Everybody wants to win. But who really wants to win badly.  Who are the players steadfastly loyal to the team goal of whatever it takes to win (inside the realm of sportsmanship, of course). What a treat to play with or coach players who truly hate to lose and will fight you tooth and nail.  Again, not dirty players, but rather, players who never lose awareness of the nausea of defeat and  are willing to get dirty for a W.

Focus = Grit =Toughness.

… heart and grit are the soul of any player. Some players just have that “thing”:  it is hard to put a finger on or define it, yet it is so easy to recognize. Many times grit is the deciding factor between otherwise equal adversaries.  In fact, a high Grit-factor (G-Factor) raises the other  categories of play  up a notch. Without it you may lose confidence under adversity, experience diminished skills or even the capacity to think clearly.

Everyone at some point has succumbed to pressure and performed poorly. It does not necessarily make you heartless – just human. Coaches tell players to be tough all the time. But what is tough really? What is “hard-nosed”? There are a number of factors that contribute to toughness and fortitude. Attitude and physical prowess are often key components, but grittiness – the ability to hyper-focus 100% on what is necessary for success in each moment of exchange – might be the most important.  As a coach, I demand intensity and intelligence from players, but above all focus.– The Virtual Game of Basketball

Who are the focused ones?  On the verge of the NBA Finals, who are the  remaining players with the highest G-Factors?

1)Kobe Bryant- it’s amazing how driven (willing) he is to carry the burden of a franchise, one tough- shot-made at a time.  As a coach you would prefer higher percentage shots than some of the looks he comes up with , but at the same time no one with any good sense would venture to do anything that would impact his indomitable spirit and incredible belief in self.

2) Paul Pierce- His name speaks for itself… only he spells it with a P instead of an F. One of the fiercest competitors in Celtic history.   He plays angry and expects success whatever the circumstances. He carries himself like the game ball belongs to him, and you’re lucky you get to play… forget about winning (taking his ball home).

Other “G-Men”: no particular order…

Derek Fisher–  Surprise… but I  just shake my head after each big shot this guy makes for his team.  What an unheralded gem (and I’m sure highly appreciated by the Laker Brass)). No wonder his minutes never go away.  He’s not running fast or jumping high, but still quick to put a dagger  deep inside the heart of opponents.

Kevin Garnett–  Kevin is  more hungry (for a title), than gritty, although he does posses a high G-Factor.  KG is the consummate warrior who still must bask in the glory of Celtic greatness to thaw from his cold beginnings in Minnesota.  Got to hand it to players that give only 100% (no excuses) when they’re far below 100% themselves.

Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen – Both focus magicians.  These guys are sticklers to their respective roles.  They both could do more (especially RayRay) but they stay inside the “cut” for the cause.

Also:  Nate Robinson– Forget about his high-flying antics, “Lil’ Him” is tough as nails– G-Factor off the chart and his  Belief in Nate– ridiculous. More than impressive to come off the bench and score a pro-rated 42 pts. in such a pressure packed moment — particularly after sitting so long all playoffs  (I love it).  C’mon…you know he’ll scrap with the PA announcer for the dub.  Hell,  he used a less vicious (mentally) Dwight Howard against himself to win the Slam Dunk Title? I think the Celtic environment will help him mature as a player and be more consistently responsible in every moment of exchange.

Doc and Phil- Both of these coaches would fight you, just like when they played.  Back in Phil’s day guys did fight.  My dad  (his teammate with the Knicks) said he hurt just to bump in to. Phil’s a massive shouldered  bruiser from Montana, with the discipline of a Yogi. His laser like ability to focus on what’s necessary for success  allows him to deal with and  appeal to each individual as part of something greater.

Doc may not be as wise as Phil- yet, but his classy-hyper-intelligent -bully mentality as a player, grooved the perfect disposition to lead perhaps the model(?) organization in all of sports.  I’m sure he plays clips of Bird and Cowens flailing about the Garden.  How else could Rajon have known to posterize Jason Williams with a defensive , offensive gem combo in such a nasty green fashion?

