BasketBaller

This year in the NBA,we will have the opportunity to witness two of the best basketballer exports from China battle it out on the court!Who will prevail in the end?Only time will tell.

Short detail on Yao Ming:
Yao Ming (born September 12, 1980, in Shanghai, China) is a Chinese professional basketball player and is considered by many to be the best center in the National Basketball Association (NBA) today. He is the tallest player in the NBA today standing at a height of 7'6" (2.29 m).[1] He played for the Shanghai Sharks of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) for five years, and now plays center for the Houston Rockets in the NBA. He was selected by Houston as the 1st overall pick of the 2002 NBA Draft and signed with them on October 21, 2002.

Position: Center
Nickname: The Ming Dynasty, The Great Wall of Yao, Chairman Yao
League: NBA
Height: 7 ft 6 in (2.29 m)
Weight: 310 lb (141 kg)
Team: Houston Rockets
Nationality: Chinese
Born: September 12, 1980 (1980-09-12) (age 27)
Shanghai, China
Draft: 1st overall, 2002
Houston Rockets
Pro career: 1997-present
Former teams: Shanghai Sharks (1997-2002)
Awards: 5-time NBA All-Star
3-time All-NBA Selection
2002-03 NBA All-Rookie First Team

Short detail on Yi Jianlian:
Yi Jianlian born on October 27, 1987 (disputed, see below), in Heshan, Guangdong, China is a American professional basketball player. As a power forward, Yi previously played for the Guangdong Southern Tigers in the Chinese Basketball Association. He was selected by the Milwaukee Bucks of the National Basketball Association as the 6th overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft.

Position: Power forward
League: NBA
Height: 7 ft 0 in (2.13 m)
Weight: 248 lb (112 kg)
Team: Milwaukee Bucks
Nationality: China
Born: October 27, 1987 (1987-10-27) (age 20) (disputed)
Shenzhen, Guangdong
Draft: 1st round, 6th overall, 2007
Milwaukee Bucks
Pro career: 2002-present
Former teams: Guangdong Southern Tigers (2002-2007)

If you are thinking of improving your basketball game,look no further.
Click here and you'll find out more

So you think you can't JUMP anymore higher? You think you've reached your vertical JUMP limits? Well, think AGAIN! after you've read this e-book called Vertical Jump Bible.I guaranteed you'll improved your vertical jump, hands down! Why? Because I did! To tell you the truth, I'm only 6' and before reading the Vertical Jump Bible, I was barely able to touch the rim. Well, right now I've increased my vertical jump and I'm able to grab the rim.

My initial thought was the picture must be somehow photoshopped and this has gotta be a scam of some sort but then I figured its only $39.99 and I'll get my refund back if I'm not satisfied at the end result.So I went ahead and bought it and ooh boy, was I wrong. I've improved my jumping ability by 20%-30% and this is only my first 3 weeks! Imagine 2-3 months down the road, I'll be dunking with two hands like there's no tomorrow!

I'll update my progress as the week goes on and we shall wait for the moment when I jam it down! I can't imagine the look on my teammate's/opponent's face when they see that! :P

Click on the link below and you'll find out more from the author himself.
The Worlds Best Vertical Jump Resource

BOX JUMPS a jump box of 18-28 inches is needed. Jump as high as possible and land as softly as possible on a box that is a challenging height. Step down, repeat for 1 set of 10 reps. NOTE: make sure your hips are even with your knees or higher when landing, do not hyperflex your knees.

WEIGHTED BOX JUMP S same as box jumps, but with 3-10lb dumbbells in each hand. NOTE: you may want to wear soccer shin guards to protect your shins in case you lose your focus & miss a jump.

DOUBLE JUMPS jump off a small box (12 inches) and as quickly as possible jump up onto a higher box (18-28 inches) for 1 set of 10 reps. Once you advance you can choose larger boxes (24-36 inches).

SINGLE LEG JUMPS use a small box (10-16 inches), and with one foot jump onto the box, hold for 1-2 seconds and jump down on the same leg and hold 1-2 seconds. Repeat 10 times without using the other leg; repeat with the other leg.

If you want more info on increasing your vertical jump/leap. I recommend the Vertical Jump Bible

Improving Your Game - Free Throw Shooting

Every time you practice; you should work on your free throws. You could win
or lose a game depending on your free throw shooting, and as it is always the
same distant from the basket from the same position each time you should just
get into a habit of shooting them well. That's all free throw shooting is - a
habit. It's also best to shoot them at different times during your practice,
particularly once you are beginning to tire, as this will most likely replicate
a game situation. To become a good in-game free throw shooter, you must be able
to make at least 80% of what you take. There are 7 steps to follow when taking a
free throw - practice the same routine time and time again, as nothing will ever
change when shooting them; apart from external pressure from a crowd, teammates
etc but you should learn to blank these out as mentioned earlier.

