would be arguing as to whether he was the most talented player of all time. The Pistons got someone who will bring excitement back to Motown and get the crowd back into things. I look forward to watching him play.

]]> http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/billups-and-iverson-to-play-for-new-teams-tonight/feed/ Spurs 0-3…worst start in 35 years http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/spurs-0-3worst-start-in-35-years/ http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/spurs-0-3worst-start-in-35-years/#comments Wed, 05 Nov 2008 18:23:32 +0000 bschofield lacking jason terry scored finley roger mason night jason kidd and dirk showing michael finley average and tony parker hammered the mavericks the night life duncan and parker average the spurs http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/?p=168 I can’t believe I thought this team would be good even until Ginobili came back. What was i thinking? I know it is early and 3 games does not a season make but this is terrible. The Cavs just hammered the Mavericks the night before and made Dirk look average in doing it. The next night Jason Kidd and Dirk look like they turned back the clock about 5 years and just destroyed the Spurs. The game was over by halftime. Tim Duncan was average and Tony Parker was average but that’s all the Spurs are showing. Michael Finley is playing his age and looks like a spot starter at best right now and the depth is clearly lacking. Jason Terry scored nearly 30 for the Mavericks. I didn’t think Jason Terry could score 30 in a city league game against older, fat (soft, I meant soft) guys like myself.

What was I thinking? Who is picking up the slack left by Ginobili? Nobody. Not Finley, not Roger Mason, not Matt Bonner (doesn’t belong in the NBA), not Oberto, not anyone. They were done by mid 2nd quarter and only even showed a couple signs of life. Duncan and Parker can’t play the entire game but this team needs to get a win under their belt before the reality of a down season sets in. This team looks old and battered and that was an early season home game. Manu can’t get well fast enough but even then the Spurs are terrible and i can’t believe i’m the idiot who picked them to be a sleeper. I guess Popp can only work magic when he has talent, something this team simply doesn’t have enough of.

]]> http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/spurs-0-3worst-start-in-35-years/feed/ Iverson to the Pistons http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/iverson-to-the-pistons/ http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/iverson-to-the-pistons/#comments Mon, 03 Nov 2008 21:14:08 +0000 bschofield allen iverson the nuggets traded antonio mcdyess and chauncey billups rid marcus camby and iverson allen iverson billups the nuggets billups the nuggets better anthony carter and carmelo anthony http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/?p=166 Allen Iverson is a Piston and I’m a little perplexed by this deal. Though the deal hasn’t been confirmed yet by the league, the Pistons have traded Antonio McDyess and Chauncey Billups to the Nuggets for Allen Iverson.

The Nuggets are clearly looking for a better point guard than Anthony Carter and I don’t blame them. I’ve followed basketball for years and Carter is one of the dirtiest players in the game and has the ugliest jump shot in the league. I think the ball actually spins forward instead of backward when he releases it.

By getting Billups the Nuggets get a point guard who should be able to bring this team together and get better shots for Carmelo Anthony. Like it or not, Carmelo and AI just didn’t mesh well together as many thought and with the Nuggets getting rid of Marcus Camby and Iverson they are really trying to put some people together that will enable them to rebuild without sacrificing being a competitive team.

But why acquire a point guard that is roughly the same age as the player you traded and one that is just as arguably losing a step? This is the part I don’t get. Does Billups make the Nuggets better? I don’t think so and on the flip side, does AI make the Pistons better? I don’t think so. I see both teams getting the dynamic they think they are looking for and all the while not improving.

]]> http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/iverson-to-the-pistons/feed/ Oj “Rotten” Mayo and “Super” Mario Chalmers http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/oj-rotten-mayo-and-super-mario-chalmers/ http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/oj-rotten-mayo-and-super-mario-chalmers/#comments Thu, 30 Oct 2008 18:29:17 +0000 bschofield a double double opening night mayo opposite reasons oj mayo shot a whopping 5 hand mario chalmers surprised play opening night game average a triple double consistently stats and mayo will oj rotten forever smoked mayo shot 0 7 http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/?p=164 One rookie was taken very early in the draft while the other drifted into the 2nd round. Both were McDonalds All Americans in High school and followed that up with brief yet successful college careers. One is projected to be a rookie of the year candidate while the other is just hoping to get into the rotation. Both surprised in their first games for opposite reasons.

Oj Mayo shot a whopping 5 for 20 in his first game as the Grizzlies got smoked. Mayo shot 0-7 from 3 point range and made a couple shots that weren’t dunks or layups. The other heralded rookie on his team, Darrell Arthur, got a double double opening night. Mayo will be fine and by playing 40 minutes showed that he has the job to lose. Most players, if given 40 minutes will consistently put up stats and Mayo will. He’s a gifted passer, ball handler and finisher so he’ll get his numbers naturally. I really think he’ll average in the mid to high teens with decent assists and rebounds totals.

On the other hand we have Mario Chalmers who really surprised me with his play opening night. I’m not saying that he will do this every game or that he will average a triple double throughout his career. I’ve been around basketball enough to know that he’ll have ups and downs and have some games he wont’ even play. Some games he’ll have more turnovers than points and minutes played and that’s the life of a rookie. Chalmers nearly put up a triple double against the Knicks and earned some respect. He put up his numbers against a team that isn’t very talented and will give up a ton of points this season. Great game though and I hope he keeps getting playing time in Miami.

My point is that OJ will get a much better look than Mario just because of the investment made in the player. Chalmers wouldn’t have been allowed to play 40 minutes and miss 15 shots because by the time he missed 3-4 three point attempts he would’ve been on the bench and DWade would’ve been in his ear. Rookies in the NBA have it tough and while I don’t think Oj will be rotten forever he sure was rotten opening night.

]]> http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/oj-rotten-mayo-and-super-mario-chalmers/feed/ Don’t sleep on the Spurs…Top NBA Western Conference Teams http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/dont-sleep-on-the-spurstop-nba-western-conference-teams/ http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/archives/dont-sleep-on-the-spurstop-nba-western-conference-teams/#comments Mon, 27 Oct 2008 18:55:27 +0000 bschofield watch jazz and rockets houston acquired artest and duncan and manu the spurs manu gunning the hornets and improving james posey coach manu peja and chris paul the offseason and chris paul http://www.hoopskills.com/blog/?p=162 You have to give the Celtics credit and put them atop any list that discusses the best NBA teams. They smoked the LAKERS last year and really truly earned their rings. They had the best record in basketball and slightly stumbled in the playoffs before crushing LA.

Out West everyone seems to think LA is a lock to get back to the finals and I just don’t see it that way. Nobody can sleep on the Hornets at all after improving by getting James Posey in the offseason and Chris Paul being a year older and wiser. I watched the Hornets early last year and they looked so good with David West, Tyson Chandler, Peja and Chris Paul all gellin well together and I predicted they’d be the sleeper out west and they were. This year people will be gunning for the Hornets and I think it will catch up to them a little bit. I expect them to be one of the top 4 teams in the WEst but nothing more.

The team I would look out for is the Spurs. Manu is out for a while and getting healthy. Duncan is getting older but still hasn’t dropped off. Last year he was great. Tony Parker is still very young and this team just knows how to win and Poppovich really knows how to coach. When Manu comes back this team will have Parker, Duncan and Manu all ready to prove something to the league and they will be there until the end. I just think they are being overlooked right now.

Others to watch out for: Jazz and Rockets. Houston acquired Artest and that should help but Artest hasn’t been on a lot of winning teams. McGrady is a proven top 10 talent but that’s where it ends. If they don’t get past the 1st round this year then TMAC needs to go.

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