Because of the latest event that had coach Scott Skiles give Charlie Villanueva a talking to, NBA came up with a new Twitter rule.

Coach Skiles felt that doing a ?tweet? during half time would have other people reading that tweet, or even other players in the team that people are just not serious. If tweeting can be done during one of the most important parts of the game, then there is no focus. Players will start slacking feeling that their concentration can even be divided to tweeting and listening to the coach giving him hot tips and game plan for the next half of the game.

Shaquille O?Neal wholly agrees with NBA?s new rule on Twitter.

He feels that games are very important, even those periods spend on short time when the coach gives tips and advises to do better when the game begins, what more for the half time break that is very much needed for all players and coach alike.

O?Neal was also quoted as saying that there have been uncalled for situations when the other players did things that were not a good expression and reflection of themselves as basketball players, especially as a reflection to the NBA trademark.

Although to be fair to Villanueva, after posting the tweet, wherein he said that he was in the locker room to post that tweet, mentioning that their coach required ?toughness? when they play with the Celtics after half time, did really well when he played after half time. Villanueva played one of his best games that night, finishing as the top scorer of the game, with nineteen points, and were able to beat the Celtics on that game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tIJCSAj1jp4

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During the two thousand eight to two thousand nine season, Curry was able to play only three games because of another injury. Now, he has yet to heal properly because during one of their practice sessions, he accidentally tore one of his calf muscles, common to tennis players.

That is one player less for the Knicks, which hopefully, will have a speedy recovery for Curry.

Talking about New York Knicks, Bryant?s jersey is still getting really popular votes in Europe compared to other players in the NBA, even NBA?s European players.

Bryant?s jersey was considered the top seller in Europe, and all this happening twice in a row. Way to go, Kobe!

The list was taken from sales from retail stores all across the continent of Europe for the NBA season two thousand eight to two thousand nine.

Looking at the top sellers? list which would include the United States sales and China sales altogether, Kobe is still the top seller. He is closely followed by Kevin Garnett, of the Boston Celtics. Spain player, Pau Gasol, is the third challenger, while another NBA teammate of Bryant, LeBron James, is the fourth contender. Dwayne Wade is the fifth in the top five list.

Other players who made it in the list include Tony Parker, Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon. If you will notice, the US? NBA players dominate the list, but still has a sprinkling of other countries like Spain, Italy and France joining the group.

 This month is among the most favorite month of every basketball fan. April holds a lot of things for the basketball junkie. The whole month is filled with a lot of fun and excitement- there is always something to look forward to. If you are looking for a basketball action, look no further as April is here. From rookies to stars, you get to see the best of the best.

With playoff games happening this month, a lot of us are glued to the television sets to watch our favorite teams in the hopes that they are going to win the game. Recently, the Hawks won over the Miami Heat at game 5 with a 106-91 score. The biggest scorer of the night for the Hawks was Joe Johnson with 25 points. Although Miami?s Dwayne Wade got 29 points, it was not enough to lead his team to a win that night. The 3-2 lead of the Atlanta Hawks is one of the farthest this team has reached in the last 10 years are everybody is looking forward to getting another win for this 7-game series. At this time, both teams have become more intense and are doing everything they can to win. Rivalry is getting high, and although it is just a game, players and fans alike cannot seem to avoid feeling the pressure. Game 6 is soon to come and we would again be holding on to our seats to see who will win it.

The NBA finals will be in June, and every year it never fails to bring millions of audience glued to the boob tube, while thousands flock to the stadiums to be there cheering our hearts out during the actual game. Whatever team we are rooting for, we are united when it comes to giving support to our most loved basketball teams.

