NBA News Update - Suspensions total 47 games from Knicks-Nuggets fight!

I don't wanna fight no more... Westlife song.

The NBA came down hard on the New York Knicks and the Denver Nuggets for brawling, and no player involved was spared.
Carmelo Anthony, who got the harshest punishment, 15-game suspension. And the teams themselves, who were fined an unprecedented half-million dollars.
Marc Stein's take ESPN.com's Marc Stein has instant reactions to the main MSG Fight Night penalties meted out Monday by NBA commissioner David Stern. To read more of his analysis.
"We have set up the goal of eliminating fighting from our game. We haven't eliminated it completely," Commissioner David Stern said in meting out the penalties.
NBA players' union director Billy Hunter said he would talk to Anthony and his agent Tuesday before deciding whether to pursue arbitration to reduce the suspension. In comments with multiple media outlets, Hunter said 15 games for Anthony was "a bit heavy" compared with previous discipline for similar incidents.
"The message could have gotten through with lesser games," Hunter told Newsday on Monday night before the Knicks played the Jazz in New York. "There's no justification for the 15 games other than the fact that the commissioner clearly wants to send a message."
Anthony's agent, Calvin Andrews, told news media in Denver there was "no precedent" for the length of Anthony's suspension to be as long.
"Anthony obviously was not very happy. He wasn't expecting this many games," Andrews said, adding that a possible appeal will be discussed on Tuesday.
Per the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, Anthony can attempt to get his suspension lessened through arbitration because it is longer than 12 games. So far, Anthony hasn't announced whether he will try to do this. Regardless, his suspension began immediately, starting with Monday night's home victory over the Wizards.
There is precedent for reducing suspensions. After the Pacers-Pistons brawl, an arbitrator lessened Jermaine O'Neal's suspension from 25 to 15 games.
In all, seven players were suspended for a fight that spilled into the stands at Madison Square Garden with just over a minute left in Saturday night's game. The penalties were without pay, costing Anthony about $641,000 in salary.
It was the NBA's scariest scene since the brawl between Indiana Pacers players and Detroit Pistons fans two years ago. The league is still recovering from that episode, and Stern made it clear the players needed to control themselves -- or else.
"I was very disappointed," he said. "Clearly, we're not getting through or players in certain circumstances just don't want to be restrained. I would suggest that those players will not have long careers in the NBA."
Also penalized: Denver's J.R. Smith for 10 games; New York's Nate Robinson for 10 games; Mardy Collins, six; teammate Jared Jeffries, four. The Knicks' Jerome James and the Nuggets' Nene each were penalized one game for leaving the bench area during the chaos.
Though there was no separate penalty for Knicks coach Isiah Thomas, who warned Anthony not to go into the lane before the mayhem started, Nuggets coach George Karl singled him out for the sharpest criticism, calling his actions "despicable."
Nuggets and Knicks Suspensions :
DENVER
Carmelo Anthony suspend for 15 game.
Salary lost: $640,096.50 Able to return: Jan. 20 at Houston

J.R. Smith 10 game-suspention
Salary lost: $126,141.81 Able to return: Jan. 8 vs. Milwaukee

Nene 1 game-suspention
Salary lost: $72,727.27 Able to return: Dec. 20 vs. Phoenix

NEW YORK
Nate Robinson 10 game-suspention
Salary lost: $107,770.90 Able to return: Jan. 10 vs. 76ers.

Mardy Collins 6 game-suspention
Salary lost: $49,084.36 Able to return: Dec. 31 at Clippers

Jared Jeffries 4 game-suspention
Salary lost: $189,636.36 Able to return: Dec. 27 vs. Detroit

Jerome James 1 suspention
Salary lost: $49,090.90 Able to return: Dec. 20 vs. Charlotte

