On the way to NBA Success…

There’s no denying environmental factors play a role, but all things equal (physically , technically and environmentally), why does player A find consistent NBA success, while player B struggles?

I’ve been bombarded recently with questions on the distinguishing factors of top players in the NBA.  Of course, top players are able to focus on what’s necessary for success in the moment of exchange. Looking around the league, there are so many players with physical and technical gifts. Why is it that some players – regardless of their talent, find it difficult to have consistent success.

So many  mega-stars lose their luster once they hit the league.   There’s no denying environmental factors play a role, but all things equal  (physically , technically and environmentally), why does player A find consistent NBA success, while player B struggles?

It all comes down to application or execution of skill sets… the A in PTAG (Physical skills, Technical Skills, Application of both, Grit-focus factor).  Physical and technical skills are great if properly applied… period.

Related: PTAG –The Virtual Game of Basketball of Basketball

I’ve said before that many of the top players in the NBA ( and all levels for that matter) do the same things.  I’m going to list the Top 6 defaults most consistently successful players incorporate into their play.

1) Successful  players are “Stay-first” artists, which means they understand the A-B-C’s of play.  The Law of Leadership grants the offensive player the right the be A or first and thus force the defender  to respond to an action as B; then the offensive player gets to “C” what to do and be continuously contrary to manipulate.

2) Top players typically have outstanding ROM (Range-of-motion), with the body and extended ball-side arm. ROM (body) is the range of movement forward with the head and shoulders without committing to actual movement with the feet. This mechanism  slurs the motion of offensives players forward and gives them more time to process the “B” movement of the defenders. ROM (ball) is the range of movement with the arm towards the lane , without committing to the dribble.

3) Top players use “hover” and  “false-leg” maneuvers (off-the-dribble) and quick-sticks and up-fakes (off-the-catch) to stay first and contrary.

4) Top players represent themselves with their shoulders or “Blades” during play and flex on contact.

5) Top players use “fractions-of-steps” to manipulate and play at a moderate to slow pace.  These players are rarely out of control and exploit defensive foibles with explosive and decisive action.

6) Top players have a broad “Scope-of-vision”. This is the ability to see up from the floor and the rim at the same time.  This provides early  vision of the environment and slows the action of the game down (perceptively) making processing and decision-making much easier.

There are optimum defaults for every facet of the game. Make a point to start identifying how certain player “go” (are having success) and how certain situations are handled in the flow. The more you watch, the more you’ll realize what I already know:

OMG (bling, bling)... “they’re all doing the same things”. 

Every step you take may be as important as every breath you take.   Each breath connects you with life on earth.  Each step  connects you with your physical life on earth.

Mathematical precision of movement is necessary for the proper functioning of any machine; otherwise the system would be prone to breakdowns and malfunction.   Human beings are machines, yet so many fail to utilize their bodies in the proper way mechanically.  So many structural ailments of the body can be directly attributed  to how individuals connect to the earth with their feet and subsequently how they function. 

Ideally we connect with emphasis on the front-foot area (pad) , while focusing on moving our  energy forward off the heel.

This promotes proper structure (body symmetry,  balance and stability) and proper body mechanics (torque and fluid movement).  Landing with energy moving back toward the  heel promotes an inward moving butt, which not only creates unhealthy torque on the system , but also  interferes with the natural  flow or transfer of the energy created by the feet.

As a result, movement (based on efficiency) becomes more laborious and moves outside of the natural (mathematical) rhythm of the body.   This promotes  poor posture, symmetry and will lead to physical issues over time.  For athletes, improper structure  diminishes athleticism and makes those in violation more susceptible to injury –especially the knee and back variety.

Everyone should learn to respect the power of every step on earth.  It will change the way you operate (as a machine), the way you look  and the way you feel.

Related: “Foot Mechanics is Quite the Feet”