DAY 40: ENTHUSIASM

There is a great scene in the film ‘The Untouchables’ where Al Capone, played by Robert De Niro discussed enthusiasm. It’s a classic scene.  We continue with our 90 Day Basketball Improvement Plan.

Day 40 – Enthusiasm

Enthusiasm is taken for granted in the game of basketball.  I still don’t know why players don’t get excited when they step on the court?  Do you ever see players who have zero energy? They play slow, are bad defenders and refuse to sprint up and down the court.  Their body language is bad.

You have to be enthusiastic when it comes to working out.  You have to be excited when you walk on the floor to practice and when it comes game time, you need to play like you’re on fire!  You can’t take 15 minutes to get ready for a workout. I have seen kids dread walking in the gym, taking a long time to get changed into their workouts clothes.

I have witnessed players show up to practice uninspired, not willing to go hard and showing ‘zero’ enthusiasm.   In order to have any progress with your game, enthusiasm is needed.  During the game you should give everything you have; there should never be a time during the game you don’t go hard.  Same goes for practice and workouts.

“Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm.”

-Ralph Waldo Emerson

DAY 39: IN SHAPE

Moving right along with our 90 Day Basketball Improvement Plan.  I read an interesting story about  New York Knicks center Eddie Curry.  This guy is better known for his weight issues/out of shape and being injured.

Day 39 – Stay in Shape

It boggles my mind when players are out of shape.

Why can’t basketball players stay in shape all year around?

I was told by a member of the Utah Jazz coaching staff that former Jazz point guard John Stockton didn’t like when rookies came into training camp out of shape.

Do everything you can to get into better shape.  Workout, run, eat right and stretch. The best players and the players who care, stay in shape.

Here’s Miami Heat top dog Pat Riley on the importance of staying in shape:

“It’s like with me, every time I greet one of my players I pinch them on the waist. They’re getting tired of that, it’s like our fat test. But he knows, he knows what it is about down here and we’re always about conditioning, body weight, body fat, and nutrition – all those things. I don’t think any athlete today can really ever achieve what it is they truly, truly want unless they’re in world-class condition, period.”

It’s a shame that Eddie Curry can’t get into better shape.

Stay in shape!

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Follow me on Twitter: @CoachFinamore

NOT THE RIGHT WAY

We interrupt our 90 Day Basketball Improvement Plan with this disturbing story I came across this morning during the morning read.

The Starnews Online gives us the lowdown. Seems like an assistant women’s basketball coach, Johnetta Haynes put a player through a humiliating punishment.

Julia Finlay, a junior guard from Hicksville, N.Y., was forced to lie on her back Monday afternoon and log roll nonstop the 94 feet from baseline-to-baseline in Trask Coliseum.

The punishment continued for 30 minutes. Finlay made roughly a dozen trips down the court.

I’m sorry, but this is not acceptable.  I hope the Athletic Director does something about this…

Assistant coach Johnetta Hayes and an unidentified person stood on the northwest corner of the court and observed. Finlay vomited three times during the episode, which occurred while the men’s basketball team was undergoing a full team workout on the court.

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Follow me on Twitter: @CoachFinamore

DAY 38: SHOT SELECTION

I worked the Bankhoops basketball camp/exposure event this past weekend.  One thing I noticed; some kids take some bad shots. We went through stations in the AM-games in the PM.

Day 38 – Shot Selection

I’m sure many basketball people have their own ideas on what’s a good shot and what’s a bad shot.

A few situations:

Catching the ball on the wing, driving baseline and settling for a fade-away jumper from behind the backboard is not a good shot.

A point guard bringing the ball up the court, bouncing it 17 times, and jacking up a deep three is not a good shot.

A post man getting the ball down low, taking a few dribbles and trying to attempt a shot with three defenders on him is not a good shot.

An offensive player driving into the lane and forcing up a shot in traffic is not a good shot.

Talk to your coach, ask him the difference between a good shot and a bad.

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Follow me on Twitter: @CoachFinamore

DAY 37: YOUR MOTOR

Basketball is more than shooting, passing and dribbling.  You need to bring it every second you step onto the hardwood.

Day  37 – Motor

I coached a young man the past two years at Jackson Community College who is now playing at the University of Detroit.  I was speaking with his assistant coach the other day and he told me the kid has a great motor.

How you run and how hard you run is important.

I love watching guys who have a bounce to their step.  They have the energy and the joy of being on the court.

They run the floor hard, they get low when they defend, they pursue loose balls and they crash the boards.

When you step on the court, it’s like getting in your car. You need to get going, put your key in, buckle up and drive…go, go, go!

“A guy who gives you less that what he has to give is one, telling you what he thinks of you, and two, telling you what he thinks of himself.”

-Pete Carrill

-Coach Finamore

Hoops135@hotmail.com

Follow me on Twitter: @CoachFinamore