Basketball Training Equipment

To be a great basketball player you have to train hard day and night. You have to want to be the best player on the court at all times. In this world, it is not enough to be thinking that there is someone in another place practicing right now and I am not. What you must be thinking is that there is someone in another place who practices better than me. That is what this article will help you with. It will tell you the best three tools to bring your game to the next level.

1. THE GUN: This piece of equipment is very expensive costing about $4,500. This makes it a piece of equipment a person does not have to own, but every basketball program must own. Just like every gym you go to has a basketball hoop with a net in it, every gym should have a gun. The gun allows you to get off so many more shots than you would be able to by yourself. What it does is catch all the ball you shoot at the hoop, and then shoot them back out to you. It can even keep track of your shots made and missed.

This piece of equipment really helped me out as an individual. I was on JV one year with really only one aspect to my game and that was my drive. I used the gun the next summer and was on Varsity the next year with one of the best shots in conference. Opposing coaches were yelling, "Guard the shooter." They were talking about me. It made me so much better because I was able to get off a couple hundred shots in half an hour. It helped out with my game and there is nothing else that does what the gun does, so you should work to get one.

2. Jump Shoes: These will bring you to a new level of athleticism. You will be able to run faster, jump higher, and maybe even dunk the basketball. And not just dunk the basketball, but these shoes will give you a quicker jump. Being a slow jumper is horrible in the game of basketball. It is all about being able to get there first. You have to be like a cheetah and get up there right away and that is what these shoes will give you.

3. Tennis Ball: I know what you are thinking. Finally a cheap piece of equipment. Maybe even cheaper than a basketball net, but what could this be used for. To bring your ball handling to the next level. When ever you are doing a dribbling drill, use a tennis ball as well. Throw it up it the air and then snatch it out of the air while you are dribbling with your other hand. It is okay to switch hands or do whatever. Using the tennis ball makes you focus on something else, not just keep your eyes up. You all have worked on keeping your eyes up, but have you worked on doing more. When you play a game you have to be analyzing the court, and that is what the tennis ball will help you with.

Lastly, you will need a gym to go to and many basketballs to wear down to train properly

Lakers sweep way into Western Conference finals

After looking vulnerable in their first-round series against the Thunder, the Los Angeles Lakers left little doubt about their elite level of play after thoroughly dominating the Utah Jazz in their Western semifinal series. With Kobe Bryant and Pau Gasol looking virtually unstoppable, the Lakers swept the undersized Jazz out of the playoffs in four games with a 111-96 victory in Salt Lake City ...
next up The Phoenix Suns

February Opponent

Time Local TV Nat TV Radio
Wed 03 vs Charlotte 7:30pm FS West 710/1330 AM ESPN
Fri 05 vs Denver 7:30pm FS West 710/1330 AM ESPN
Sat 06 @ Portland 7:00pm KCAL 710/1330 AM ESPN
Mon 08 vs San Antonio 7:30pm 710/1330 AM ESPN
Wed 10 @ Utah 6:00pm KCAL 710/1330 AM ESPN
Tue 16 vs Golden State 7:30pm FS West 710/1330 AM ESPN
Thu 18 vs Boston 7:30pm 710/1330 AM ESPN
Tue 23 @ Memphis 5:00pm KCAL 710/1330 AM ESPN
Wed 24 @ Dallas 6:00pm KCAL 710/1330 AM ESPN
Fri 26 vs Philadelphia 7:30pm FS West 710/1330 AM ESPN
Sun 28 vs Denver 12:30pm 710/1330 AM ESPN

Obama meets with Lakers,

An avid basketball fan himself, Obama said he gets enormous pleasure from watching excellence on the court -- and nobody exemplified excellence more than the Lakers last year, as they won their 15th league title, defeating the Orlando Magic.

Obama said he was especially excited to meet Lakers' coach Phil Jackson, who has won 10 championships, though he didn't hesitate to point out that six of those victories were with Obama's hometown Chicago Bulls.