"There's no question in my mind it was premeditated," Karl said. "He made a bad situation worse. He's a jerk for what he's trying to do."
If there's any upside to the story, it's that the Knicks and Nuggets won't play again this season.
"The incident was deeply regrettable, unacceptable on every level and I hope and expect to never witness anything like it again. We are all very sorry it happened," Garden chairman James Dolan said.
The fight started just as Denver's 123-100 victory was wrapping up, and 10 players were ejected.
Stern was especially troubled by the fight between Robinson and Smith that landed in the seats.
"My concern is actually for the safety of the players and the fans, and when things get out of hand you cannot predict or project where they're going to go," Stern said. "There were certain players who weren't going to allow themselves to be calmed."
There was speculation Thomas would be penalized for his comments to Anthony. Stern acknowledged hearing about it, but said he relied only on "definitive information" when handing out punishments.
But Stern was clearly annoyed by remarks from Thomas and the Knicks that the Nuggets were somehow responsible because they kept four starters on the floor late in the blowout.
The brawl began when Collins prevented Smith from an easy basket by grabbing him around the neck and taking him to the floor.
Smith got up and immediately started jawing with Collins, and Robinson jumped in to pull Smith away. Anthony shoved Robinson, and Robinson and Smith then tumbled into the front row while fighting.
Just as things appeared to be calming down, Anthony threw a hard punch that floored Collins. Jeffries sprinted from the baseline toward halfcourt in an effort to get at Anthony, but was tackled by a Denver player.
By the time security finally contained Smith, the players were nearly at the opposite end of the court from where things started.
Earlier Monday, while the Knicks held their morning shootaround, Thomas didn't back away from assertions that Karl left his starters in the game too long.
"I can't speak for him, but he put his players in a tough position," Thomas said. "I think he put his players in a very bad position."
In Denver, Karl was blunt with his criticism of Thomas.
"I think his actions after the game were despicable. He made a bad situation worse. I'll swear on my children's life that I never thought about running up the score. I wanted to get a big win on the road.
"My team has had trouble holding leads at the end of games," he added. "I didn't want the score to get under 10 points because if it would've gotten under 10 points it would've had a negative feeling on my team."
The Nuggets saw a 25-point, first-half lead dwindle to just two points in the fourth quarter Monday night, but held on to beat the Washington Wizards 117-108 without its suspended players.
Thomas declined comment on Karl's remarks. His undermanned Knicks upset the Utah Jazz in overtime Monday night 97-96 on a layup by Stephon Marbury just before the buzzer.
"We are in concurrence with whatever the league has offered us, and whatever the commissioner said we support and will abide by," Thomas said.
Karl has bigger problems now. He'll be without Anthony until the Nuggets' game at Houston on Jan. 20, and Smith will be gone until Jan. 8. That duo combines for more than 48 points a game.
"It's going to be tough," said Nuggets center Marcus Camby, one of the five players ejected who wasn't suspended. "It's already tough being in the Western Conference, and missing guys like J.R. and Carmelo is going to make it even worse."
Anthony's conduct represents a big blow to the All-Star player, team and league. He starred as a captain on the U.S. team at the world championships this summer, and had been getting more marketing opportunities as one of the league's brightest young stars.
Stern took none of that into account when issuing his decision."We judged him on his actions on the court, period," Stern said. "And they deserved a harsh penalty."

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NBA News - Nuggets' Anthony Banned 15 Games in NBA Fight!

National Basketball Association scoring leader Carmelo Anthony was banned for 15 games and six other players on the Denver Nuggets and New York Knicks also received suspensions for the teams' brawl in Saturday night’s game December 16.

New York's Nate Robinson and Denver's J.R. Smith, whose fight spilled into the front row of the stands, each were suspended for 10 games; Mardy Collins, who started the fight by intentionally fouling Smith, was banned for six games; New York's Jared Jeffries was suspended for four games; and Denver's Nene and New York's Jerome James each were given one-game suspensions, NBA Commissioner David Stern said.

The fight with 1:15 remaining in the Nuggets' 123-100 win was the worst in an NBA game since a brawl involving players and fans in suburban Detroit two years ago.

``It is our obligation to take the strongest possible steps to avoid such failures in the future and to make a statement to all who follow the game of basketball that we understand our obligations and take them seriously,'' Stern said in a news release.

Each team also was fined $500,000.

``If you continue to employ employees who engage in these actions, your organization is going to have to pay a price,'' Stern said on a conference call.

No action was taken against coaches Isiah Thomas of the Knicks or George Karl of the Nuggets. The New York Times said today that Thomas was under investigation for possibly instigating the fight.

``If I thought somebody were given a specific order to hurt another player, I would react differently, and I don't think that happened here,'' Stern said on the call.

Karl, who spoke to reporters during a morning practice, said ``there's no question, it's wrong,'' when told that Thomas received no suspension.

``It was directed by Isiah,'' Karl said.
Karl also blasted Thomas for claiming the Nuggets, who led comfortably before the fight, were trying to run up the score.

``I think his actions after the game were despicable,'' Karl said. ``He made a bad situation worse. I'll swear on my children's life that I never thought about running up the score.''

Knicks spokesman Jonathan Supranowitz declined to comment on the suspensions.

