All-Star Voting

This entry was written on Jan 27, 2010 by our Basketball Guru Brian Nemeth

The All-Star game is right around the corner, and once again the fans are left with the responsibility of voting in the starters, and once again they make a mockery out of it. T-Mac is actually ahead of Steve Nash to start at PG in the West, even though McGrady has played like 10 minutes all season, is not even a point guard, and on top of that, is not even wanted by his current team the Rockets. Over in the East, Allen Iverson is leading vote getting at the guard position over the likes of Ray Allen and Vince Carter, again, a complete slap in the face to deserving canidates and intelligent NBA fans around the globe. I'm all for fans being a part of the voting process, but to have so much input on who starts is a joke. It's clear that fans do not have the ability to vote based on production, or how good of a season a particular player is having, instead, they vote based on reputations, which in the case of McGrady and Iverson, aren't even good ones. Some kid who owened a pair of McGrady or Iverson shoes back in the day decides he wants to see his guy on All-Star weekend, and now everyone else is stuck watching a watered down All-Star game by guys who don't even deserve to carry the luggage of guys like Nash and Allen.

Agility Training for Speed

There are many ways to increase your speed through agility training. For the most effective workout, vary your exercises between classic sprint training, and more advanced agility training drills and equipment. Let's cover classic training with windsprints, which have always worked to increase speed and agility. Start from one baseline and sprint to the closest freethrow line and back. The move on to the halfcourt line and back. Next is the far free throw line and back. And finally the opposite baseline and back. Make sure you sprint at all times and that when you reach each line, you bend down and touch the line with both hands. Performing this speed agility training exercise correctly will definitely help your game.

NBA All-Decade Team

This entry was written on Dec 14, 2009 by our Basketball Guru Brian Nemeth

With the end of the decade rapidly approaching, one can’t help but become nostalgic. It’s only natural to think back on the last ten years -- all the great teams, all the great players -- and feel the need to quantify all of the greatness the last ten years has brought us. What better way to do this than to make an All-Decade list? America loves list. So here’s mine:



All-Decade PG:



Steve Nash: For me, this was an easy one. Yes, I am a huge Nash fan, but of anybody on this list, only he and Tim Duncan have 2 MVP’s to their names. He was actually close to a third MVP if it wasn’t for his good buddy Dirk Nowitzki, who won a close vote in ‘07. A six-time all-star, he completely revolutionized the position IMO. Also the only guy in NBA history to shoot over 50% from the field, over 40% from three point territory, and over 90% from the free throw line for three consecutive seasons. On top of that he led the league in assists for 5 consecutive seasons(‘04-’08). His only knock is that he was never able to win a championship, but IMO he was robbed of that opportunity in ‘07 when convicted felon Tim Donaghy stole game three from the Suns, and soon after the NBA would steal the series when both Amare Stoudamire and Boris Diaw were suspended for getting up off the bench after Nash was hip checked into the scorer’s table by Robert Horry in the waning moments of game 4. The Spurs would go onto win this travesty of a series, going on to play the incredibly mediocre Cavs in one of the most lopsided NBA Finals in recent memory.



All-Decade SG:



Kobe Bryant: This was another easy one. The guy is in discussion for GOAT(Greatest-Of-All-Time) player in NBA history. He is a four-time NBA champion, his latest being the most impressive seeing how he did it without Shaq. He’s an 11 time all-star, making every all-star game of the decade, 2 time scoring champ, 1 time MVP, and he also won his first Finals MVP for last years performance. There is probably not a more scrutinized player in the NBA, but he’s proven over and over why he is considered the best player since Michael Jordan.



All-Decade SF



Lebron James: Ever since he stormed the league in ‘03, he’s lived up to all of the hype. He’s already led his mediocre Cavs to the Finals in ‘07, before getting destroyed by the Spurs. He’s also won an MVP(‘09), and a scoring championship(‘08). He is probably the most unique player to come into the league in a while, using a combination of speed and power that leaves fans shaking their heads in disbelief.



All-Decade PF



Tim Duncan: “The Big Fundamental” as Shaq calls him, the guy is considered by many as the greatest power forward of all-time. He’s a four time NBA champion, three time Finals MVP, and a two time regular season MVP. He is also an 11 time all-star, making an appearance every year of the decade. He’s not flashy, but he’s a winner which is a one way ticket onto an all-decade list.



All-Decade Center



Shaquille O’Neil: Shaq has dominated the decade with brute force. He’s a four time champion, his latest with a different sidekick, Dwayne Wade. He’s a three time Finals MVP, winning only one regular season MVP(‘00). He’s a 15 time all-star, along with a two time scoring champion. There has never been someone of his size to dominate the game like he has and there may never be again. I would say only Kareem-Abdul Jabbar is above him as greatest Center of all-time.

Pass to the first Open Teammate

PASS TO THE FIRST OPEN PERSON. Passing the ball is faster than dribbling it. If you move the ball, you make the defense adjust and they will eventually make a mistake and leave someone(maybe you!) open. Don´t wait for a better pass. Pass to the first open teammate.

Basketball is back!

This entry was written on Oct 30, 2009 by our Basketball Guru Brian Nemeth

Well, the NBA season has officially started. Lots of teams will be battling for the title this year, it's not just a one horse race this year. While the Lakers are still the favorites, their not the HEAVY favorites like they were last year. Orlando is actually improved this year, after a great season that ended in their second NBA finals appearance. The addition of Vince Carter, Brandon Bass, and the steal of the V.C-Courtney Lee trade, which was Ryan Anderson, a silky smooth, 6-11 Forward with a deadly outside shot. Boston is another team to keep your eye one. If healthy, I think they are the team to beat in the East, but that is a big IF. The big three are all a year older, and KG is coming off a major knee injury. The Celtics also added Rasheed Wallace, who will help with their PF depth, ecspecially if KG can't stay healthy all year long. The Cavs added Shaq, who had a decent year last year, but he's almost 40, so I can't see him drastically improving Cleveland's chances of winning a title. I actually think the Spurs, who have added Richard Jefferson in the off-season have a better chance than Cleveland of winning it all. So here are my top teams in the league, going into the season.

