I could not believe my ears when the ESPN sportscaster announced that Shaquille O’Neal had been traded to the Phoenix Suns for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. Two years removed from an NBA Championship, Shaq is being moved again. Yes, the Heat are a dismal 9-40, but those are pretty lofty standards - trading someone after winning the championship a mere two seasons earlier. That’s kind of harsh. But then again, if the price is right, in this case Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, you gotta make the deal happen.

So, who is this deal good for? Well, it is good for both teams, but maybe not how you think:

Suns: For the Suns, this trade is a good thing for the immediate future. I think that D’Antoni and Coangelo are thinking that Steve Nash only has a few more good years in him before he starts going south, and they want to win a championship before that happens. So, they bring in Shaq, who for the immediate future can help the Suns. Shaq still has a little left in that old, worn down body of his to contribute in the playoffs.

In order for Phoenix to finally compete with the big boys of the West, they really need a big, powerful center. Shaq is just that. Also, with the whole Shaq vs. Kobe drama rearing its ugly head again, Shaq may have an chip on his shoulder. A 7-foot, 350-lbs hall of famer with something to prove is a dangerous thing. If the Suns’ sole goal is to win a championship this year or maybe the next, the trade was a good idea. However, as for the long-term, this trade was stupid. Shaq will be gone in a couple of years and now Marion is gone as well.

Heat: For the Heat, this was a very good trade. One that may salvage their season as Shawn Marion is sure to revitalize a very demoralized Miami team. Since their Championship, the Heat have gone down hill, to say the least. I don’t think any team has ever fallen from grace as fast as the Heat have. Two years ago, they were the best team in basketball. Now, they are the worst, being beat out by the likes of the Minnesota Timberwolves and New York Knicks. But now that Marion is in Miami, the Heat will be getting a full dose of what they have needed all season - energy and defense. Wade and company will be able to score enough points to win games. But the question is whether they can put up enough of a defensive effort to avoid being outscored every game.

Furthermore, not only will Marion help this season, but he is the type of player you can build a strong team around. With him, Haslem and Wade in Miami, the Heat will right the ship.

So, I’d say for the short-run, the Suns made a pretty good trade. However, the Heat definitely got the best of this transaction as Marion and Banks will help in the short-run and long-run.

Nishan Wilde is VP of Sales at RobbinsSports.com, an online resource for Baseball Uniforms, Track Uniforms and Stopwatches.

After last Saturday’s surprise blowout of the San Antonio Spurs, 102-78, the New Orleans Hornets were on a roll and put together a nine game wining streak, before losing to the Golden State Warriors last Wednesday 103-116. Nevertheless the Hornets, who started out a solid 20-11, were an amazing 12-2 in the month of January and are 32-15 overall, tied for second in the Western Conference. This season the Hornets are 4-2 against Western Conference powers (San Antonio, Phoenix, and Dallas) and starting to prove to everyone that they too want to be in this elite category of teams.

Their starting point guard, Chris Paul, has been outstanding this season averaging 20.3 points per game and 10.8 assists per game while shooting 48% from the field. David West is also dominating at the power forward position averaging about 19 points and 9 rebounds per game; add a rejuvenated three-point shooting Peja Stojakovic and newly assertive big man play from center Tyson Chandler and you have a quality starting lineup. Chandler has been a long time disappointment because of the trade that he was involved in for Elton Brand, one of the best power forwards in the NBA since 1999.

Outlook & Predictions: I look for the New Orleans Hornets to cool down some the next few months, but come playoff time I think the veteran teams of the Western Conference will prevail, at least this year. With that said, if their core stays the same over the offseason, these Hornets could be good for the next few years. I think the Hornets end the season 55-27 as the Western Conference #4 Seed and take an early second round playoff exit.

Most of what I submit to this website can be found at my blog
http://sportsnationblog.blogspot.com
Please feel free to go check it out and take a visit. I love feedback from my readers so if you want to tell me something then email me at sportsnationblog@gmail.com

All coaches know how valuable practice time is. Most high school coaches have limited practice time due to limited facilities and multiple teams needing space. One idea for those in this situation is to incorporate combination drills into your practice regiment. Not only can these drills save time, but they can add to individual and team skill development through repetition.

