Niners coach Mike Singletary:
"When I look around the NFL, I'm amazed by how many people have a dream and how few have a vision."
The difference, he said, is that a dream ends up being passive, accommodating disappointment.
A vision, he said, "captures the imagination. A vision is something that consumes you like a fire, it won't let you eat, it won't let you sleep until that vision comes to pass."
3.05.2009
BO RYAN - PERSERVERANCE
“There’s still something in life for the people who want things, and will persevere, and aren’t easily deterred. There is that element of perseverance that separates a lot of people.”
MARK PRICE - PURE SHOOTER
Mark Price, was a four-time NBA All-Star who won the 3-Point Shooting Contest twice. Below he talks about how he developed as a shooter.
The secret is you have to have good technique and you’ve got to spend the time and put hours and hours in. There is no quick-fix. You hear the term, “pure-shooter,” but what people would call a pure shooter is a guy that’s probably spent a lot of time in the gym working on it.
I spent a lot of time in the gym. My dad taught me what he thought was the right way to shoot the ball, and he told me it was up to me as far as how hard I was going to work. I spent a lot of hours just trying to perfect my shot, because I wasn’t real big—I was probably only 5-11, 155 pounds when I showed up at Georgia Tech so I had to work hard on my skills.
The secret is you have to have good technique and you’ve got to spend the time and put hours and hours in. There is no quick-fix. You hear the term, “pure-shooter,” but what people would call a pure shooter is a guy that’s probably spent a lot of time in the gym working on it.
I spent a lot of time in the gym. My dad taught me what he thought was the right way to shoot the ball, and he told me it was up to me as far as how hard I was going to work. I spent a lot of hours just trying to perfect my shot, because I wasn’t real big—I was probably only 5-11, 155 pounds when I showed up at Georgia Tech so I had to work hard on my skills.
Rodney Stuckey - Being The Focal Point Of A Scout
After starting two games last year as a rookie, Pistons PG Rodney Stuckey has logged 38 starts this season, his minutes steadily increasing.
But in nine games this month, Stuckey has failed to reach double-digits in scoring six times and he's had three one-assists games during that span.
According to coach Michael Curry, that's a reflection of the additional attention he's garnering from opposing teams.
"I've always said there's a difference in getting 20 points when you're not the focal point of the defense and you're pretty much playing off everyone else. Now, his 20 points will always be a hard-earned 20 because he is going to be the focal point of the other teams' defense. A lot of times they are putting their best perimeter defender on him. And so because of that he has to continue to improve and continue to fight through the different challenges he has every night."
But in nine games this month, Stuckey has failed to reach double-digits in scoring six times and he's had three one-assists games during that span.
According to coach Michael Curry, that's a reflection of the additional attention he's garnering from opposing teams.
"I've always said there's a difference in getting 20 points when you're not the focal point of the defense and you're pretty much playing off everyone else. Now, his 20 points will always be a hard-earned 20 because he is going to be the focal point of the other teams' defense. A lot of times they are putting their best perimeter defender on him. And so because of that he has to continue to improve and continue to fight through the different challenges he has every night."
LON KRUGER - ON CONFIDENCE
Confidence, I think, is as significant as anything in performance," said UNLV coach Lon Kruger recently. "People who play with confidence, who perform with confidence, feel good about what they’re doing. It’s hard for people to be confident if you’re tearing them down all the time. So we’re just trying to build them up to promote confidence, to promote enthusiasm. It all ties together."
According to Coach Kruger, whose Rebels are 20-8 with two regular season games left, building confidence doesn't necessarily mean going soft.
"Some individuals may need to get after it a little harder, in a constructive way,” Kruger said. "Even when you’re getting after people, that’s not a negative. That can be constructive when it’s intended the right way."
According to Coach Kruger, whose Rebels are 20-8 with two regular season games left, building confidence doesn't necessarily mean going soft.
"Some individuals may need to get after it a little harder, in a constructive way,” Kruger said. "Even when you’re getting after people, that’s not a negative. That can be constructive when it’s intended the right way."