Both teams play at home tonight, the Knicks against Utah and the Nuggets against Washington.

The loss to Denver left the Knicks 9-17 for the season under Thomas, the team's president, who has been given the full campaign by owner James Dolan to produce improvement in the squad. Madison Square Garden has been less than full for several games this season and fans repeatedly have booed the home team's performance.

The fight included a punch to Collins's face by Anthony. No fans were involved and no injuries were reported.

NBA rules mandate at least a one-game suspension for a thrown punch, regardless of whether it connects. Anthony apologized last night, saying he let his emotions get the best of him.

``My actions were inexcusable and I am sorry for making this an even more embarrassing situation,'' Anthony said in the statement released by the Nuggets.

Anthony will lose $787,333 of his $4.7 million contract this season due to the suspension, while Robinson will be docked $137,333 and Smith $157,555.

Anthony, who leads the NBA with a 31.6-points-a-game average, is among the league's most visible players.

``We'll do what we have to do to help develop his career over the very long time that he has left in it, but he'll have to accept the consequences of his actions,'' Stern said on the call.

His absence also comes as the Nuggets (13-9), seventh in the Western Conference, consider trading for former Most Valuable Player Allen Iverson of Philadelphia.

Anthony, Smith, Eduardo Najera, Marcus Camby and Andre Miller were ejected for Denver, while Collins, Jeffries, Robinson, Channing Frye and David Lee were thrown out of the game for New York.

The fight was the first major altercation involving NBA players since the Nov. 19, 2004, melee at the Palace of Auburn Hills, Michigan, involving the Pacers, Detroit Pistons and fans.

Stern suspended Indiana's Ron Artest for the remainder of the 82-game season (73 games) for entering the stands that night after being hit by a cup thrown by a fan following a clash of players.

Indiana's Stephen Jackson was banned for 30 games, Jermaine O'Neal received a 25-game suspension later reduced to 15, Anthony Johnson was banned for five games and Pistons forward Ben Wallace was suspended for six.

The Knicks' most recent major scuffle was in January 2001, when Camby, then with New York, threw a punch at San Antonio's Danny Ferry. Camby missed on the punch, then butted heads with Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy, who sustained a cut above his left eye that required a dozen stitches.

Van Gundy's Knicks also had fights with the Miami Heat during the 1997 and 1998 playoffs.

In 1997, a brawl in Miami led to one-game suspensions for the Knicks' Larry Johnson, Patrick Ewing, Charlie Ward, Allan Houston and John Starks, while the Heat's P.J. Brown received a two-game ban. New York dressed only nine players for the final two games, both won by the Heat.

A year later, Johnson and Miami's Alonzo Mourning were suspended for two games for squaring off after battling for position under the Heat basket, then throwing punches.

Source from bloomberg.com

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Basketball Training Tips - Advance Dribbling

After able to make same basic move, know we are going to the higher step… Here are some, check them out!

Butterfly
Butterflies: Low and in stance, take two dribbles right between your feet, then reach behind you and take two more dribbles in the same spot. Reach back in front and repeat as often and as fast as you can.

Dribbling to avoid pressure
By dribbling the ball over half court on the sideline, you are giving the defense an advantage. They can set up their help side defense or trap you. Change directions and it helps relieve some pressure. As often as possible, bring the ball up the middle of the court.

Dribbling to avoid the pressure
By dribbling the ball over half court on the sideline, you are giving the defense an advantage. They can set up their help side defense or trap you. Change directions and it helps relieve some pressure. As often as possible, bring the ball up the middle of the court.

Figure 8 Dribble
A good way to become more comfortable in dribbling is to use dribbling drills. An excellent beginning drill is the Figure 8 Dribble. Spread your legs and bend at the waist. Dribble the ball through your legs, around one leg, back through your legs, and around the other. By keeping your head up not looking at the ball and increasing the speed of your dribble, you will become a better dribbler.

Hesitation Move
In this move, you try to get the defender off balance, and then you explode by the defender to score the basket or to penetrate and dish off to a teammate for the score. Always give equal practice time to both hands. Example: dribble with the right hand, hard and fast towards the basket, then almost come to a stop(still dribbling), and then explode hard to the hoop. Tip: you want to make your defender believe that you are going to stop to take the jumpshot, but then you drive by them instead.

Machine Gun
machine gun: Builds coordination and gives you a good feel for the ball. Dribble very low and very fast. Vary the angle at which you strike the ball.

