DURANT IN THE OFF-SEASON

WHAT'S YOUR EXCUSE?!

This photo was snapped a few days ago.  After practice, Kobe Bryant stuck around and worked on his individual ball handling drills. Which begs the question:

If one of the best players to have

ever played the game still finds

the need and time to work on

developing his game, why aren't you?

DENA EVANS ON MENTAL TOUGHNESS

For basketball players reading this blog -- no matter what age, male or female, regardless of your level of play -- if you are looking for a special experience that will take your basketball IQ to another level than you should look into a session at Point Guard College.

You can find more info at: www.PGCBasketball.com

Until then, learn from this video of PGC CEO Dena Evans talking about Mental Toughness:

CHARACTERISTICS OF GOOD PERIMETER PLAY

In developing solid perimeter play, we want to first look for and then develop the following characteristics:

SHE MUST HAVE GOOD VISION

Vision is a very encompassing matter. A good perimeter player does more than just see her teammates -- she also sees the defense. This particular type of vision allows the good perimeter player to make the proper decisions with the basketball.

SHE KNOWS HER STRENGTHS & WEAKNESSES

A good perimeter player knows what she does well and works hard to get in position to take advantage of those skills and fundamentals. Just as important however, is the fact that a good perimeter player knows what her limitations are, her weaknesses, and stays away from them.

SHE KNOWS HER TEAMMATES STRENGTHS/WEAKNESSES

This is very difficult for the average perimeter player, and in fact, it is a rare quality usually found in the best perimeter players. That special type of perimeter player knows who the best shooters are on the team and tries to get them the ball when they are open. She knows who the best posters are and feeds them the ball. She knows who has trouble dribbling the ball and doesn’t pass them the ball when it might put them in a dribbling situation.

SHE MIXES AGGRESSIVENESS WITH PATIENCE

The good perimeter player knows when to push the ball up and when to hold it up. She knows when to attack the basket and when to reverse the ball. She is prepared to play at whatever speed is necessary for her team to be successful.

SHE IS HARD TO GUARD

A good perimeter player is constantly working to get open and at the same time occupy her defender. She understands that she must move with a purpose, because she must never confuse “activity for achievement.”

SHE IS STRONG WITH THE BALL

Whether she is dribbling, passing, or holding the ball, she is going to be strong. She is not going to let the defender rush her into a mistake.

COMPOSURE—COMPOSURE—COMPOSURE!!!

The best perimeter players never let anything upset them. They don’t let the crowd effect their play; they don’t let the other team effect their play; and they don’t let any breakdowns by their teammates effect their play.

SHE MUST BE PHYSICALLY STRONG

We want players that are warriors in the weight room. This is an area that we have greatly improved in our program the past few years. Working hard in the weight room doesn’t mean that we are interested in huge muscle bound athletes. We are interested in developing upper body strength and explosiveness from the lower body.

SHE MUST BE AN EXCELLENT CONDITIONED ATHLETE

We expect our perimeter players to be able to outrun the opposing perimeter players down the court for fast break opportunities. And, just as important, we expect our perimeter players to be able to outrun the opposing perimeter players and be in good defensive position in defensive transition. In our motion offense, our perimeter players are constantly moving. We are always telling them, “be hard to guard.” All of this demands a supreme physically conditioned athlete.

SHE MUST BE A SMART PLAYER

We expect our perimeter players to be able to “think” the game. Again, because of our motion offense, our perimeter players are expected to constantly make good decisions while on the floor. When and who to screen, when to pass, when to dribble are just some of the instant decisions we expect them to make. Equally, because we utilize scouting reports, they must know which particular player they are defending and how to defend them.

SHE MUST POSSESS A GREAT WORK ETHIC

Obviously, to be a warrior in the weight room, and supreme physically conditioned athlete, and a mentally prepared basketball player, you must first possess a great work ethic. We demand a lot from a Lady Tiger perimeter player and the truly good ones are not afraid to work. To be a top-flight player, a good work ethic is a year round necessity.

COACH MEYER'S PERIMETER WORKOUT

The following comes from CoachMeyer.com in which Northern State University basketball coach Don Meyer has put together a great website not just for coaches but players and parents as well. If you are a player out there working to maximize your game, then click on http://coachmeyer.com. You will see a wide range of options including "Players Corner," where you can find a lot of information like the perimeter workout below.

