tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-69025722009-11-22T17:35:09.082-08:00Basketball commentary, analysis and insight from coach, writer and philosopher Brian McCormick.Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.comBlogger564125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-88198896308032459402009-11-20T13:14:00.000-08:002009-11-20T13:21:12.675-08:00

I am not the biggest WNBA fan in the world (or Sacramento), but I think it is sad to see the Monarchs dissolve.I am proposing to follow through on an idea that I have written about previously. I suggest that some Monarchs fans form an entity, find some residents with some cash and play games at the Memorial Auditorium downtown. What a location for games!! That would be great summertime action to

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-67384853969654746002009-11-20T09:51:00.001-08:002009-11-20T10:24:07.668-08:00

Before I start my rant, I want to preface my comments. I think the NBA Age-Limit was a mistake. I do not think that academically unprepared students should go to four-year schools; that is why we have junior colleges. I think that the one-and-done athlete undermines the educational mission of prestigious academic institutions. I do not think that the NCAA should be tax exempt. I do not believe

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-19841589211388446932009-11-19T10:20:00.000-08:002009-11-19T10:55:52.232-08:00

Over the last year, I think that I was pretty fair and accurate in my writing about Brandon Jennings and his choice to go to Europe (More to the point, I drafted a documentary featuring Jennings that attempted to show him in the best possible light that his handlers refused to participate in).I saw it as a reasonable decision, but questioned the choice of teams because of the opportunities for

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-16666392139147701002009-10-02T12:06:00.003-07:002009-10-02T12:14:36.504-07:00

The Youth Basketball Coaching Association is an effort to provide resources, assistance and credibility to the most important link in the basketball player development system: the youth coach (8-14 years old).During these years, players learn the basic fundamentals of the game, but more importantly, they develop (or not) the passion for the game, the practice habits that carry them throughout

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-66666917031261226222009-08-25T19:53:00.000-07:002009-08-25T19:58:08.500-07:00

180 Shooter Shot Tracker Program: use an online program to improve your knowledge of your players' shooting and to teach players of the value of deliberate practice through tracking their practice.

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-38300288872317884422009-08-20T12:55:00.000-07:002009-08-20T12:58:26.437-07:00

The Cross Over Movement Manifesto is 12 chapters comprised of the original chapters from the 1st Edition of Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development with updated information and opinions from three years of writing blogs.When I published the 3rd Edition of Cross Over, I focused the book on coaching information and the long term athlete development philosophy.Cross Over outlines

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-45498962390529572802009-08-06T12:22:00.000-07:002009-08-06T12:50:15.980-07:00

One of the better blog entries that I have read this summer is titled "The Kings Would Starve" by Tom Ziller at SacTown Royalty. Ziller's blog was based on an article written by Thomas Friedman for the New York Times.Friedman compares basketball to golf and quips:I wonder what the average N.B.A. player's free-throw shooting percentage would be if he had to make free throws to get paid the way

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-76971982704785686782009-07-10T14:24:00.000-07:002009-07-10T14:43:00.828-07:00

Rumors persist that the NBA would like to make potential players go to college for two years before entering the NBA Draft. NCAA coaches would prefer this as well, as many coaches, like Coach K, have criticized the "one-and-done" rule because it makes it harder to plan and recruit for their programs.The basketball (and financial) reasons are obvious. When players go to college, NBA teams have a

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-37989250579567333832009-07-04T12:28:00.001-07:002009-07-04T12:47:10.311-07:00

One criticism of the WNBA since its inception is that team's favor athletic players who can defend, so few players possess the offensive skills to create their own shots.As the W has evolved, more players have developed this skill or entered the league with the ability to create their own shot. Typically, these are the superstars or near superstars like Deanna Nolan, Diana Taurasi, Cappie

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-23971088357163828842009-06-21T20:26:00.000-07:002009-06-21T21:42:06.778-07:00

Finally, I decided to do my own mock draft. As always, I do my mock draft based on who I would pick in each position. I do not try to guess what each NBA General Manager will do. So, here are my picks:1. L.A. Clippers: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma. Earlier in the year, I wrote that I would take Tyreke Evans. However, after hearing about Blake Griffin's work ethic, you would be crazy not to pick him.2.

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-8960287811249427182009-06-07T13:00:00.000-07:002009-06-07T13:23:43.141-07:00

Last night, I wrote about the success of the MLS Seattle Sounders. Today, I read about the likely demise of the Indiana Fever. Will there ever be a better fit than to use a struggling WNBA franchise to try out fan decision-making?What if a group of local Indianapolis businessmen and women purchased the Indiana Fever. Indianapolis is a great basketball town in a great basketball state. If the WNBA

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-75010420641647701162009-06-06T19:52:00.000-07:002009-06-06T20:19:47.585-07:00

Last August, I wrote about the possibility of using fans to run a professional sports franchise.With the Internet, blogs, cable television, NBA TV and more, die-hard NBA fans are more educated than ever. They watch games and discuss every angle on blogs and message forums. Sites exist to track prospects for the next NBA Draft and to suggest potential trades. A quick google search provides

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-68786403988359858462009-06-05T13:33:00.000-07:002009-06-05T14:11:55.066-07:00