Multiple ball dribbling
Practice dribbling with more than one basketball at the same time. Try switching the balls by going behind the back and through the legs. When you get good with two balls move up to three. Try to keep all of them bouncing at all times. It isn`t easy. This will help you be more comfortable dribbling through traffic in a real game situation.

One on Two
A good drill to use to better your dribbling under pressure is to try to advance the ball against two defenders. This will force you to use a variety of manuevers while being alert to the defense.

Power dribbling sprints
This drill requires you to power dribble for an extended period of time and run back and forth on the basketball court. Stand at one end of a basketball court. Dribble to the nearest foul line, and then return to the baseline. Dribble to themiddle of the court, and then return to the baseline from which you started. Dribble to the farthest foul line, and then return to the baseline from which you started. Finally, dribble the entire length of the court, and return to the baseline from which you started. This entire continuous power dribbling exercise counts as one complete cycle of the drill. Repeat multiple times to practice your dribbling, speed, and direction-changing abilities.

Power dribbling-Double ball
Power dribble two balls, one in each hand. This will increase your arm strength for dribbling and enhance your dribbling control. Since you can`t look at both hands at the same time, this drill will also practice your ability to power dribble without looking at the ball.

Power dribbling blindfolded
Wrap a cloth around your head as a blindfold, or you could simply close your eyes...no peeking. Power dribble a ball for at least 60 seconds. This drill helps you enhance your tactile sense of the ball. You can enhance the drill by performing it in the center of a deserted basketball court, walking around while dribbling. To make the drill even more challenging, try power dribbling two balls, one in each hand, while being blindfolded and slowly walking around a deserted basketball court.

Power dribbling-3 chair dribbling
Set up 3 chairs or cones in a line, spacing each chair/cone 10 feet apart. Power dribble around the chairs/cones in different shapes, such as figure-eights, circles, or any shape. Use your imagination.

Power dribbling-Dirt dribbling
This drill actually requires you to leave the basketball court and find a patch of dirt. Do a Power dribble on the dirt for 1 or 2 minutes. You will need to power dribble the ball even harder than usual in order to get the ball to bounce on the dirt. This drill is an extremely good arm workout with power dribbling.

Power dribbling - Dribble between legs while walking
In order to do this drill you will need a segment of floor, such as a basketball court floor, a street`s sidewalk, or a wide hallway that is deserted. Power dribble while walking up and down the walkway. Power dribble the ball between your legs to practice fancy dribbling skills. To enhance the drill, perform the drill at a quicker walking pace, maybe at a light jogging pace.

Speed Dribble
The speed dribble is used to advance the ball quickly up the floor, against little or no defensive pressure.The dribblers hand should be behind the ball pushing it in front, then running to catch up. This prevents a "palming" or "carrying over" violation. The speed dribble on the open floor can be a little higher than other dribbles. Control dribble moves should be around the knee, but a speed dribble can be waist to chest high.

Spin Dribble
Dribble in one direction then quickly jump stop, reverse pivot, take an extra dribble with the same hand, then push the ball in front of you and explode past the defender. The move must be done low and under control to protect the ball and not create a turnover.

Stationary dribbles
Stationary dribbles: Crouch down in defensive position and dribble the ball at a moderate height (about 2 feet off ground), then at a high height (shoulder level), and finally low (about 4 inches off the ground) - do with both hands. Change the speed and the "rhythm" of the dribble as you go.

Stutter step move
This similar to the hesitation dribble. Always give both hands equal practice time. Example: dribble hard with the left hand, trying to go by your defender, then brake hard, quickly stutter your left, right, and left foot... then explode to the basket!
This is a great move for a guard also. Dribble hard toward the defender, take some hard steps in place, and then go fast past the defense. Often you will catch them flat footed and you will have an open lane to the basket.

Use angles
One of the most important techniques to bringing the ball up the floor is to use angles to your advantage. Rather than trying to put on some great move and go by someone, the novice point guard should concentrate on a low dribble, protecting the ball with their body and an arm bar, then advance the ball up the floor using 45 degree angles. When they feel pressure and the defense is in front of them, they should change directions and attack at another 45 degree angle.

Use of the Dribble
Minimize your dribble--use it for a purpose. We try to limit the dribble to these uses:
- Advance the ball up the floor.
- Take the ball to the basket.
- Improve your passing angle.
- Get out of trouble (avoid a five second call or avoid a trap).

30 second “free style”
30 second “free style”-for 30 seconds practice a variety of your very best moves. Mix up your dribble moves(crossover, inside out, between the legs, behind the back, etc. Change the speed and the "rhythm" of the dribble, change the combination of the dribble moves.

