Basketball Statistics Blog

October Cover ~ Basketball Beautiful Faces:
From the Euroleague !

Photograph: Ohad Redlich Gallery

Our Basketball Beautiful Faces of October 2010 Cover
from the excellent Photograph Gallery by Ohad Redlich

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tags: basketball ~ beautiful faces ~ great basketball photographs ~ Ohad Redlich
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Friday Press Clippings:
Lakers' Practice Featured on NBA TV's Real Training Camp

From 20 Second Timeout
By David Friedman
Download source here: ' Lakers' Practice Featured on NBA TV's Real Training Camp ' by David Friedman

"... even though "stat gurus" (and certain so-called experts) insisted that Kobe Bryant would not have had to hit so many game winning shots if Bryant had not allegedly been so inefficient early in games--Coach Jackson confirmed what I repeatedly said about the Lakers' bench and their lack of depth. ..."

"... Nixon repeatedly marveled at how simple and basic the practice was but I think that this deceptive simplicity is actually the touchstone of Jackson's coaching genius (as it was for John Wooden, Red Auerbach and Vince Lombardi); coaching is not about making things complex and it is not about the vaunted "in game adjustments" with which some media members are so obsessed: coaching is about preparing players in practice to deal with the most likely scenarios that will happen during games and coaching is about making sure that players are well schooled in the fundamentals. ..."

"... During one of the drills, the Lakers used the toss back device; old school fans probably remember when former ABA player George Lehmann demonstrated the toss back during one of those classic Red on Roundball sessions.

The toss back consists of a panel of taut strings that can be deployed at various angles; players toss the ball at the panel and it comes back to them so that they can shoot, pass or rebound (depending on the drill). ... "

"... The pivoting drills were very interesting. Jackson explained that there are inside pivots, outside pivots, inside reverse pivots and outside reverse pivots and that which pivot a player uses depends on where he is on the court and how the defense is guarding him. Players who pivoted incorrectly during the drills were gently corrected by Jackson or one of the assistant coaches.

Pivoting is a vital skill for all basketball players (not just post players) and it is essential in the Triangle Offense; whether a player receives the ball in the low post, the high post or on the perimeter he must be able to make the right read, execute a crisp pivot and then pass, shoot or drive. ..."

"... Regarding James and the Miami Heat, Jackson said, "We're the champs but they're favored and I think that's a real incentive, a wonderful incentive for us." ..."

Read more articles in 20 Second Timeout.

To read today's 'Press Clippings' in Spanish, click this week above on the 'Español' tab or afterwards click here: ' La trampa de los datos y las estadísticas ' by Federico Ferrero .

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tags:  basketball  ~  statistician's digest   ~  basketball analysis  ~  David Friedman
visit:  eBA Portal  ~  eBA Forums  ~  eBA Encyclopedia  ~  eBA Clinics