Mamba: Your modesty is refreshing, and i say that facetiously. However, with that being said, I believe that Point Guards need to be a little cocky but not arrogant. Coach Mac

You always did have a way with words Mac.... unlike me of course :-)

Thanks Coach Mac and Coach Sar for all the advice . I appreciate it .

We played on Saturday night and we lost by 15 against the top side . It was 8 hours from home, no supports and 500 screaming fans
for the oppostion so it was tough but we done okay . Me on the other hand , not so good . I played 8mins , had 2 rebs , 0/0 fg , and 5
turnovers!!! I dont understand how i can play so confident so demanding and do so well at practice but during the game I play different.
Those 5 T.o were all from travels!!!! Nervous travels!!!! . I came back on in the last Qtr and started to calm down a bit because i started running
the point and started to get the ball through my hands . I also got clobberd by a 230 pound guy . I might be the smallest out there on the court
and the one with the least experince but i know i can beat all these guys . Just why i cant i do it !!!

I spoke with coach after the game and he told me that right now i need to get this college thing out of my mind. He said that i wont go to a
Div 1 school, and if i cant take minutes of these guys on the team i have no chance of going to college . He told me i wont be making money of basketball
when I'm older and I'm no Andrew Bogut. Honestly his words really did upset me Coach . My dream of playing Div 1 ball is slipping because everybody keeps
telling me i can't and the dream of playing in the big league is the impossible dream At the moment .

Anyways the Coach told me now to just focus on the little goals now , like taking minutes of these guys on the team and starting to put up decent numbers .

I've come a long way since i first started playing basketball. I've gone from no one to maybe a someone now but i feel like I've just hit a brick wall . I know it's more of a mental thing than it is physical . Because i dominate trainings most of the times .

I just dont want Me playing in this state league to be the highlight of my basketball Carrer . I dont know what i should do anymore , Tomorrow morning i'm back at in the gym again and just going to keep on working but mentally i feel i'm struggling now .

Just hanging on .

First of all... let me say this again, its hard to tell you things because we are not seeing it... BUT, from your description.. it sounds like you are trying to do too much. Relax, you don't have to be the BEST player on the floor, all you have to be is one of those spokes in the wheel. DON'T try to force things , let the game come to you.

Now, for the D1 thing..... its nice to have goals... so keep this dream in mind... but remember, you have to walk before you run... meaning... doing well where you are playing right now.

I agree with your coach in this way... make yourself some small goals.
1- increase playing time by:
2- Cut down on TOs
3- Play shut down D
4- Get to the free throw line
5- Rebound
6- Take the shots that come to you - don't go searching them out and forcing things...

There are going to be a lot of ups and downs in your life... and its all about how you handle adversity.. so hang in there, keep working on your game... forget about College right now, focus on the team you are playing for currently. Any thoughts now?

Mamba: the more people tell me I cant do something the more determined I am to do it. I was told I was way to small to play Semi-pro Ice hockey but i played for ten years albeit in a second rate league but at least i played. For once, I must disagree with my friend coach Sars because no one and I mean no one should destroy your dreams. However I do agree with his advice to you regarding letting the game come to you and not forcing things. One thing you cant do is let your dreams get in the way of your present play. I firmly believe that if you live in the now instead of in the future, it will become much easier. You have told everyone that you will play D1 basketball, now, that's a lofty goal and i admire your determination however, the more you dream of that the more it tends to get in the way of what you are doing presently. You have managed to put a lot of pressure on yourself and you need to learn to relax. My best advice, stop dwelling on your future and simply play the game you are presently playing. If you are good enough you will realize your goals trust me on this. But right now all I'm hearing is a talker, you need to become a do'er , in other words, dont tell me, show me. Coach Mac

Sorry IF I came across that way.... I sure didn't mean that... I agree with you Mac.... work towards your dreams.

its nice to have goals... so keep this dream in mind.... thats what I mean by this comment....
and by all means.... like Mac said, become more determined to become the BEST player that you can be.

OK Thanks

Hey Guys , Long time !!!

Alot has happend since our last chat and i have to update you but for now i need help with 3 things.

1) I'm still holding on to the ball way to long with my guide hand and it's still causing side spin
what do i have to do to start getting back spin and how long do i have to do it before i can start shooting normal again . P.s It's mid way through the season .

2) When i'm coming off screens to shoot the ball , instead of being balanced i end up catching the pass and fading off to the side while i am shooting it . What can i do to improve that .

3) Passing - i want to improve my full court passing , what kind of things can i do to be able to hit players from full court with chest passes or off the dribble passes.

Hey Mamba, good to hear from you young man. The side spin thing needs to be corrected by a coach who knows what hes talking about. However, there was a player in the NBA way before you were born by the name of Oscar Robertson. Now apparently when he was playing at Cincinnati University, he developed the same problem. He was advised to put his guide hand behind his back and from about three feet in front of the basket, drop the ball let it bounce in your hand and then complete your shot without your guide hand. He did this relentlessly until the guide hand became only that, a guide hand. It has nothing to do with the shot it simply guides the ball. He still holds the highest shooting percentage in NBA history a whopping 56% from outside and with no three point line.

coming off screens is simply timing, if you come off under control, hands ready to catch the ball and making the correct planting of your feet you will be fine. Make sure you come off the screener's shoulder, stay low and think shot upon catching the ball. If you are a right handed shooter and you are coming from right to left off the screen plant your right foot and square up to the basket. From the other direction plant the left foot. Practice young man Practice.

Passing is a skill that is developed with tons of hard work. Drill drill drill, work on your strength. practice with both hands, in fun games with your friends, practice passes that would make your coaches frown. When Pete Maravich was young and playing high school basketball as a middle schooler, his passes were so unexpected his teammates couldn't control them or never knew where they were coming from. Pete was way ahead of his time, but his father, Press, talked to Pete's high school coach and told him to have his players expect the unexpected and always be ready. I loved the Pistol..Coach Mac p.s. if you can find his ball handling dvd's get it, if Jeff or Joe have it buy it, it will be well worth it...

It has been awhile. Coach Mac has given you some great advice here...... I used that very same technique with players that had the side spin. I had him start against the wall though. That is how I taught younger kids in my shooting camps.

We started with BEEF check and went from block to center of basket to other block..... one dribble, bring the ball up with one hand (non shooting hand behind the back) and shoot the ball. The next part was the same drill but the non shooting hand was along side the ball without touching it. (making sure that the non shooting hand was pretty flat) The last step was allowing the non shooting hand on the ball but NOT allowing the guide hand to push off the ball. Make sure that you keep that hand steady - like when you are releasing the ball you can see the palm of your hand. - You do not want the thumb of your guide hand to turn towards the basket. I hope this helps.

The key to playing this game or any other sport is to play under control.... and it all starts with a good base. Again, Coach Mac hit this one right on. (as usual)