Kentucky Dribbling Workout
NOTES:Make each move from a position outside the 3-pt arc. Always start on the right side. Make the move to the basket. Use the moves with lay ups, power lay up and jump shots, rebound, dribble out and make the same move out to the other side. Repeat.When using with jump shots take 1 or 2 dribbles by the defender before shooting. Make the moves in this section at GAME speed.
*** You can also do these moves at the top of the key, using right and left hand.

Ok, these are all I know about driblling. I hope its helpful. Now it’s time to count how many ankle that you broke, I mean it’s time for you to be an anklebreaker. Now, go to the court and crossover the man in front of you! It’s will be a good feeling, man. Because we love this game!!!
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Basic Dribble

Here are some BASIC dribble tips…

• Developing your off hands! It is important to remember that the dripping with the yolks of the finger is the key to control. In order to develop control of the yolk of the finger, to drip with as soon as a finger simultaneously, only using the yolk of the finger of the finger that makes the dripping.
• Keep Your Head up! To protect the Ball When dribbling against a defender, ALWAYS protecting the ball with your body. You can do this dribbling with your left hand when you go to the left and your right hand when you go to the right. This will force defender to reach through your body to try to rob.
• One-given side! One-handed side “V”: Also to know like regate “of reciprocal movement”, ball of regate in a moderate height advanced behind and in an oscillating movement. With the right hand, and a position with your left foot in the front and the posteriora part of the right foot inside and your knees doubled, to drip with the right hand in the side of your body, in front to move backwards and again to in front (with only the right hand). Key: in order to drip of the front to the posteriora part, you must put your hand in cover and towards the front of the ball, and push the ball the posteriora part. When you drip again to in front, you must put your hand in the cover and the later part of the ball to again push it the front. Cerciorarte of which DES equal hour to practice with your left hand.
• Between the legs! Another way more outpost to change directions and to protect the ball is with a between regate of the legs. This must be only used when it is necessary like change of the step, and not to be of luxury or “showboat”. To drip in a direction, to jump the shutdown, and to drip the ball of the front to move backwards and between your legs to protect the ball. To change the directions with a great step and to explode by the defender.
• Crossover Dribble! When doing crossover a quick and sudden change of the weight and the movement will obtain to you beyond your defender. Cerciorarte of which you before put your weight in the foot the direction which you wish to go. This will make your true glance false. Then cruzarte above to the other side with a great step to explode beyond your defender. Regate of the crossing must be lower and than closest to your body than the other it drips. If able to do this regate of the crossing, or you are ready for Freestyle!

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Basketball Training Tips - Ballhandling

After know about position, it's time for us to having fun to play the games. If you are a basketball-mania, i believe that you are also playing the game not even watching it. It’s important for us to know how to play well if you really want to enjoy the games. You see Allen Iverson doing crossover, Vince Carter makes windmill dunk, T-mac has some amazing moves, Steve Nash make an incredible pass… they’re all practice before. From basic to additional skill, body conditioning and learning strategy. You know, all skill is start from the basic skill… I mean, you can play well or consistant if you don’t have a good basic. I mean basic is important in playing basketball, so we will start from the basic… What is basic? It’s you can drible the ball, pass the ball, shoot the ball and drive to the basket to get some point.

Coaches like a person who can dribble with both hands...someone who doesn´t try to show off all the time...who just gets the job done...someone who isn´t afraid to make the extra pass to get a teammate more open than you even if you are wide open...and if coaches like you, then they tell other coaches and word spreads very quickly and just by doing the little things you can have a name for yourself by just doing the things coaches like. Here are some basic dribble tips:
At first, i will post some ballhandling training tips. Why not practice shooting first? Everyone can shot the basketball (maybe not a proper form), but no one can start playing a basketball with driblling the ball well. Basketball is not only about shooting the ball. You must has good ballhandling for dribble the ball to avoid defender’s steal, here are some ballhandling training tips and advice…

Around the World
Around the World: Circling the basketball first around your head, than your waist, Finally, put your legs together and take the ball around both legs at the knees. Then spread your legs, bend at the waist, and take the ball around one leg. Then the other. This will give you a feel for the basketball and help you become more comfortable in your ball handling. A good hand speed and coordination drill, also great conditioner for your arms.