Drills to a coach are a lot like the pens in their desk at work. Open the drawer and you’ll see all kinds of different pens. Not only are they different, but you favor some over other and honestly, you have WAY to many. What are you going to do with all those pens, Coach? Notice the next time you reach for a pen and I’ll bet you grab the same one, a favorite pen instead of the dozens of others. Like drills, we are comfortable with certain drills and have probably used them in practice for years. Odds are that you will continue using those pet drills over the next few years as they have been good to you.

In your entire catalog of drills, how many combination drills do you have? How often do you use these multi-purpose activities? Are some of them staples for you that you use every day? These are good questions to answer for yourself as you examine your practice drills.

In this article I will refer to some of the best “combo” drills I’ve ever seen in my many years of coaching. I will refer to them by name, but not break them down technically. On my web site, you will be able to access each of these, or ask for clarification for your own purposes.

The Best Combination Drills I’ve Seen:

1. All-in-One Shell Drill–The traditional Shell Drill can be just the beginning of defensive instruction. By adding various elements to it you can make it the best defensive combo drill in your catalog.

2. The Ultimate Post Drill–This drill combines a dozen parts of complete post play. This is the best I’ve seen for post players.

3. 11-in-One Defensive Drill–This drill’s root can be traced back decades. I first saw it in 1978 at the University of Iowa with Lute Olson. This drill combines about 6 separate drills into one.

4. 11 Man Fastbreak–This coaches favorite can be changed to fit your needs. It remains one of the best “pass, dribble, and shoot” drills ever.

5. 3 Times and Out–This drill reveals the toughest players from the others. Teams of 3 can be created by the coach differently each practice. Each team must get three stops in a row before leaving the drill, as the offensive units change on every possession.

For details on these drills, check out my coaching web site or email me.

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA apprearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com.

Basketball is full of terminology that sounds fancy and seems to qualify the person verbalizing these terms as a coach. This is a point worth examining if you are a coach to take inventory on the words you do use and what they really mean. Communication is probably the number one attribute that all successful coaches have making our words worth gold. Take a look at your own words as a coach and you’ll be surprised at what you see.

During a drill as a high school coach I stopped the action to point out a mistake being made in screening. As I made my point, this young man became visibly frustrated. I continued on when suddenly he burst out, “I don’t get it, one time you call it a pick and other times you call it a screen. Which one is it?” This became a moment of clarity for me and was a major learning success in my coaching.

One of the problems with our use of terminology as coaches is our perspective. We get so used to “knowing what we know” that we expect our players to think, talk , and act as we do. This is the #1 mistake made by young coaches in our game. When you assume your players know exactly what you are talking about, you are half beaten.

Here are a few guidelines to be challenged on in regards to using terminology:

1. Use words as if you are the player, not the coach. Come at it from the players perspective.

2. Write down your system of terminology and be consistent with their usage. Define each and apply them to an exact coaching example. For example, do you call it a pick or a screen? Is it a block out or a box out? Is it the post or the pivot?

Coach, do you have your terminology written down and described?

3. Only use terms that you know exactly what their meaning is and how it applies to teaching basketball.

4. Teach your players the terms and how they are properly used on the floor. This will enhance your communication with players immensely.

5. Let players come up with their own terminology. It will foster ownership by the players and they will respond better to a made up term like “Gonzo” than the terms you have used for years.

6. Share your terminology and the importance of it with your entire coaching staff and feeder system staff. Encourage they to know it as well as their own name!

Proper terminology and its use are the conduit to healthy communication in team sports. If nothing else, I hope this article helps you take a serious look at your own terminology and ways you can improve it for next year and the years to come.

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA apprearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com.

Lay off the heavy squats.

In most increase vertical jump programs, explosive bodyweight exercises are more important. The ability to generate power in your legs is what gets you off the ground. When you do explosive bodyweight exercises, your legs naturally develop more power. This article will look 3 exercises you can in your backyard.

