Dr Jim Bring Back the Peach Basket
Posted: Friday, November 04, 2005
by Jimmie Guymon
Dr Jim – Bring Back the Peach Basket
America used to know the secret, but decided to have an evolution of their own 15 to 20 years ago. Someone in the United States decided (probably the same guy who outlawed the dunk in the late 60’s) that the old game was broken and in desperate need of repair. Initially, it wasn’t so much mend, as perhaps, extend the game with the advent of the shot clock and the three-point line. No, it is those schemes to renovate that have taken a game of finesse and skill, mutating it into a combination of professional wrestling and a rugby scrum.
"Not my call, coach," is the cry of The "Three Amigos" who now referee the game. They have replaced the rulebook with a phrasebook. The most prevalent of these is the no call on the charging foul, prompting a quick quip of, "under the basket," as bodies sprawl over the lane. There was a time when a player had to defend without fouling, and even though required to be tough, he had to play within the rules and maintain position by actually moving his feet. Now, a defender can get away with a mugging, leaving the referees to watch the game flow - in a bar room brawl kind of way. The men in stripes have also decided that dribbling according to the original rules is no longer valid, allowing players to place the palm of their hand completely under the ball. If a dunk is involved, at least three steps are allowed. There are other rule infringements, and each one eats away at the skill once required to play the game.
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Travelling and palming have become traditions in the game, with the antiquated hook shot long laid to rest, never to rise again. Even the jump hook looks terminal. It does take years of repetitive practise to master a hook shot, and who these days, has that kind of time? Will John Stockton be the last player we will ever see who can make the bounce pass on the switched pick and roll? Are there any two players in America who can execute a pick and roll away from the ball? Is there a ball handler who can see the floor under pressure and deliver the pass on time and on the money consistently? These were once basic skills required in the team game. It is now down to a "killer" crossover, moves with the ball and forced shots, that seem to matter. The drop step has been replaced with a bulldozer pivot into the defender. The medium range jumper died and is buried next to the hook and the regulation dribble, in an unmarked grave somewhere in Springfield, Massachusetts.
Young players are honing their skills in the parks and gyms of America playing a game called "21." Surely devised by a KGB agent before the end of the cold war, the game is adapted from "cut-throat 21" played in the 60s and 70s with three people, now played with up to twelve. It is each man for himself – one offensive player against eleven defenders and when and if someone scores, he goes to the free throw line for a limited number of shots. When the limit is reached or a free throw is missed, the rebounder becomes the one offensive player against the masses. There is no out of bounds and no fouls called. Definitely geared for today’s game.
The other training development scheme that the American player has devised, is that all pick up games must be played on a full court. Players of yesteryear never could see the value of playing full court, especially in the off season. They realised skills did not improve with a two pass offense and an unrelenting desire to dunk. Of course, those old timers thought a player had to practise two to three hours a day on his own and shoot a thousand shots a day before looking to find a half court pick up game.
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The 21st century high school player can now play games year round. The regular season will see up to 30 games, another 15 to 30 games in the AAU and 10 to 12 in a summer league. When he can’t find an organized game he will find a full court game at a recreation centre or gym somewhere. If he has to settle for a half court - it will be "21."
As odd as it may seem, it is even worse for grade school and junior high hopefuls. Parents of a nine-year-old in Missouri were forced to restrict their son after his 63rd seasonal game, fearing burnout before he could reach his teens. These should be the years when good basic habits develop through practise, not games, and it is easy to see why players have to palm the ball when they dribble, having played their way into bad habits.
Weight training has become an essential part of basketball, from a taboo in the 50’s and 60’s to an absolute body building necessity today. Physical size and strength dominate the sport at all levels, prompting young athletes to supplement with creatine and weight gain powder in an attempt to find a place in the game.
In 1891 Dr Naismith invented a non-contact indoor game with two peach baskets and 13 rules. Early on, it had its traditions and training methods. The two-hand set shot, the underhand free throw (though it did serve Rick Barry well in the 60s and 70s) and it did take awhile to develop the one hand jump shot. After 60 to 70 years, the sport transcended to become a beautiful game of excellence and grace. It was at its best - a complete team game and those individuals who were successful - were complete team players. No team in history epitomised this more than the 1970 New York Knicks. Without a recognised superstar they took the NBA title in a style of play that every team, and every player, should have emulated from then until now.
The embodiment of a team player and the greatest player that ever lived was Bill Russell of the Boston Celtics. Russell won a record 11 of 13 NBA titles in his career and made everyone around him a better player. The ultimate defender, he would not swat blocked shots
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out of bounds, but deflect the ball, gain control, and ignite the fast break. The greatness in a player is that he can do little things, really well. Russell did everything, really well.
Jerry West in his development years practised on his own on a dirt court. When the rains would fall, the court would turn to mud and though soaked to the bone, he practised until he was forced to stop. The great players like Oscar Robinson, who averaged a triple double for a season Nate Archibald who led the league in points per game and assists Julius Irving, Rick Barry, Bob Cousy, Elgin Baylor and Earl Monroe all had similar stories. It wasn’t about playing games to develop the skills. It was the tireless hours each day of repetitive individual practice on all the skills not just shooting, but defence, passing, rebounding and dribbling.
The Yugoslavs are throwbacks to this era of American basketball history and they have learned the lessons of the great players. For eleven months of the year, 3 to 4 hours a day, experienced qualified coaches (just do the basics well, kind of people) break down the major skills into their smaller parts to build a complete basketball player. They are big, athletic, team oriented, and a strong-minded people. The competition is intense and the teaching situation unique.
Not all the countries in Europe are buying into the Yugoslav system, but basketball academies are popping up all over Europe. The students who attend these academies have seen what other foreign players have done, and they want NBA jobs.
Some in the United States will call it progress. Some will say, death of a game. Some won’t know the difference, never having seen the early championship Celtics or the 1970 Knicks. It could be called, catch up by the rest of the world, or it just may be, a lack of fundamental skills by American players. Whatever it is – the Europeans are coming for your game!
(ENDS)
Word Count – 1,516
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Top-level comments on this article: (2 total)Excellent article.
Alan Keane
Are you still dunking Jimmie after all this time? Interesting to read your in depth report.x
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