I Can't Stand It!

Good Monday Morning.

OK. In just a moment I am going to talk about something in the game of basketball I just can't stand. I mean it. It drives me bonkers. If there was one thing I could change about the game it would be this.... (read below to find out what it is)

Weekly Tip: First Step with either Leg

Skill: Being able to take a hard first step move past a defender out of triple threat with either leg leading. In other words you have to be able to take this step with the open step or cross over step- depends on the pivot foot and how the defense is playing you. (open step is taking a step with the leg closest to the direction you are traveling. Cross over step is using the back leg furthest from the direction you are traveling)

Purpose: To be more dangerous and take advantage of the situation and what the defense gives you.

Drill: Practice driving to the hoop. from all spots around the 3 point line and within the 3 point line using the open step and the crossover step. Start in a good triple threat. You can use jab steps, pause steps, fake shots, or what ever other fakes you want. The goal is to you both the open step and cross over step and accelerate hard to the hoop. Perform 5 open step moves and 5 cross over step moves from going to the right and left. Perform this at 2-3 different spots on the floor. If there is a spot you generally catch the ball, definitely practice from that spot.

This is a lot of reps and it is what it takes to become great at the first step moves.

I Can't Stand It; The FLOP!

I am ready for it. I have no doubt I am going to catch some flack on this one but I have been against this "fake" defensive play since it made it's way into our game. The flop to me has hurt our game, has changed the outcome of games, has injured players on help side because they have been rolled up on by the Flopper, and it has made officials look terrible at times.

NBA coach and current analyst, Jeff Van Gundy, has said this many times and I totally agree with him. He says the Flop should be eliminated from the game. I believe technical fouls should be handed out when a player flops and causes a the offensive player to go down and potential injury could occur. The Flop has made the pure nature of defense look bad.

What ever happen to standing your ground and playing tough the entire play. How can 225 lb athletes get knocked to the ground by 170lb guards driving past them. This is when the official look literally incompetent when they call and offensive foul because of a flop.

Let me say this. I am 100% for taking a true offensive charge like a man or women. This is when you stand your ground and don't give and inch when a player is driving to the hoop and they plow into you- like it use to be and is suppose to be. If you get hit hard enough it causes you to fall back or get knocked back from the ground you are firmly planted at- that is taking a charge the real way.

I saw a game the other night where a player from the Utah Jazz, Kirilenko, flopped on Dirk Nowitski and it was so bad and obvious I was embarrassed for the defender. When a foul was called on Nowitski my initial reaction was to have a rule that suspends officials for such poor judgement. It may seem drastic but it needs to stop.

I mean no disrespect to the sport of soccer but all I can think off when I see these flops is a soccer player flopping down like they have been shot or something when a defender slightly bumps them. I don't like it and I blame the leagues and the officials for allowing it.

The other night an offensive low post player for Texas Tech was making a low post move and the defender bodied him up. When the move was made the defender threw his head and upper body back and his hips under the offensive player and flopped. This caused the offensive player to fall awkwardly on his back and injure himself. The official called it a CHARGE. I couldn't believe it. If the defender had played REAL DEFENSE it no one would have fallen and the offensive player would have been forced into a tough shot due to the defender standing his ground.

It has to stop. I can only hope you coaches out there would take it upon yourself to stop coaching it and allowing you players to use it. Make them play tough and stand their ground. They will make better defensive plays, get more rebounds, and not injure their own teammate in help defense by rolling up on their knee.

I can go on an on and I will come back to this again but I think I made my point. Regardless of if you agree with me or not- it is running the game and causing players to sit on the bench early or foul out when they should not have. Let's play REAL basketball again and stop this foolish soft play. The game is advancing in so many ways but like an anchor on a ship it is being dragged to a halt because of the FLOP.

Play Hard

Lee

PS: I know many of you are going to say; but Lee, it is part of the game and we are just playing within the rules. There are something that better judgement needs to prevail and this is one of them. Anyway- Love to hear your thoughts. Pass this on to others and lets hear their thoughts as well.

PSS: When you get a chance check out http://www.basketballspeedinsiders.com/ and what is coming in 2009. It is going to be awesome Baby as Dicky V says.