How To Destroy Your Competition On The Basketball Court

By: Travon Morgan 

Have you ever dreamt of stepping on the basketball court, scoring points at will, and just demolishing every defender who tried to guard you?

Well, you can make this a reality with hard work and determination. 

You have to train yourself to be the best. That means you have to train harder than everybody else, and train more consistently than everybody else. 

You have to be at the gym or at your basketball court working on some part of your game every day.

Even when you're feeling sick or tired, you have to discipline yourself and find a way to practice some part of your game.

Some people are blessed with the natural ability to perform very well on the basketball court, but most of them leave it right there. In other words, they have talent so they don't train as hard or they don't feel like they need to train as hard as someone who doesn't have much talent.

There is a saying that goes like this, "Hard work beats talent when talent doesn't work hard." If someone is better than you it doesn't mean you can't outwork them and eventually become better than them.

And if you have talent you should recognize that you have a gift and the best thing you could do is train yourself to push your talent to the maximum and completely destroy your competition on the basketball court.

If you want to be really good you have to be willing to work hard every single day no matter what. It doesn't matter how you feel, or how bad your day was, you have to make the sacrifice to block out all emotions and improve your basketball skills every day.

You should spend most of your time eliminating your weaknesses.

If you're a poor ball handler, you should be spending at least an hour or two working on your ball handling. This is if your really want to be the best and you want fast results.

If you can't dunk and you are at least 5'9 you should be working on your legs. Some people think because they are not 6'6 or taller that the ability to dunk the ball is out of their reach.

These people are wrong, and there are people in this world that are under 5'9 that can dunk and they can pull of better dunks than those who are over 6'0.

So, plain and simple, there is nothing and no one who can stop you from being the best and destroying your competition. 

All you need is hard work and determination and you will be on the right path to success.

 Read this. This is very important.

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Basketball Game Information and Rules

By Roland Black

Basketball is the enthusiastic game between two teams; player should concentrate to shoot the ball to score points by following the rules. The basketball regulation loop comprises of an 18 inch diameter border and 10 feet backboard. The basketball group can score a field end by shooting the basketball via the basket while playing. Every participant tries to achieve higher scores. Basketball is the familiar game in the world, played in the school teams, professional leagues, and on the driveway, and court. Normally, the games are played in four squares of 10 or 12 minutes.

In basketball, many courts are constructed with wood. The hoop of the basketball is placed at every end of the court. It comprises of an orange painted iron ring and bottomless net backboard that is elevated ten feet above from the ground level. It generally consists of center, 2 guards, and 2 forwards. The basketball court often contains one point guard in the basketball court while playing. The objective of playing basketball is to move the basketball via the hoop of the opposing team. A successful shot can gain two points; the ball can be moved, thrown, dribbled or hit forwarded the opposing goal. The player will trickle and pass forward the opposing goal during play.

Dribbling happens when a participant bounces the ball on the ground, hold it again, without interruption of another player.

Rules of Basketball

1. The basketball may be passed in any situation with both hands and one hand. The body and arms are not allowed when catching the ball.


2. The score will gain when the basketball is thrown or battled from the floor into the basket.


3. A participant cannot run by holding the ball. The participant needs to pass the ball from the place on which he grasps it; high scores are counted for the player who runs at high speed.


4. No holding, pushing, shouldering, striking in any manner of an opposite player. The first violation of this procedure by any player shall take as a foul, and further violation is taken as disqualify to play the game. No substitution will be allowed when playing.


5. If both teams make 3 successive fouls it may count as a goal for the opposite team.


6. There are two types of fouls such as defensive foul and offensive fouls.


7. A score goal will be taken when the ball is batted or thrown from the floor into the basket. If the ball remains on the edge and opponent pass the basket, it may calculate as a goal point.

When the basketball went out of the bounds, may be thrown into the ground, and played by player those who touches the ball first. In case of collision, umpire throws the ball directly into the area for playing. The thrower-in is acceptable five seconds. If a player grabs the ball for a longer time, it will go to the opposite playing team. If any delay occurs during the sport, the mediator shall count as foul on them. Each player needs to follow the procedure of the basketball game to win the game with a high score.

Find a nice collection of online basketball games, videos, wallpapers and basketball game articles on the net.

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Basketball Defense - What Coaches Want to See

By G D Fitzgerald

The ability to play good basketball defense is more important than most players think. Good defensive skills not only will get you on the team, they'll get you into the starting line-up.

Everybody wants to shoot, and everyone wants ankle-breaking dribbling moves, and why not? It's the scorers and the moves that get the "oohs" and "ahhs" from the crowds, that get most of the glory and make up most of the highlight reels on the evening newscast.