TIM LINCECUM - NOT RESTING ON HIS LAURELS
Five years ago, Tim Lincecum was on his way to earning Freshman of the Year honors at the University of Washington.
Today, he's getting ready for his first season since winning the Cy Young Award in November of last year.
Nicknamed "The Freak," the 5-foot-11, 174-pound Lincecum isn't resting on his laurels.
"I always want to get better," said Lincecum, who had a league-high 265 strikeouts last season for the Giants. "I come into this year, I'm not just sitting on my ass hoping everything's going to be all right because of last year. I've got to come out here and work and become better. That's what it takes to be a good major-league baseball player."
Today, he's getting ready for his first season since winning the Cy Young Award in November of last year.
Nicknamed "The Freak," the 5-foot-11, 174-pound Lincecum isn't resting on his laurels.
"I always want to get better," said Lincecum, who had a league-high 265 strikeouts last season for the Giants. "I come into this year, I'm not just sitting on my ass hoping everything's going to be all right because of last year. I've got to come out here and work and become better. That's what it takes to be a good major-league baseball player."
TEAM QUOTES
Great quote from Ron Artest the other day in the Houston paper:
"The only thing that defines individuals is how the team does."
A good quote from John Wooden that relates is, "The star of the team is the team."
"When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality."
"The only thing that defines individuals is how the team does."
A good quote from John Wooden that relates is, "The star of the team is the team."
"When a team outgrows individual performance and learns team confidence, excellence becomes a reality."
2.10.2009
BRANDON ROY
How good is Brandon Roy?
He's so good that Boston Celtic coach Doc Rivers has put together highlight videos of Roy that he gives to his sons to study.
"He's one of my favorite players in the league," says Coach Rivers. "He plays under control, he plays unselfishly, and he plays at gears that young players don't play at. Most young players play fast and out of control, and for them it's all about getting 'my shots.' But his whole attitude is based on team play."
As Ian Thomsen describes him in his story today on SI.com, "the 6'6" Roy plays like an aging vet who takes pride in outsmarting the rim-scrapers while conserving energy to extend his career. In fact, he is a 24-year-old blessed with a 41-inch vertical leap, which he uses only when necessary. He wears neither tattoos nor jewelry. In this era of unparalleled athleticism and style over substance, Brandon Roy is the NBA's curious version of Benjamin Button—a young body driven by an old-school mind."
Says Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard: "He absolutely changed the direction of our team."
So, asks Thomsen, "how does he make the spectacular look so effortless?"
The answer is fundamental: Roy can dribble so well that you can't tell which is his weak hand, and at 211 pounds he has the size to shield the ball as he reads the defense and waits for a play to develop. He has a coach's mind, an intuitive understanding of teammates and opponents swirling around him as if they were X's and O's diagrammed on a whiteboard.
Teammate Steve Blake contends that Roy is "always on balance, so if someone reaches in, he's able to spin and he's not falling over."
Portland coach Nate McMillan says Roy has "three moves that will get you... a crossover, a pump, a spin."
According to Chris Paul, it's a matter of angles and efficiency:
"He goes in straight lines. Anybody who knows basketball knows if you go around a guy, you need to go right by him. He takes a minimal amount of steps, and then he's at the rim."
To improve, Roy says he needs "to make some mistakes."
"I think that's where my potential lies — taking more risks, trying to play with more flair and having more fun out there."
He's so good that Boston Celtic coach Doc Rivers has put together highlight videos of Roy that he gives to his sons to study.
"He's one of my favorite players in the league," says Coach Rivers. "He plays under control, he plays unselfishly, and he plays at gears that young players don't play at. Most young players play fast and out of control, and for them it's all about getting 'my shots.' But his whole attitude is based on team play."
