Spokane Stars Basketball

Archive for the ‘Recreation And Sports’ Category

Ricky Lim asked:




The right basketball training program would definitely help in improving your skills in the court. These programs may be composed of different routines, depending on which skills you want to be trained on.

A basketball training program may be those designed to test and improve the strength and speed of the player, increase the jump, improve their skills in bringing and handling the ball or improve their shooting skills.

Sometimes, these training programs may even be incorporated with mental training so that the player will be able to think fast and react the right way when faced with a certain situation during the ball game.

Ideally, a player will have to be trained in each of the basketball training program mentioned above. This will make him or her become a flexible player who is capable of many different skills when playing basketball.

Strength and speed will help in running and moving around and in getting past any of the opponent team’s players. A higher vertical jump would help make great dunks while knowing how to handle the ball well makes it harder for the opponent to take it away from you.

Of course, the most important skill in basketball is the shooting skills. This should be perfected so that wherever you are placed inside the court, you can still make great and sure shots each time.

Usually, the coach is in charge on what types of trainings that his team will have to undergo. To prepare for a big game, a rigorous training is done and it would include a full and intense scope of all the skills needed to win a basketball game.

Sometimes, the coach would also pick a certain team member to practice and master on a particular skill so that they are able to do their function well. Others will also have to master each of their functions.

Then, they will have to work as a team and put each of their mastery into good use so that they are able to win the game.

However, when you undergo a basketball training program, you must also remember to take breaks once in a while. Too much pressure on your body could cause it to collapse, not function well, or suffer from injuries.

You must also remember to keep your body healthy and well supplied with essential nutrients. Surely, you do not want to not be around for the big game, right?

When training for basketball, you should be aware of a method of training known as interval training. If you haven’t heard of interval training, either you are already doing it and don’t know it or you haven’t even tapped into your potential of being the best basketball player you can be.

Interval training is performing high energy movements and activities for a short period with a rests in between repetitions. The intervals between repetitions are based on the intensity of the activity and how long that specific activity was done for. Short and high intensity movements require more rest. There is a chemical in your body called lactic acid. When there is a build up of lactic acid, this is the chemical that creates pain in the muscles that are engaged in the activity. So you can blame lactic acid for all the days your abs hurt so much that you couldn’t stand straight.

The goal of training is to get maximum results by working most efficiently and resting appropriately. So to train effectively for basketball, you have decrease the length of the activity and make that activity more intense.

Here is a drill that you can start using today:

Tempo Runs:

Instead of running a 400 meter round, break that up into four 100 meter dashes (you really need to understand that you must break up longer sessions of intense activity and break them down). Now, when doing the 100 meter dashes, try to get as close as 10 seconds, but 15-16 seconds is ideal.

I hope you understand by now how interval training works, at least the basics of it and I want you to go and use it…TODAY! Go.

Nehal Kazim asked:




Core training is one of the most important factors of a basketball player’s body. Don’t get me wrong, you need quickness, agility, strength and overall skill in the sport but the core is what gives you that competitive advantage or “umph” into it.

For effective basketball training, you must train the whole core area which consists of the abdominals and lower back. The core is the area that connects your upper body and lower body and this is what brings momentum into any part of your game. When you’re in a game, your body does the following actions:

1. Jump to rip down rebounds
2. Elevate to dunk or lay-up
3. Elevate to rebound
4. Push body forward to pass

If you didn’t notice yet, the most important factor to the intensity of those actions may not be the core but it does have an effect. Here is an example: When you are jumping to get a rebound, most of the time, you don’t jump directly up. You bend your legs, pull back your hands and then jump. If your core is weak, there is a good chance that you will not be able to get the highest you can and there may be a kink in your movement. Most of the movements in the game of basketball have a lot of to do with the core being active and this is why you must train it properly and effectively. Once you have a strong core, your body is balanced and it moves in one smooth movement.

Today, I will be giving you two exercises that will strengthen the core and give you more stability in your movements:

1) Plank: This exercise is a very popular core exercises because it absolutely provides hard-hitting results. To do this exercise, in a push-up position and instead of balancing on your hands, balance your body with the forearms also in a line with your body.

a. Stay in this position for as long as you can. Your goal should be 2 minutes at least on each reptition. Rest 60 seconds and redo the plank position again.

b. The point is to keep your body in a straight line throughout the 2 minutes interval

2) Superman: Lie down on your chest with your hands and legs straightened out. Raise your hands and legs straight up as if you were to put your arms and legs together. Hold up for 10 seconds at each repetition. Rest for 5 seconds and hold the superman position for another 10 seconds.

