Joe Hurst - Hobart Tassie Devils

Jumpin’ Joe Hurst was brought in by the Hobart Devils to replace Steve Carfino and did so with honours winning the MVP award in his first season. The year was 1988 and he averaged 32 points, 9.5 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game. He was one of the first “high flyers” in the league and despite only playing three full seasons in the NBL Joe stayed in Australia playing in the SEABL for many years after.

Normally I'd include a photo of Joe for the post ... but since he played in the late 80's and early 90's, there are seemingly no photos of him online. I was going to scour through my basketball magazines but I'm pretty sure the first copy of One on One I bought was around 94/95.

http://classicbasketballtees.spreadshirt.com/joe-hurst-ball-A12695819/customize/color/36

Gold Coast Blaze update

I'll get back to my normal blogging frequency within the next few days when corporate travel season slows down. This is the last week of madness before things die down for the Christmas holidays and then I can get back in to the world of basketball.

For now tho, here's a quick summary of the Gold Coast Blaze over the last weeks. The team is really starting to come together and heading in to round 12 they find themselves now in 3rd place on the NBL ladder thanks to a 4 game win-streak. Not just that, they're just one win behind the Hawks and Wildcats who are tied at the top of the table.

I mentioned in my last post about the team that they had one of their biggest challenges ahead of them when they had to go to Perth to take on the Wildcats. In what was likely the biggest win for them at this early stage of the season, they got the job done 82 - 78. Former Wildcats James Harvey and Chris Goulding took the chance to salute the crowd after the win which not surprisingly wasn't received well by the hometown fans.

The Blaze returned home and scraped over the line 69 - 68 against the Cairns Taipans. The low scoreline wasn't a huge surprise when you see that team captain James Harvey had an off night shooting 0 of 8 from the field. The fact that they were still able to win despite their star having an off night is the positive to take away from this game. I'm sure the game plan for the Taipans was to make it a slow, knock-down drag out affair. Not great for the fans tho as one of my friends who was there described it on Facebook as: has witnessed a lot of ugly games of hoops in his time, but Gold Coast vs Cairns last night is the winner. 69-68 win to Gold Coast. Wow

The bad news for the team is that they have lost big man Pero Cameron who will be out for at least the next month with a recurring knee injury. Its not a huge (pardon the pun) on-court loss for the team but with Greg Vanderjagt still out their depth will be tested.

Next up for the Blaze is a home game tomorrow night against the Sixers and then they have a week and a half before the Hawks come to the coast. I haven't been to a game for a while so I'm thinking the top of the table clash with the Hawks will be a good one to get along to. If they can get wins in both of these games it should see them take the top spot on the ladder.

John Rillie update

Came across this article on Twitter earlier today. If you haven't heard what John Rillie is up to since he's not in the NBL this season, check it out below (click on the title to read the full story). I heard about this business earlier in the year and wish JR all the best with it.

While the article says that John is focussing on the future, he hasn't officially retired ... so I don't think he's completely ruled out playing again, should the right opportunity present itself. Stay tuned

Rillie focused on future

Former National Basketball League star and consecutive games record holder, John Rillie, has returned to the sport but in a new capacity. The 2004 Olympian is a part owner of BrevAlto Management, a new company specialising in sports and player management.

Apart from his NBL and Olympic experience, John also played ball for Gonzaga in the US college system and for powerhouse club AEK Athens BC. Rillie intends to use his broad experience and extensive contacts to assist both junior and senior players in maximising their potential nationally and internationally, including at NBA and WNBA levels.

Whilst basketball is clearly his area of expertise, Rillie and his fellow directors will also be utilising their broad expertise to assist athletes in sports other than basketball.

The transition from player to ‘manager’ is a natural progression for the self confessed basketball junkie.

One HD ... I love you

Aussie NBA fans were in heaven on Friday night when One HD showed the first of its NBA: Hall of Fame Tribute games. They started with Chicago Bulls vs Utah Jazz in game 5 of the '97 NBA Finals Series ... better known as "the flu" game. FaceBook was full of comments from my basketball friends who were loving Michael Jordan's heroics.

Having been starved of NBA action over the last couple of years I am so looking forward to One HD showing at least three NBA games per week. The classic NBA games are a great way to get fans warmed up for the upcoming season.