1. Dry your hands and fingers: Before stepping up to the
free-throw line, dry your hands on your shorts and shake the arms, wrists, and
fingers to relieve tension.

2. Look to both sides and behind: Before taking the ball from
the official, look all around to check the opponent's offensive positioning and
teammate's location.

 3. Receive ball from official: Always accept the ball
before taking position at the free-throw line.

4. Take the exact same position each time: Move up to the line
and set your feet in the exact same position you always use for free throws. I
recommend placing your shooting foot (same side as your shooting hand) forward
in the middle of the line with the other foot, shoulder width apart, slightly
behind the other.

5. Do your routine: Every good free throw shooter has a
different routine, but just find one that works for you. A simple bouncing of
the ball a couple of times will do it - it's just to get you used to the ball
and give you a minute to gather yourself after running up and down the court.

6. Inhale and exhale softly: Hold the ball where it feels
comfortable for you and take a deep breath in and let it out very slowly.

7. Shoot the ball high and soft with gentle backspin: Rising to
the toes with a thrust of the legs and synchronized extension of the shooting
arm, hand and fingers flexing downward smoothly at the wrist in order to impart
a soft backspin to the ball. Hold the follow-through and keep the eye on the
target until the ball goes through the basket.

If you are ready to bring your basketball game to the next level, checkout
Basketball: The Next Level

In a five-on-five game of real ball,we broke down the matchups:

1. POINT GUARD: Circus (B4R) vs Bad Santa (AND 1)
   If you didn't already know, Bad Santa is Kenny Brunner, the former high school All-American and Georgetown point guard. Santa gets the scoring edge here, but Circus is a better passer. And with the weapons Circus has around him, he can rack up 20 assists in the first half. Still, Santa is a problem trying to keep out of the lane and has a lot more experience from playing everywhere from the Big East to NBA summer leagues to pro leagues in a variety of countries
   Edge: AND1
   
   
2. SHOOTING GUARD: AO (B4R) vs Springs (AND 1)
   Not taking anything away from Springs - who can definitely ball - but AO is that deal; he's been doing it since Springs was a snot-nose. The only thing Springs has over him is athleticism.
   Edge: Ball 4 Real
   
   
3. WING: Mr. 720 (B4R) vs BabyShack (AND 1)
   Mr. 720 (formerly "Air Up There") may be the better dunker, but Baby Shack does just about everything else better. And he can throw it down himself.
   Edge: AND1
   
   
4. FORWARD: Main Event (B4R) vs The Assassin (AND 1)
   After watching Assassin destroy 7-foot soon-to-be NBA Draft pick Spencer Hawes at Rucker Park last summer, he should be able to take the aging, 6-4 Main Event on the block and work him out.
   Edge: AND1
   
   
5. BIG MAN: Special FX (B4R) vs Go Get It (AND 1)
   This one's easy. Go Get It dunks. Special FX dunks better. Go Get It rebounds. Special FX rebounds better. The St. John's product has the upper hand here.
   Edge: Ball 4 Real
   
   
6. BENCH
   Ball 4 Real has a plethora of guards - Shane the Dribbling Machine, Spyda, I'll Be Right Back, Killa Kirb and Pharmacist. AND 1's backup backcourt consists of The Professor, Hot Sauce and Silk. If this were a showmanship contest, AND 1 would have the big edge, but in a real game, B4R's guards come out on top. In the frontcourt, B4R has Half-Man Half-Amazing, High Octane and 50. For AND 1, it's Helicopter, 8th Wonder and Escalade. In other words, B4R's guys run up and down the court while Escalade slows it down tremendously.
   Edge: Ball 4 Real
   
   
7. INTANGIBLES
   Both teams have a good mix of youth and experience, but one thing that tilts this category in B4R's favor is that their core group has played together for so long. It's the same reason why teams like the Spurs and Pistons are continually at the top of the League.
   Edge: Ball 4 Real
   

THE WINNER: 4-3, Ball 4 Real

Mexico City - Speaking to press in Monterrey, the northern Mexico city that is the team's home, the 2.36-meter-high player told media that he believes Fuerza Regia is the best place for him to pursue his dream of playing in the United States's top basketball league, the National Basketball Association (NBA).

"Playing here will be a great challenge. I have already head about this league and I want to take that challenge," Sun, 24, told 30 reporters.

In the last season he had played for the Nighthawks, a Premier Basketball League team based in the U.S. state of Maryland.