Squat Jumps

The squat jump starts out as a bodyweight squat and continues with an explosive jump upward. This increase vertical jump exercise is an excellent for developing power in your lower body.

• Squat to begin each repetition

• Concentrate on exploding into the air

A squat jump is similar to a knee tuck only you don’t bring your knees to your chest.

Long Jumps

The long jump also develops lower body power. And it provides you with a way of testing your vertical jump power.

• Squat partially, with you arms back to start the movement

• Generate power from your legs and hips as you swing your arms forward

Your goal is to maximize the length of each jump. You can do single repetition long jumps, resting between reps. Or you can land quickly and immediately do another jump. The latter method focuses more on speed and agility than pure power.

Lunge Jumps

Lunge jumps require coordination and power. This is a semi-difficult increase vertical jump movement.

• Begin in a regular lunge position

• Explode into the air

Jump as high as you can. Swift your legs in mid-air. Your front will become your back leg when you land. Land in a lunge position with your feet reversed from your original position. When you land, immediately explode up again.

Increase vertical jump training is a science. These exercises, though effective, are just the ABCs of building power in your legs. If you have a vertical jump goal, such as dunking a basketball or spiking a volleyball, you might want to consider investing in an increase vertical jump program.

Tyson Thomas is a certified strength and conditioning coach who specializes in elite fitness with basic training tools. The Vertical Jump Bible is one resource he uses regularly. Visit his site to learn more about increase vertical jump training.

One of the greatest joys in basketball is shooting the basketball. From early ages we dream of the day we can shoot the ball with strength, distance, and accuracy. You can be 99 years old and shoot the ball at the park for fun. No skill in the game brings the level of fulfillment as a jump shot ripping the nets.

Youth sports are organized for all kids to play an equal amount of time. This innocent period is represented by the "winning isn’t important" motto. All kids participate and learn as they play. Little thought is given to who shoots, who rebounds, or who gets to play the point guard position. Unfortunately this period of time is short lived.

By age 10, youth basketball gets serious as parents and kids settle into roles and positions. Winning often becomes the goal at the expense of individual fundamental development and teamwork. This is a crucial time as better players are set aside from the rest of the team. Basketball games are determined by the high team score. Obviously, the coaches of these 10-year olds want to win as much if not more than the kids. To accomplish this, they direct the best kids to shoot the ball to score team points at a maximum level. Is this approach wrong? Only you can decide that.

Let’s look at this dilemma through the game of golf. Popular weekend golf events known as best-shots have taken over most courses on the Saturdays and Sundays. The way these four man teams are put together explains the reason I chose this title, "Hey Coach, Why Can’t I Shoot?"

The wise golf captain chooses his team carefully; a big driver off the tee, a couple of sharpshooters from the fairway, and a can’t miss putter. With care, each player brings to the table an outstanding skill that can help his team in a tough spot. Would it make any sense to assemble a team of four monster ball strikers with no putting or short game skills? Of course not, right!

Parents often fail to understand the philosophy behind what is called the 60 by 2 concept. An average team will have two main scorers flanked by several others who chip in a few points a night. These two players are not necessarily the two best shooters, but the two best scorers. Check any team and this theory will be present. Just as the golf captain selects his players based on skills, the basketball coach needs to put his team together with the same design in mind. Instead of 5 points guards or 5 post players, a careful blend of abilities and sizes are needed.

Face it mom and dad, if your son or daughter is an average shooter he won’t be taking a lot of shots. Basketball, like most sports, is a game of numbers and percentages. The best players who are the best shooters and scorers take the most shots. The number can be around 60% or 70 % of all shots taken by the team. Shooting the ball at game time is not an equal opportunity proposition. Many find this hard to see or buy into, but the good coach knows how important this is to winning. No matter how much you expoain at times to the players, they keep asking "Hey Coach, Why Can’t I Shoot".