If you don't know or somehow don't remember this game, check the footage below.

On a side note, I stumbled across a fashion article earlier. Could this be the only time the phrase "Jordan-esque" has ever been used in derogatory way?

"There were some truly hideous fashion faux pas. Silver sequinned 'pasties', for example, belong in a lap dancing club unless you subscribe to a Jordan-esque dress code."

Thankfully I know they are referring to the British model Jordan (Katie Price), rather than the G.O.A.T, otherwise it would be sacrilegious!

Anna Bligh backs Gold Coast Blaze

One of my friends hinted to me last week that this news was coming. She was as usual tight-lipped and cryptic about the details but I saw this story on the NBL website and immediately knew this was what she was talking about. Great work setting this relationship up V! Very impressive

Its great to see the Queensland Premier getting behind not only the Gold Coast Blaze but the game of basketball in general. The sport can definitely use all the publicity it can get and this certainly won't hurt.

Over/under on how many games the premier will actually attend this season ... I set the line at 4.

Bligh backs Blaze

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh MP will be the Gold Coast Blaze NBL team’s number one ticketholder for season 2009-2010.

The announcement was made today in State Parliament ahead of the Friday 25th home season opener against the Townsville Crocodiles and in the middle of the Gold Coast Basketball Association (GCBA) 50th anniversary celebrations.

The ticket-holder news comes just a week after the sport-loving, former Gold Coast schoolgirl, Anna Bligh donned the Gold Coast Titan’s No.1 jersey ahead of last Saturday’s local derby against the Brisbane Broncos.

“I played basketball as a teenager on the Coast with the GCBA and I have very fond memories of my time in the sport,” said Ms Bligh.

“I’m really looking forward to being a part of the Blaze in their third National Basketball League season and I’m sure they’ll do all Gold Coasters proud.

Her shot could definitely use some work but its great to have Anna Bligh's support for the Gold Coast Blaze and the NBL

NBL update

With the NBL season just over 6 weeks away, there is starting to be some news and things happening.

Firstly, Fox is back on board saying they "back basketball". Whether this is good news or not I can't say, but since they took back their $35 million offer, I'd much prefer to see the NBL on OneHD. By now, a lot more households would have access to OneHD than Foxtel and this would really help bring the sport back in front of the viewing/sporting public. Look at how much netball is shown, its ridiculous ... its on so often I almost find myself watching it ... almost.

Now that most teams have their rosters close to completed we're at the point where import spots are announced. Over the last week there have been a number of announcements:

1. The Adelaide 36ers have confirmed the signing of American point guard John Gilchrist, agreeing to terms with the exciting import after a successful two-week trial period with the club.
2. The Gold Coast Blaze NBL basketball team have unveiled their first US import for the up-coming season. In a move designed to provide a bridge between the more experienced and the younger players, twenty seven-year-old 6’6” forward Michael Joiner will play in the blue and gold strip in season 2009/10.
3. Skytrans Cairns Taipans fans are in for a treat with the team today announcing the signing of powerhouse American Richard Melzer for the 2009-10 National Basketball League season. Melzer, 29, a 202cm power forward, was a standout performer in his only season with the New Zealand Breakers in 2005/06 averaging 18.6 points and 7.4 rebounds an outing before heading back to the US.
4. The Adelaide 36ers are excited about the arrival this Sunday of NBL excitement machine Cortez Groves. Groves will take the vacant import spot and play alongside the already secured John Gilchrist, giving Adelaide an exciting all-American starting backcourt.
5. The Perth Wildcats signed St Louis University shooting guard Kevin Lisch. Lisch is a 6’2 shooting guard who will provide the team with some much needed scoring power, speed and toughness. He has just completed a four-year stint at St Louis University and comes highly recommended by legendary St Louis Head Coach Rick Majerus, who is a good friend of Rob Beveridge’s.
6. American power forward David Gruber has been signed by the Wollongong Hawks for the 2009/10 NBL season. The 27 year old from Iowa, USA has spent the past several years playing in Victoria for the SEABL Frankston Blues and played his first year of NBL with the now defunct Sydney Spirit last season. He played out his college career in his home state representing the University of Northern Iowa until graduating in 2004.