Home arenas

* Philadelphia Arena (1946?62)
* Philadelphia Convention Hall (1952?62)
* Cow Palace (1962?64, 1966?71 and two games in 1975 NBA Finals)
* San Francisco Civic Auditorium (1964?67)
* USF War Memorial Gymnasium (1964?66)
* San Jose Arena (now the HP Pavilion) (1996?97)
* Oakland Coliseum Arena/Oakland Arena/Oracle Arena (1966?67, 1971?96 and 1997?present)

Basketball Hall of Famers

* 11 Paul Arizin
* 24 Rick Barry
* 13 Wilt Chamberlain
* 10 Joe Fulks
* 14 Tom Gola
* 6 Neil Johnston
* 16 Jerry Lucas
* 00 Robert Parish
* 17 Andy Phillip
* 42 Nate Thurmond
* Eddie Gottlieb (team founder-owner)

Arizin, Fulks, Gola, Johnston and Phillip played all or most of their tenure with the Warriors in Philadelphia. Chamberlain’s tenure was about evenly divided between Philadelphia and San Francisco. Lucas and Parish were elected mainly for their performances with other teams. Thurmond and Barry are the only Hall-of-Famers who spent significant time with the team since the 1971 move to Oakland and the name change to “Golden State.”

Retired numbers

* 13 Wilt Chamberlain, C, 1959?65 (including 1959?62 in Philadelphia)
* 14 Tom Meschery, F, 1961?71 (including 1961?62 in Philadelphia)
* 16 Al Attles, G, 1960?71 (including 1960?62 in Philadelphia); Head Coach, 1970?83; also team executive
* 24 Rick Barry, F, 1965?67 & 1972?78
* 42 Nate Thurmond, C, 1963?74

Meschery, Attles, Barry and Thurmond are also members of the Bay Area Sports Hall of Fame.

Superstar or not, however, the basics are still the most important aspects in the game of basketball. If you want to be good at the game, you have to know the rules and have the skills. It also helps to develop a bag of tricks, and being a top-notch shooter is one of the best ways to see great results on the scoreboard. Here are the seven most common shots in basketball. Try them, practice them, bring them to your game. You will love the results.

1. The Lay-Up The lay-up is one of the simplest shots in basketball and is used in one of two different situations during a game: - When you are under the ring and you get the ball while shooting through the basket. - When you dribble the ball through a crowd and wind up under the net.

2. The One-Handed Underhand This shot must be practiced - a lot - before being put to the test in a game, because it is a tough one. Additionally, you can’t use the one-handed underhand when you are in a set position.

3. The Two-Handed Set The two-handed set is usually saved for long-range opportunities. This shot is not as common today as it used to be. The most well-known player to make this shot popular was Bob McDermott, who became famous for his ability to shoot from any place in the inside court.

4. The One-Handed Set The one-handed set is another one of the basics. It has the same good points as the two-handed set but it gives you improved speed.

5. The Jump Shot The jump shot almost always turns into points on the scoreboard. This shot is often paired with a fake, and it is popular with current basketball players of all levels.

6. The Hook Shot The hook shot can be paired with a number of different moves on the court, so it is a highly versatile basketball shot that can be put into play in distances from mid-range to short-range.

7. The Free Throw Everyone knows the free throw; it’s the one where the rest of the players stand around and watch. A player gets a free throw when they have been fouled by a player on the opposing team, and they make this shot from the free throw line. To be considered good at the free throw, you have to make at least 8 out of 10 of these shots.

These are the seven most common shots in basketball, and although there are more, some others require detailed combinations and variations in skill levels. These can be learned by the beginner and practiced to perfection. For all of these shots, and every other move in the game of basketball, the best thing to do is practice and constantly update your skills.

In Bird’s second professional season- he led the Celtics to the NBA Playoffs. Larry Bird helped the Celtics’ deficit by helping them overcome and winning the last three games, which propelled the Celtics into the NBA Finals. They defeated the Houston Rockets in six games.