On twitter (follow me @brianmccormick), I saw a link to True Hoops' Daily Bullets which linked an article by Dave Berri about randomness. I agree with Berri's rationalization of the Cleveland vs. Orlando series.I am one who believes that we should recognize the regular season champion more formally as a Champion, not as the team that choked in the play-offs.I devised a plan to fix the NBA.1) Get

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-14550283639287331092009-05-26T13:48:00.000-07:002009-05-26T13:53:14.275-07:00

For those of you looking for more information on basketball training:Individual defense and the crossover step (featuring a female player looking to play in Spain)Training and Skill ProgressionsShooting Footwork with Austin NicholsDealing with SorenessWhy Basketball Skill Trainers Fail

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-34509690638402225842009-05-19T21:07:00.000-07:002009-05-19T21:46:06.113-07:00

Alright, Sacramento lost the lottery. So, not knowing who everyone will draft, here are my three choices for each of the Kings three draft picks. I believe in drafting for talent, not position. However, in a perfect world, I would like to see the Kings get a small forward, point guard and post with the three picks. The Kings have two promising young posts with Jason Thompson and Spencer Hawes and

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-6320917970572071092009-05-18T18:26:00.000-07:002009-05-18T18:47:08.555-07:00

For some reason, I could not embed this on my wordpress blog, so I'll put it here. I am not going to comment on the argument, as I have written on the subject numerous times before, and the argument and animosity on each side is one of the major reasons why I advocate the Elite Development League. It's not that high school is right and club basketball is wrong, or vice versa. It's that the

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-496857530936745932009-05-12T18:10:00.000-07:002009-05-12T19:16:59.927-07:00

According to Tom Ziller and Sactown Royalty, the Sacramento Kings coaching search falls into two categories: Plan A - Eddie Jordan and Plan B - an affordable alternative.In February, I suggested Jordan or Houston Rockets' assistant coach Elston Turner, as General Manager Geoff Petrie assembles players who fit a certain style of play, and Turner and Jordan fit the system. In fact, the Kings have

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-79828023466334017892009-05-03T23:55:00.000-07:002009-05-03T23:58:24.531-07:00

I watched some of the ESPN OTL piece on Jeremy Tyler and I don't understand a few things:First, Bob Ley says that Sonny Vacarro has been at the epicenter of player development since he signed Michael Jordan to a shoe contract for Nike. Vacarro is a businessman, and a very good businessman. In some ways, he is a visionary. However, I would not say that Vacarro develops players.As for the piece, I

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-44098570645280196872009-04-30T13:14:00.001-07:002009-04-30T13:16:12.456-07:00

I tried to refrain from the Jeremy Tyler discussion, but finally added my two cents here.Also, after working out with a Division I women's basketball player, I had to vent about the experience, which I did here.

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-18818304083181385742009-04-22T09:35:00.000-07:002009-04-22T10:18:56.280-07:00

Last week, I wrote about some guy using hype to market a basketball development program that would make you better in 60 seconds.I have worked for three years to create the best possible online basketball training program, but I refuse to market with hype and ridiculous claims. In fact, on my blog, I wrote:I personally guarantee that Train for Hoops will NOT make you a better player in 60 seconds

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-19531260470260042272009-04-18T15:39:00.000-07:002009-04-18T15:46:59.967-07:00

The Baltimore Ravens have been the best drafting team in the NFL this decade. One reason is patience and drafting for talent, not need:The Ravens usually use free agency to fill gaps in the roster, because Newsome does not like to feel pressured by a need on draft day. Even when there is a true need, Newsome sticks to the mantra: right player, right price.

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-57698432800100128572009-04-16T10:24:00.000-07:002009-04-16T10:44:38.736-07:00

People in Los Angeles used to complain about Mitch Kupchak. Gooc thing Phil Jackson isn't the Lakers' GM. In an interview with Dan Patrick, Jackson said:Dan Patrick asked Phil Jackson who he would want to start a team with. Jackson said that power players are really the key to the NBA. There are exceptions, like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and LeBron James, but he would take Dwight Howard over

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-69968932958932202552009-04-15T09:32:00.000-07:002009-04-15T10:00:58.527-07:00

I often write about coaches on my other blog, and while I am a coach, I do think coaches are somewhat overrated (John Calipari makes $4-million per season as a college basketball coach!! Pete carroll is the highest paid employee at USC and Steve Sarkisian, his offensive coordinator, was 4th before he left to be UW's Head Coach! Really?). Here is Bill Simmons on NBA coaches:34. Boris Diaw Reborn

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-88889882120082198182009-04-14T21:52:00.000-07:002009-11-15T11:46:00.934-08:00

According to Internet stories today, John Wall may be eligible for the 2009 NBA Draft as a 5th-year high school senior. It depends on your interpretation of the NBA Collective Bargaining Agreement, as explained by Tom Ziller:Wall turns 19 in September, so he meets that. The question revolves aroundwhether Wall, as a fifth-year high school senior, qualifies as a player a yearout from his class'

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6902572.post-79999462357529486032009-04-07T23:13:00.000-07:002009-04-07T23:28:52.349-07:00

As the WNBA Draft nears, several articles have mentioned taking a player to fill a need, rather than taking the best player available.Atlanta picks first and has several point guards on the roster, yet some feel UConn's Rene Montgomery is the #1 player in the draft. Do they choose Montgomery or go with Louisville's Angel McCoughtry?Washington picks second needs a center, though most believe

Brian McCormickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01617359625832911440noreply@blogger.com5