Put :30 On The Clock

There will always be someone demanding that you prove yourself. As long as you're trying, this person will exist. Is that a problem? It shouldn't be. You have to know which ones are worth your effort and which ones aren't worth a moment of your time.

With so many variables to deal with when it comes to being successful, you can't afford to let what you CAN control slip out of your hands. You have more than enough to deal with; the absolute LAST thing you need is to hear from your own conscience & guilt gang up on you until regret lands the final blow. It is that serious. 

It is easy to recognize that Tyrese Maxey is having a breakout year, especially with the role he has taken over for his team. What is not easily seen is what it took to be given the opportunity in the first place. You don't get to put up the numbers that he does by being shy; so if you're looking to advance to the next level, you need to take advantage of your chances the way Maxey does his.

If the spotlight is on anyone right now, it's on James Harden. It's almost as if the NBA media forgot to tell us what Wemby had for breakfast because of the fact that the Clippers are still winless since adding The Beard. Things may improve from this point, but AT this point, we need to understand what we are looking at and what we can learn from this very wild situation. 

It’s an unspoken line, that separates players who contribute to scoring, from players who are expected to carry the scoring load. Some get this responsibility, most don’t, and it’s not always fair. What comes with being on either side of that line? It might surprise you to find out.

We never take the time to think about how many stars have to align for us, JUST to be able to play the game that we love. It takes a lot of time & commitment to improve & perform, and if we simply just STOP, take a look at everyone and everything supporting us, we'd play a lot harder and a lot better. Basketball is not guaranteed, we have to act like we know that!

Who you play for, for the most part, is out of your control. Who plays for you, also, is often out of your control.  Practices & games allow you to get a real good look at the other person. What happens when you don't like your coaches/ADs, etc.? What happens when you don't like that player that you recruited? How do you handle that? Tune in, that's how!

It seems like a pretty easy thing to understand: don't get too high when you succeed, don't get too low when you mess up. Simple right? Well, there is a reason why so many hoopers struggle with this. What is often simple is not easy to do, they are two different things. In this episode we dig into why this is a real issue and what you can do to manage your emotions when you do well and when you don't.

You are encouraged to be yourself, all the time, until it really matters. If you want to get ahead, you either agree with what your superiors believe, or you at least keep your beliefs to yourself. There is a price to pay for being your own person and speaking up for yourself. If you ever choose to go against the grain, you need to know what comes with that, both good and bad, ESPECIALLY as a hooper!

You have dreams & goals, both individual and team oriented. The greatest opponents to your dreams and goals are often the people closest to you. Most of the time, the intentions are good, but even the best intentions can have terrible effects on what you are trying to accomplish. How do you protect your ambitions as you climb this basketball ladder?

Each and every person that plays competitive basketball has an agenda. It is no secret, but to many it is considered wrong to have personal goals and targets to hit while playing a team game. Even though there is a time to be really selfish (the off-season) we have to keep in mind that this very selfishness is what allows every great player to be great, and every role player to contribute the absolute most towards winning.

Most hoopers prefer offense over defense, that isn't a secret. But coaches are always on your neck about how important the other side of the court is. There is a CLEAR disconnect between the coaches and the players, and in this episode that disconnect is exposed & dealt with. It turns out that it's nothing more than a misunderstanding, a misunderstanding that we won't have anymore. EVERYBODY ON THE LINE!

It happens all the time. Roles and responsibilities change based on the circumstances of the team, and you have to be ready to embrace those changes, especially in today's game of "position-less basketball." You may have more added to your plate or have some things taken away, but it will serve you best to be prepared for whatever may come your way.