Randy Brown has passion for the game of basketball. He works as a basketball consultant and mentor for coaches. Visit him at http://www.coachrb.com for free resources, Q & A, newsletter, and coaching programs. A speaker and writer, he has authored 75 articles on coaching and is nationally published. His 18 years in college basketball highlights a successful 23-year career. Mentored by Basketball Hall of Fame coach Lute Olson at Arizona. Resume includes positions at Arizona, Iowa State, Marquette, Drake, and Miami of Ohio, 5 Conference Championships and 5 NCAA apprearances. His efforts have helped develop 12 NBA players including Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, and Jaamal Tinsley. To contact Randy, email him at rb@coachrb.com.

As the smells of popcorn, hotdogs and sweat filled the air, the sounds of sneakers squeaking on the polished floor, and basketballs bouncing echoed in the stadium, local fans cheered their neighborhood basketball players as they clambered around the court for control of the ball. The emotions were high and the energy was palpable as the basketball was dribbled, passed, stolen and rebounded by neighbors and friends - then WHOOSH! - right into the basket.

This game could have been anywhere, played by anyone’s brother or dad. But this game was not just anywhere. This game was being played in Israel , in the heart of Gush Etzion. While the players were all there to win the game, they were also there to make a difference. For no matter which team would be victorious at the first annual Gush Etzion Basketball Tournament, they would all succeed at benefiting Camp Koby v’Yosef, an incredible program for the family members of victims of terror, run by the Koby Mandell Foundation.

Four local teams from the Gush Etzion Basketball League participated in the tournament; two from Efrat, one from Elazar and one from Neve Daniel. The guys playing were all serious, yet smiling. Everyone was there to have a good time. The Neve Daniel team was short a few players and had exactly five to play. As long as there would be no injuries, they would be okay. After the first round, the khaki-shirted Neve Daniel Lions - this writer’s home team - beat the lime-green-shirted Elazar team. This enabled them to go on to play the final game against the turquoise-shirted Zayit Capitals, one of the teams from Efrat.

The game was basically neck and neck the whole time. Neve Daniel would pull ahead, then the Capitals, and so it went. By the end of the game everyone was riveted as the minutes were counted down on the timer and the scores were almost even. With about two minutes to go in overtime, and Neve Daniel leading by one point, Eli Hirschorn, of the Neve Daniel Lions, injured his ankle and couldn’t play. There was a hushed silence when everyone wondered what would happen, as this left only four players. Then Neve Daniel resident Nitzan Adler came from the spectators stands to take his buddy Eli’s place - and his sneakers and his sweaty team shirt! Yuck! But it was worth it; at 10:00pm the game was won by Neve Daniel, 31-28, to exuberant cheers from the Neve Daniel contingency. Congratulations to Eli Hirschorn, Yishai Retbi, Elchai Lichtenstein, Mordecai Holtz, Eliyahu Weinberg, and, of course, Nitzan Adler for participating in such an important cause that is so close to home.

“My wife and I really appreciate when the community supports our work at the Koby Mandell Foundation,” said Seth Mandell, who along with his wife Sherri, created the Foundation as a memorial to their eldest son, Koby, after he was murdered in a terrorist attack six years ago. “Koby loved basketball. It is really a fitting way to remember him through sporting events such as these.”

“The murder of Koby Mandell and Yosef Ishran is a Gush Etzion story,” adds Michael Lawrence, Public Relations and Development Coordinator for the Koby Mandell Foundation in Israel. “It is very important that the Foundation is involved in Gush Etzion and that Gush Etzion residents are involved in the Foundation. We’re planning to make this an annual event with more yishuvim [communities] participating.”

The money raised at the basketball tournament all goes to Camp Koby, which provides children of families struck by terror with a place where others understand. The camp gets about 500 kids at each session and is open to children who have lost either a parent or a sibling to terror. The camps have specially tailored programs that include everything you would expect in any camp such as swimming and sports, with the addition of fantastic extras such as psychodrama, animal therapy, and the like. What’s best is that the kids can attend completely free of charge. The week before Pesach the Camp held their special pre-Pesach camp in Eilat which attracts hundreds of campers, and this year was no exception. In the summer there are three ten-day sessions. Surrounded by their peers, with specially trained counselors and professional therapists, children naturally share their stories and express their feelings.