New Blaze import Michael Joiner

NBL pre-season tournament in Darwin

Hot off the presses, I just received the following media release from the NBL.

31 July 2009

NBL TO HOLD PRE-SEASON TOURNAMENT IN DARWIN

The National Basketball League will hold a pre-season tournament, the Top End Challenge, featuring all eight NBL teams in Darwin from 3 – 5 September in the lead-up to the 2009/10 season, Basketball Australia has announced.

The event, which is being supported by the Northern Territory government and will be the biggest basketball event in Darwin’s history, will provide teams with the chance to have an invaluable hit-out prior to the tip-off of the NBL regular season on September 24.

“I am delighted that the National Basketball League has selected Darwin to host its pre-season Top End Challenge featuring all eight NBL teams from 3-5 September,” NT Sports Minister Karl Hampton said.

“This Government has a proud record of hosting premier sporting events – particularly those sports that have produced home grown stars such as Cairns Taipans star Gary Boodnikoff.

“We are very proud to host this year’s Challenge and showcase our international sporting facilities against the backdrop of Darwin’s thriving sporting, business and cultural opportunities.”

Basketball Australia Chief Executive Officer Larry Sengstock said the event was a unique one on the NBL calendar.

“This event is a further sign that Basketball is back and stronger than ever,” said Sengstock, “ The Top End Challenge brings together the whole NBL family in a pre-season carnival that is a full dress rehearsal for the season proper and provides a real insight into how each team is shaping up for the 2009/10 Season. This is an important statement about the strength and resilience of Basketball in Australia and we are proud to showcase the best of Australian men’s basketball in the Top End.”

“Basketball Australia has been very strong in its resolve to reconnect the elite end of our sports to the grass roots community and to that end the Teams will be conducting a wide variety of community engagement programs such as basketball clinics, school visits and hospital visits which will reinforce that Basketball is truly Everyone’s Game. We are very grateful for the support of the Northern Territory government and Basketball NT who have allowed us to bring this fantastic event to Darwin.”

NT Basketball President Pam Adam was extremely supportive of the event.

“It gives our committed basketball community the chance to watch, learn and interact with their NBL heroes. Our young basketballers are very excited by the opportunity to attend the NBL coaching clinics,” said Adam.

The tournament will be held at the Marrara Indoor Stadium, which has hosted a number of Perth Wildcats’ home games in recent seasons. Each team will have a minimum of three full games, playing in an elimination format on Marrara’s two courts. Tip-off times will be staggered to start at 5pm, 6pm, 7pm and 8pm with the grand final scheduled for Saturday, 5 September.

The gathering of the NBL community in Darwin will also facilitate a number of important governance meetings, including a NBL/Club CEO’s Meeting and a meeting of the NBL Commission, which governs the NBL and answers to the BA Board, consisting of Dianne Smith-Gander and Bruce Spangler (BA Board), CEO Larry Sengstock and Commissioners Ian Smythe (CEO Townsville Crocodiles), Wayne Morris (CEO Wollongong Hawks), Paul Blackwell (Owner New Zealand Breakers) and Andrew Vlahov (Independent).

Tickets for the Top End Challenge will go on sale in August.

Summer league action and the NBA's top 10 plays of the year

Four or five days without posting, yes it is the off-season and things were quiet but I was also away this weekend and the laptop wasn't taken. It was my birthday yesterday so I spent the weekend down in Melbourne and Geelong catching up with friends. One of my friends got us President's Club tickets to Geelong vs Melbourne in the AFL so we stayed in Geelong for the night and went out on the town after the game. Hurting yesterday so other than buffet breakfast at the hotel in the morning and flying back to Brisbane in the afternoon, it was a very quiet day.

Anyway, catching up on some of the basketball "action" from the past few days, the most relevant was a basketball shooting display in the summer league. Anthony Morrow from the Golden State Warriors went off against the New Orleans Hornets for 47 points, 18 of 26 from the field, 7 of 9 from deep. Here are the highlights:



Also for your viewing pleasure, here are the NBA's top 10 plays of the year:

Michael Jordan/Gatorade street art photos

Tux sent an e-mail through to me earlier with an interview by the team at Ball Don't Lie with Scottie Pippen. From that article came the story about Gatorade's tribute to Michael Jordan's impending induction in to the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Click on the title below to read the full story and the interview with Chicago Bulls legend Scottie Pippen.