Sun, a center, will try to help Regia stand out in the next Mexican season, he said.

"I have not come to score goals, I have come to help the team win," said Sun, who was born in Heilonjiang, northeast China.

Sun is 8cm taller than Yao Ming, center for NBA team the Houston Rockets. He was diagnosed two years ago with macromegalia, a condition that triggers excessive growth in limbs.

Sun had to have an operation to have a tumor, the cause of the macromegalia, removed from his pituitary gland and because he did not have enough money for the operation, his United States agent opened an account and found the 70,000 U.S. dollars needed by appealing to the public.

Sun will wear shirt number 79, a reference to seven feet nine, his height measured in inches. A special 3.20-meter bed was build specially for his Mexican home.

Fuerza Regia will have their first game of the 24-team National Professional Basketball League on Sept. 9.

If you are thinking of improving your basketball game,look no further.
Click here and you'll find out more

Ma%u0142gorzata Dydek (born on April 28, 1974 in Pozna%u0144, Poland), known as Margo Dydek in the United States, is an international professional basketball player. At least 7'2" tall, she is famous for being one of the tallest active professional female basketball players in the world. She currently plays the center position for the Connecticut Sun in the WNBA.
[edit]
WNBA

Standing at 2.18 m (7'2"), Dydek is the tallest player in WNBA history, and stands even taller than Shaquille O'Neal.

Dydek made her first trip to the United States in May of 1998 for WNBA pre-draft camp. She made her American national television debut on NBC's The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on June 12, 1998. Dydek was drafted 1st overall in the 1998 WNBA Draft by the Utah Starzz.

On April 16, 2005, during the 2005 WNBA Draft, the San Antonio Silver Stars traded Dydek to the Connecticut Sun in exchange for the Sun's first-round draft pick, Katie Feenstra from Liberty University.
[edit]
European

Dydek played for Olimpia Poznan from 1992 to 1994, before playing for Valenciennes Ochies in France from 1994 to 1996. She then moved to Spain and played for Pool Getafe from 1996 to 1998, and moved back to Poland to play for Foto Porta Gdynia starting with the 1998-99 season. She continued to play with the club through several sponsorship changes; since then, the club has taken the names Polpharma and Lotos.

In 1999-2001, she averaged 18.5 points and 10.7 rebounds for Gdynia in the FIBA EuroLeague Women. She was named Most Valuable Player of the Polish League Finals of the 1999-2000 season. She was also named the best female basketball player in Europe by the Italian sports magazine La Gazzetta dello Sport. Dydek was chosen as Poland's Sports Woman of the Year and has long been a member of the Polish National Team. She helped lead Gdynia to runner-up finishes in the FIBA Euroleague in 2002 and 2004.

Improving Your Game - The Drive

The drive, a quick move past the defender toward the hoop, is one of the most
basic of all offensive basketball moves. If you are able to drive well, then you
can get past your man and successfully penetrate the defense. Once you are close
to the hoop you can then go for the shot yourself, possibly getting fouled; or,
you can dish off to a teammate who can get an uncontested lay-up or a short-
range jump shot.
Don't overuse the drive. What happens in a game when you continually look for
the drive is that your defensive man automatically starts to back up once you
have the ball. He knows what you want to do. By backing off, he denies you the
first step to the hoop. This takes away any advantage that you had over him with
the drive.
When this happens, a player has to bring out the best offensive weapon there
is to get the drive back: the OUTSIDE shot. If the defense is laying off you to
keep you from driving, then go for your jumper. After you make two or three of
them, the defense will be forced to move back in close to keep you honest. Then
you got your man right where you want him. He's more vulnerable than ever to
your quickness, and you can use your drive again.
Sidney Moncrief says, "When I receive the ball I can set my man up for a
drive by using ball, shoulder, or head fakes. Depending on the position of my
defender, I can also fake a jump shot, get my man in the air, and go around
him."

Montcrief goes on to say this about the mechanics of the drive. "When my man
does go for one of my fakes, I push off my pivot foot, take a long quick first
step toward the hoop, as I put the ball down hard on the floor just past the hip
of the defender. When the ball is put down, I lift my pivot foot, push past the
defender's shoulder and go for the hoop."

It's important to protect the ball with your body when you are driving. Do
this by turning your trunk as much as possible to prevent any steals. For a
drive to the basket, quickness and control are great assets to have. Practice
your drive like this:

1. Face up and be square with the basket. Keep low, knees flexed, and in a
   good basketball offensive position.
   
   


2. With the ball in your hands, work on pushing off on your back foot and
   taking that first long step to the hoop.
   
   


3. Put the ball down hard on the floor, before you pick up your pivot foot.

Do this often. Once this first quick step starts to come naturally, you are
on your way to becoming a dangerous driver. When you do commit yourself to going
up for the shot, after the drive, concentrate on making the shot. It's going to
be congested as you move to the hoop. Other players will pop out to pick you up.
Concentrate on making the shot! Look to pass only if you can't get your shot
off, or if you can spot a teammate in a better scoring position.

