Improvement

Yo yo yo, whaddup fellow ballers! Since my last post I've been lucky enough to participate in a 20-Time "workout", and an actual basketball game at the Community Center. Additionally, we've started reading choice selections that are related to our 20-Time project, and I've been reading a handful of helpful articles giving simple tips of how to better your game.

My 20-Time "workout" was supposed to consist of just one, simple goal: shooting better free throws. Our group of three had planned that it would be best if we were to begin with the manageable goal of 10 out of 10 free throws, and gradually deepen our goal into more difficult challenges. Overall, after a short period of time had passed within the hour, our group begin to lose interest (despite shooting more accurately) in shooting free throws, until the last 20 minutes of class where my group and I played a game of pick-up basketball. While it was useful to work on foul-shooting for most of the hour, I was glad that the work was supplemented with a game, so that it became more exciting and real. Overall, I felt that the time prepared me for my CCL contest, and that it was beneficial to work on free throws for 20-Time.

This brings me to my CCL game, where I felt that I played a bit better last week, following my 20-Time, then any other game this year. In fact, at one point in the game I actually had a chance to shoot free throws. I had not made any of the few attempts I had taken before that point this year, so I was pleasantly surprised by making one of the shots, while narrowly missing the other. The 20-Time workout definitely improved my confidence and free throw shooting muscle memory, and it made my foul shots much more accurate.

The school week after that game, we began to read books related to our topic for SSR, where I learned to improve other aspects of my game. This picture is one that was studied and analyzed in a specific article I read that gave 3-point shooting tips from Stephen Curry (left) and Steve Novak (right) - two of the best shooters in all of the National Basketball Association (NBA).

Both of these amazing shooters expressed the need for holding the "follow-through" on your shot (the hand motion that shoots the ball) and to attempt to commit your shot to muscle memory in order to shoot consistently. They stressed that the best shooters are those who shoot the same, great shot time and time again, regardless of the defense, pressure, or unfamiliarity. Great shooters have the same foot placement, jump, and follow through each and every shot they take.

Link to that article: http://www.cbssports.com/nba/eye-on-basketball/21716576/3-point-shooting-tips-from-stephen-curry-and-steve-novak

While the question of "who is my mentor?" still remains, I was glad to be able to secure Mr. Schulte as our adult supervisor so that we could use the gym every week for our 20-Time workouts. I'm optimistic that someone will be willing to sacrifice a little of their time so that our group can all get better, or that Alec Marty will finally be cleared to be that person.


Ballin' up this week and many more,

Brad