It’s Called Working Out: Why Every Basketball Player Should Practice Yoga

Every basketball player wants to perform at their highest possible level.  We are always looking for an edge to get better. We all are willing to put our bodies through rigourous workouts and practices to achieve these basketball goals. But one way you may not think off at first, that a lot of NBA and College teams are using to enhance their on court performance is actually located in the yoga studio and not in the weight room.

A well-rounded yoga routine includes dynamic flexibility, core stabilization, muscular endurance, proper breathing and balance work. By focusing on these vital elements, yoga can be a great thing to do to recover from a series of tough workouts. Some of the most popular yoga movements directly improve the range of motion at your joints which helps you stay on the court longer and move more fluently. We all know yoga is not as easy as it may seem which way it is great for those who need a new or different challenge in their training programs. And lastly, when you are feeling the most pressure about the big game or tryout, yoga and its emphasis on breathing and relaxation can really boost your mental energy, focus and concentration.

Here are some of more benefits to adding yoga to your training routine:

Its Called Working Out! : The 500 Rep Barbell Workout For Basketball Conditioning

 

In this addition of “It’s Called Working Out” we present to you the 500 Rep Barbell Workout.  The 500 Workout is a high intensity barbell complex. Complexes have become very popular in the fitness world because of the laundry list of benefits that conditioning with weights or cardio strength training can provide. By definition a complex is a circuit of exercises that uses the same implement (barbell, dumbbell etc) performed back to back to back, completing the prescribed number of reps for each exercise before moving onto the next.

In the 500 Workout, we aim to challenge your muscular and cardiovascular endurance while creating an enviornment that challenges a player’s mental toughness.  The intensity created from the time under the tension of the barbell, the total body exercises, and variable weight (depending on weight lifting and conditioning experience level) makes this workout a great developer of explosive muscular endurance. One of the best indicators of  great  conditioning means being able to produce powerful, dynamic movements over an extended period and in the case of basketball it means being able to jump, cut, shoot and box out at a high level no matter what stage of the game it is. Get a step closer to performing in peak physical condition with the 500 Workout.

Who Ya Got?: Best Future NBA Point Guard

Kyrie Irving vs. Steph Curry

In the latest installment of “Who Ya Got” we look to the backcourt where two young rising stars are making a lot of noise in the National Basketball Association. Kyrie Irving and Steph Curry are proving to be elite players and are having spectacular seasons, both making their first all-star teams.

Now if  you were a general manager of your own NBA Franchise and you needed to pick a starting point guard for the next 10 years,  which one would you want running the show? Curry or Irving?

It’s Called Working Out!: The No Excuses Bodyweight Basketball Workout

There always comes a time when you can’t get to the gym for a full workout, it happens to all of us.  We are all busy and life gets in the way at times.  The difference between achieving your basketball and fitness goals comes down to making the most of your time.  So whatever the reason may be that you can’t go to the gym, you can still get an intense, effective and total body workout right in your own home.

Today, we here at The Locker Room present the No Excuses Bodyweight Basketball Workout:

Advantages:

• Total body strength
• Emphasizes stability and strength in your core        
• No weights needed (but you can add weight as you progress and master these bodyweight versions of the exercises)
• Only takes 20 minutes (if executed properly with good intensity)

LeBron James Finishing Ability: The In and Out Dribble – Eurostep Combo

Being able to finish around the basket in various ways is one of the most important skills to have as a basketball player. The Eurostep, made popular by Manu Ginobli and Dwayne Wade, is a new and rather unorthodox way of finishing a drive in the paint. During Game 3 of the NBA Finals, LeBron James executed the Eurostep perfectly, finishing a key fast break with an AND 1 layup. The reason why LeBron James’ Eurostep worked so well was the way he preceded the move with a quick and decisive in and out dribble.

