King.James asked:


I sprained my ankle a couple of months back and I need socks that will give support to my ankle in basketball. Any ideas?

Downsy7 asked:


How do i gain confidence in basketball, at the start of the game?

One of the skills important for a player to learn before playing the actual game of basketball is passing the basketball. Passing is the act of the handing over the basketball to the player’s teammate. Communication between the team members is crucial in passing. You have to acknowledge the pass first, either verbally or nonverbally, before handing over the basketball to a player. Passing can be used as an escape route if the player is heavily guarded by the defenders in order to keep the ball in the team’s possession and later on shooting the basketball to the team’s basket. In basketball, passing skills are acknowledged by statistics, which are called an assists. Passing the basketball may be done in several ways.

The Chest Pass

This pass is thrown in a straight line with high velocity used on the court’s perimeter. When the recipient is moving, this pass is made ensuring that the player doesn’t over reach to catch the basketball. When the recipient is stationary, this pass is made ensuring that the player who will accept the basketball doesn’t have to move. This pass is received in a triple threat position wherein the feet are shoulder width apart, elbows and knees bent, the shooting hand at the top and the other hand on the side of the basketball. In passing the basketball, it must be held at the level of the sternum, then by pushing the back foot and taking a step with the front foot while extending the arms to make the pass.

The Bounce pass.

The accuracy of this pass is dictated by its trajectory and speed. The change of directions of this pass makes it difficult for the defender to judge where the basketball will go, therefore making it hard to steal. This pass is easier to handle than an overhead pass where the recipient is moving. This pass should be caught by the recipient with a stride when he is moving and shouldn’t force the recipient to move when stationary. This pass is also received in a triple threat position wherein the feet are shoulder width apart, elbows and knees bent, the shooting hand at the top and the other hand on the side of the basketball. When making the pass, the ball is held at waist level, altering the position from hip to hip depending on the location of the recipient. The spot where the basketball should go will be aimed three-quarters of the way between the recipient and the passer. Passing is done by pushing the back of the foot, taking a step with the front foot, while extending the arms downward to make the pass.

The Overhead Pass

This is a powerful pass but an easy pass to steal. This is done so that the basketball goes over the top of the defender and is received by the other member of the team at the back of the defender. This pass is also received in a triple threat position wherein the feet are shoulder width apart, elbows and knees bent, the shooting hand at the top and the other hand on the side of the basketball. The hands of the player are placed on both sides of the basketball. Using the player’s forearms, the ball is put behind the head, the back of the foot is then pushed off, the front foot takes a step, then the elbows are brought down and the arms are then extended to make the pass.

The Behind the Back Pass

This pass is done behind the back without looking where the ball is going to fool the defender. This is most effective when the player is in motion because the player can easily move in the opposite direction of where the ball will go. This pass needs a lot of patience and practice because it takes time to figure out the right moves to make this pass successful. If expertise in this pass isn’t mastered, it shouldn’t be done during a game. This is done by holding the basketball with both hands. The dominant hand’s shoulder is moved towards the back and the ball is cupped by the dominant hand with the wrist and fingers pointing in the direction of the shoulder’s movement. The ball is then carried behind the player’s back with the arms wrapped around behind the back and the basketball is then released.

The Alley-Oop

Trust and timing is crucial for this pass to be successful. Practice should be done by the player to figure out the motion of this pass. A short, arching toss is the kind of action that is the easiest to receive by the other members of the team. The recipient should have the vertical leap to dunk or the basket should allow the adjustment of the rim’s height. The player should decide to do the alley-oop before making it to the three point arch. The player should establish eye contact with the other member of the team, who will do the hops. A short arching tossing motion is then delivered toward the basket with a shot like motion when the recipient is two or three steps away doing the jump. The spot should be aimed barely above the rim in the side where the recipient is coming from. The other member then receives the pass and makes a dunk, and shoots the basketball in the team’s basket.

Assisting the team to score through correct passing is just as essential as taking the shot. Good passing skills and communication among the team members is crucial to make the team’s game play a success. Practice makes perfect and good communication among team members will go along way in basketball when passing or assisting is concerned.

Collecting vintage sports cards is always an adventure especially when you come across that great historical player. I have always collected football and baseball cards in the past, but now I also collect basketball cards due to their high value in collecting.

Basketball cards are very hot now; try to get your hands on as many rookies and Hall Of Famer’s as possible. And of course Michael Jordan rookie should be a priority on your want list.

