NBA Review Los Angeles Lakers at Boston Celtics

The Los Angeles Lakers rallied from a fifteen point second quarter deficit to defeat the Boston Celtics. The Lakers got close by pounding the ball inside to Gasol, Bynum and Odom. Then Kobe Bryant finished the Celtics off with his fourth quarter shooting. The highlight for the Celtics was Ray Allen making two three point shots to take the all time lead in three point field goals made over Reggie Miller who was at the game announcing for TNT.

The Lakers badly needed this game for their own psyche. Even being the defending two- time champion, getting beat and beaten badly by top tier teams another top team would not be good for their confidence. When they got down by fifteen there was sense of here we go again. You could see the look of concern on their faces and there body language was terrible. Even Phil Jackson looked worried which never happens during the regular season. But the Lakers did not panic, they stayed with the plan to get the ball inside to their big people Bynum and Gasol, who were lot more aggressive in this game, and they finished at the rim. In their last meeting with Celtics both were "punked" all over Staples Center. It also helped that the Lakers began to knock down some jump shots, which loosened up the Celtics' zone, I mean man to man defense. The Lakers began to defend like they did in the finals. They challenged the Celtic shooters and controlled the boards. Bynum played a big role in each category. As many injuries as he has suffered the last three years, He can still be very effective because of the size, strength and length. I'm sure the Celtics would not mind seeing that Carmelo for Bynum trade. They would easily go through the Lakers if that did occur.

Kobe Bryant who played the facilitator in the first half getting the Lakers front court involved and saving energy for the second half. It also didn't hurt that he was guarding Rajon Rondo, daring him to shot, which he did and most of the time, he missed. Kobe did not have to expend energy guarding Rondo. Kobe went to the Black Mamba attack mode in the second half and especially in the fourth quarter. The six minutes of game time rest to start fourth quarter was huge him and for the Lakers. He abused both Von Wafer and Ray Allen when he returned. A lot of credit should go to Shannon Brown others for allowing Kobe to rest for that long. This could be the signature win that spurns to the Lakers to play well for the rest of the season and win another championship. Or it could be just another win that lets the Lakers know they can flip the proverbial switch when they want to, and will flip it only in the play offs when it's needed. Time will tell.

The Celtics started the game well. They were defending, hitting the glass and shooting lights out. Something changed after Ray Allen hit the career go head three point goal. It's as if all the energy left the Celtics and the building. But unfortunately there was over three quarters left to play and once they got the large lead in the second quarter it went downhill from there. Normally when the Celtics get up by fifteen it's like twenty-five points because they play very good defense. Not being at full strength to begin with, little big man Nate Robinson got hurt early and Paul Pierce still weak from the flu. The Celtics seem to tire at the end. That does not include the foul trouble that Allen got into.

The Celtics were forced to play Von Wafer who hadn't played much all year. He did an admirable job early knocking down shots, but defensively he was no match for Kobe Bryant who is a handful under the best of circumstances. Wafer was like a squirrel going against a black mamba snake. He had no shot. Not having Shaq hurt the front court. KG, Big Baby and Mr. Mean himself Kendrick Perkins were all spent at game's end. They were the main reason they got outrebounded by the bigger and longer Lakers front court. Shaq could have at least beat on Gasol and Bynum and soften them up. But even with all that going against them they had a chance to steal it at the end. With less just over a minute left, the Celtics had closed to three points, Pierce intercepted a pass, but his pass to Rondo sailed too long and went out of bounds. If completed it would have cut to lead to one and it could have been anybodies game. The Celtics did the best they could under the circumstances. Not a crushing loss.

This was a much needed win for the Lakers, who have had only one win in seven tries against top tier opponents. The Celtics didn't play with the intensity they did in Los Angeles, they also didn't shoot as well as they did then, some of it was the Lakers defense was much better this time around, they challenged a lot more shots, but the Celtics missed a lot of win open looks. Rondo missed almost everything he shot. I fully expect major injuries not withstanding for these teams to meet in June for the third time in four years. They only thing to be determined is who will have home court in the finals. That will keep both teams motivated to win as many games as they can, and also keep an eye on the scoreboard.

http://MrCleo3586.info

a long time fan and recent writer on the NBA.

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Basketball Jumping Shoes - Do Shoes Make a Difference

Are basketball jumping shoes helping to improve an athlete's game? Each and every athlete is unique in their own way both physically and mentally. Years of intense physical and mental training has given each of them the strength and conditioning they need in their respective sport. But what if they could gain an extra edge over their competitors? Making them a little bit faster, lighter on their feet and being able to jump higher if need be.

