Finishing and getting fouled like Monta Ellis

ok thanks Mr.Haefner I just needed to find a way to get more backspin.

Great advice Joe.... I've been trying to answer his questions and give him some good information...

This is what I said a few posts earlier:

"Now, with all this stuf being thrown at you... get comfortable with a good form and please don't drive yourself nuts over all this info...
make sure you have good form and then go out and practice it"....

Like you say... "go shoot the dang ball!"

And above all... HAVE FUN.

Yeah. And you've been giving great advice, Ken!

I was afraid that I was overloading him with info.. but as long as he was is asking I will try to help him out.. he seems to be very mature for his age..... and really wants to get better and succeed. I do enjoy helping you Ben, so as long as you ask I will try to answer you or find the information you are looking for.


Maybe too smart LOL :-) Just kidding Ben. ( I only wish I was that smart at your age ) Keep shooting and relax a little bit.... have fun.

I'm glad you added to the conversation Joe... he needs to hear from someone else other than me... I do enjoy trying to help him... I worked with guys his age for `13 years and I enjoyed that a lot.. I moved to the high school level so I could grow as a coach.

You should of seen me today. I was making everything( a little over exaggerated). I had backspin on almost every single shot. I usually shoot 10 free throws at the end of each shootaround. My goal is 7 out of 10 but today I went 9 for 10. I did the BEEF check and made 50 form shots. I think my shot is finally clicking. Good balance, good form, good followthrough, good arc and good backspin.

Things are beginning to pay off for you - keep up the good work!!
I'm proud of you Ben, you know what you want and are willing to work for it..... I bet you are one happy camper tonight.

You had one of those days where you were in a "zone" - and that comes from a lot of practice and you paying attention to details. Remember that some days you cant hit the ocean from the shore... but if you practice a lot.. you will be just fine.

All that stuff we have talked about - pick out what is helping you and forget about the rest. And to think that this all started with you wanting to Finish and get fouled like Monta Ellis. :-)

A couple of short stories... I had some kids that would come in during the summer and shoot around for an hour or so... as partners... there shots were great and consistent... we had one kid that came in every day during the summer and shoot 1,000 free throws.... EVERY DAY. You know who had the ball in his hands at the end of games... he was like automatic - 90+ % in the fourth quarter when the games were on the line. So, hard work does pay off... and these kids were seniors... you're a 7th grader with this work ethic.

Everyone should work as hard as you are... want to make it more interesting and more fun..... find someone to partner up with that has the same goals that you do. AND, if you can find some games with older guys that will let you play with them... you will get better.

Thanks a lot. I have to owe a lot of it to you. You have given me so much information about shooting, ballhandling, well pretty much every thing in basketball.

Merry Christmas!!!
Ben

Your welcome ..... thanks for saying that... makes it all worth while! I get to see you grow as a person and a basketball player via this site.... I enjoy giving back to the sport that was so good to me.... especially to guys that appreciate it.

Merry Christmas to you too Ben, I hope you have a great day.

Ken

I forgot to mention that I was remembering to put my hand into the cookie jar.

Don't forget to grab me a chocolate chip! :-)

It must all be coming together now for you.... and thats great!

By the way, as for your career choices --

Find something that you enjoy doing so much that you'd do it for nothing, and pretty soon you'll be paid more than you can spend.
AND you will never work a day in your life!

Merry Christmas!

I got a new basketball and a basketball Hoop.

I wanted to ask what you thought about the book Everyon Hates a Ball Hog but They all Love a Scorer becaused I also got that for Christmas too.

Merry Christmas Ben!

Ahh... you got the tools of your trade... a new ball and hoop! You must have been a good boy.....Santa was good to you! :-)

I've never read that book... but from the Title... I would say... ISN'T THAT THE TRUTH!!

You can never have too many scorers.... after you get into the book - let me know what they have to say...... OK?

Have a great day... and thanks for posting today.

Ken

I did forget to mention th author was koran godwin leading scorer at UNF.

I was thinking I can give you the tips he writes at the end of each chapter.
Lesson 1:The Godwin Theory
-Break the game down into quarters and halves.
-Set a reasonable goal to score a certain number of points per quarter.
-Don't rely on one aspect of your game to score points.
-Focus on scoring points and not just getting shots.
-Learn how to score with your mind and not just your feet.

These are great points...

I knew of a coach that broke his game down into smaller segments... college coach... 20 minute halves broken down into
four 5 minute segments.. that way you can focus on the one at hand and not the overall score... helps if you are losing too.
- Take each one of your quarters and break them down further.

These are all good things.. I am going to pass this on to a friend of mine, they are focused on getting shots up.. shot 76 the other night and lost..... I want good shots.. they shot themselves out of the game in the first half.

Setting up a teammate with a good pass for a shot is like you scoring points. Rebounds and put backs or tip ins... or tipping it to another player...

I think that scoring with your mind has a lot to do with setting up your defender for a screen or getting yourself open by various moves... V cuts, rubbing your man off on someone, one of your own players or theirs.

Here is a little thought, you don't necessarily have to be the fastest guy on the floor.. but what you can do is to change you speeds... slow and then a quick burst of speed. It's much easier defending a guy that plays full out all the time rather than a guy that changes speeds all the time... because then they don't kbnow what you are going to do.

I like this ...

Ken

That is exactly what the author is saying. score with your mind, have gears 1-4 different speeds. lull the defender to sleep and then blast by him out of the triple threat. Ill keep posting these tips.
Also, Jeff Haefner has a review on the book, mentions breakthroughbasketball.

Koran Godwins website is jumpstarthoops.com

Thanks for that info........

We used to run a drill, we called it change of pace and change of direction.... slow at first - plant your foot and explode in another direction...

Lesson 2: You are what you watch
-Find someone who is successful and study his or her game film.
-Pay attetention to the subtle details that make that person successful.
-If you see something you like, implement it in your game.

More good lessons....

I always said... pay attention to the little things... then the big things will take care of themselves.

Just don't burden yourself with too much info at one time... maybe write some things down and implement them a little at a time? Use the stuff that will work for you... and as you practice the other things you will become much better.

You wont become Michael Jordan over night. (it might take a few days) :-)

Here is another thing about setting goals..... Write them down... otherwise it is just a wish list. You need to see them in black and white every day. Just a thought.

Ken

ok. Ya you were right about Michael Jordan:)