#1. Lakers(I hate them, but their the team to beat.)

#2. Celtics(Not a big fan of the C's either, but if healthy, they're as good as the Lakers)

#3. Magic(I like the Magic, addition of VC, Bass, and Anderson will give them a chance in the Finals)

#4. Spurs(The boring Spurs, also if healthy, are a scary team in the playoffs with the addition of R. Jefferson.

#5. Cavs(Lebron is most likely in for another disappointing season. Shaq is just a band-aid, an old one at that)

Relative Motion

Along with all of the individual fundamentals, players need to understand the concept of "relative motion". That can best be described as realizing how one player fits into the space on the floor, given the "relative" positioning of the other players, both offense and defense. A player with this understanding will know how to move to get open, create proper spacing, passing angles, play good on ball defense, and give good team defensive help.

Dog Days of Summer

This entry was written on Sep 07, 2009 by our Basketball Guru Brian Nemeth

Like many basketball fans, I'm extra tired of watching baseball highlights on Sportscenter. It's bad enough that their 162 marathon season seems to overlap into every sport known to man, but on top of that, we have several months of NO basketball, NO football, and only golf and baseball to choose from. The start of the NFL season on Sept. 10 marks the end of the Dog Days. I already have my fantasy team drafted(and my squad is nasty), which means we're one step closer to the start of basketball season...Borat--"High Five". Like all good things, they come to those who wait. And believe me, basketball and football fans have waited long enough. Game on!

Improve Your Shooting with Basketball Shooting DVDs

Repetition is the key to improving your shooting. There are many basketball shooting DVDs out there to help you with technique. But no basketball DVD can make you go outside and shoot 1,000 shots a day. If you need help with your technique, find a shooting DVD that can instruct you on how to fine-tune your shot. After honing your technique, get a ball and a hoop and shoot, shoot, shoot. Larry Bird said that when he was young, he would shoot over 1,000 shots a day, from all over the court. That worked pretty well for him, wouldn't you say? If you want to improve your shooting, practice, practice, practice.

The 2009 Conference Finals

This entry was written on Jun 02, 2009 by our Basketball Guru Brian Nemeth

Finally...the Finals are here. TNT isn't lying when they claim "40 games in 40 nights". The culmination of one of the more exciting NBA playoffs in recent memory starts this Thursday as the Finals tip-off at the Staples Center in Los Angeles. Starting with the epic Celtics/Bulls first round slugfest, to the multiple seven game series' between the Lakers/Rockets and the Celtics/Magic in the second round, to a competitive Conference Finals, both of which went 6 games, but only one of which was expected. Yes, Kings James and his overly confident Cavs were knocked out decisively, despite Lebron shattering multiple free throw records for a playoff series.

To the horror of many(including David Stern, ABC, Nike, Vitamin Water, etc), the Finals will not include the much hyped matchup of Kobe/Lebron. For a while it looked like the NBA was doing it's best, with Lebron's Wade-like treatment througout the series, but really, they were just delaying the inevitable. The Cavs were just outmatched, outplayed, and in the end, outclassed by Dwight Howard and the Orlando Magic. After a game 6 blowout(coincedently the only game in the series in which the refs were NOT a factor), Lebron walked off the court, put on his street clothes, and walked out of Orlando without so much as a nod. His teammates were left to answer questions in the aftermath, while "King" James did what he always does in defeat...walks off like a little child. If hockey players can shake hands at the end of a long, physical series, why can't the King? If a UFC fighter can hug and lift the hand of guy who just knocked his teeth out, why can't the King? He claims he's a winner, and winners don't accept losing, but what exactly was he proving at the end of that game? That he can accept congratulations, but can't give them? This is not the act of a winner to me, or the face of today's NBA. I thought it was disrespect to Orlando and to the game which has given him so much. This might seem hypocritical, coming from a Piston's fan, but I didn't agree with the Isiah Thomas led walk-off at the end of the '91 Pistons/Bulls series either. My favorite player, Joe Dumars, was the only one to shake hands with the Bulls that day. Joe would later say, "M.J. had stopped, shook my hand and hugged me three straight years that we had beaten them in the playoffs. There was no way I was walking off the court without shaking the Bulls’ hands.”

On the other side, the Lakers did what was expected...they reached the Finals for the second straight season, defeating the Nuggets in 6. Denver came into the series playing better than anyone in the playoffs and were the popular pick of many to upset the Lakers. But unfortunately, Chauncey proved again why Joe Dumars traded him, once again turning in a subpar performance in the Conference Finals, which makes three years in a row for "Mr. Big Shot". Don't get me wrong, I love Chauncey and what he was able to do for my Pistons, but it was obvious to Piston fans that he could not take the Pistons any further than the Conference Finals, and unfortunatley that just isn't good enough in Detroit. With Orlando getting better, Cleveland improving with the acquisition of Mo Williams, and the defending champion Boston Celtics coming back just as strong before the eventual KG injury, Joe decided to start thinking of the future. The Nuggets still had a great season, and barring any injuries next year, should be right back in the WCF.

Basketball Speed Training

Speed training in basketball can give you an edge over your opponents. You need to beat your opponent to the ball or to the rebound. Find out how to develop the best speed training techniques by researching all of the potential tools and techniques that are available to you. Of course, like all skills, the best way to improve is to practice and work hard!