As Ian Thomsen describes him in his story today on SI.com, "the 6'6" Roy plays like an aging vet who takes pride in outsmarting the rim-scrapers while conserving energy to extend his career. In fact, he is a 24-year-old blessed with a 41-inch vertical leap, which he uses only when necessary. He wears neither tattoos nor jewelry. In this era of unparalleled athleticism and style over substance, Brandon Roy is the NBA's curious version of Benjamin Button—a young body driven by an old-school mind."
Says Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard: "He absolutely changed the direction of our team."
So, asks Thomsen, "how does he make the spectacular look so effortless?"
The answer is fundamental: Roy can dribble so well that you can't tell which is his weak hand, and at 211 pounds he has the size to shield the ball as he reads the defense and waits for a play to develop. He has a coach's mind, an intuitive understanding of teammates and opponents swirling around him as if they were X's and O's diagrammed on a whiteboard.
Teammate Steve Blake contends that Roy is "always on balance, so if someone reaches in, he's able to spin and he's not falling over."
Portland coach Nate McMillan says Roy has "three moves that will get you... a crossover, a pump, a spin."
According to Chris Paul, it's a matter of angles and efficiency:
"He goes in straight lines. Anybody who knows basketball knows if you go around a guy, you need to go right by him. He takes a minimal amount of steps, and then he's at the rim."
To improve, Roy says he needs "to make some mistakes."
"I think that's where my potential lies — taking more risks, trying to play with more flair and having more fun out there."
JERRY WEST
A couple of excerpts from Jerry West's book "Mr. Clutch", which was published 30 years ago.
West, averaged 27 ppg over 14 seasons with the Lakers.
~~~~~~~~~~
I've seen too many players who never improve because they think they've got it made. What they do well, they enjoy doing, naturally, so that's what they practice, sort of showing off, like a great hook-shooter who spends all day shooting hooks. I've seen too many players who won't practice what they don't do well, because they're afraid of showing these faults up, of being embarrassed by them. I always practiced ballhandling rather than shooting because I needed ballhandling practice more than I needed shooting practice.
The more you come through, the more you're apt to keep coming through. Confidence is a lot of this game. If you don't think you can, you won't.
West, averaged 27 ppg over 14 seasons with the Lakers.
~~~~~~~~~~
I've seen too many players who never improve because they think they've got it made. What they do well, they enjoy doing, naturally, so that's what they practice, sort of showing off, like a great hook-shooter who spends all day shooting hooks. I've seen too many players who won't practice what they don't do well, because they're afraid of showing these faults up, of being embarrassed by them. I always practiced ballhandling rather than shooting because I needed ballhandling practice more than I needed shooting practice.
The more you come through, the more you're apt to keep coming through. Confidence is a lot of this game. If you don't think you can, you won't.
LEBRON JAMES & TIGER WOODS
What does LeBron James have in common with Tiger Woods?
According to Chris Ballard in SportsIllustrated, "Just as Tiger Woods remade his swing when he was already dominant, James spent last summer quietly reconstructing his jumper, working with assistant coach Chris Jent five days a week, an hour and a half per session."
Why?
If you watched James shoot last year, you know why; even though teams were petrified of his penetration, he sometimes looked like he was chucking pumpkins at the backboard.
Ballard describes how Lebron -- "like a pee-wee player, began by putting up one-handed shots close to the basket."
He graduated to "one-dribble jumpers and free throws, then midrange shots. Remarkably, never once during the sessions did he fling a three-pointer."
Says Coach Jent:
"Form first, and the range will come."
According to Chris Ballard in SportsIllustrated, "Just as Tiger Woods remade his swing when he was already dominant, James spent last summer quietly reconstructing his jumper, working with assistant coach Chris Jent five days a week, an hour and a half per session."
Why?
If you watched James shoot last year, you know why; even though teams were petrified of his penetration, he sometimes looked like he was chucking pumpkins at the backboard.
Ballard describes how Lebron -- "like a pee-wee player, began by putting up one-handed shots close to the basket."
He graduated to "one-dribble jumpers and free throws, then midrange shots. Remarkably, never once during the sessions did he fling a three-pointer."
Says Coach Jent:
"Form first, and the range will come."
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