Ball Circle
A great way to become comfortable with the basketball is to take it and circle it around your head, then around your waist, and, finally, around your knees. Reverse direction and take the ball back up--around the knees, waist, and head.
Between the Legs Scissors
To start this basketball drill, place your left foot ahead of your right and bounce the ball between your legs from your right hand to your left. As the ball gets to your left hand shift your feet so that your right leg goes ahead of your left and bounce the ball back between your legs. This shifting of your feet will occur with every bounce.

Catch-catch-catch
This is a drill to work on your ballhandling. Hold the ball between your legs, with both hands on the ball, right hand in front and left hand in back. Quickly switch your hands,(now left hand in front and right hand in the back), without letting the ball touch the ground. Do as quickly as possible...this drill is one of the hardest to master... but it just takes lots of practice.

Crab Walk
This drill can go from baseline to half court. Step forward with your left leg and pass the ball from your right hand to your left under your left leg. As you take your next step with your right leg, pass the ball from your left hand to your right under your right leg. Continue this pattern all the way down the floor.

Figure 8
Spread your legs, bend at the waist, put the ball through your legs, around one leg, back through your legs, and around your other leg, making a figure eight. This will help you get a feel for the basketball as you move it around. Keep your head up not looking at the ball and increase your speed.
Figure 8 Dribbling
This is a drill to practice your ballhandling. Dribble the ball as quickly as possible in a figure 8 through and around the legs. Use the fingers when you dribble, and dribble very low and quickly. Switch from the right to the left and back to the right. Example: start with the right hand dribbling the ball in front and then dribble through your legs with your right hand, switch to your left hand and dribble from the back, around your left side to the front and back through you legs... then switch to your right hand behind the body and around the right side. Try to go as fast as possible, and your dribbling skills will improve with daily practice.

Figure Eight Drop
The ball is moved around the outside of the left legfrom the back to the front. Then it is passed in front of your body and around the outside of your right leg from front to back. Now the ball is between your legs at the back of your body. Bounce the ball, and as it is bouncing, reverse your hands, bring your right from the back to the front and your left from the front to the back. Catch the ball before it bounces again. Continue to do figure eights.

Figure Eight Drop Reverse
For this drill, follow the procedure described in the Figure Eight Drop Drill, except that when you bounce the ball, your movement will be reversed. After the bounce, circle the ball around the outside of your right leg, in front of your left leg, and around your left leg from the front to the back.

Figure Eight--Running in Place
Move the ball around your legs as in the Figure Eight Drill, but in addition, run in place.

Pass and Catch
With 2 hands, make a bounce pass between your legs from front to back and catch the ball with 2 hands behind you. Then bounce the ball through your legs from the back to the front, and catch the ball in front of your body. This is a good drill for body awareness.

Situp Dribble
While doing bent-knee situps, dribble up with your right hand as you sit up, and around your feet, then switch hands to your left as you go back down, and then dribble with your left hand as you sit up, back around your feet, switching back to your right hand. Continue as quickly as possible.

Squeeze the banana
This is a drill that helps increase the strength in your fingers. Hold the ball in front of you at eye level with two hands. By squeezing your fingers and thumb together with one hand at a time, you move the ball from one hand to the other as quickly as you can.More finger and arm strength will improve your ball control.

Touch-Touch-Touch
This is another ballhandling drill that seems very difficult at first, but with daily practice, will improve your handles. This drill is called touch-touch-touch because that is what you do... while keeping the ball between your legs, you touch the ball once with your right hand(fingers) in front, then with your left hand(fingers) in front, then with your right behind you, and then with your left behind you. Continue in this manner as fast as possible. Before long, you will master this skill.

Up the Ladder
Hold the ball out in front of you and pass it back from hand to hand using only your finger tips. Go from out in front of your waist to above your head and back. This will help you develop the finger tip control that you will need to properly handle the ball.

More are coming soon...