Patt Carpenter asked:




While music and sport are not generally talked about in the same sentence, there are historic connections between two of modern culture’s biggest realms of influence.

Even as modern day basketball stars such as Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant and Alan Iverson record their rap albums in an attempt to formalize a crossover between sport and music, it’s hardly a first for mixing the two.

Indeed, as early as the 1930s and 1940s, evidence existed that there was a natural connection. Jump bands, for example, often toured on the same bus as basketball teams, players and musicians fraternizing to the point of attending the other’s events.

A look at the rhythm associated with sports like basketball and music provides one similarity between the two, but so does the sense that in both music and sports, there are individuals (soloists) that excel while remaining a part of a larger, cohesive group.

At sporting events such as baseball or hockey games, in cities such as Dallas, Houston and Austin, music is often used to rile up crowds, not only during the game itself but also in pre-game festivities. Some of the songs, such as “Who Let the Dogs Out?” by the Baha Men, first became popular in sports stadiums, the tune eventually being named the number one sports anthem of all time by MTV. The phenomenon was driven by music distributor Pro Sports Marketing delivering the single to minor league baseball stadiums and other sporting arenas. Only later did the song make it to regular airplay by radio stations, a reflection of its popularity as a background song to games.

Music is also used to hold the attention of audiences at sporting events, notable examples being high school football halftimes or the Super Bowl. Other observers point to the idea of musical acts using sports stadiums as a venue for concerts, at least symbolically making the connection to athletic competition.
The connection between sports and music is arguably as strong as ever, especially with major sports events embracing the concept. One example is the band New Order’s first number-one hit, “World in Motion,” which became the official theme for the finals of the English World Cup.

Some say athletes themselves embrace music to the point where their performance is in large part dependent on the connection.

One way music may aid performance in sport and exercise is in the narrowing of a performer’s attention, which could divert attention away from sensations of fatigue. The idea (marathon runners and triathletes refer to it as “dissociation”) tends to promote a positive mood state.

Because music is said to alter arousal levels, some believe it can be used, either as a form of stimulant before a competition or as a sedative to calm over-anxious athletes. The connection to rhythm and human movement can also promote increased levels of output among those engaged in sporting activity, the idea being a kind of metronome that could propel an athlete to go faster and harder than might otherwise occur without music being present.

Music is said to inspire superior performance, although personal taste seems to be the order of the day. An example: classical music might not be thought of as a booster to sporting performance, but it might to fans of classical music.

Some scientists say listening to the right kind of music could improve performance in sport by as much as 20%. The difference in personal musical tastes when it comes to working out is underscored by the use of headphones in gyms where the control of the environment can aid performance.

While fans of rock music might want to listen to Tina Turner’s “Simply the Best” as they do light exercise, a more vigorous version of “Keep on Running” by the Spencer Davis Group or “Born to Be Wild” by Steppenwolf might be more appropriate.

Companies associated with music, recognizing that technology is impacting the traditional business model, are looking to further integrate music with sport, the idea being to find ways of promoting artists.
There is also evidence of the integration of music in sports through video games, even to the point where bands are taking it to a new level (the Bare Naked Ladies appeared in at least one Electronics Arts Sports games, NHL 2002, two months before the release of the band’s “All Their Greatest Hits” album).
As music continues to share an important place in modern day culture, it’s also clear that sports is one of those icons as well. Little wonder then that the two continue to be closely linked.

Music and sports in modern day culture continue to enhance the lives of those who choose to connect the two. Staying healthy is also an issue worth embracing. If you’re a young individual who wants to look ahead with health in mind, you should take a look at the revolutionary, comprehensive and highly affordable individual health insurance solutions created by Precedent specifically for you. For more information, visit us at our website, [http://www.precedent.com]. We offer a unique and innovative suite of individual health insurance solutions, including highly competitive HSA-qualified plans and an unparalleled “real-time” application and acceptance experience.

