Finishing Strong

Well, we were able to finish off the season strong today by winning in overtime, 93-85 over Darussafaka. We would have ended up in the playoffs either way, but we didn’t know that while we played the game! And either way, it is always good to win your way into the playoffs. Thankfully, we were able to do just that, winning our last 5 out of 6 games. That definitely feels good.

I had a very strong first quarter with 13 points. I slumped a bit in the third quarter, but was able to finish strong in overtime especially. I ended up with 23 points and 10 assists, shooting 7-11 from the field. It wasn’t a perfect game, but it was one of my better ones.  And interestingly enough, I played the game in a fresh pair of basketball shoes that I had to purchase about an hour and a half before, because I forgot my normal pair on the bus last night.  I forgot to tell our team manager last night, so when I finally told him today, the bus was 400 kilometers away!  I was glad to have a good game for him after giving him such a headache with that….

Now it is off to play the first place team in the first round of the playoffs. We will probably play game two this coming weekend. And that’s right, I did say game two. Because we are already down 1-0 before we even played a game! For some reason, they have a rule that if you lost to the team during the season two times (and you play each team twice), then they are given the first game of the playoff series. Yes, I agree that it is absolute nonsense. But it is the rule….at least for now!

Needless to say, there will be a great deal of pressure to win that second game. But I am hopeful that we can make a strong showing. Either way, it has been great to see the team come together during these last six games. It has been a pleasure.

Enjoying the game,
Joe

Huge Win

Well, it was a tough one this afternoon. Both our team and Mersin (our opponents) had to win in order to make the playoffs. Thankfully, we were able to pull out the victory, 99-97.

We didn’t play well in the first half and ended up down by 8 at the break. Things didn’t look much better at the beginning of the third quarter, because we were soon down by 16! But then we really starting opening up the game and were able to make a great run at it during the last 14 minutes. It was an intense game, and a high scoring one in the second half….my favorite kind.

I ended up with 25 points and 8 assists. Twenty-two of those points came in the second half. I started off very slow, but naturally played much better when we just spread out the offense and played a more full-court style. As a team, we ended up scoring 62 points in the second half. It was fun to play that way, but after doing so the entire second half, I am wiped and looking forward to a day off tomorrow.

So…one game remains in the regular season. If we win, we are sure to be in. If we lose, we will probably be in the playoffs, but the team we lost to a few weeks ago will have to lose to the first place team. It would certainly be better to just win the game and be sure to make the playoffs, but it won’t be easy, because the team we play Saturday isn’t assured a place in the league next season if they lose either. So it is bound to be another battle! But I wouldn’t have it any other way.

Thankful for an enjoyable victory,
Joe

Crispin Basketball School 2008

Greetings everyone,

It is my joy to announce the final dates and times for this year’s Crispin Basketball School at Pitman High School in Pitman, NJ. The week actually features two camps, a morning session for grades 6-8 and an afternoon session for grades 9-12. The camps will run from June 23-27. More information can be found by clicking here.

Or you can download the flier/registration form with here:  2008 Crispin Basketball School

Looking forward to seeing you there,

Joe

Big Addition

I said last week that writing my game update was a joy. Well, this update is surely even a greater one, because I have the joy of announcing the arrival of my third child. She was born on Sunday, April, 13th at 5:30 pm in Bandirma, Turkey. Her name is Naomi Kathryn. My wife Erin and the new little one are doing well. They were both welcomed home on Monday by Abigail and Elijah, who now enjoying getting a glimpse of Naomi whenever they can!

Elijah (he is 2) has already asked Naomi to shoot hoops with him. I am sure she will learn soon enough.

Thankful beyond words,
Joe

A Little Big Thing

This “Tip of the Week” is a bit overdue, but as you can tell from my last few updates, I have been a bit busy. I just wanted to offer the first of two thoughts in response to the National Championship Game played last Monday night.

As most of you will recall (b/c anyone reading this was probably watching the game), Memphis was more or less in control of the game throughout the contest. I watched the last 10 minutes of the game live (from Turkey) and definitely felt that Memphis looked like the better team that day. They were more confident, more decisive, more aggressive. At least that last part of the game, they were more dominant.

However, they lost. And a big reason for that loss was the inability to finish the game with free throws.