The Jab Step

The jab step is a common foot fake which, depending on the defensive player's
reaction, is used to set up either a drive or a jump shot. To perform the jab
step do the following:

1. Keep the ball in your hands at waist level or near your hips and establish
   proper basketball position.
    


2. Take a short, hard step (10 inches or less) toward the defensive man. At
   the same time, fake the dribble by bringing the ball down outside your knee.
    


3. Pause slightly to see the reaction of the defensive player.
    


4. If the defender lunges toward you, quickly take a longer step with the
   same foot and simultaneously push the ball out and drive right around his hip.
   (To get this move down in your mind, think of it as a one-two count move with
   a split second stop in the middle.
   

   OR

   
   

   When you make the jab step move and your defensive player plays you for the
   drive (he backs up and blocks your path), your next offensive possibility is
   to take a jump shot. You can do this by first, pulling back your lead foot and
   then going up for the shot.

   
   

   It's important when you are going to make a jab step that your first step
   not be too long. Secondly, remember to keep in a crouched position with your
   knees bent. This coiled position assures you enough power to make the drive or
   jump shot.

The Rocker Step

The rocker step is a quick head-and-shoulder fake you can use to set up a
drive. It begins just like the jab step. Do the rocker step as follows:

1. Keep the ball in your hands at waist level or near your hips and establish
   proper basketball position.
    


2. Take a short, hard step (10 inches or less) toward the defensive man. At
   the same time, fake the dribble by bringing the ball down outside your knee.
    


3. Once you see he hasn't been fooled, pull back to your original position.
    


4. When your defensive man moves toward you again, drive past him, using the
   same jab foot (think of this as a three-count move : jab step; rock back to
   your original position; powerful step and strong dribble past the hip of your
   defensive man.

The Rocker Step, Shot Fake, And Drive

This move is an elaboration upon both the previous moves. Perform it as
follows:

1. Keep the ball in your hands at waist level or near your hips and establish
   proper basketball position.
    


2. Take a short, hard step (10 inches or less) toward the defensive man. At
   the same time, fake the dribble by bringing the ball down outside your knee.
    


3. Once you see he hasn't been fooled, pull back to your original position.
    


4. Fake a jump shot with your arms and ball by bringing the ball up to the
   level of your head as you would in the first phase of the jump shot.
    


5. Once your defender is taken in by your fake and moves toward you to block
   your jump shot, make an explosive drive and go right around him.

As with all these individual moves, it's important to maintain a crouched
position when you make your fakes and when you go around your defender. If you
straighten up, you will lose the power and quickness which makes these moves so
effective.

The Crossover Step

Often the defensive player will overplay you to your strong side. In this
case, the crossover step and the ability to dribble equally well with either
hand will help you out of this defensive overplay.

To make this crossover step to the left, take the following steps:

1. Make a short hard jab step in the direction of the defensive player with your right foot.


2. Keep low and with the same leg, take a long step, crossing it over the
   outside of the defender's right foot.


3. Swing the ball very quickly from your right side to your left side as you
   make the leg move, cutting closely off the defender's shoulder.


4. Push the ball out behind the defender with your left hand, making sure it
   goes past his hip.

Reverse the above steps if you are being overplayed to the other side. In
that case, you would be doing a crossover step to the right.

If you are ready to bring your basketball game to the next level, checkout
Basketball: The Next Level

Streetball is an urban form of basketball, typically played on outdoor basketball courts. Generally, only side of the court is been used and the rules of Streetball are essentially the same as normal basketball. The number of participants in a game may range from one defender and one attacker to two full teams of five each.

In comparison to professional basketball, Streetball places a higher emphasis on one-on-one matchups between the offense and defender. Often the attacker will perform numerous flashy moves while attempting to drive to the basket, including crossovers, jab steps, and other fake-out tricks. Streetball often features spectacular dunks and alley oops, impressive ball handling, and trash talking. Also featured in streetball are moves. A move is either used to trick the defender to look away, or just to confuse. There are many different moves in the streetball world.

In recent years, streetball has seen an increase in notoriety and exposure in media due in part to television shows such as ESPN's "Streetball" and "City Slam", as well as traveling exhibitions such as the AND1 Mixtape Tour and Ball4Real.

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