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The Position

After knowing on history and some original rules of the basketball, I think that we must verify on the position of the player… The five tactical positions of the basketball used normally by the organized equipment of basketball are: center, power forward, small forwad, and point guard. The rules of the basketball do not assign them by mandate, and in informal games they are not used sometimes. They are grouped in two conceptual units: the frontcourt and the backcourt.
Position of Backcourt
Center
Center often called the "five", the center plays generally as heart of the team, also called the post player. The center is not generally the best gunner in the equipment but most of the times they are the player more hard in the equipment and can maneuver under low point in the paint to make most of his write down. The center is used a lot of times for pick and roll plays which involve himself and the point guard. In the professional basketball and the university, the height for a center is of near 6'10" / 2.08 m or taller. Hardly because the centers are often the greatest people in the cut do not mean that he is less expert anyway. To take to the strong ball the basket is a key to win and to inculcar fear in opponents. If your equipment has a strong center, you finish upon most of obtaining the bounces that do not give return in points to no matter if bounces were or defensive offensive. Remarkable NBA centers assets at the moment includes Shaquille O'Neal, Ben Wallace, Yao Ming, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Marcus Camby, Dikembe Mutombo, and Alonzo Mourning.
Power Forward
Power Forward, also designated the "four", it plays generally in the opposed side of the key of the center, and can frequently double like center. The PF is little more movable than centers, that help you to fix many games for above to the cut. Most of the PF can throw the middle shots of range, extending not more than ten on 15 feet far from the basket. The PF generally the range of near 6'7" / 2.01 m or highest ones in the game of the men, and also it tends robust to be constructed, with most of they extending from 230-260 lb/105-120 kilogram. The remarkable active Power Forward of NBA's forward includes Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O'Neal, Rasheed Wallace, Elton Brand, Tim Duncan, Amare Stoudamire, Kenyon Martin, Dwight Howard, and Dirk Nowitzki.
Small forward

The small forward, or the "three", is most versatile of the five starters, simply because they can do it everything: to handle the ball, the game in the post, and to get points whenever he is needed. They are not as physical as the energy sends and it is centered. Something, takes more outside shots but they can move to inside generally when they need. Small forward in the average of the basketball players at level superior of near 6'5" / 1.96 m to 6'11" / 2.11 m tall. SF can replace for any player in the court with exception of point guards, because they cannot generally control the ball as well as point guard. Small forward that remarkable active in current NBA includes LeBron James, Shawn Marion, Tracy McGrady, Gerald Wallace, Tayshaun Prince, Andrei Kirilenko, Ron Artest, Richard Jefferson, Peja Stojakovic, Anthony Melo, Paul Pierce, Josh Smith, Andrea Iguodala and Grant Hill.

Position of the Frontcourt
Point Guard
Point Guard or also called the "one", is the floor of the general equipment and the best one to ballhandler in the equipment. It is generally fastest, or one of the fastest players in the floor. It occurs the task always of controlling the speed and the possession of the game of the ball. A protector of the good point watches to obtain the rest of the implied equipment before he thinks to throw. Nevertheless, it is always ready to create shots and the account indicates in case of necessity. The protectors of the point work to equipment and are generally one of the shortest players on the court. The protective means of the point classify typically for above in 6 "5" /1.96 m inferior in the basketball of the professional men and schoolboy. The remarkable active point guard of the NBA includes Jason Kidd, Mike Bibby, Stephon Marbury, Chris Paul, Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups, Allen Iverson, Jason Williams, Dwayne Wade, Gilbert Arenas, Tony Parker, Steve Francis, Chris Paul and Baron Davis.
Shooting Guard
Shooting guard (also called the "two"), as they suggests his name, is generally the best shooter of the teams. A SG must be able to constantly strike 20 feet (6 meter) jump shot. In addition to being able to shoot to the ball, they also must be able to have good ball-directing abilities because they have to be able to create their own shot off the dribble. Finally, they should also be able to come off of any pick and roll and still make a shot without the ball touching the ground. . The average height of SG is range from about 6'2" / 1.88 m to 6'8" / 2.03 m in the professional basketball and the colleges. The SG that remarkable assets of NBA include Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Kobe Bryant, Richard Hamilton, Manu Ginnobilli, Jason Terry, Tracy Mcgrady, Jason Richardson, and Dwayne Wade. READ MORE...

The Begin of the Real Game

Dr. Naismith, who was a YMCA physical education teacher, had a real big problem. His students played football and soccer all during the Fall season. But now winter was coming, and it would be too cold to play outside. Naismith wanted all of them to stay in good health, but he didn’t have any sports for them to play inside.
Finally, after much thinking, he came up with a great idea for an indoor game. He got two peach baskets and attached them to a balcony at the opposite ends of the gym. There were eighteen people in his class, so he divided them up into two groups with nine players on each team. Of course, they couldn't play the game without a ball, so he chose a ball that he had on hand: a soccer ball. When the first game began, the players started passing the ball around and one boy threw the ball in the basket. He scored and his team got the first points.
But even though the game was fun to play, there were some problems that they had to solve. For example, whenever the players would throw the ball into the basket, they couldn't get it down without climbing up a ladder. So, they decided to cut holes in the bottom of the baskets for the ball to fall through. This helped them play faster. They used these peach baskets until 1906 when they were finally replaced by metal hoops with backboards.
But even then their problems weren't over. They realized that they had too many players playing at one time. In fact, one time in a game at Cornell University, there were 50 players on each team!
After brainstorming some new ideas, Naismith developed basketball's original 13 rules and consequently, the game of basketball. The new indoor game was played with a soccer ball, peach baskets and nine to a side. This first contest is believed to have been played Dec. 21, 1891.
At first, basketball was only played in high schools and colleges.
(In the history of basketball, the highest-rated college basketball game seen on U.S. television was the 1979 NCAA tournament championship game - Michigan State vs. Indiana State final that featured Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. This was one of the best-rated basketball games in basketball history).
But by 1949, the National Basketball Association (NBA) was created with eight teams. Then, in 1967, the American Basketball Association (ABA) began. But there were a lot of money problems so it only lasted about nine years.
As time passed, Dr. Naismith became known as "The Father of Basketball" and more and more people heard of his game. Basketball began to spread all across the United States and finally became the popular game that we watch and play today.
So, there you have it. The history of basketball. If it sounds like it might be fun, just remember, all you have to do is lace up your shoes, grab a ball, and play ball! READ MORE...

History of Basketball

Dr. James Naismith, Inventor of Basketball

Dr. James Naismith is known world-wide as the inventor of basketball. He was born in 1861 in Ramsay township, near Almonte, Ontario, Canada. The concept of basketball was born from Naismith's school days in the area where he played a simple child's game known as duck-on-a-rock outside his one-room schoolhouse. The game involved attempting to knock a "duck" off the top of a large rock by tossing another rock at it. Naismith went on to attend McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
After serving as McGill's Athletic Director, James Naismith moved on to the YMCA Training School in Springfield, Massachusetts, USA in 1891, where the sport of basketball was born. In Springfield, Naismith was faced with the problem of finding a sport that was suitable for play inside during the Massachusetts winter for the students at the School for Christian Workers. Naismith wanted to create a game of skill for the students instead of one that relied solely on strength. He needed a game that could be played indoors in a relatively small space. The first game was played with a soccer ball and two peach baskets used as goals.


James Naismith devised a set of thirteen rules of basketball:

1. The ball may be thrown in any direction with one or both hands.



2. The ball may be batted in any direction with one or both hands, but never with the fist.



3. A player cannot run with the ball. The player must throw it from the spot on which he catches it, allowance to be made for a man running at good speed.



4. The ball must be held in or between the hands. The arms or body must not be used for holding it.



5. No shouldering, holding, pushing, striking or tripping in any way of an opponent. The first infringement of this rule by any person shall count as a foul; the second shall disqualify him until the next goal is made or, if there was evident intent to injure the person, for the whole of the game. No substitution shall be allowed.



6. A foul is striking at the ball with the fist, violations of Rules 3 and 4 and such as described in Rule 5.



7. If either side make three consecutive fouls it shall count as a goal for the opponents (consecutive means without the opponents in the meantime making a foul).



8. Goal shall be made when the ball is thrown or batted from the ground into the basket and stays there, providing those defending the goal do not touch or disturb the goal. If the ball rests on the edge and the opponents move the basket, it shall count as a goal.



9. When the ball goes out of bounds, it shall be thrown into the field and played by the first person touching it. In case of dispute the umpire shall throw it straight into the field. The thrower-in is allowed five seconds. If he holds it longer, it shall go to the opponent. If any side persists in delaying the game, the umpire shall call a foul on them.



10. The umpire shall be judge of the men and shall note the fouls and notify the referee when three consecutive fouls have been made. He shall have the power to disqualify men according to Rule 5.



11. The referee shall be the judge of the ball and decide when it is in play in bounds, to which side it belongs, and shall keep the time. He shall decide when a goal has been made and keep account of the goals with any other duties that are usually performed by a referee.



12. The time shall be two 15-minute halves with five minutes' rest between.



13. The side making the most goals in that time shall be declared the winners.
    

In addition to the creation of the basketball, James Naismith graduated as a medical doctor, primarily interested in sports physiology and what we would today call sports science and as Presbyterian minister, with a keen interest in philosophy and clean living. Naismith watched his sport, basketball, introduced in many nations by the YMCA movement as early as 1893. Basketball was introduced at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. Today basketball has grown to become one of the world's most popular sports, and elevated to a higher level by NBA (National Basketball Association), the most popular basketball leauge in the world!

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on October 1, 2008

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