Now, as one who plays this game for a living, I can relate to those young men on the free throw line. Though I have not shot free throws with a National Championship on the line, I have shot them with my childhood dream of a State Championship on the line. And in countless other situations throughout the globe (some of which I may have felt threatened for my life if I missed!). So I can understand. There was a great deal of pressure on these young guys.

And you have to realize that unlike a fast break situation, two shots at the free throw line give you plenty of time to think. Then factor in the 3-minute time outs that CBS has during the NCAA Tournament (and they are ridiculous….I mean, you honestly could probably get away with playing 5 guys during these games without having to give them a rest. But I’ll save all that for another post.) Anyhow, factor those timeouts in there and your mind is racing. And you know their minds were racing. You could see it in their eyes. They knew what was on the line during those moments. And they feared that they might miss.

So with all that being said, I offer one thing that those young men could have done to make those free throws. Sure, I could add other things, but this is one simple thing that they could easily have done to finish that game off and go home the champions. Simply put: practice.

Now, I have no doubt that they have practiced thousands of free throws throughout their lifetime. But I do doubt that they practiced them with the diligence required to make them at the end of the game. I say this not because practice always translates into made free throws under pressure. That isn’t true. I have missed a few in my day during those tense situations (and actually missed one the other day). But more times than not, I made those free throws. And one of the primary reasons why was not mental toughness or because I didn’t feel the pressure. No way. Though I often put on a pretty good act, I struggled with confidence and I certainly felt the pressure.

No. The reason why I made those pressure free throws more times than not is because I practiced my free throws so much that I had trained my mind and body to know nothing but success. I had gone through my routine hundreds of thousands of times…maybe millions, so my body knew how to respond. It had been trained well. And my mind, in turn, knew that. It had something to fall back on when the pressure started coming in. Did I fear missing the free throw? Many times, yes. Sometimes I still do. But then I tell myself, “You have done this millions of times. What’s one more?” And oftentimes, that makes all the difference.

John Wooden once said, “Little things make big things happen.” Free throws are one of those little things. And as the National Championship game showed, they can make championships happen. Or not happen. Depending upon how much you are willing to invest into those little things.

So what are your little things? Ask yourself that question. Then draw up a plan to make big things happen. Be diligent to control what you can control. Train your mind and body to know nothing but success. Will you still fail? Yes. Of course. But you won’t fail nearly as much as if you didn’t put in the work.

Embrace the little big things of basketball…like free throws. And put in the work to become an expert, so that when those pressures moments come, you might perform your best.

Big Win

To the degree that my last update was difficult to write, this update is a joy. For we won a big game on the road tonight by two points. The team we played is fighting for a 4th place finish, but we controlled the game throughout, more or less, and came up big in the end.

One of the great things about the game is that numerous guys stepped up and made big plays. The team really came together and supported one another throughout. It is always a pleasure to be a part of such a team victory.

Final score, Karsiyaka 76 Banvit 78. I got a steal that led to a breakaway dunk with 3 seconds left. (Though I confess that I did foul my opponent…no call, but they did get away with a foul against me that led to a breakaway just a minute earlier!) They shot a fade away three at the buzzer, but it was long.

I also had the joy of playing one of my better games of the season. I ended up with 25 points on 9-14 shooting. I was determined to play aggressive, with no hesitation or fear, and was thankful that I was able to do just that. I am also hopeful that that can continue. For we now have two games remaining, both of which we must win in order to make the playoffs. Our next game is actually at home against one of the teams that is in the playoff race with us. I am hopeful we can finish strong.

Thankful for the games,
Joe

p.s. here is the boxscore.

Tough One

This is one of those updates that I would rather not have to write. For we lost at home, in overtime, with our opponent hitting a ‘miracle’ type shot with 2 seconds remaining. I didn’t play well at all, as I have been struggling of late. I did hit a shot to force the game into overtime, but other than that, I had only 4 points and no real highlights worth mentioning.

Only three games remain. We probably have to win them all to make the playoffs. If we are able to do so, we have a good chance of taking the eighth spot. But if not, it will be difficult.

Of course, I am hoping I can help turn things around, so that we can get some wins!

Still thankful for the game,
Joe

The Joy of Fearless Play

Those who fear losing the most are most apt to lose. Fear of failure hinders success. The player who isn’t afraid to fail is the most dangerous player on the court. The team who isn’t afraid to lose has a much greater chance of enjoying victory. Freedom without fear is the best way to live and the best way to play.