And of course, scoring is important - you can't win a game without points on the board. So don't get me wrong - there's nothing bad about working to become good shooters and good ball handlers.

My point is, don't neglect defense. Teams need good defenders. If you look at every team that's won big championships and national titles, you would be hard pressed to find one that didn't have good defense - either a good overall defensive team, or at least one or two defensive specialists.

A good coach looks for good defensive players during tryouts, and spends a great amount of time at the start of preseason practices focusing on improving the team's defensive skills. So even if your offensive skills are only so-so, good defensive skills will get you noticed. And if you already have good offensive skills, having weak defensive skills can make you a liability to the team.

So, how do you improve your defensive skills?

1. Understand your Role on Defense. Man to man defense is a must. Even if you are playing a zone, the principles of man to man will be applied. So know how to play man to man defense, but also realize that you have to see what else is happening on the floor in case one your teammates gets beaten and you need to help out (something else a coach looks for when choosing a team)
2. Agility and Quickness. Important skills for offense, but even more important for defense. You need to be able to react to your player's moves, beat your player to the spot on the cut, have that burst of speed to pick off passes, and basically be able to hound your man until he gives up the ball. Improve your agility, your speed, your quickness, and you improve your defense.
3. Be Hungry. Always be hungry for the ball. Aggression is perhaps the ability most likely to determine how well you do and how far you go. Plenty of players with good skills but no aggression have been dropped off rosters, but I will bet that few players with aggression but relatively weak skills have been cut. Teaching someone to shoot is not too difficult; teaching someone to be aggressive, to steal the pass, to run down the ball - that's more difficult. And coaches will keep you around just for showing that heart.

If you can improve in those three areas - good fundamentals, speed and quickness, and aggression - you will definitely see an improvement in your defensive game. And your team and your coach will definitely appreciate it.

We've all heard the saying: "Good offense wins games; good defense wins championships."

Every player and coach I know wants to be a champion.

Fitz has been playing and coaching the game of basketball for over twenty five years. Beside the skills specific to the game, his interests lie in developing the athletic skills that transfer across all sports - like speed, quickness, and a good vertical jump. You can read more of his advice on how to improve your game on his website, http://www.smart-basketball-training.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=G_D_Fitzgerald

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The Last Stand 2012

By Robert Allan Brown

Kevin Garnett aka "The Big Ticket" was traded to the Boston Celtics in the summer of 2007, this was after the Celtics traded for Ray Allen. To say the least I was like a kid in a candy store. My beloved Celtics had fallen on such hard times with the death of Len Bias Reggie Lewis while making some pretty bad draft choices. I knew the passion and high energy Kevin Garnett brought each and every game and being such a great one on one defender and team defender would make the Celtics the team to beat. I was right, the Celtics went on to dominate the regular season and dominated the Lakers in the finals.

Kevin Garnett is and has always been a very unselfish great all around player. In my personal opinion he is one of the best power forwards to ever play the game. There is nothing he cannot do. For his career he averages around 20 points per game, 10 rebounds, 4 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks. The way he rotates on defense is a thing of beauty and how his energy rubs off on others just shows how great of a team leader he is.

Since the addition of Kevin Garnett the Celtics has been a top 3 defensive team in the league. Even this year the Celtics only gave up about 91 points per game. This is one of the main reason why he is so important to the Celtics for next year success. As long as he can still rebound, play with energy, play good one on one defense and team help defense the Celtics will always be a team to be dealt with. Personally if I had to start a team today a guy like Kevin Garnett would be one of my top choices. He is very under rated when it comes to all time on some peoples list simply because he played on some not so great Minnesota Timberwolves teams. Not to mention the West was pretty stacked for most of his career. To say Garnett failed in Minnesota is very unfair considering that franchise has never won anything and being the small market they are, probably never will.

Kevin Garnett is starting to slow down some, he is getting older and I don't believe he will play much longer. I do however believe he has one more good year left. Next year I am calling it the last stand 2012. The last stand is simply the last stand for the great big three of Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, and Paul Pierce. All three of these guys can still play the Celtics just need to build a solid bench around them and I truly believe the rest will take care of itself.

How important is Kevin Garnett to the Celtics? He simply is the heart and soul of the team.

To read more about the Boston Celtics click here

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Top Ten Gift Ideas For Basketball Players

Old, but still lots of fun

Basketball players can be tough to purchase gifts for unless you are in the know. My husband loves playing basketball and has opened my eyes to the possibilities.

1. Jumpsoles

Jumpsoles" are platforms that attach onto your sneakers they focus your body weight onto your calves to train you to bounce off the balls of your feet like a "powerful cat"! With continued practice they will help the player to increase his/her vertical jump. My husband has used them and found great success and improvement in his vertical jump. You can also purchase the Proprioceptor which attaches to the Jumpsoles" to make them even more effective, my husband also uses these. Adding the Proprioceptor will bring results faster. The cost of the Jumpsoles" is $69.95 and with the Proprioceptor system they are $99.90.

