BMac's Blog: The Rants of a Basketball Maven

In the March 8 ESPN the Magazine, an article by "Player X" says:"But there's a quicker way to be kicked to the curb in the NBA: getting blackballed."Player X argues that players like Bonzi Wells, Stephon Marbury and Steve Francis have been blackballed by the NBA. As he writes:"You never...

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In 2006, I published Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development because of the problems that I perceived with the manner in which we develop youth basketball players in the United States. While the media criticized the development programs, nobody offered a solution. People like Sonny Vaccaro got...

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Usually, when the stat geeks go to the stats and choose best players or all-star teams based strictly on statistical analysis, there are some anomalies or controversial selections. However, after looking at Wayne Winston's selections (via True Hoop), it was tough to find the controversial pick, once you ignore popular...

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When Memphis traded Pau Gasol to the Lakers, San Antonio Head Coach Greg Popovich was one of the biggest critics (probably because he was unable to acquire Gasol to complement Tim Duncan). At the time, Popovich said:"What they did in Memphis is beyond comprehension...There should be a trade committee that...

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I am not the biggest WNBA fan in the world (or Sacramento), but I think it is sad to see the Monarchs dissolve.I am proposing to follow through on an idea that I have written about previously. I suggest that some Monarchs fans form an entity, find some residents with...

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Before I start my rant, I want to preface my comments. I think the NBA Age-Limit was a mistake. I do not think that academically unprepared students should go to four-year schools; that is why we have junior colleges. I think that the one-and-done athlete undermines the educational mission of...

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Over the last year, I think that I was pretty fair and accurate in my writing about Brandon Jennings and his choice to go to Europe (More to the point, I drafted a documentary featuring Jennings that attempted to show him in the best possible light that his handlers refused...

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The Youth Basketball Coaching Association is an effort to provide resources, assistance and credibility to the most important link in the basketball player development system: the youth coach (8-14 years old).During these years, players learn the basic fundamentals of the game, but more importantly, they develop (or not) the passion...

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180 Shooter Shot Tracker Program: use an online program to improve your knowledge of your players' shooting and to teach players of the value of deliberate practice through tracking their practice....

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The Cross Over Movement Manifesto is 12 chapters comprised of the original chapters from the 1st Edition of Cross Over: The New Model of Youth Basketball Development with updated information and opinions from three years of writing blogs.When I published the 3rd Edition of Cross Over, I focused the book...

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One of the better blog entries that I have read this summer is titled "The Kings Would Starve" by Tom Ziller at SacTown Royalty. Ziller's blog was based on an article written by Thomas Friedman for the New York Times.Friedman compares basketball to golf and quips:I wonder what the average...

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Rumors persist that the NBA would like to make potential players go to college for two years before entering the NBA Draft. NCAA coaches would prefer this as well, as many coaches, like Coach K, have criticized the "one-and-done" rule because it makes it harder to plan and recruit for...

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One criticism of the WNBA since its inception is that team's favor athletic players who can defend, so few players possess the offensive skills to create their own shots.As the W has evolved, more players have developed this skill or entered the league with the ability to create their own...

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Finally, I decided to do my own mock draft. As always, I do my mock draft based on who I would pick in each position. I do not try to guess what each NBA General Manager will do. So, here are my picks:1. L.A. Clippers: Blake Griffin, Oklahoma. Earlier in...

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Last night, I wrote about the success of the MLS Seattle Sounders. Today, I read about the likely demise of the Indiana Fever. Will there ever be a better fit than to use a struggling WNBA franchise to try out fan decision-making?What if a group of local Indianapolis businessmen and...

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Last August, I wrote about the possibility of using fans to run a professional sports franchise.With the Internet, blogs, cable television, NBA TV and more, die-hard NBA fans are more educated than ever. They watch games and discuss every angle on blogs and message forums. Sites exist to track prospects...

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On twitter (follow me @brianmccormick), I saw a link to True Hoops' Daily Bullets which linked an article by Dave Berri about randomness. I agree with Berri's rationalization of the Cleveland vs. Orlando series.I am one who believes that we should recognize the regular season champion more formally as a...

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For those of you looking for more information on basketball training:Individual defense and the crossover step (featuring a female player looking to play in Spain)Training and Skill ProgressionsShooting Footwork with Austin NicholsDealing with SorenessWhy Basketball Skill Trainers Fail...

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Alright, Sacramento lost the lottery. So, not knowing who everyone will draft, here are my three choices for each of the Kings three draft picks. I believe in drafting for talent, not position. However, in a perfect world, I would like to see the Kings get a small forward, point...

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For some reason, I could not embed this on my wordpress blog, so I'll put it here. I am not going to comment on the argument, as I have written on the subject numerous times before, and the argument and animosity on each side is one of the major reasons...

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According to Tom Ziller and Sactown Royalty, the Sacramento Kings coaching search falls into two categories: Plan A - Eddie Jordan and Plan B - an affordable alternative.In February, I suggested Jordan or Houston Rockets' assistant coach Elston Turner, as General Manager Geoff Petrie assembles players who fit a certain...

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I watched some of the ESPN OTL piece on Jeremy Tyler and I don't understand a few things:First, Bob Ley says that Sonny Vacarro has been at the epicenter of player development since he signed Michael Jordan to a shoe contract for Nike. Vacarro is a businessman, and a very...

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I tried to refrain from the Jeremy Tyler discussion, but finally added my two cents here.Also, after working out with a Division I women's basketball player, I had to vent about the experience, which I did here....

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Last week, I wrote about some guy using hype to market a basketball development program that would make you better in 60 seconds.I have worked for three years to create the best possible online basketball training program, but I refuse to market with hype and ridiculous claims. In fact, on...

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The Baltimore Ravens have been the best drafting team in the NFL this decade. One reason is patience and drafting for talent, not need:The Ravens usually use free agency to fill gaps in the roster, because Newsome does not like to feel pressured by a need on draft day. Even...

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