Sam Noffs asked:




KU basketball has so many retired jerseys that the numbers are not actually retired, instead only the particular jerseys are enshrined while current players recycle the famous numbers. If it were not for this process of reusing numbers after the corresponding jerseys have been retired a program steeped in as much tradition as the University of Kansas would run the risk of actually running out of numbers to outfit their current roster.

The program which played its first season in the nineteenth century (1898) under head coach Doctor James Naismith (the inventor of the game of basketball) has experienced such tremendous success over the years that as of February, 2010 twenty-six (26) jerseys have been retired. While individually going through and scrutinizing every single retired jersey is beyond the scope of this article it is accurate to say that the gambit of enshrined jerseys spans from the curious number 0 (Doc Gooden) to number 60 (Max Falkenstein – a radio announcer). Max Falkstein holds the honor of being the only non-player on the list of retired jersey numbers. Mr. Falkstein, a 1948 graduate of KU, is credited with founding the KU Sports Network and serving an illustrious sixty year career (hence the retired number 60) behind a microphone where he covered over 1,750 basketball games and 650 football games – all for Kansas. Each of the retired jerseys hangs proudly in the Lawrence, Kansas basketball arena known as Allen Field House (named after famed former head coach “Phog” Allen).

The two names that are generally considered to be the best known amongst the list of retired KU basketball jersey numbers are those of Wilt Chamberlain (13) and Paul Pierce (34). Pierce is currently a star player and NBA Champion for the historic Boston Celtics NBA franchise. Wilt Chamberlain is widely considered to be the best basketball player in the history of the game. Even fans that argue that Chamberlain did not win the championships that Bill Russell did or have the athleticism of Michael Jordan or Kobe Bryant can agree that Wilt Chamberlain personally dominated an era unlike anyone else has ever done.

While the parameters for having jerseys retired vary from team to team and from sport to sport the guidelines at KU are actually pretty straightforward. The test generally involves accomplishing at least one of the following achievements:

Being named National Players of the Year by either the National Association of Basketball Coaches, the Associated Press (AP), or the Sporting News Being the winning recipient of either the John R. Wooden Award, Naismith College Player of Year, or the Oscar Robertson Trophy Being named as a consensus All-American, the NCAA Tournament Most Outstanding Player, Big 12 Conference Player of the Year, Academic All-American of the Year,or a two-time first team All-American. These guidelines are just that -guidelines. While these metrics serve as the general prerequisites they are by no means carved in stone and are subject to the discretion of the University of Kansas administration.

Given the pace of KU basketball retired jersey numbers and the rule that current players can wear retired jersey numbers there is a decent chance that sometime in the coming years the University of Kansas will have to deal with having the same jersey number retired by two different players.

Diana Fox asked:




Basketball stars today are making more money than ever before. Children idolize them but so do adults. Every time I play basketball, I imagine myself being in Madison Square Garden playing against the pros. Unfortunately, this all comes crashing down when I get stuffed by someone who out-jumps me. Thankfully, this is no longer the case because I have found the solution to increasing the height of my vertical jump by almost 8 inches! Here is the most important information available to help you do it, too!

When I first started training to play basketball on a competitive level, I knew I had great shots and good enough hustle but I completely lacked the jumping ability to outplay my opponents. In many cases, I was simply humiliated when someone I knew I could beat destroyed me with blocks and rebounds. It had to stop.

I quickly googled the most common ways to improve my jump and found a lot of the same stuff – that I need to build muscle in my legs. Foolishly, I followed these instructions. I began working out my legs and even bought expensive supplements to help me in my goal. I was horrified when I couldn’t jump any higher 2 months later.

Here are just a few basics on how to get an explosive jump:

1. It’s not about muscle! More muscle in your legs can actually make your jump worse. Instead, you need to train key areas in your body to get that explosive jump.

2. Not only do you need strength, but even more important is speed. The ability to move quickly will essentially turn you into a human spring that uses energy 400-times more efficiently than with just brute force.

3. You need good form and balance. Good form will make your body work with you and let you jump higher. This doesn’t just include your legs but also includes your upper body which is essential for getting those extra few inches when you need them. Balance allows you to get into, and hold, proper form. This means you will have the most powerful jump without the risk causing yourself injury.

4. And so, so, much more!

These are just general ideas that most people overlook.