2. Ball & Water Bag

There are a wide variety of bags available, the key is to find one that will hold a bag and at the very least some water. I have seen them with room for sneakers as well. This gift is practical and will be used often. You will need to decide whether to purchase a backpack or duffle style. For players, like my husband, who ride their bike or walk to the courts a backpack works much better. For someone looking to keep an extra set of clothes the duffle may be the way to go. Another option is the Original Ballbag ($24.99), which can be purchased in the logo of their favorite team, this is worn across the body on a angle or a newer edition is in backpack style, has more storage room and a heftier price tag ($59.99). Bags geared toward basketball are better then a run of the mill bag because they will have room for the ball! My favorite has been one we picked up at Target, it is an NBA drawstring backpack style with rope straps, he can fit a ball and a gallon of water!

3. SLAM Magazine

Give a subscription to Slam and you're giving the magazine that takes its readers behind the scenes and inside the NBA. Slam is $12.97 for a yearly subscription! They will also send a gift card so you can personally announce your gift subscription. With a subscription a lot of online features also become active for forums where your player can exchange comments with other players!

4. Protective Gear

I would never have thought of this but recently I have seen how easily injury can occur. Protect your player with any or all of the following suggestions. Begin with mouth guards, they can be purchased at any sporting goods store and range from $1.99 to $19.99, they have guards geared for basketball and even for adults and youth.

McDavid is well known for their HexPad Technology, which provide unsurpassed comfort and protection. In addition to offering elbow, knee, and ankle braces and pads they offer shirts and shorts with built in protection. The 7910 HexPad 3 Pad Body Shirt ($59.99) is a professional sleeveless compression shirt made to protect the ribs and spine. The compression fabric is also made to support large muscle groups to reduce muscle pulls and fatigue.

Sometimes a player just needs a little extra support, braces and supports can be purchased at any sporting goods store as well.

5. Sneakers

Basketball requires a certain type of sneaker. Some people are easy to purchase sneakers for and do not need to try them on, depending on the person you are buying them for you may want to take them with you or get as much information as you can before hand from the player and then purchase them from a store with a good return/exchange policy. If you opt for the latter make sure that the time frame for returns will not be over when the gift is given!

Fortunately for me, my husband is always the same size, so I can shop pretty easily. Although he has been happy in the past with Addidas and Reebok, And 1 comes out as his favorite always.

I would be remiss if I did not mention there is a new sneaker on the market created Stephon Marbury that is going to be selling for $14.95, he felt that he wanted to make sneakers more affordable. They are going to be sold exclusively at Steve and Barry's.

6. Sleeveless Shirt that Absorbs Sweat

As anyone who plays basketball or knows someone who does, sweat is usually an issue. With this sort of shirt it makes playing more enjoyable for the player since they are not saturated and remain cooler.

New Balance offers a fantastic Sleeveless Temp Top for $25.00. It is designed with Lighting Dry fabric so as you perspire, moisture is wicked away from your skin. They also offer shorts ($27.99) in this fabric, as well, which can also be useful.

7. Basketball Hoop or Shooting Ring

Depending on the space available your options may be limited. You can purchase a free standing hoop with backboard and stand. These are sold to either be permanently placed in the ground or on rolling platforms.

You can also purchase a single hoop that attaches to an outside wall. Very similar to this standard hoop is a shooting ring, which is smaller than a regular hoop to improve shooting aim. These items can be found in sporting goods stores online and in person, retailers like Target also carry them. Prices range too greatly to list depending on which type it is and also if it is professional this will increase price.

8. Lessons from a Retired Pro

Often times retired Professionals Players, especially from Europe will offer lessons. If you are lucky enough to live in the Orlando area you can get lessons from Kelvin Coggins, a former professional player in Europe.

You can also check special event auctions, sometimes professional players volunteer to be auctioned off for lessons. This of course, can be quite costly.

9. Personalized Jersey with their Favorite Pro Team

You have a choice between Authentic, cost ranging from $189.99 to $219.99, or Replicas, cost ranging from $59.99 to $69.99. The authentic is a high quality jersey your player will love for years to come, especially with his/her name and number personalized on it!

10. Tickets to a game

You can purchase tickets to a local game whether college or professional it is a gift to please. Make sure to get two so he/she does not have to go alone! I find that as much as my husband enjoys going to watch the Knicks, he is just as happy to go watch anyone play. He loves playing and loves watching!