Take, for example, shooting the basketball. It’s a fine art. And fine arts are not done well when accompanied by tension. And fear of failure inevitably brings tension. If you are afraid of the consequences of missing a particular shot, you cannot shoot wholeheartedly. You don’t have a clear ‘shooting conscience’ so to speak. Something is holding you back. If, in your mind, you think, “But what if I miss?” you have already missed. Or at least brought down your percentage.

So if you fear missing the shot, you are best not to take the shot. Pass it up. Give it to one who isn’t afraid to miss. For he (or she) can at least shoot the ball relaxed. With confidence. Without fear of consequence. Indeed, if I were a coach, I would choose a fade-away with confidence rather than an open shot with fear. For fear usually means failure. Or at least a good chance of failure.

Tension, nervousness, fear of losing. All these things hinder victory. I can’t tell you how many times my team has lost because we were playing not to lose. Or how often I have played poorly, because I was afraid of playing poorly. Sure, other factors were invovled. But this was certainly a big factor, indeed, maybe the biggest factor. It’s the attitude at the root of the tree. And it usually leads to poor fruit.

Teams never fair well when the play not to lose. Successful teams play to win. They play with a certain attitude, a certain fearlessness, a certain edge. They don’t forget the prospect of losing. They just don’t fear the prospect of losing. Sure, they don’t want to lose. But they don’t focus so much on the prospect of losing that they forget how to win. They go for it. They lay themselves on the line. They are the aggressor. And more times than not, they win.

As it is in team play, so it is for the individual player. The best players are not the players who are ignorant of the consequences, but who either don’t care or, usually (and better, in my opinion), are willing to deal with the consequences. They are willing to embrace the consequences, even to learn from the consequences.

These players can play without fear of failure. Sure, the fans might be angry with you. The coach might take you out. You might not make the team. But then again, they might be happy with you. You might stay in the game. You might end up the star. And, if you lose, at least you can learn. But none of those things cannot take place if you are afraid to fail.

Few people find success by playing it safe. No child learns to walk without every falling. No person learns to live well apart from lessons learned after poor decisions. So also no basketball player learns to play well and with utmost joy apart from periodic difficulty and struggle.

But if you don’t embrace the struggle as an opportunity to learn, you will inevitably fear failure and hinder your own success. If you don’t embrace a missed shot as an opportunity to fine-tune your skills for the next one, you’ll end up missing more shots. You are always best to practice well and, when performance time comes, to simply clear your mind and shoot the ball with freedom. If you miss. Fine. Take a few notes and when the next shot comes, let the ball loose with freedom. Relax. Don’t fear. Just shoot.

And though I am using shooting an example (b/c I am a shooter myself), it applies to the entirety of the game. You won’t be happy or successful playing the game of basketball if you are afraid to fail. You’ll be a step slow on defense. You’ll be a second late with the pass. You’ll be short on the jump-shot. You’ll be somewhat hesitant throughout and miss the great joy found in freely playing the game.

You might be a freshman trying to make the team. Or a professional trying to take the next step in his career. Or on a team in a battle for the championship. Whatever your situation may be, you are best to play without fear. You are best to lay yourself on the line, faults and all. If you fail, you are always best to fail with a whole heart. No regrets. Just play. Go for it. Be the aggressor. For even if you lose in the end, you will know the joy of fearless play.

Enjoying fearless play with you,

Joe

Two Straight

This update is a few days late, but it is still a happy one. After all, we won our second straight game on Sunday against Alpella. They were not a great team, but it wasn’t an easy game, because they are fighting to remain in the top division for next season and their gym was anything but a lovely place to play.

I didn’t have my best game again, but I ended up with 13 points and 5 rebounds on 4-11 shooting. Hit a few shots at the end of the gym at least. I am hopeful I can play much better on Sunday.

Sunday is actually a very big game. We only have 4 games left on the schedule and we play a team tied with us in the standings. We are also only 1 game out of the last playoff spot, so it is sure to be a tough one. But it is at home, so I am hopeful we can play well enough to win.

I’ll be sure to write an update much sooner after the game on Sunday.

Thankful for the game,
Joe