Stationary Ball Handling Drills From OneBasketball App

Below is an inside look into one of the over 140 basketball drills included in the OneBasketball App. The Stationary Ball Handling Series is a great way to start a workout and get used to having the ball in your hands. It is essential to pound the dribble as hard as you can and always have your head/eyes up to challenge yourself. It is encouraged to go as hard and fast in this ball handling series to the point where you are losing the ball, getting yourself out of your comfort zone. Check out the video below for the entire ball handling series. And for more ball handling drills, shooting drills, post moves, dribble moves, ball screen reads, and finishing drills be sure to get OneBasketball App, available  now in the iTunes App Store for a low price of $2.99. What are you waiting for? Next season starts today

NBA Finals Report: Beating Switching Man to Man Defenses

Going into this much anticipated NBA Finals series, we all knew the potential there was to see some “small ball” lineups. Both the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder are regarded as the two most athletic teams in the league. In the same sense, they are two teams that don’t have a lot of conventional size up front and/or frequent low post scoring from their bigs. With all of the above taken into consideration, both teams opt for switching on defense to keep similar size and speed matchups and avoid getting into a help and rotate situation where offenses can take advantage. Switching also helps take away lots of the pick and roll action that is so dominant in the NBA. Often times, switching every screen can stall another team’s offense, causing them to stand around and watch as one player ioslates and usually forces a tough shot (see Miami Heat’s 4th quarter in Game 1).

NBA Finals Report: A Look At Thabo Sefolosha’s Active Defense

He has long limbs, quick feet, broad shoulders, the strength to bang with any size player, the intelligence to recognize offensive tendencies and is extremely active. No, we are not talking about Scottie Pippen (widely regarded as the best perimeter defender of all time). We are talking about Thabo Sefolosha, the starting shooting guard for the Oklahoma City Thunder. Sefolosha, an unsung hero of Game 1 of the NBA Finals, is finally getting some of the attention he deserves.

OneBasketball – A Basketball Coach’s Review

One year ago, four young entrepeneurs with a passion for basketball set out to create the first ever basketball training mobile application. The only goal: bring basketball into the 21st century by making a clear, structured skill development program that is easy to use for all basketball players and coaches. Finally, in early 2012 OneBasketball app was launched on the Apple App Store.

Today though, we came across a review for the OneBasketball app that not only encapsulates the reason the app was developed in the first place but it also paints a picture of all the realistic benefits the app can and already has delivered. The review comes from a German youth basketball coach. We will let his words tell the rest of the story:

Basketball App …. Finally 
by RitzBBall on Thursday, February 16 2012 version 1.0

 

“I’ve been a player and a coach for more years than I’d like to admit. I’ve played and coached at almost every level. .. and I’ve coached hundreds of players in the USA and in Europe. Yet I am I am constantly looking for ways to improve my players and my coaching abilities. I have designed many of my own drills and my own practice planners. I have made my own practice videos…. but…. that is “Old-School” …. This App is “Now” …. The Drills are good and well executed… It covers many skill areas as well as basketball-specific conditioning. Many of Drills are similar to those I already use, but it gives me the opportunity to actually show players what I want from them … and that is great … for me because sometimes the mind is willing but the legs are gone… Lastly, I can’t count the number of times a player has asked… Hey Coach can you give me some stuff to work on over the break…?” For that, this App is right on time. I recommend it for any Coach or Player…. Ritz Ingram”

Masters of Offensive Spacing: The San Antonio Spurs Spread Pick and Roll

The most well oiled, fine tuned offense in the NBA Playoffs (and for the entire season for that matter) has been the San Antonio Spurs. They have the personnel, experience and understanding of basic offensive concepts to create some beautiful offense. The staple play of their offense and the one that did the most damage in Game 1 against the Utah Jazz was the Spread Pick and Roll. The Spread Pick and Roll is a set where a high ball screen or high angled ball screen occurs while having 3 shooters spaced outside the 3PT line. The Spurs usually go to the Spread Pick and Roll exclusively when Matt Bonner, Stephen Jackson, Danny Green/Manu Ginobli are in the game, because they are all deadly shooters. Add that to the fact that Tony Parker is using the ball screen to get into the paint at will, while guys like Tim Duncan, Dejuan Blair and Tiago Splitter are rolling to the rim for dunks, and no wonder they have the best record in the West.