Four main objectives for guards on drives:
1. Create space between themselves and their defender.
2. Go north and south on drives don't belly out (straight to hoop).
3. Put your body on the defenders body on the start step.
4. Take your dribble moves right at the defender get them on their heels. If you get beside them or get them on their heels, they are yours.

WARM-UP WITH 2 BALL DRIBBLING
Stationary dribbling - Eyes up, be ball quick.
Control - both low below knees (rhythm/non - rhythm)
Speed - both balls high (rhythm/non - rhythm)
High-Low - one ball control dribble, one ball speed dribble
Add down the floor dribbling (same as above) with a change of hands.

SHOOTING PROGRESSION
Hold high one second follow through.

LAY-UPS CLEAN, 2 FREE THROWS CLEAN

DO THE 7 DRIBBLE MOVES WITH A FINISH TO THE BASKET

Start with a low body balance base of support (LBBBOS).
Have a compact economy of motion.
You make each move one from the right side then one from the left side.
Start by spinning yourself a pass and catch down low.
From here you circle tight and make a good direct or crossover move.
Start from just outside the edge of the half court circle.
After your finish at the basket you spin a pass and open to the big part of the floor while you catch facing.
Then using the same move you break a press up the middle to half court.
Then make the same move on other side.
Then go back to the right side and make the next move.
Do this until you have made all 7 moves on both sides.

Seven dribble moves:
a. Speed dribble - throw the ball out, get their, straight line drive as quick as possible.

b. Hesitation dribble - fast, slow (higher dribble stand up a little), fast, straight line drive.

c. In and out - head and shoulder, fake a crossover move, take ball over and back, keep ball in same hand.

d. Stutter step - at 3 pt. line, squeak feet with a wide stance if defender is off you shoot a 3 pointer, if not go to basket.

e. Stutter crossover - right to left hand, crossover low, look at basket on stutter, explode after crossover.

f. Between legs - from right side you drive middle the defense turns you so you go between the legs left to right hand, the angle you go through the legs is important, the ball needs to go from back to front toward the basket slightly.

g. Pull back crossover - using a ball screen by the 3 point line, go in hard to wing then use 2 pull back dribbles 1 crossover dribble, right to left hand, then explode to basket, rub shoulders with screen.

Key coaching points on dribble moves:
1. When you get to the 3 pt. line use 1 dribble to get to the basket unless you hesitate to take the help out.

2. Do the moves at full speed game like conditions.

3. Step with same foot on all drives, 60% of weight on permanent pivot foot.

4. Chin ball when shooting lay-ups.

5. Circle tight with the ball on direct and crossover drives. Tighten up your game. Don't be lose with the ball. Be compact and have an economy of motion.

6. Start and finish all moves from a low body balance base of support LBBBOS.

7. Use all moves, but develop a go to and counter move.

8. After move go straight to the basket don't belly out.

9. Make moves right at an imaginary defender. Get the defender on their heels.

10. Go -when you first catch a pass, your the most open.

11. Use your weak hand in a 3 to 1 ratio.

FREE THROW SWISH (+2 -2)
If you lose do 4 trips (4 dribbles down and 4 back, 3 to 1 weak to strong hand), or a down and back weak hand.

7 DRIBBLE MOVES PULL UP AND SHOOT JUMP SHOT

On all shots off the dribble landing on balance and low is a must before you shoot the ball.

FREE THROW SWISH

4 trips if lose or 1 down and back with weak hand.

32 POINT SHOOTING
Five spots on the floor: baseline, wing, on top, opposite wing, and opposite baseline.
You make 3 moves from each spot.
The first is a 3 point shot (worth 3 points), the second is a shot fake one dribble drive to middle shoot jumper (worth 2 points) , and the third move is a shot fake one dribble drive to middle lay up (worth 1 point).
So each spot is worth 6 points.
At the end you shoot 2 free throws (worth 1 point each) for a total of 32 points.
You compete against yourself.
Make the moves at game speeds be tight with your game.
The drives to the middle you will be using direct and crossover moves so step with the same foot each time.
The moves from the top you can go either way, but be able to go both ways.

FREE THROW SWISH
4 trips if lose or 1 down and back with weak hand.

32 POINT SHOOTING AGAIN

...OR Hornacek shooting (spin pass catch facing low and in triple threat on balance, shoot and rebound own shot, shoot 20 shots from game spots at game speeds).

FREE THROW SWISH
4 trips if lose or 1 down and back with weak hand.