Starting a basketball card collection will depend on your budget. Basketball cards can be more expensive compared to other sports. Although the sport of basketball card collecting is newer than baseball collecting, basketball cards have become an important commodity to have in your inventory and are a great part of collecting memorabilia.

Although basketball cards are not collected by as many people as baseball or football cards, there is still a loyal group of up and coming new collectors that keep basketball collecting a favorite for both the sport aspect and the profit aspect. Basketball cards are one of the five major sports card types collected. The basketball collector builds his inventory by collecting mostly the star and Rookie cards from their favorite teams.

America has really taken a love and passion in collecting sports cards. It has become not only a hobby or pass time, but a profitable trading profession. Collecting sports cards is a fun, exciting and educational hobby. Card collecting will give you knowledge and an interest in players you would not have found interesting in the past.

How much does an average play in the NBA make a year?
Also what is the most and the least they can get?

With another producer giving up its licensed rights for NCAA Basketball, EA is now the last player standing in the NCAA Basketball game industry. And for the latest installment in the series, EA has chosen to use same basketball engine it has applied for its NBA games. But that’s not the only surprise NCAA Basketball 09 has to offer. It has other aces up its sleeve, and a couple of them are listed below.

Better Responses

Thanks to the passionate but well-meaning criticisms of game players of NBA Live 09, NCAA Basketball 2009, previously named NCAA Mega March Madness, will come to your TV screens with an improved level of responsiveness in terms of help defense against pick-and-rolls, rebounding, and ball handling.

On-Campus Outdoor Practice Court

Practicing outdoors on campus has always been a trademark of collegiate basketball and this time, EA producers made sure it was part of the game. Even better, this feature comes with real-time weather conditions. If it’s raining too hard, that could mean a missed practice for your team!

Player Recruiting and Development System

Accuracy was one of the major goals of the makers of NCAA Basketball 09. They spoke with every school involved with the NCAA and gathered as much information as they could to make game representations of each and every NCAA team as realistic and accurate as possible.

This jives well with the new player recruiting and development system used in the game, one that requires game players to ensure their recruits fit well with the coach’s playing style.

Legends Tournament

NCAA Basketball 09 also honors the greatest players of the past with its Legends Tournament. Choose among the top sixty-four NCAA Tournament teams and see how you fare against the best of NCAA Basketball.

Your Rules, Your Style

With NCAA Basketball 09, you’re certainly the boss! The game lets you select from a number of pre-game strategies to execute. Playing styles used in the game are also quite authentic, including structured half-court sets, up-tempo transition games, and trapping defenses. The game tempo meter allows you to tweak settings in an instant.

A Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook Contribution

Last but not the least, your Division I team can make use of the scouting reports provided by the Blue Ribbon College Basketball Yearbook. Team ratings are also provided.

These are just some of the few things you can look forward to with NCAA Basketball 09. The only way to know more is to play the game when it’s finally released on November 17, 2008.

Bianca asked:


I am wondering what would be a good gift for a male highschool basketball coach. I am just looking for different ideas from different people. Also.. Coaches have any of your players gotten you anything? Was it unexpected and thoughtful? Or just unneccessary?

Wacko Jacko asked:


I’m an extremely good basketball player and I can’t find a way to get new drills. I don’t like doing all the old boring drills.

Haley G asked:


What’s the proper way to shoot a basket in basketball ?

Rlightning27 asked:


In this article, I will tell you who and why will be drafted to which team and at what number they will be drafted.  I will show you the first 14 selections(the lottery picks).  So with that said, let’s get it started.

#1.  With the first pick in the 2008 NBA Draft the Chicago Bulls select Derrick Rose out of Memphis.  Derrick Rose has shown his great intensity during the NCAA Tournament and has proven he has the ability to become one of the best PG’s in years to come.  Rose has a great ability to get the hole and is very good on the defensive side.  Rose would fit in very well with the Chicago Bulls.  If Chicago drafts Rose, they would have great team consisting of some young players.  Along with Rose they would have Hinrich, Hughes, Gordon, Nocioni, Deng, Gooden, and Noah.



#2.  With the second pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Miami Heat select Michael Beasley out of Kansas State.  With Rose already gone in the draft, the Heat will be forced to take the best player available and that is Beasley.  Beasley is a great low post man and can get you rebounds on either side of the court.  The 6 foot 10 PF would replace Udonis Haslem which would be a big upgrade at that position.