Some athletes have the natural abilities to accomplish these feats and some of which from of years of training but also there are those exceptional at what they do. But another thing that could also help them improve their game is their equipment and gear giving them the slight edge they need.

In the game of basketball players wear basketball jumping shoes to help them improve in their game. The shoes are useful for grip, support, and comfort and it is also fashionable. Just like the game itself the shoes have evolved with each decade that passes newer and efficient models have become a trend with its fashionable looks and famous endorsers they've become more popular than ever.

During the 1920's the original chuck Taylor shoes has been the only brand of shoes that professional athletes wear all the way to the 60's. It had a simple look as a sneaker with its rubber soles that was very popular among players and non-players alike. Soon after a company called Nike made their debut showcasing a new design of basketball jumping shoes that was more comfortable and had better support than the classic Chuck Taylor shoes making them the new trend in the basketball scene.

This evolution went on and on even to this day; other companies have made new designs with different attributes to their sneakers. Some sneakers maybe lighter than the others some more comfortable and has better grip on the court. But do they really help improve the game of our athletes? Some may that they kind of do some might say otherwise, it simply a matter of opinion. For years the shoes with the better endorsements are usually the most popular ones especially if it's being endorsed by the best player in the game. The basketball jumping shoes used today pretty much has every attribute an athlete would look for in a shoe, all it needs now is one famous endorser.

There are many different types of basketball jumping shoes, but will they really make you jump higher?

If your serious about increasing your vertical then check this out: Vertical Jump

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William G Dains - EzineArticles Expert Author

Who Is the Best NBA Point Guard?

With the NBA season less than 10 games the point guards have dominated this season. If the MVP award were given today, several point guard are making strong cases. The question so far this season and asked by Kenny Smith..."Who is the best point guard in the NBA"? Well lets meet the contestants:

*For argument sakes Chris Paul & Deron Williams will not be mentioned*

Brandon Jennings

Brandon Jennings - Young Money is not having a sophomore slump already dropping a triple double in the first week. Some say the Kenny Anderson clone is the best point guard in the Central Division. Once his jump shot matches his quickness and passing ability, you'll have to consider the Compton native one of the best. 14 points 7 assists 4 rebounds

Russell Westbrook

 Russell Westbrook - The FIBA game did wonders for the former guard out of UCLA. He's not a true point guard but very explosive and finishes very hard at the rim. Compliments Kevin Durant very well. 20 points 7assist 6 rebounds

Derrick Rose

Derrick Rose - "I WANT TO BE MVP" That's what Pooh said in the latest issue of SLAM. Already strong, fast, explosive, great passer. So far Simeon's finest has proven to be a leader of this team and is not afraid of Miami. He worked on his jump shot over the summer and if automatic, he'll be the king of the PGs hands down. Expect him to be in the running for MVP all season long. 27ppg 8assist 5 rebounds

Rajon Rondo

Rajon Rondo - Right now the Black Irish PG is not only the best player on his team, but if the MVP award were given today Rondo would win it in a landslide. Rondo is a classic lead guard and has dished out 60 assist over 4 games (Stockton being the other). Still has a tendency to over dribble but his passing ability is second to none. Jason Kidd never worked on his jumper and he's one of the best ever. 11 points 16 assist 6 rebounds

John Wall

John Wall - Whatever John Calipari is doing it's amazing. Flashes of Derrick Rose are completely accurate. Speed, finisher, #1 overall pick, athleticism, court vision, potential rookie of the year. FYI...he's only a rookie.

Omari

Sports Basketball Expert

For more info please visit my Basketball Blog

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Basketball Shooting - 3 Common Shooting Problems and How to Fix Them

Basketball shooting is an art, but it is an art that improves with practice. Does natural shooting talent help? Of course it does. But even without natural shooting ability, most players should be able to develop good, reliable shooting ability with the right guidance and repetition of the skill.

Players should be taught how to hold the ball on the fingertips, to be sure their elbow is under the ball when they raise it, to use leg power to give their shot strength, to snap their wrist for back spin, to put arc on the ball. These are the basics of shooting a basketball, and not every player is taught well at a young age, which is regrettable. But even those that are taught to shoot properly will occasionally need an adjustment, will fall into a bad habit or have an off game (or season). Everyone makes mistakes.