Michael Jordan/Gatorade street art photos - Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

A street art tribute to Michael Jordan made out of 19,000 Gatorade bottles, including the new Gatorade Limited Edition Jordan Series, glows on a basketball court Monday on Chicago's South Side. Local Jordan fans and longtime Jordan teammate Scottie Pippen helped construct the mosaic, which Gatorade organized as a way to celebrate Jordan's Hall of Fame career.

Yes, its a pretty slow time for NBA news, but again, thanks to the crew at Ball Don't Lie, the guys at The Basketball Jones teach you how to keep basketball in your life. Pretty funny stuff for those of us who LOVE the game.

Jordan Farmar at the World Series of Poker?

So you've just won the NBA Championship title, its the off-season and time to relax ... what to do? If you're Jordan Farmar back-up point guard for the LA Lakers apparently you head to Vegas for the World Series of Poker!

In my other life outside of basketball and work, I'm an aspiring poker player and have been keeping a close eye on the World Series. I was quite surprised to see this hand come up on Poker News and had to do a little research to veryify it was indeed Farmar from the Lakers:

Farmar Commits, Reaps Reward

A player in late position raised and both Jordan Farmar (small blind) and Robert Varkonyi (big blind) called, creating a pot of about 6,000. The flop came . Farmar and Varkonyi checked, the preflop raiser continued with a bet of 5,075, Farmar called, and Varkonyi got out of the way.

The turn was the . Farmar checked, his opponent made a hefty bet of 17,075, and Farmar said "I can't turn back now" as he made the call.

The river was the . Farmar again checked, and his opponent pushed all in for 27,000 -- just a couple thousand more than Farmar's stack. Farmar called relatively quickly, turning over for two pair. His opponent mucked.

Farmar picks up a lot of chips on that one, as well as some kudos from some of his tablemates for the river call. He catapults up to 95,000.

Great work from Jordan and this pot put him in to the top 10 chip-counts of day 1d with a few sessions left to play. I'd be surprised if his run continues too much further, but if it does I'll certainly keep you updated.

Jordan Farmar at the World Series of Poker, pictured with Lou Diamond Phillips, Marlon Wayans, Torrie Wilson, (ex-NBA'er) John Salley

NBL & NBA news

After saying yesterday what a quiet week it had been in the basketball world, the last 24 hours have been BIG!!

With the NBA draft taking place tomorrow, several pre-draft trades have gone down. It started with:

• Toronto trading Jason Kapono for Philly's Reggie Evans
• Then big one was the Bucks sending Richard Jefferson to the Spurs for Kurt Thomas, Fabricio Oberto and Bruce Bowen
• Oberto didn't last long in Milwaukee as they then traded him to Detroit for Amir Johnson
• The Timberwolves and Washington on Wednesday struck a deal that gives Minnesota the No. 5 overall pick, its fourth first-round draft choice, along with Wizards forwards Etan Thomas, Darius Songaila and Oleksiy Pecherov. The Wizards receive guards Randy Foye and Mike Miller

Today, news has:

• Warriors guard Jamal Crawford going to Atlanta for Speedy Claxton and Acie Law
• And finally, a deal has apparently been done that sends Shaq from Phoenix to Cleveland for Ben Wallace and Sasha Pavlovic

Obviously the final deal sending Shaq to Cleveland is the BIGGEST news, but we'll talk more about that when its confirmed.

In NBL news, as things slowly move forward to the new league/season, the NBL office has officially released its new logo ... hearby ending all hummer jokes.

NBA Draft '09

Its been a week since I last posted ... can you tell its pretty quiet in the basketball world right now??

In the (new) NBL, teams are signing players and getting themselves organised for the upcoming season. There are still plenty of announcements yet to happen and plenty of quality talent waiting to get picked up (John Rillie anyone?).

In the NBA, since the Lakers took care of business in the NBA Championship Series a little early, all the talk at the moment is about the upcoming draft. From an Aussie perspective, there's plenty of interest around Patrick Mills and if he will go in the first round. Then, once his name has been called, the interest surrounds Joe Ingles and where/when he'll be drafted.