Most important, kids love Camp Koby because it is fun with exciting programs specially tailored for each age group. Children feel free to have an incredible time.

Laura Ben-David is the author of MOVING UP: An Aliyah Journal (Mazo Publishers), the entertaining aliyah chronicle that everyone is talking about. Experience it for yourself! http://www.aliyahbook.com

As the Florida Gators sailed to their second consecutive NCAA championship on April 2, 2007, those of us watching couldn’t help but think we’d seen this episode before: these Florida Gators looked oddly similar to the ones in 2006. We, it turns out, weren’t seeing things: this team, and the outcome, was just the same.

Now this was, from the beginning, nearly bound to happen: after Florida won the 2006 National Championship, all five starters announced they would return to defend their title.

With so many familiar faces, there was none more recognizable than Joakim Noah. A man known for height, dramatic celebrations, and a signature curly pony tail, Joakim Noah has virtually been the face of the Florida Gators for the past two seasons.

Born on February 25, 1985 in New York City, Joakim had athletic prowess in his blood: his father, Yannick, was the 1983 French Open Champion. Perhaps it was his love for hoops, or his height - as Joakim is nearly seven feet tall - but something led the younger Noah away from the tennis courts and onto the basketball ones. It turned out to be a good decision.

After a stellar high school career, where Joakim averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds, Joakim went on to play at the University of Florida.

As a college freshman, Joakim saw little playing time and even littler greatness: he played just over ten minutes per game, averaging under four points and three rebounds on the season. His sophomore effort, however, saw Joakim truly come alive: he averaged 14.2 points, 7.1 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks. As impressive as these stats were, they paled in comparison to what Joakim was about to do.

In the 2006 NCAA tournament, Joakim appeared to find himself, and he found himself becoming an elite player. During the NCAA regional game against first seed Villanova, Joakim led the way with 21 points, 15 rebounds, and five blocks. He then went on to the final game of the NCAA tournament, scoring 16 points, pulling down 9 rebounds, and blocking six shots, the latter which would set a championship game record. These performances garnered Joakim several awards, including Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four, 2006 Associated Press All-SEC first Team, Honorable Mention All-American, and the beneficiary of a local late nigh talk show’s campaign to name a University of Florida throughway “Joakim Noah Road.” The performances also caused his stock in the NBA draft to skyrocket.

Joakim, however, had other plans.

Instead of declaring for the NBA draft - and likely procuring one of the top spots - Joakim decided to return to Florida for his junior year. It was a decision that ultimately paid off for his team: Florida defended their championship crown. As for Joakim, his decision of last year is now viewed by many as selfless: he has probably seen his stock in the NBA draft drop. Simply put. he was hotter at this time last year. But Joakim, amid celebrations of his team’s second consecutive title, hardly seemed to notice.

The power forward hasn’t said whether he will remain for his senior year or say “later gator” to the University of Florida. Whenever he declares eligible for the draft, he will have no problem fitting in, scoring points, and blocking shots in the NBA.

Jennifer Jordan is a senior editor for http://www.milleniumlimo.com. An avid sports fan, she likes the Miami Dolphins but her heart belongs to the Denver Broncos.

Scenes of Michael Jordan busting through the lane and jumping over people to dunk the basketball light up the television screen to our day. And it makes us dream of being able to leap that high and dunk on a 10 foot rim. Do you wish that you could jump that high and glide through the air? Even if you are short in height you can develop a larger leap.

Let’s move away from the scene of Michael Jordan and pay attention to some other players. Spud Webb is considered one of the best dunkers of all time. He is listed between 5′6″ and 5′7″ in height. Nate Robinson of the New York Knicks is listed at 5′8″ and recently has won an NBA All-star Dunk championship.

This should teach you that size does not matter. What does matter is desire and the right kind of guidance. If you have that with a little work in the gym and some exercises you too can be flying through the air. Can you see yourself shocking all your friends as you dunk on a 10′ rim?