"You remember that," Obama joked with former Lakers all-star Magic Johnson, who was on the losing end of the Bulls 1991 victory.

Obama commended the Lakers players not only for their athletic achievements, but also their work off the court. The players held a fitness clinic for Washington-area school children Monday, and several players are donating money to relief efforts in Haiti.

The Lakers added to Obama's collection of sports jerseys, presenting him with a bright yellow jersey with the president's name stitched on the back.

Lakers (January Opponent)

Upcoming Games

Time Local TV Nat TV Radio

Mon 18 vs Orlando 7:30pm 710/1330 AM ESPN

Thu 21 @ Cleveland 5:00pm 710/1330 AM ESPN

Fri 22 @ New York 5:00pm KCAL 710/1330 AM ESPN

Sun 24 @ Toronto 3:00pm KCAL 710/1330 AM ESPN

Tue 26 @ Washington 4:00pm KCAL 710/1330 AM ESPN

Wed 27 @ Indiana 4:00pm KCAL 710/1330 AM ESPN

Fri 29 @ Philadelphia 4:00pm KCAL 710/1330 AM ESPN

Sun 31 @ Boston 12:30pm 710/1330 AM ESPN

in love with his new team LA LAKERS

With the addition of Ron Artest to the basketball roster of Los Angeles Lakers, sports aficionados are more excited to see how well he would jell with his new NBA team.

It cannot be denied that, in order to penetrate into the most prestigious basketball association in the world; one must have talent. But talent alone cannot win championships, as most sports enthusiasts believe. A talented player must also jell effectively with the team's basketball roster. And that is what LA Lakers fans are aching to see as the season starts with Ron Artest in their fold.

Ron Artest is one player who has a very good work ethic, never-say-die attitude, and unpredictable personality on the court that keeps his guards guessing on what move he will be doing next.

This 6'7, 260 pound frame, with fiery muscles, is already a 12-year NBA veteran with the following season averages: 16.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.3. assists, 2.1 steals; in addition to these, were his numerous All-Star appearances, several All-Defensive Team memberships, and a Defensive Player of the year award.

Artest, who was acquired from the basketball roster of Houston Rockets will join the Lakers elite cast of point guards like Kobe Bryant, Derrick Fisher, Lamar Odom, and Paul Gasol. The inclusion of Ron Artest into the Lakers' roster will allow them to play against small lineups of brilliant NBA teams.

The length of Gasol, and Odom, putting in Artest's ruffian strength can very well match the Boston Celtics' lineup of Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Rasheed Wallace.

On the other side of it, Phil Jackson can also go big with a very defensively intimidating force of newly-signed Shannon Brown; add Artest-Bryant-Gasol-Bynum that belittles a potential Cleveland basketball roster of O'Neal, Williams, West, James, and Varejao.

It is a fact that versatility was the key in their championships in 2008-09 title run with Trevor Artiza still playing in Artest's present position now. So, there will be a reinventing of plays and tricks already. This will absolutely give Lakers a new look.

Artest is obviously in love with his new team LA LAKERS. Yet, LAKERS fan will surely love Ron Artest soon. The Lakers team is sure to miss Ariza in their basketball roster. This lanky swingman played a big role in the Lakers title conquest.

On the other team's part, Artest will definitely be a big loss for Houston Rockets. He is the second primary offensive option after Yao Ming. Yet, life goes on with their separate careers.

this weeks games

Fri 11 vs Minnesota 7:30pm FS West 710/1330 AM ESPN

Sat 12 @ Utah 6:00pm KCAL 710/1330 AM ESPN

Tue 15 @ Chicago 5:00pm KCAL NBALP WGN America 710/1330 AM ESPN

Wed 16 @ Milwaukee 5:00pm KCAL 710/1330 AM ESPN

Sat 19 @ New Jersey 5:00pm KCAL 710/1330 AM ESPN

Sun 20 @ Detroit 3:00pm KCAL 710/1330 AM ESPN

Tue 22 vs Oklahoma City 7:30pm FS West 710/1330 AM ESPN