If you head to ticket master you can search by sport, basketball specifically, then enter your zip for any and all basketball games in your area!


Happy Shopping and if all else fails a new basketball is always nice too! Especially the new NBA balls!

Article source: associatedcontent.com



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Paul Pierce - One of the Greatest Celtics of All Time

By Robert Allan Brown

I think Shaq said it best to a Boston reporter back in 2001. He told the reporter that he knew Paul could play, but he didn't know he could play like this. He told the reporter that Paul Pierce was the truth.

The Boston Celtics drafted Paul Pierce in the 1998 draft. I remember this draft like it was yesterday because Paul Pierce is exactly who I wanted the Celtics to draft. Honestly there is nothing this guy cannot do on a basketball court. He can dribble, rebound, pass, defend. He can shoot the three, free throws, and his mid level game is the best in the business. He is one of three Celtics to score over 20,000 points in his career with the other two being Larry Bird and John Havlicek. For his career he averages 22 points per game, 6 rebounds per game, 4 assist, 1.5 steals. He is a lock down defender and plays great team defense. One of the best things about Paul Pierce is the fact that no moment is to big for him. What I mean is he plays his best against the best. He loves the big stage and is not afraid to take the big shot. In my book he is very clutch and his nickname fits.

In the summer of 2007 the Celtics traded for Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett and I was so happy that we finally were building a championship team around Paul Pierce. Let's face it he played for some pretty bad Celtic teams and I am thankful that he did not bailout on us like Lebron James did to the Cavs. Paul Pierce is also a very unselfish player. I have never seen a player do more with the number of shots he gets. Here goes a guy who can create his own shot and pretty much shoot when he wants, but he always makes the extra pass when needed and his step back is a thing of beauty. Most right-handed players including myself when they do a step back they go to the left, but Paul does it and goes to the right better than anyone I have ever seen. Paul has been one of the best players in the NBA for years, but in my opinion he never got the credit he deserved. When the Celtics won a champions in 2008, the look on his face and the other Celtics was priceless to me.

Paul Pierce a complete player, the truth. Just like Shaq said.

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The Harlem Globetrotters - Magicians of Basketball

Since 1926 the Harlem Globetrotters have thrilled audiences around the world as the premier exhibition basketball team. Combining their talented athleticism with comedy and theater, the Globetrotters have played over 25,000 games entertaining young and old and becoming ambassadors of goodwill.

The team originated in the 1920s where all the original players grew up on the south side of Chicago, Illinois. Most of the players attended Chicago's first predominately black Wendell Phillips High School. Although they were from Chicago, owner Abe Saperstein decided to name them the Harlem Globetrotters to point out that the players were African-Americans and that they had traveled the globe. They did not play in Harlem until 1968.

The Globetrotters started out as a serious competitive team and won admiration when the all-black team beat the all-white Lakers 61-59 in February 1948. Even though they had talented players, the team also had a flair for entertainment, often clowning around for the audience only after gaining a safe lead in the game. As more black players were drafted by the NBA during the 1950s, it became harder for the Globetrotters to attract and retain top talent.

Eventually the Globetrotters became known more for entertaining audiences with their comic routines than a competitive sports team. The team's act was to amaze the spectators in their skillful handling of several basketballs in the way they passed, juggled balls between players, and used their incredible coordination to make difficult shots. Many NBA greats have played for the Globetrotters. Players like Wilt "The Stilt" Chamberlain, Connie "The Hawk" Hawkins, Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton, as well as baseball Hall of Famers Bob Gibson and Ferguson Jenkins. During the 1970s and 80s they had a popular team member, Fred "Curly" Neal remembered as the best dribbler of that era of the team's history. Their first female player was Olympic gold medalist Lynette Woodard who was signed in 1985.

Although beloved by audiences globally, the Globetrotters have not been free of scrutiny and criticism. During the civil rights era they were accused of "Tomming for Abe", a reference to Uncle Tom and white owner Abe Saperstein. This accusation stemmed from the fact that the players were all African American and their skits involved so much buffoonery. Despite the critics, many prominent civil rights activists maintained that the Globetrotters were indeed a positive influence and did not portray blacks as stupid.

In 1993 under new owner and former player, Mannie Jackson, the Globetrotters began playing competitive basketball after having played hundreds of exhibition games. The team had a run of 8,829 straight victories since 1971 until they lost in 1995 to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's All Star Team in Vienna, Austria. They have played over 20,000 exhibition games in 118 countries and have achieved a winning percentage of 98.4%.

The Harlem Globetrotters have been featured in several of their own films and television series over the years and continue to entertain audiences around the world. Their new generation of star players will continue the tradition of playing exhibition games and providing audiences with entertainment and the thrill of watching these magicians of basketball perform their magic.

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