Here are three common problems basketball players have when shooting the ball, along with what they can do to fix the problem and become better basketball shooters:

1. The shot is short. Is there a more common shooting problem? Probably not. If the ball is hitting the front of the rim, the player's shooting form may not need a major change, but rather a more minor, and yet very important, adjustment. When shooting the basketball, the power comes from the legs. Not the relatively small and weaker arm and shoulder muscles, but the strong, powerful leg muscles. Shooters need to use their leg muscles to give power to their shot - i.e., the shooter needs to bend his legs as he is setting up the shot, then explode upwards into the shot release.

Another possibility is that the shooter isn't following through on the release. As the ball is leaving the shooter's hands, he needs to snap his wrist down, as if he is draping his hand over the rim. This snap of the wrist - follow through - gives the ball a little extra power in its flight as well as giving it backspin, which causes it to bounce softly on the rim if it misses, and maybe roll in as opposed to bouncing away.

2.The shot falls to the left or right of the basket. Likely a problem squaring up. When the shooter sets up to shoot, he should be squared to the basket - i.e., a line drawn across his shoulders should be perpendicular to a straight line drawn from the shooter to the basket. This means the player's body will be facing directly to the hoop, and the ball is more likely to fly in the direction the body is facing.

Similarly, it could be that the shooter's elbow is out. The elbow of the shooting hand should be as directly under the ball as possible. The arm acts as a fulcrum, and the straighter that fulcrum is, the straighter the ball will fly. Think of those big catapults that he king's army used centuries ago that, when released, would throw big rocks at castles to break apart the castle walls. The shooting arm is the catapult, the ball is the rock. As long as the catapult is pointed straight in the right direction, the rock hits its mark.

3. The ball skims the rim and circles out or slams hard off the rim and bounces out - no 'shooter's roll'. A couple of possibilities here: if the ball is circling the rim and spinning out, it could be that the ball is being released off the side of the hand, or at least not off the very center. The shooter needs to be sure that on the release, the ball is rolling off the middle finger, and not one of the other fingers. Besides helping the ball to fly straighter, this should also mean the spin on the ball will be back spin, and not side spin.

If the ball is hitting the front or back of the rim and bouncing out, it could be there is not enough arc on the shot - the shot is flat. Shooters need to have lots of arc on the shot if they want to get that shooter's roll, where the ball comes down on the rim, stops dead or bounces around lightly, and then drops in. To get that requires the ball to come down from above the rim - not launched like a missile from in front of it.

Every practice should have a few minutes set aside for players to practice their shooting on their own - the first 10 minutes or so immediately before the actual practice begins is the best time to do this. During this time, the coaches can walk around and make necessary adjustments, depending on what they see. If no coaches are available at the time, players can pair up and watch each others shooting and try to pick out problem areas.

You can find more about how to coach basketball shooting, as well as a variety of shooting drills, on the Basketball Shooting Skills page on my Better Basketball Coaching website.

Gary has been coaching varsity basketball for over fifteen years. Read more of his coaching advice on his website http://betterbasketballcoaching.com/ Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gary_Donovan

The Secret To Basketball Training For Perfect Shooting

If anyone asked you what you need in order to become a superb basketball player, what would you say? Most people would answer that you need master the game and its basic techniques such as basketball shooting with specialized basketball training. The answer is good, but it is not all correct. To become a perfect basketball player as much as you need training you need practice and at the same time you need to have that fire in your belly that drives to learn more than anyone else because you want to be the best. Listed below are a few key traits of champions in any field:

1. Hunger to be first. You need to want it happen and want it bad enough to visualize it. You need to see it before your eyes as it has already happened. You are the best; you are the champion; you have played the perfect game. The more you develop this hunger within you, the more you have the chance to become this champion.

2. Practice. When asked what lead them to success, most of the champions answered, 'fourteen to sixteen hours of practice every day'. This is known as dedication. You need to hone your body in becoming a perfect tool for your favorite sport and for that you need to practice, practice, practice, practice and practice more. There are no two ways about this.

3. Practice with better players than you are. You want to learn, go for players who are better than you in some or other aspect. Watch them, copy their style, improve on it and make it your own. It would not do to play against people who play at a lower level than you for this would actually sap your caliber. You would feel good in comparison and instead of striving to get better, you would learn to stagnate for in your eyes you are already the best.

4. Find a tough coach. If you want to succeed, find a coach who shares that hunger with you. This person should want it as bad as you do, so he or she could push you so hard that you would outdo yourself. Do not worry about coping up; your body is a phenomenal machine, it continuously improves on itself. With time, you would be able to realize that the more you push yourself the better you become and that there is always scope for more.