Hopefully Patty will be picked up a team that can give him some minutes straight away. Ideally a team with a good point guard that he can learn from. As for Ingles, the question is whether he'll be signed to a contract by his team or if he'll be the next Brad Newley/CJ Bruton (drafted but yet to play in the NBA).

John Rillie found a couple of interviews with Patty and Joe, click here to check them out.

The team at Dime have had plenty of stories about the draft so check out their site and stay up to date with everything that's happening.

Basketball shooting tips - Improving your shooting range

Here's an article I wrote the other day with some basketball shooting tips and how to improve your shooting range.

Improving your shooting range

One of the most common questions I get asked is: “How do I improve my shooting range?” or “how do I improve my three-point shot?”

The principles of hitting a three-pointer or shooting from deep are the same as any other shot. Your form/shooting technique doesn’t change. Aim at the same point on the ring, get your trajectory right and don't forget to get your legs in to the shot. Your legs are where the power comes from not your arms or upper body.

To improve your range, don't immediately head straight out to the three-point arc and start jacking up shots, work in close to the basket first to make sure your technique is right, you’re warmed up and your eye is in. As your confidence increases and you find your rhythm, begin to gradually work your way out. Do this by making 10 shots from in close, step back a metre make another 10 and so on. It’s important to count your makes NOT just how many shots you take.

There are plenty of drills that you can run to improve your range and confidence from downtown. Get creative, have fun and remember to practise at game speed.

Practice and repetition will give you confidence and remember to practise shots you’ll get in game situations (practise shooting off the dribble, practise coming off a screen, practise fading away, etc).

As I mentioned earlier, the power in your shot comes from your legs (not your arms) so you can improve your range when you’re not on the court by doing weights and exercises to strengthen your legs. Squats and lunges are usually the simplest. Keep in mind that you’re not trying to become a running back in the NFL so you don’t need to use massive weights, high reps are better for basketball.

Great three-point shooters aren't just born ... you can of course work on it and become one. Watch great shooters and see what they do and learn from them. Success leaves clues.

Free throws ... the importance of

Other than being just about basketball, the focus of this blog leans towards the shooting aspect of the game. Whether its free-throw shooting, three-point shooting, clutch shooting, we've got it covered.

I've talked many times about the importance of free-throw shooting and why its vital that you spend hours at the line working on it. I've highlighted the truly great free-throw shooters (Ray Allen, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf and many more) and how you should watch and learn from them.

Well last night's game 4 of the NBA Championship Series has again got everyone talking about free-throws as Orlando hit just 22 of 37 (59.5%) from the line and went on to lose the game in overtime. Most people are pointing to Dwight Howard's two missed free-throws in the final minute of regulation which would've given them the win ... but Hedo Turkoglu was just 8 of 13 (61.5%) from the line. Hedo is an 80% free-throw shooter over his career so was it the pressure of the situation that got to him? If either of them just make one more free-throw, they win this game and level the series at 2 - 2, instead they're down 3 - 1 and it looks like they're done.

Dime had a good piece about the situation on their website, I've included an excerpt from it below. Click on the title to read the full story. PS. Great to see them giving up the love to my boy Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf!

Coaches don’t miss free throws | Dime Magazine (www.dimemag.com) : Daily NBA News, NBA Trades, NBA Rumors, Basketball Videos, Sneakers

NBA big men are traditionally below-average free throw shooters, and while you can chalk that up to hand size, range of motion in the shoulders or whatever, I think it’s really just because nobody expects them to be that good. From the time they’re in high school, they don’t practice free throws as much as a guard would practice. If you’re getting tough buckets in the paint, winning your team extra possessions by battling for rebounds, and blocking a couple shots on top of that, it may seem like a lot to ask to also turn into Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf from 15 feet away. But because every big man can point to Wilt Chamberlain and say, “He only shot 51 percent from the line,” it’s acceptable to perform at a lower standard than other players.