Cade Hiller asked:




There are many different jumping exercises that you can when trying to learn how to dunk for basketball. But most athletes fall into the same destructive patterns of training too much for a short period of time followed by a lack of training because they didn’t get the desired results.

I am here to help you focus on a few jumping exercises that will help you see results in a short period of time. Yes, there are many more plyometric exercises and workouts that you could do, but just focus on these few simple ones for now and you will be okay.

Jumping is all about how much power you can push down against the ground without having any muscle in your legs delay their reaction time at all. This means that if 1 single muscle in your quads, hamstrings, calves, glutes, lower back or stomach is weak it could prevent you from seeing any real improvement in your vertical jump height. So take the time to do some squats and see if there are any areas that are too tight and are preventing you from smoothly going into a full squat and standing all the way back up. If you have tight muscles, they will only become tighter with more training and that will lead to serious injury in the future because tight muscles will pull the joints out of alignment and cause pain with the simplest of movements. The squat will be your very close friend for the next 4 weeks because you will be doing them 3 times a week unless you are sore. Don’t train on sore muscles!

Lee Dobbins asked:




The father of basketball, Dr. James Naismith came up with the game in 1892 and the first game was played in Beaver Falls Pennsylvania on April 8 1893 between the New Brighton YMCA and the Geneva College.
The game was very popular and by 1914 as many as 360 colleges boasted basketball teams. In 1939, the first NCAA Men’s College Basketball Championship tournament was held which was won by the University of Oregon.

The formation of Pro basketball in 1896 came about from a dispute between YMCA team members and officials and ended in the members forming a professional team that played for money. In 1898, the NBL (National Basketball League) was formed and produced the first basketball stars – Ed Wachter and Barney Sedran.

The first two professional basketball teams to achieve success were the Buffalo Germans and the Celtics but during the 1930′s favorites included the New York Renaissance and the Harlem Globetrotters. During this time, womens basketball was also popular and produced great players such as Babe Didrikson and Alline Banks Sprouse.

In 1940, the first college basketball game was shown on TV. This game was played between Pittsburgh and Fordham at Madison Square Garden, and catapulted basketball into a national sensation. Since then basketball has been one of the most watched sports and in fact the March Madness, when almost 350 American colleges compete for the NCAA basketball crown is the most watched event in the United States.

In Pro basketball during the 1940′s and 50′s the Minneapolis Lakers were a huge favorite of many winning 5 NBA championship titles and producing starts like Bob Cousy and Bob Pettit. But during the late 1950′s up until 1969, the Celtics had the court winning 11 NBA titles (8 f them right in a row). During this era favorite players included Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlin of the Philadelphia Warriors.

During 1963 to 1975 The University of California, Los Angeles was in the spotlight winning 10 national championships, including seven in a row. Some of the great players of this UCLA team include Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jamaal Wilkes, Bill Walton, Gail Goodrich and Marques Johnson.

In 1967 the American Basketball Association (ABA) was formed and many will remember one of the satart players Julius Erving as well as their red white and blue basketballs. The ABA only lasted until 1976 when it broke up and many of the teams joined the NBA.

In the 1960′s, womens basketball introduced the 5 player full court format and made dribbling fully legal but it wasn’t until 1985 that the Basketball Hall of Fame began inducting woman coaches and players. Some of the first women to get this honor include Carol Blazejowski, Ann Meyers, Cheryl Miller; Nancy Lieberman-Cline and Anne Donovan.

In the late 1970′s start players like Larry Bird of Indiana State University and Michigan State Universities Magic Johnson emerged and the late 1980s saw such major players as Isiah Thomas and Dennis Rodman. But perhaps the most beloved player of all is Michael Jordan who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in the 1990s.

Dewayne Penney asked:




History has it ways of revealing the truth, especially when it comes to drafting great basketball players. Although, fans will ultimately decide to attend the games based on talent level and character of the players. The Portland Trail Blazers in recent years have had to make some dramatic and unfavorable decisions. Now I won’t talk about the “Micheal Jordan” and “Sam Bowie” mistake. After all, the dust has settled and Micheal Jordan is arguable the greatest basketball player of all time. This leads me to the decision concerning drafting Greg Oden over Kevin Durant. So, lets break down and decide who will be the winner. Will it be the Portland Trail Blazers or the Oklahoma City Thunder.