5. Practice round the year. Champions do not prepare only before the event takes place, they train round the year. They train and practice so they stay in shape and keep the body's reflexes sharp and in control. This is why, when you want to become the best basketball player, there is not off-season for you as your coach would tell you, if you chose the right one. You need to keep your mind and body in shape and tuned to perfection in the sport. The more you practice, the closer you would be to becoming the champion of basketball.

Coach Stewart Wrighter operates a basketball web site that offers basketball shooting videos and training aids and coaching/instructional videos along with lots of free coaching content. He also offers basketball training techniques which are helpful for coaches and parents alike.

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Jumping Workouts - The Simple Workout

Before you start your Jumping Workouts, you do have a goal in mind, right? Is it more than just to jump higher or to be able to dunk, because there are a lot of people who can dunk, maybe you should be able to make an awesome dunk. Or just grab rim easily. Either way, don't skip over this important part which is vital to see success.

But otherwise, start with a warmup. I usually start with jump rope and some sprints. As for specifics, start with 300 jump rope jumps, and about 4 sprints of about 100 meters each. Either way, make sure that it is quick, powerful, and explosive. So use whatever space you have, and use it to the best you can.
After you are warmed up, begin on the following workout.

Box Jumps - This is a vital part of your jumping workouts because you can gauge how easy or hard it is to jump on the same box. And as you get better, increase the size of the box. Stand in front of the box, feet together. And using your arms and bending at your knees and hips, explode up onto the box with both feet. Land on top of the box, and hold for at least a second. Make sure you have your balance, then hop back down and repeat. Do at least 3 sets of 15 jumps each.

High Jumps - Pick a spot on a wall or something high. Make sure it is out of reach and jumping up to it will be a challenge. Stand directly under this mark and reach up, with your body extended. Using just your lower legs, jump up and touch the mark. When you come back down and hit the ground, immediately explode back up. Continue to bounce without missing the mark, if you do miss, then start over with that set.
For your jumping workouts, do the high jumps 15 times and 3 sets.

Tuck Jumps - Many people have used tuck jumps as part of their jumping workouts as a warmup instead of an actual exercise. But by using it as a real exercise, you can improve your vertical quite a bit. Tuck jumps are when you stand in one place and leap up as high as you can and bring your knees to your chest. Continue to leap higher and keep bringing your knees as high as possible. Repeat 15 times with 3 sets.

Use this as one of your jumping workouts at least 4 times per week for best results.

For more exercises and jumping workouts, go to JustJumpHigher.com

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The Vitality of Jump Higher Programs to Sports Enthusiasts

There are many athletes and sports enthusiasts that are looking for jump higher programs. It is very important for them to learn the techniques to jump higher to perform better on their physical and sports activities. As an athlete, having jumping programs will make you attain your goals. This will then help you get a successful career in your most loved sports which require activities such as jumping.

It is crucial to have training for this will improve your jumping skills. Part of good vertical jumping programs is right and ample training. You can ask help from the experts for they will help you achieve higher jump which can greatly help in becoming a good athlete and the star player of the team.

You need to pay attention largely on your calf muscles because it plays an important role in achieving a higher vertical jump that can be useful in your game. Most of these programs also require from athletes an increased speed and the ability to jump. Being able to follow a program with really good techniques will not only increase your vertical jump, it also helps a player boost confidence in the game.

The reason why people are relying on following jump higher programs is because there are objectives included such as strength and speed. These two elements are very important for athletes who want to increase your ability to jump higher. It is a fact that not all of the athletes have incomparable speed and strength. It is important to take note of your weakest point between these two. If you think you do not possess any of these, you should work in improving your strength or speed. If you are excellent in speed and a bit weaker in strength, you should working with it and if you have exceptional strength but slightly weaker on speed, then it is something that you need to work out with.

Building your own stability is another important aspect that you should consider when improving your vertical strength. This should immediately follow after perfecting your speed and strength and should be an important factor when you are signing up for a jumping higher program.
Another thing that can help you achieve higher jumps is by increasing stamina and confidence. A motivated player will not find it difficult to achieve their goals. This can dramatically improve your chance of having a good career in your chosen sports.

If you can integrate jump higher programs into your daily workout, you will be able to obtain benefits such as improving the aspects of speed, stability, stamina and strength. While you do all of these, you should not forget to show enjoyment of what you are doing. But of course it is easily understood that the process should be done with much of your patience and focus. That way, you will be able to see after completing your program that you have done the right things. It may be time consuming, but the results are definitely worth it.

Ken Wynn helps athletes jump higher. For a free mini course with more great tips on Jump higher program visit http://dunkandjumphigher.com

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