Above all Doc demands that the C’s play with the wisdom of the Boston Sages past.   Quietly, I think it’s enough to raise yet another banner.  Just don’t let Kobe know… Mamba’s are dangerous.

I am a “hover ” lover. Discovering the advantages of hovering is where being first and creating space happens.

Watch the NBA playoff games and check who’s hovering. PG’s — in particular, Nash , Rondo and Jameer Nelson. Amongst to 2’s Dragic hovers… Ray Allen hovers… JJ Reddick hovers and of course, Kobe hovers.

Rashard and Vince hover, J Rich and Grant Hill hover. Indeed Paul Pierce does as well. KG hovers, Rasheed, Artest; so does Matt Barnes. Damn … it really must be something to the hover.

The hover gives you time to make contrary decisions against your opponent and dictate offensively.

So please… take it from the pros still in the playoff hunt. Every scorer is an adorer of the hover. Whether they know it or not, it just may be the best friend they’ve got.

Watch Goran hover and spin on Derek Fisher 2010 Playoffs

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Just being bigger, faster, quicker or jumping higher… won’t get you these guy’s jobs anytime soon

This era of the physical freak has morphed the game of basketball beyond physical recognition. It is becoming more and more difficult to compete on today’s athletic plane.

The odds of being the most physically gifted player on the court are quite slim. Even if you are today, you may not be tomorrow.

For sustained success you must continue to grow in your knowledge (Know-How) of the game and continue to sharpen your application of technique “virtually.”Moreover, the ability to manipulate time, space and opponents beyond the use of just basketball fundamentals is the trademark of a Virtual Player (VP).  VP’s understand the math and science of the game. This application bridges the gap between the super-freak and the average athlete.

Of course, there will always be guys who have success off of what they can do physically or by way of trickery. These players operate on Do-How as opposed to Know-How. They are highly capable and often physical freaks of some sort. Too often however, their inadequate comprehension or application of fundamentals limits their chance for consistent success at high levels of play. Know-How will win the series against Do-How almost always.

This  discovery of optimization in Virtual Play has been absolutely fascinating and it never stops. Uncovering these truths and absolutes is the portal to peak performance … Technology will forever change. You must adapt to these changes, or be prepared to fall short of your basketball objectives.

It’s easy to half-hear and miss critical elements that connect understanding – even when  you’re interested in the information. Program yourself to listen  intently to the “message of the moment.”

The brain is extremely clever about  creating distraction — particularly when change is involved.  Be aware of tendencies that may stop you from actually getting the most out of exchanges.  Think about when you miss a key word and get behind in a conversation. Sometimes it’s hard to catch up, but who wants to appear as if they weren’t listening?  If you are interested in a particular message, you may find these rules of engagement helpful.

1) Be aware of defensiveness to new or “different” information.  Program yourself to resist the urge to suppress, discount or disprove. Give yourself a chance to grow.  Your brain will try to use your emotions (fears, doubts) against you to derail progress.

2) Open your “Circle of Understanding.” It’s tough because  you already  have a full circle of everything you know presently.  Unfortunately, you don’t know what you don’t know.  Therefore, circles come in all sizes.  Get in the habit of allowing yourself  to think of new information as potentially  upgradable or expandable material rather than as a replacement program per se.  This will help your brain cooperate and allow you to fully engage in the exchange.  This is key in conceptualizing what is being said.  There’s usually something of value in the words. By opening your “Circle” you’ll be better  able to determine the V level or validity of the message.  If the information is verifiable and you see how you can benefit, the  crucial next step is to get past your brain to start the process of integration or expanding your circle of information and skill.

3) Don’t allow yourself to feel overwhelmed.  Ask as many questions as necessary to move forward.

4) Incorporate “Mental Repetition.” (see: “Mind Matters… Over and Over”)  Take time out (30 minutes) to revisit the new information in your head.  It’s amazing how much it impacts retention and performance.

The ear hears, the brain receives  and your job is to make sense of the information and put it to use.

Education = Acquisition          Application = Performance

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