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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I tried to warn  you m@#%f’s (I guess I can say that in a Blog) in” eMPTy Without It“. Maybe you got the  message … maybe you didn’t. Ok. Sorry for the harsh tone, but it seems to be the kind of verbage y’all  can relate to.  I guess it’s true… pimpin ain’t easy.

Everybody seems to have a personal trainer. But… the question is… is he or she a developer (“Gainer”) or like most–a “Maintainer?” Like I said before, “maintainers” have a certain value, only they’re just what the term implies– maintenance people. Can’t have a fancy high-rise without a maintenance plan . The structure would lose its value before its time ( I agree). That’s why Maintainers are great for what they do and necessary for top-level competitors. But who in the world would hire a maintenance person to build an annex, a new floor or even remodel a facility.  Maybe an architect, or developer… but a maintenance person only!?  WTF#@$?!

So I ask. Why are so many top-level players hiring maintenance people for “additions” to their game? I’m curious what the maintainers are saying to these guys and gals to get them to believe they are actually changing skill levels. Unless, it’s the players simply taking advantage of the “luxury” of not having to change too much and being satisfied with where they are (maybe scuurrred….. of work of this type– at least). I understand the reluctance. Being good, outrageous and ridiculous already makes it even harder (psychologically) to initiate change and get better beyond that. Plus, programming new information into your  (brain) and in many cases, over-writing existing programs, is no joke.

On top of that, it seems that too many top-level Maintainers are “Pimps” who have positioned themselves with ridiculous “game” of their own.  I know of one “top flight” maintainer who never played or coached… but he did go to law school and presumably slept at a Holiday Inn?  Maybe that’s when he came up with his workouts and the lyrics needed to sway his faithful following.

So if Trainers or Maintainers are “pimps”, doesn’t that make the players with maintainance people Ho’s? I mean they are giving up that booty and Maintainers do fly around city to city collecting checks. I’d like to get my hands on an audio of one of the sessions…

“Say Mayne… look here! I need you ta dribble down to da blue right der there three times, wit two basketbawls. Ima strap diss here harness around yo sculptid lil waist… hah, hah. Then I want you to make six jumpas wit me holdn owne to da pulley. Nahmean?

Now if you can make jumpas with me hangin on yo ass… you can dam sho make em when it counts in da in the game wid ain’t nobody holdn you ….hanhanhan!!!!! Nahumsayn?”

I don’t understand why so many players accept staying the same or settling for the marginal gains of the common “workout.” If you’re a level 80 player, It IS still possible to get better, and I don’t  just mean in better shape. Getting in better shape will enable you to demonstrate your current skills more easily– perhaps; but it won’t get you to level 85 or beyond in terms of your skill development.

I  hope you haven’t been duped to believe you’re maxed out (skill-wise) and all you have to do is get a little wiser…the 100th percentile of function, across all skill sets, is a long way off— even if your name is Kobe or LeBron. Tragically, convincing most players they’re “there” isn’t that hard since so many players have a higher opinion of themselves than the level they are actually on.

The maintainer swoops in and convinces you they are the answer to keeping you where you are (in the league?) a few years longer? I don’t know. I don’t claim to understand the Pimp game…but it seems to work quite well on the street and in basketball . You would think at some point the Ho would call BS on the arrangement. Yet it remains a thriving industry… for the Pimp.

Is there a solution? Is there anyone  or any model– other than Virtual Play, that verifiably pushes any player to the next level (regardless of what level he or she  may be  on). Most of the time people  pick up a drill here and a drill there…maybe they ‘re even privy to “top-level” workouts. After they’ve collected enough drills, they start calling themselves “Trainers.”  But at the end of the day what they offer is … Yep– a workout.

Either you have a optimization plan to move your game towards the 100th percentile of function (the basketball Matrix) or you don’t!!!!! Any thing short of that is just good “game.” What you really want is a good “Gainer.”

Related: Virtual Training

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I love basketball.   I’m in love with basketball .  As a matter of fact, I’ve been to bed with my ball and proud to say it. We can’t seem to get enough of each other! I can’t even remember a time when we weren’t  in a relationship.    Our affair has been a match made in heaven.  Sure,  we’ve had our ups and down over the years, but… we’re still together.  Ok, maybe it’s not like it once was, but in some ways its better.

What about you? Are you in love with basketball, or are you just a player? There is a difference.  If you love it, you are willing to make sacrifices (big or little) to make the relationship flourish.  For the players… it’s  just something they do on the side. They don’t want to get too serious, whether they’ll admit it or not.  Many times they’re confused. They say they’re in love. They think they’re in love; but it’s only lust.

Don’t get me wrong, they love  playing (the game), but their level of commitment to the other parts of the relationship leaves a little something to be desired. They seem to be  in it for the benefits. When things get a little rocky, they’ll tell you they’re  serious about making things better, but typically they have  too many  “other” things going on outside of basketball to make it right.  People usually do what they do.

I ask players all the time,  “why are you in this  relationship… there are plenty of other fish in the sea?” Follow your heart or something. No matter which way you  go,  there’s still going to be hard work involved-if you plan on being successful.  Be patient too. You can’t just stick your pole in and expect every thing to work out. Success comes before work only in the dictionary.  Too many players think  just having a pole or any other physical tool is enough… please!   Too much lying down, not enough standing up and being accountable.

In the end, it really comes down to what you are  truly passionate about.

Passion is the fuel that helps you motor through the tedium of all that is required of you on your journey to where you want to go… It allows you to manage the discomforts of change and facilitate growth. —

The Virtual Game of Basketball

 

eMPTy: devoid of at least something. No fuel to go to the places you want to go.   Nowadays it seems, nobody knows which way to go anyway.  Sure there are basketball gurus on every corner; all with their dizzying “world is coming to an end mantras” about basketball.  Do we dare trust what  they say. Most giving information  freely, but not always for free.

Oftentimes it’s very difficult to decipher between the facts and fiction.  Since there is no diamond without MPT (right Materials, proper Pressure and ample Time), it is critical to attach to some type of verification model, if you plan on shining.  If the information you are receiving is not verifiable , your information  is only the stock understanding of your source– coach, trainer or whomever the person is helping you.   Even hold the things you’ve done yourself  to the test.  Take shooting, for example:  If the ball doesn’t typically return to your shooting hand after a made-shot, then it’s a good chance your shot is not mathematically sound or “clean.”  The ball will generally filter out of the basket, exactly opposite of how it enters.

If what you’re  doing in the gym isn’t moving you toward optimizing your skills sets, then you are the victim of an eMPTy workout … and nothing works out on empty. These type workouts are merely empty promises of how much better you’re going to become — at some point.  In these scenarios, everyone is giving all they have to give.  It’s simply that not everyone is  equipped to get you to a higher place, let alone a high enough level to satisfy your hoop dreams.  Of course, if you are a level 10 performer (a beginner), then there are ample environments in which you can get better. The truth is… the higher you progress up the scale as a player, lets say to  level 40, 50 or beyond, the harder it will be to find people to help you.

At the professional level, players (at level 70 or higher) have an even tougher time finding opportunities to get better.  It’s tough  because “everybody” has a workout to share, but not necessarily a sound model for growth.  So quite often that’s just what happens– the player gets worked out. Unless the workout is based on the math of basketball play, it’s most likely not an optimization model. Anything less does not offer the 100th percentile of function.  Not that any player is at that level; but it’s certainly something guys like Kobe, Lebron and other  already ridiculous (level 80 types ?) need to move their skill sets forward.  How highly “machine-like” are you?  Are your defaults set for consistent and “clean” performance?

So the question is… are you growing at the gym or  just going to the gym?  Just going to the gym doesn’t make you a top player.   If you’re a top player… when was the last time you experienced “chartable” growth as a player?  So what if you’re all-conference.  What’s wrong with being conference MVP?   You’re in the league already?  Ok.  What’s wrong with being an all-star or all-pro then?  Oh …you are?  Well, you’re the s**t!   But don’t you want to become a hall-of-famer?

Don’t get me wrong.   A workout is great for maintaining what you have and staying sharp.  But in the end, it’s just a routine.   Live in the gym- if you can.   Just make sure you spend time in the “Lab” as well, with someone who can feed you more than just the ball.