And here’s the problem, particularly for somebody like Dwight: He takes A LOT of free throws. Because of his size and skill, teams have to foul him close to the basket. Throughout this series it’s been clear the Lakers made it their game plan to not let Dwight get those soul-crushing dunks on them, especially in Orlando, where he can whip the crowd into a frenzy. Kobe and everyone else in purple would rather bear-hug Dwight and tackle him before letting him get a dunk. And a lot of teams would do the same. During the regular season, Dwight led the League with 10.8 free throws per game (59% FT). In the playoffs, he’s been taking 10.2 free throws per, second behind LeBron James (14.2 FT per game). And, true, up until last night, he’s been pretty good in the Finals from the stripe.

But Howard, and every coach that he’s ever played for and will ever play for, knows damn well he’s gonna be put on the line often. He’s going to have to hit some free throws in crunch time. So why should he be held to a lower level of expectation than the Nick Andersons, Darius Washingtons and Derrick Roses of the game? If any perimeter player bricked those FT’s in Game 4 — and Lord help us all if it were LeBron or Kobe — nobody could “live with” those misses.

If you missed it, here are the highlights from the game

Patrick Mills keeping name in NBA draft

The wait for the NBA Championship Series means this is a looong week in the life of a basketball fan. Up to this point we've been spoiled having a finals game virtually every day, but now there is almost a week between game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals and game 1 of the Championship Series. It seems like forever!

In the meantime tho, one of my friends sent me an update on Patrick Mills in the lead up to the NBA draft. Until now, Patty has been sitting on the fence regarding his future in the NBA, choosing not to sign with an agent which meant that he could return to college if he didn't get drafted high enough to get a guaranteed contract. From the article below Mills has decided he's ready for the NBA and he's not looking back.

Due to a broken hand suffered midway through the college season, the hype around Mills has died down considerably from where it was after the Olympics. Its great to read that the hand is fully recovered and hopefully his workouts with NBA teams go really well and he gets in to the first round of the draft.

Click on the title below to read the full story.

Mills keeping name in NBA draft - NBA - Yahoo! Sports

By JANIE McCAULEY, AP Sports Writer

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—Patty Mills is prepared to test his talent in the NBA.

The Australian Olympic star and point guard from Saint Mary’s College said Monday he will forgo his final two years of college eligibility and keep his name in the NBA draft.

“In my head, I’m 100 percent in,” Mills said. “There’s a great opportunity for me to play in the NBA this year and I’m trying to make the most of the opportunity.”

The 6-foot, 175-pound Mills was among 12 players to work out in two separate sessions Monday for 21 NBA teams at the Golden State Warriors’ practice facility. He even campaigned for the Warriors to select him on draft day June 25 so he can stay in the Bay Area.

“It’s home away from home for me at the moment,” Mills said, wearing navy blue Warriors practice gear and sporting a Golden State towel around his neck.

He said the only way he would return to school would be if enough teams told him before the draft that he should play another college season.

“I haven’t heard that as of yet,” Mills said.

What number pick do you think Mills will be drafted?

Basketball Workshop update

Its been a few weeks since I've mentioned our Basketball Workshop so here's an update and a brief intro to what its all about.

At the end of last year I went up to Townsville and spent some time with my favourite NBL player John Rillie. John and I spent a few hours putting together some videos that take you step-by-step through everything you need to know to improve your shooting. JR is one of the best shooters the NBL has ever seen, especially from the free-throw line and behind the three-point arc, so naturally these are the main areas we focussed on. We also covered basic shooting technique and form, warming up, bank shots, catching and shooting and much more.

Here's one of the videos from JR:



It took me a while to organise the second player to add to the site, but last month I caught up with ex-Bullet (ex-Razorback and ex-Breakers) Adam Darragh. Adam is now running a basketball excellence program at Varsity College on the Gold Coast and rehabbing from a knee reconstruction. I spent a couple of sessions with Adam and we covered everything a point guard needs to know about shooting a basketball. Like JR, he's also very proficient from the line so we spent some time there as well as working on training drills, shooting off the dribble, creating space to get your shot off, three-point shooting and plenty more. To see part of the interview I did with Adam after our shooting sessions, click here.

For the past few months I've had an opening special for the Workshop of just US$9.95 for an annual membership. Now that I've added all of Adam's videos to the site as well as some basketball shooting articles and a "Best of YouTube" section, the price is going up. If you want to take your game to the next level and dramatically improve your shooting sign up before May 14.