First, Kevin Durant will be playing in his first All-Star game on Feb, 14, 2010. Durant was chosen by the Western Conference coaches, so the coaches must respect his game. Kevin Durant is avg 29.3 ppg, 7.30 rebounds, 3.0 assist per game, and Kevin is not letting up. The Oklahoma City Thunder have won more games this year than last year. For this reason, Kevin Durant is a much better offensive player than Greg Oden. In comparison, Greg Oden is averaging 11.1 ppg, 9 rebounds, and.09 apg. Even thou Greg is out for the reminder of the season with another knee injury. Injuries has cost Greg Oden a lot of games, and we don’t really know his full offensive abilities. Although, Greg Oden has a larger frame, he should be able to post anyone down low. Greg will have the advantage when it comes to posting smaller players.

Next, Greg Oden has the ability to change the way teams play offense. Oden blocking potential and ability to run the floor is outstanding. He has great defensive attributes in the painted area. Greg Oden is a legit 7 footer with a long wing span. Oden has the ability to score, rebound, block shots, and intimidate opponents. He remind me a lot of a young Bill Russell, but much stronger. At this point, we will have to wait and find out if Greg Oden is truly over the Microfracture and ailing knees. In opposition, Kevin Durant is not a defensive player. He is more of a slasher and jump shooter. He don’t really mix it up down low. I think Kevin would do himself some good if he went into the weight room, and started bulking up. If Durant committed to strength workouts, he would be scary. Both of these guys are still young and improving. I would give the edge to Greg Oden concerning defense Power.

Both players are similar when it comes to winning. Both Greg and Kevin was voted first team High – School All Americans in March of 2007. At Ohio State Greg Oden was described by many professional agents “As a once in a life time type player”. Mainly because of Greg’s blocking potential and his ability to post double stats. On the contrary, Kevin Durant had a outstanding year at Texas. At 6’9, Kevin is capable of playing shooting guard, point guard, and small forward. Kevin Durant is built to be a All – Star for years to come.

Last but not least, Hopefully both players will have outstanding NBA careers. I think the jury is still out on the decision by the Portland Trail Blazers. I know a lot of my friends mention the ghost of “Micheal Jordan” and how many championships we should have won. The Blazers don’t have to re-live the past, but they must know now that the window of opportunity is knocking loud, and we have probably the best center we’ve had since Bill Walton. In spite of injuries, Greg Oden will give us a chance to win a championship some day.

Please refer to the link below concerning additional information or questions.

http://basketballandsports.blogspot.com/

Dewayne N Penney
Basketball Fanatic

Jason Hahn asked:




The lengthy list of the 25 candidates for the 2008 USA Basketball Team for the Olympics has finally been announced. The USA Basketball team looks to redeem themselves after a poor bronze medal showing at the 2004 Olympics.

The list includes 21 NBA stars (in alphabetical order): Carmelo Anthony, Gilbert Arenas, Shane Battier, Chauncey Billups, Chris Bosh, Bruce Bowen, Elton Brand, Kobe Bryant, Dwight Howard, LeBron James, Antawn Jamison, Joe Johnson, Shawn Marion, Brad Miller, Lamar Odom, Chris Paul, Paul Pierce, Michael Redd, Luke Ridnour, Amare Stoudemire, and Dwyane Wade.

J.J. Redick and Adam Morrison, both of whom are currently still in college, are also invited, rounding out the roster to 23 total players.

One player’s exclusion has garnered heated media attention, and his name isAllen Iverson. Many point to Iverson’s age and style of play as reasons for his exclusion, despite his important role in the last Olympics.

“We wanted a team not of individual stars, but athleticism, shooters, role players and distributors,” national team managing director Jerry Colangelo said.

Colangelo is also hoping that high school basketball star Greg Oden will be able to join the team for training this summer.

The 23 players will attend a training camp in Las Vegas in July. The team will then fly to China and South Korea to participate in exhibition games. Afterwards, a 12-man roster will be selected for the world championships held in Japan.

There will be another training camp in 2007, which could be regional Olympic qualifying. It will be followed by another camp and additional exhibition games in 2008, before the Beijing Olympics begin.

The team will be led by Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewski.