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How Far is LeBron?

Posted in New Posts, News on October 19th, 2011 by Troy Miles

LeBron James is one of the baddest cats on the basketball planet, and perhaps the best teammate in the game– period . You could even argue he is the greatest player we’ve ever seen–with so much cap space (room to grow).

Yet as super basketball human as he is, LeBron has glaring weaknesses in his game. Read more »

Everybody knows by now that he needs to develop his post game, and I’d love to work him through “A Dose of my Post. But if  I could just get him to understand “Lane Play” (The Virtual Game of Basketball), every NBA exec outside of Pat Riley and the Heat brass would be looking to give me the guillotine.

Nonetheless, LeBron is a ridiculous player as is and certainly a joy to watch. In my humble opinion he has the greatest scope of vision of any player since Magic Johnson. Yet the enigma that is LeBron James brings up an interesting discussion about capacity (what you have) and capability (what you do with what you have). I suppose it’s why we are delighted by LeBron’s spectacular demonstrations, yet truly marvel at the better players who operate closer to their capacities (Steve Nash still pops in my brain when I think of that guy) .

No matter where you are on the spectrum of  skill (physical, technical, intellectual application, emotional/grit) or PTAG , Continuous Quality Improvement (CQI) is what it’s all about.  Let’s suppose your PTAG is 2/3/3/3 or 11 out of 20 (11/20)- since the maximum in each category is 5. Thus, 11 would equate to level 55 (or so), still just over half of what’s possible.  Now if  your overall skill level is 10 (out of 100) you ‘re a beginner and  should push to get to level 20 and beyond and beyond– that’s obvious. My point is, once players get to around level 50+ or 60, the majority ( at least far too many) fail to get better -other than physically. Hopefully they continue to get wiser.

Skill set development suffers after that because at level 50+ or 60 players can play, even though they  may be far from their capacities. Many players think they’re better than they actually are and getting them to listen can be a challenge, especially if what they already possess is “enough”. Level 50 (on average) are top high school, level 60 upper college, and 70 approaching NBA level.  Let’s also add that  Kobe could easily be in the upper 80′s with a “Virtual” mindset (cleaner application) . Where are you? How much cap space do you have?

(related: “Evaluation Fixation”)

In the end, LeBron could (with the right information) have the highest number of all time… I’m hoping this is what Scottie Pippen meant to say. Truth is, LeBron is not nor is he guaranteed to be greater than Michael Jordan.  It’s just when you see his immense potential you know in your heart it’s possible, even though your brain may doubt it presently.

Think of the spot he’s in. He’s living the life of a king and his game is filthy–forget championship rings for a moment,.  What will be his hunger pang when he finally puts on that ring (he will). Not to mention, that  once your game gets to a certain level of development it’s hard to find people that can actually help you get better.

(related: “eMPTy Without It”)

I heard LeBron was spending time with Hakeem (Olajuwon) working on the his post game.  The lockout could be providing him more time to get it together. I guess Olajuwon should be careful too.

 

 

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Everybody Hovers… Right?

Posted in New Posts, News on May 26th, 2010 by Troy Miles

I am a “hover ” lover. Discovering the advantages of hovering is where being first and creating space happens.

Goran Dragic #2 of the Phoenix Suns drives around Andre Miller #24 of the Portland Trail Blazers during a game on December 17, 2009 at the Rose Garden Arena in Portland, Oregon. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2009 NBAE

Watch the NBA playoff games and check who’s hovering. PG’s — in particular, Nash , Rondo and Jameer Nelson. Amongst to 2′s Dragic hovers… Ray Allen hovers… JJ Reddick hovers and of course, Kobe hovers.

Rashard and Vince hover, J Rich and Grant Hill hover. Indeed Paul Pierce does as well. KG hovers, Rasheed, Artest; so does Matt Barnes. Damn … it really must be something to the hover.

The hover gives you time to make contrary decisions against your opponent and dictate offensively.

So please… take it from the pros still in the playoff hunt. Every scorer is an adorer of the hover. Whether they know it or not, it just may be the best friend they’ve got.

Watch Goran hover and spin on Derek Fisher 2010 Playoffs

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Tags: basketball fundamentals, Goran Dragic, Grant Hill, Jameer Nelson, JJ Reddick, Kevin Garnett, , Matt Barnes, Paul Pierce, Personal Training, Raheed Wallace, Rajon Rondo, Rashard Lewis, Ray allen, Ron Artest, , Virtual Play

Moving Slow Can Get You There Quickly

Posted in New Posts, News on March 17th, 2010 by Troy Miles

Steve Nash #13 of the Phoenix Suns handles the ball under pressure from Stephen Curry #30 of the Golden State Warriors during the NBA game at US Airways Center on October 30, 2009 in Phoenix, Arizona. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.

Slow down man,  please…you’re going absolutely too fast.   Don’t you see  these people out here? Where are you trying to go…huh?    C’mon now … you really need to slow your roll before you run over somebody.  I know you know how to “drive.”  I’m just saying,  it’s  much easier  to negotiate “traffic” moving more   s  l  o  w  l  y.  Don’t feel like the Lone Ranger.  It’s not  just  you, everybody seems to be in a hurry? I don’t quite get it.  Yeh, yeh speed kills… in football maybe.  In basketball going fast usually just kills your  ability to be in control.  Speed may be necessary sometimes, but mostly makes negotiating the terrain more difficult.  Besides, going fast may not even get you there more quickly.

Let’s just say that speed is about how fast you can go.  Quickness on the other hand is how efficiently you can get there.  You don’t have to go fast to be quick.  In fact , speed and quickness many times is based on the ability to stop fast, which makes you fastest in your shortest steps– relative to any opposition.

Basketball is one of the few sports in which the offense has the advantage. Unfortunately, many players and teams give theirs away with poor technique and a flawed offensive approach. One of the keys to offensive manipulation is the right to move first. This law of leadership gives the offensive player the ability to deceive or control opponents with intentions or false intentions to go places or do things. If all of our movements are in frames – as in motion pictures – and we can learn to control our movement in each frame, then we should then be able to mislead and manipulate opponents with our intentions in early frames of movement. It is extremely difficult to predict anyone’s start, stoppage or change of movement.  Furthermore, the defender must match the rate of the proposed movement in those early frames or risk being moved past. Therefore, we can control our opponents by proposing an action and being continuously contrary to their responses. And given the typical controlled rate of a Virtual Player’s movement, it becomes easy to make necessary changes to exploit or maintain advantage.

-The Virtual Game of Basketball-

It’s no coincidence that the best players not only play slow, but seem to slow the game down as well.   TBL: You don’t need speed to succeed.  Act  like you know and go slow…er!

Tags: Body control, martial arts, Speed, Steph Curry,

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