MSU Men's basketball played SE Louisiana last night. The result was a win for the bulldogs, but a disappointment to an old coach's eyes. We do have some great talent--don't get me wrong--but what was missing is going to cost us championships.
For example, one of our top-rated players was winded after three trips up and down the court. As a forward, he should be leading the pack in defensive transition, so he should be the first man to defend the basket. But he waited at half court before he decided whether or not it would be worth his time to help his team defensively. This same star player had just about the same upper body and upper arm size he had at the end of last season.
In short, he demonstrated that he had not paid the price of greatness in the off season. It is quite a simple formula: if you don't pay the price of greatness, you will not be great. For basketball, the off season price consists of weight training and long distance running. The not-so-great players, instead, spend the off season only playing basketball, generally, half court, and generally, with opponents of their own skill level or less. As a result, they come to mid October's first practice as worse players than they were in their last game of March Madness.
The only reason a team like ours doesn't get totally humiliated at the beginning of the season is because the other teams follow the same pattern. They are starting over each season, just like we are.
From time to time, a truly great player comes along. He has a great work ethic (as it is called) and does his physical training and conditioning on his own time and spends the team practice sessions working on basketball. His passes are crisp and his turnovers are low because he has energy and is in shape.
Unfortunately, I did not see him last night.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Monday, October 5, 2009
Jump Shot Consistency
You might notice that when you get in games your 3-point percentage is a lot less than when we practice.
It is just that your body reverts to the (some bad) habits you have done most and you are going to have to work on mental toughness to force yourself to do what we practice:
1. Complete stop of body lateral motion,
2. Jump vertically (do not lean forwards or backwards),
3. Release the shot at the top of the jump (just before you start back down)
4. Follow through: Arm extended vertically, wrist snapped down (not out).
If you do these things consistently, you can hit 90% or more. It is just physics! It takes mental toughness to force your body to do what your mind knows to do. And practice so much that it becomes your strongest habit.
See you,
Bill
It is just that your body reverts to the (some bad) habits you have done most and you are going to have to work on mental toughness to force yourself to do what we practice:
1. Complete stop of body lateral motion,
2. Jump vertically (do not lean forwards or backwards),
3. Release the shot at the top of the jump (just before you start back down)
4. Follow through: Arm extended vertically, wrist snapped down (not out).
If you do these things consistently, you can hit 90% or more. It is just physics! It takes mental toughness to force your body to do what your mind knows to do. And practice so much that it becomes your strongest habit.
See you,
Bill
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