In 1984 Bird earned the award for Most Valuable Player by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers in a seven game final. The following year, the Boston Celtics would have another incredible winning year by defeating The Rockets in six games. Bird again was honored with the Finals MVP Award for that year, averaging 24 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

In 1987 Bird made his final appearance for the Celtics against the Milwaukee Bucks and the Detroit Pistons. That year the Celtics ended up losing to the unmatched Lakers in six games and to the Detroit Pistons in 1988.

Bird’s body continued to deteriorate to injuries to debilitating back problems and to bone spurs in his heels. Both these conditions would eventually lead to his retirement in 1992. Unwilling to stop due to injuries, he joined Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan to play in the United States basketball team for the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona, Spain. Names the “Dream Team”- they defeated their competition to win the Gold Medal for the United States Basketball Olympic Team.

Larry Bird’s NBA honors include; elected to Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall Of Fame (1988), NBA champion (1981, 1984, 1986), NBA Finals MVP (1984, 1986), NBA MVP ( 1984, 1985, 1986), Nine-Time All-NBA First Team ( 1980-88), All NBA Second Team (1990), All-Defensive Second Team (1982, 1983, 1984), NBA Rookie of The Year (1980), One of the Fifty Greatest Players in NBA History (1996), Olympic Gold Medalist (1992).

Basketball requires speed, strength and stamina, and all of these skills contribute to shooting. The object of the game of basketball is to make baskets, and you can’t make a basket without taking a shot. That is why becoming a good shooter is the desire of all basketball players.

The more shots your team makes, the higher your score will be and the better your chances for winning the game. Since shooting is so important to winning, it is no wonder why learning to shoot well is such an important aspect of the game of basketball. In fact, many people think shooting is the single most important of all basketball skills.

The act of shooting is when the player shoots the basketball, the goal being to make it into the net. Most of the time, a basket is worth two points, but if you make a shot from outside the three-point arc, that basket is worth three points.

Types of Basketball Shots

Good shooters are versatile; they can shoot the ball from many places on the court, and they can shoot from a standing position, shoot while running, walking, and even take a shot while jumping. There are several different types of shots in basketball. Here are some of the most common:

The Set Shot. A set shot is usually made from a standing position and is most commonly used during the free throw. The set shot is one of the easiest shots in basketball.

The Jump Shot The jump shot is not so easy, because it is done in mid-air. The higher you can jump while you shoot, the better your jump shot will be. You want to jump as high as possible, because your opponent will be doing their best to block you from making the basket. Take care during a jump shot to make sure you don’t get called for a traveling violation.

The Lay-Up A lay-up is done while the player is in motion. The shooting player takes a shot at the net without stopping to take up a shooting position. The lay-up is a great opportunity for your opponent to snatch the ball away, so undertake this shot with caution.

The Slam Dunk The slam dunk is probably the most famous of all shots in the game of basketball. If a player can master the slam dunk, they can become a super star. In a slam dunk, the player jumps up and dunks the ball directly into the net. It’s fun to watch and even more fun to do, as long as the ball goes in. An unsuccessful slam dunk is called an air ball.

Ways To Improve Your Basketball Shots

Shooting is one of the most coveted skills in basketball, and there are many ways to improve your shooting techniques. Here are some of the most effective:

Balance The better your balance, the better your chances for making successful shots. Good balance will improve your skill as a basketball player.

Good Hands You use your hands to throw the basketball into the net, and this requires a certain amount of force which needs to be adjusted depending on the circumstances of the shot. Pay attention to the specific details of each shot: distance, height, range, and train your hands to follow through appropriately.

Keep Your Head In The Game Even though you need strength and other physical attributes to be good at basketball, your mental game can be what puts you above your opponents. Pay attention and keep your focus on what is going on in the game at all times.

Shooting is probably the most important skill you can work on if you want to become a basketball great. Follow the tips and pointers above, and you can be on your way to more fun and skill on the court.

2. What system of attack do you recommend to penetrate the one defense? In attacking a zone I believe in the following:

• Follow a definite plan and make your pattern work.
• Dribble only when absolutely necessary.
• Use sharp accurate passes-the bounce pass in close quarters, and the two-hand chest pass on the outside.
• Pass quickly to keep the defenders moving.
• Don’t be in a hurry; take only good shots.