#3.  With the third pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Minnesota Timber Wolves select OJ Mayo out of USC.  Mayo would work really well with what the T-Wolves already have in their guards, Randy Foye and Rashad McCants.  Even though the T-Wolves need a big man and could draft Brook Lopez, they feel that OJ Mayo would help their team more then Lopez would.



#4.  With the fourth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Seattle Super Sonics select Jerryd Bayless out of Arizona.  The Sonics have shown a lot of interest in Bayless.  He is a great offensive player who can get to the hole and hit the outside jumper.  He has shown his ability to run the point.  The Sonics need someone to lessen the pressure from Kevin Durant and Bayless could do that.



#5.  With the fifth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft the Memphis Grizzlies select Kevin Love out of UCLA.  Memphis is looking for a big man to replace what they lost in the trade of Pau Gasol.  Kevin Love would be a good choice for them.  He is a very big guy who can grab a lot of rebounds on the defensive and offensive side.  One good thing about him is his ability to hit the outside jump shot because not many big man can do that.



#6.  With the sixth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the New York Knicks select DJ Augustin out of Texas.  The Knicks need a guy who can run the offense.  Augustin is that guy.  He can run the floor which is what Coach D’Antoni likes.  He can also hit the open jumper which is always a plus.  Augustin has been compared to Steve Nash.  With the addition of Augustin, the Knicks would be able to move Jamal Crawford back to the SG.  This would help them a lot.



#7.  With the seventh pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Los Angeles Clippers select Danilo Gallinari out of Italy.  Danilo is a big man who has an incredible outside shot.  He can also handle the ball very well.  He has been called an offensive genius several times.  He would be a good fit for the Clippers who might lose Corey Maggette to free agency.



#8.  With the eighth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Milwaukee Bucks select Russell Westbrook out of UCLA.  The Bucks need someone to take over the point.  Russell Westbrook would be a perfect fit for the Bucks.  He has great ability to drive to the hoop.  He is also a monster on the defensive side.  Westbrook would compliment Michael Redd in the backcourt and would be able to feed Andrew Bogut down low.



#9.  With the ninth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Charlotte Bobcats select Brook Lopez out of Stanford.  The Bobcats have been looking to acquire a center.  Lopez is a big guy standing at 7 feet.  Size helps in the draft and Lopez has it.  With the addition of Lopez, the Bobcats would be able to move Emeka Okafor back to the PF permanently.



#10.  With the tenth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the New Jersey Nets select Anthony Randolph out of LSU.  Anthony Randolph is a great post player who has been compared to Chris Bosh.  He has a great ability to score in the paint.  His size at 6 feet 11 inches helps him a lot.  The Nets need some a big guy to back up or even take over for Josh Boone and Sean Williams.



#11.  With the eleventh pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Indiana Pacers select Eric Gordon out of Indiana.  Eric Gordon has a great shot and is very good overall on the offensive side.  His defense is what will drop him to the eleventh pick.  The Pacers are looking for a guard and Eric Gordon will be the best guard available.



#12.  With the twelfth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Sacramento Kings select Darrell Arthur out of Kansas.  Arthur is a good player on the offensive side.  He has been a proven scorer at the college level.  Arthur can work behind Mikki Moore until he is ready for the big leagues.



#13.  With the thirteenth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Portland Trail Blazers select DeAndre Jordan out of Texas A&M.  Jordan is a big man.  His size and athleticism are what makes him a great player.  Jordan would be a good choice with Oden coming back.  He could back up Oden who hasn’t played in a year and a half.



#14.  With the fourteenth pick in the 2008 NBA Draft, the Golden State Warriors select Joe Alexander out of West Virginia.  Alexander has a great set of skills.  He is very athletic which helps out a lot when you are 6 foot 8 inches.  He has a good shot which is why he would be a good fit on the Warriors.



Recap:

#1. Bulls – Derrick Rose

#2. Heat – Michael Beasley

#3. T-Wolves – OJ Mayo

#4. Sonics – Jerryd Bayless

#5. Grizzlies – Kevin Love

#6. Knicks – DJ Augustin

#7. Clippers – Danilo Gallinari

#8. Bucks – Russell Westbrook

#9. Bobcats – Brook Lopez

#10. Nets – Anthony Randolph

#11. Pacers – Eric Gordon

#12. Kings – Darrell Arthur

#13. Blazers – DeAndre Jordan

#14. Warriors – Joe Alexander

So there are my picks.  Feel free to tell me what you think.  This was my first article so tell me how you think I did.  Thanks!