The calf area of your leg is the muscle you need to develop in order to have that explosive leaping ability. It’s not about being naturally gifted! It’s about knowing what you need to do to exercise those calf muscles. Eating the right kind of foods is also a key to developing your leaping ability.

One simple exercise you can start with today that will be a starter for your leaping program is jumping rope. Your stamina will increase and those calf muscles will start getting well toned.

If you want the fastest route to getting the kind of vertical leap you need to start dunking and leaping our of your shoes visit the only place you’ll ever need to go to learn how to jump http://www.InstantVerticalLeap.info/

As Yogi Berra would say: “This is like deja vu all over again.”

The Florida Gators beat Ohio State for the NCAA Championship. Seems like we’ve heard that before somewhere. Oh, yea, less than three months ago the Gators beat the Buckeye’s to win the College Football Crown. Now, the same thing happened in the college basketball championship.

But this win, the Gators basketball win, means a lot more.

Why?

Well, for one thing, this is the second straight college basketball championship for the Gators. They convincingly proved they are the best college basketball team this year.

But, more significantly, the win places the Gators in the same class as some of the best college basketball teams ever. No one has won back-to-back college basketball championships since the Duke Blue Devils did it fifteen years ago.

Before that, you have to go back to the UCLA teams of the late 60’s and early 70’s.

I won’t argue that Florida is the best team ever. Maybe yes, maybe no. But, it should be acknowledged that winning consecutive championships is much tougher now then it was even 15 years ago.

Why?

There are two primary reasons. First, there is more parity in college basketball. Second, the best players are much more likely, today, to go pro before completing four years in college.

It’s impossible and unfair to compare teams from different eras, but the Gators should be part of any conversation about the best team ever.

But, the most significant thing about the Gators’ second basketball championship is it establishes the Southeastern (SEC) conference as the best college basketball conference.

Not only does the SEC have the best men’s basketball team in Florida. They also have the best women’s basketball team in the Tennessee Lady Volunteers.

The Lady Vols won the Women’s NCAA Championship in even more dominating fashion than the Gators won the men’s. And the Lady Vols have an even stronger claim to the argument that they are the best women’s basketball team ever.

In fact, truthfully, there is no argument about the Lady Vols. They are the dominant program in women’s basketball. Not just this year, but all-time. Their legendary coach, Pat Summitt has led the Lady Vols to the most NCAA titles (7); and 26 consecutive appearances in the Sweet 16. She has won a record 948 games. Amazing!

You want history? The SEC has that too. Kentucky has had a couple down years, but they still lead the nation with the most all-time college basketball victories (1949), winning percentage, NCAA Tournament bids and fan attendance.

Until this week, I still ranked the ACC as the best overall basketball conference. In fact, I still haven’t updated my site to reflect the new realities.

But the time has come to recognize the changing of the guard. College basketball is better and more competitive than ever. The ACC and Big East are both great basketball conferences with great histories. The Big Ten, Big-12 and Pac 10 are good too.

But history isn’t enough. In the past two years, the ACC has had 0 teams in the Final Four. The SEC has had three. If you look at the past two NCAA tournaments, the SEC has clearly been the top conference.

We know about Florida and the Tennessee Lady Vols. But, the conference is much deeper than that. In fact, over the past two years, the SEC has had the best March Madness record of any conference. That is for both the men’s and women’s NCAA tournaments.

This year, the SEC went 11-4 in the men’s tournament. And, two of the losses (Tennessee and Vanderbilt) were to higher ranked opponents (Ohio State and Georgetown) and the games were decided on last-minute, controversial, plays.

The SEC did even better in the women’s tournament, going 15-4. They had the most teams in the Sweet 16 (4); Great 8 (3); and, Final Four (2).

The time has come for the college basketball world to recognize the obvious. The SEC is not just the top football conference. Florida and Tennessee’s Championships have established the SEC as the top college basketball conference in America. And that is the big story to come out of March Madness 2007.