In the Workshop you'll find everything you need to know about how to shoot a basketball properly and exactly what you need to do to become a better player.

You'll gain access to basketball shooting tips, drills and training techniques directly from professional players (such as John and Adam). You'll see them in action talking and walking you through drills that have been proven over and over to be some of the very best ways to improve your basketball shot.

To find out more and sign-up, click here.

Free-throw shooting

I came across this article today about free-throw shooting. It questions free-throw percentages haven't improved over the last 50 years, while other achievements in sport improve with time.

Click on the title to read the full story.

For Free Throws, 50 Years of Practice Is No Help - NYTimes.com

CEDAR CITY, Utah — Basketball in the United States has changed in myriad ways over the decades, from flat-footed set shots to dunks, from crotch-hugging uniforms to baggy knee-length shorts, from the dominance of American players to the recent infusion of international stars.

But one thing has remained remarkably constant: the rate at which players make free throws.

Since the mid-1960s, college men’s players have made about 69 percent of free throws, the unguarded 15-foot, 1-point shot awarded after a foul. In 1965, the rate was 69 percent. This season, as teams scramble for bids to the N.C.A.A. tournament, it was 68.8. It has dropped as low as 67.1 but never topped 70.

In the National Basketball Association, the average has been roughly 75 percent for more than 50 years. Players in college women’s basketball and the W.N.B.A. reached similar plateaus — about equal to the men — and stuck there.

The general expectation in sports is that performance improves over time. Future athletes will surely be faster, throw farther, jump higher. But free-throw shooting represents a stubbornly peculiar athletic endeavor. As a group, players have not gotten better. Nor have they become worse.

“It’s unbelievable,” Larry Wright, an adjunct professor of statistics at Columbia, said as he studied the year-by-year averages. “There’s almost no difference. Fifty years. This is mind-boggling.”

No pressure ... can you make a free-throw when it matters most?

More NBL updates

I mentioned last week the Australian basketball public was waiting to hear the big announcements from the NBL. The main one being the new CEO which went to Larry Sengstock (pictured below). Click on the title below to read the full announcement.

NBL > News

Sengstock takes the helm

Australian basketball has a new hand at the helm to guide it through the next stage of its commercial reform after the legendary Larry Sengstock was named as the sport's new Chief Executive Officer by Basketball Australia. Sengstock comes to basketball as an acknowledged leader in Australian sports management with exceptional experience in working with all levels of sport both locally and internationally, all range of commercial enterprises and with all levels of government.


Here's an article about Larry and what he has ahead of himself over the next few weeks.

In other "New NBL" news, word on the street has it that Brisbane and Sydney won't be involved in the first season. Here's an article by Marco Monteverde (who I used to work with at the Bullets) who chatted with Andrew Gaze about the (hopefully) upcoming season.

Shooters of the future

Thanks to the team at Dime for breaking down the next batch of great shooters by reviewing some of the top shooters in the college ranks. Click on the title below to read the full story and find out who you need to keep an eye on.

March Madness: Top 15 Shooters | Dime Magazine (www.dimemag.com) : Daily NBA News, NBA Trades, NBA Rumors, Basketball Videos, Sneakers

By Andrew Katz

Now that the selection committed chose the best 34 teams to fill out the 65-squad bracket, we’ve got a set field of shooters to choose from. There’s no single, definitive guy out there who is widely regarded as the premiere shooter in college hoops. So we pulled the fifteen best shooters out of the Big Dance’s 65 teams in our NCAA Tournament primer.

Scottie Reynolds (pictured below) - Villanova is one of the best teams to watch in the country because of the way that Handsome Jay Wright has them moving the basketball. Reynolds is a big beneficiary of that quick movement so that he’s able to get his quick-release jumper off before defenders can close out on him. Louisville was able to keep Scottie to 2 points in the Big East semi’s, but American University won’t have the athletic defenders needed to hold him down again in round one.

Andy Rautins - Maybe the most dangerous shooter in the field of 65. Andy Buckets numbers don’t indicate that he’s the best in the country, but if he’s hot, he’s a defense’s nightmare. After being in and out of the lineup early in the season, Rautins hit his stride in the Big East tourney, sinking 22 treys in his last six games (3.7 three’s per game).