What is so difficult about the basketball fundamentals?

How important is the ability to dribble with either hand, shoot lay ups with either hand and/or have good ball control with either hand? 

The essentials to success are fundamentals, because remember not everybody can jump out of the gym and dunk with authority, or master the art of the 90 foot shot with consistency. 

Dribbling is very important to every player that plays the game. It doesn't matter what position you play on the basketball floor. Even though, post players are constantly criticized for putting the ball on the floor. In the right circumstances, post players do need to be able to dribble the ball effectively. I recently observed a basketball player attempt to pull off a pump fake, up and under move while dribbling with the inside hand, the athlete was confused by the thought that the great move didn't work. Great move yes, to a point, but the problem was you allowed the defender to get near the ball, considering between you and the basket is where the common defender is located. 

Shooting lay ups can be done in numerous ways, and every coach and player has their favorite. Some coaches might have pet peeves with players that aren't able to consistently connect on lay ups, the easiest shot in basketball. I do know whenever a person is observing a game of competition basketball and a player botches a dunk attempt,  almost instantaneously a player is sent to check into the game for the should be embarrassed player.  The most important fact about the lay up, is to be good as a player it is vital that you can shot lay ups with either dominant hand well. It gives the person so many more options and weapons to use against the defense. 

Ball handling is an easy fundamental to teach and learn. But, can you tell me how many times a week you see ball handling cost a team points in a close contest? Ball handling and the art of dribbling  are elementary skills that are used and very abused in almost every game in this day and age. I personally can say that if you were not able to dribble and control the ball with either hand, you would not play very much for my high school coach, or junior high coach. 

Every year there is a team that somehow, someway makes a trip to Lincoln for the state tournament with a point guard, or main ball handler, that doesn't use his left hand ever, might as well cut it off at the wrist, because it is never used. Maybe have a Velcro strap on it where it can be affixed to the body, so it can be used on the defensive end of the court.........

When thinking about ball handling and the game of basketball, I am currently visualizing Ivan  Radovadovitch from the movie, "Eddie" starring Whoopi Goldberg as the coach of the New York Knicks. "Ivan make basket", even Whoopi Goldberg knows enough basketball to know that it isn't just all about the players that can score. If a player is not able to handle the ball at all, they better be mastering the skill of shooting from 70 feet or more, as they will not be able to advance the ball down the floor to take a higher percentage attempt. 

On every team there is one, some teams are blessed with the presence of more than one. They are privileged. The athlete that I am speaking of is the pure shooter. When being praised by teammates and coaches, they always hear, "great shot", but they never hear, "good defense, good rebound, and/or good pass," from anybody. 

I know the color black is back, and the popular choice for clothing and accessories, but in most sports being referred to as a "black hole," isn't a good thing. Anybody with a little knowledge is able to recognize the relation between an actual black hole in astronomy and a black hole on the basketball court. 

Fundamentals are especially important for people to be successful, in school, work, and/or competition. 

Questions of the week: 

After mentioning the movie, "Eddie" I have to stick with the Knicks to ask what former NBA player referred to himself in the third person as Stacy Patton in the movie? 

Where did the actor known as Stacey Patton attend college and what was the mascot at the time? 

Time Machines in Sports

Would it be great to be able to change the Past?

Sports have their own version of the past, and there is a chance that the past/future can be altered due to instant replay. The officials in football, should almost feel like they are watching a peep show or something going underneath the hood, as they used to do, in the early use of instant replay. 

The first time that Instant replay was used was in 1963 at the Army/Navy football game. The commentators and viewers were able to take a second look at the action. This was the first chance for fans/critics to prove that officials are human and not perfect. The criticism hasn't stopped since this day. For officials it was their dooms day, they would never be evaluated the same again. 

Instant replay has now become an essential part of sports, that it is used in all major sports in America. I do find it important that instant replay uses the same video footage that you as a spectator are seeing in your own home. Unless of course the New England Patriots are playing. You might be able to check on the Patriots sideline to see if there is an on-the-field view with the best angle. I think it is great, that the Patriots are taking a step in trying to advance the technology of the sport of football. Isn't that what they were doing, helping out the replay booth?

Every sport has their own stipulations and regulations that are enforced by the replay officials.

In football, it is the coaches that are able to challenge the results of plays. It isn't in all football yet though, not all college conferences can afford the equipment that instant replay requires. It seems kinda contradictory, when the replay official in the booth is a former official themselves using video to help out the cause. Isn't that cheating?

Basketball and Baseball have more of a limited replay determination. It only can be used when the officials make game shifting decisions, whether it is at the buzzer or near the boundary. The Basketball and Baseball officials make sure that replay doesn't bother the flow of the game. Determining a game decision on a small sideline television screen that is miniature compared to the enormous screens that the game is being viewed at home or in sports bar and grills is absurd. The officials are being cheated, its like trying to find a needle in a haystack when looking at a small screen. Why not a big screen somewhere, that they can check out the action?

Baseball was the last major sport to adopt instant replay just recently and imagine this; Alex Rodriguez of the Yankees was the first person to have his performance reviewed. Alex was also the first person to sign a contract for 275 million. If the Yankee’s were getting their money worth, would there be a question on his play?

The sport of Hockey only reviews scoring plays, and an on-ice referee must initiate it. I like this idea, it keeps all the decision-making in the referee's hands. 

Tennis is a step ahead of the game having 3-D replays to determine line calls. It doesn't matter what surface is being played. Tennis is a game of trustworthy type people that must not falter when respecting the game. It is a pure sport that prides itself on the historic past of not only great athletes, but great citizens of the world.  You don't read in the news of many tennis players being blacklisted as murders, rapists, etc. 

Rodeo even has replay, when clarifying ride time, fouls, and/or aids the rider might have used.

NASCAR uses replay to verify car positions when a caution flag flies.

What ever happen to People using their best judgment and that was good enough?

Don’t think that instant replay is just for sports either, it has been used in High School quiz bowl competition. When is enough, enough? Where does it end? I could elaborate, but I am out of timeouts and in this game there are no instant replays.

Questions of the Day:

Tulsa, Oklahoma is host to the Chili Bowl this next week. What midget driver has won the coveted Golden Driller Trophy the most times?

What legendary, Hall of Fame, Quarterback played in the 1963 Army/Navy game that was the first instant replay football game?