3. Do you believe a player should be able to play both the forward and guard positions, or do you think it sufficient to train him in the position of his choice?

It is desirable for a player to be able to operate at either the forward or the guard position. This will not only give him a chance to play more, but will make him more valuable to the team. A boy, however, should be permitted to play his favorite post when conditions are favorable.

4. Do you approve of any special diet for your squad? It may be difficult to follow a definite diet, but I would advise a balanced diet avoiding excessive greasy foods and sweets. Regular meals should be eaten each day with plenty of fruits and vegetables. It is not desirable to eat closer than three hours to the time you are going to play. Before a game at night it is a good idea to eat the heavy meal in the middle of the afternoon. The safest maxim to be applied then is-eat lightly and early enough before game time.

5. Who is responsible for the defensive position of the team during a free throw? The free thrower is responsible for the defensive positions. Before he takes his foul shot he should check to see that the two smallest men are back court and the two tallest players are stationed along the foul lanes.

6. Should there be some organized methods of getting possession of the ball on held balls with an occasional scoring play used? I don’t know how many held balls occur during a game but all teams should have some organized method in gaining possession of the ball. Offensively, a good team has a play or two to use on held-ball situations with which they may score or gain a scoring position with the ball. Many games are won in the last moments by a successfully executed held-ball play.

7. Is it advisable to change a player’s improper shooting form even though he has a good shooting average? It has been my experience not to change a boy’s style of shooting if his shooting average is good. It is not necessary that all players shoot exactly alike in basketball just as baseball players shouldn’t have the same form at the plate in swinging the bat. Only the results are really important.

8. How much time do you spend on fundamentals during the course of a season? Fundamentals are stressed in every practice session. Other things being of equal value, the team that has mastered the fundamentals will win. Every coach has a task in selling his players on the value of fundamentals, so that they will want to work hard until the correct fundamental procedures have been learned.

9. Do you allow your players to play outside games during the season? No. I believe two games per week and three practice sessions are enough basketball for any high school boy. The New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association, which governs high school athletics, permits only two games per week. Playing outside ball, in my opinion, weakens the boy and takes too much time away from his studies. Practice sessions are carefully planned so that the boys are not worked too hard. Outside ball games will prove disastrous to the boy and to the team.

10. How do you defend against the fast break? Basically, the most effective method in stopping a fast breaking offense lies in the ability of the defense to slow down the first offensive pass. While this is being done the defense must quickly come down the court to their defensive positions.

11. What things do you emphasize before a game? The following things are emphasized: Type of defense to be used, strong and weak points of the opposing players and types of offense we will use. I remind the boys of how important it is to fight the opponent off the boards, and to take charge of the game at the opening whistle.

12. Do you believe in the use of “gadgets” to help develop your players? I do, to a certain extent. We use medicine balls to develop wrists and arms, jumping rope for coordination and footwork, deflated basketballs to curtail dribbling. We practice rebounding and jumping by placing a lid over the basket, we strengthen leg muscles by climbing stairs. Blacked-out glasses are used to help keep the head up while dribbling.

13. What do you do to enliven your practice sessions? We give our drills an element of competition. We line up a defensive man against an offensive player; the desire to out-maneuver the opponent and score generates a lot of spirit. We choose two teams at the beginning of the season for engaging in shooting contests, and relays. Scores are kept to keep the competition keen. However, care must be taken not to stay on any one drill too long.

14. What do you expect from your squad during the season? I expect the boys to attend all practice sessions and to be on time. I expect them to be loyal to me, to their teammates, and to their school. They are expected to wear coats and ties to all home and away games. I expect them to be courteous and cooperative to the faculty, the captain, and to their teammates. Positively no smoking or drinking of any alcoholic beverages is allowed at any time.

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