I want to improve my game...

[Fresh8]

Anyone out there who can lend a hand?

I really want to improve my game- I think that I have lost my shooting touch! Anyway, anyone got any tips or ways to improve??

And what do you guys do to improve your defence and ballhandling skills?? I don't do jack all to improve my dribbling...except for dribbling and throwing the ball and catching the ball whenever I feel like it!

And can anyone tell me if my vertical jump is crap?? I'm 5'6" and I jumped 57 cms today...is that good or bad...(note: not to be racist but I am asian....we don't jump or run or do any sports! )

[Stevan]

Will_Kate,
...I don't work on ball handling skills yet those are the only skills which are there every game... go figure! Ball handling is very important, when your shooting is off, ball handling will allow you to penetrate, set up team mates, or score/go to the line. When I used to shoot around a lot, I used to spend a lot of time dribbling in between shots I guess. Rarely happens now days, but the dribbling skills are pretty much always there

And can anyone tell me if my vertical jump is crap?? I'm 5'6" and I jumped 57 cms today...is that good or bad...(note: not to be racist but I am asian....we don't jump or run or do any sports! )

I think 57 centimetres is descent considering your height. If you don't think you're a good athlete maybe you should try table tennis... or origami??

[Tuomas]

Ballhandling: Buy a smaller basketball and play using it, it helps, especially if you dribble wit it... I have one and it helped me

And can anyone tell me if my vertical jump is crap?? I'm 5'6" and I jumped 57 cms today...is that good or bad...(note: not to be racist but I am asian....we don't jump or run or do any sports! )

I think 57 centimetres is descent considering your height. If you don't think you're a good athlete maybe you should try table tennis... or origami??

How long have you played? But to hold my own in this
I'm 5'5'' and jumped 73 cm, damn it pisses me off when some 6'4'' guys told me that they can soon dunk!!! If I was 6'1'' I could dunk already!!!

[Bill Russell]

Watch bball moves on tapes, try to emulate them, I helped me...

Also, I dunno if you vertical is good, it seems like it's average for me... 57 / 2,5 = 23... You have a 23'' vertical... Michael Jordan had a 42'', same to Antonio McDyess... I had a 33'' when I played...

Just keep on practicing... Play against the best and never give up... That's how you'll keep gettin' better...

[Hotshot]

we don't jump or run or do any sports! )

speak for yourself buddy
as for the tips from my part, i only have one...practice

[TRUball]

watch basketball city, or get the tape of it, some of the tips of the weeks on the shows are actually pretty good, steve nash did this dribbling thing and i have been doing that and my already great ball-handling is even better now.

[LeBron James]

you need practice very hard,then you see the results.

[jwin]

take a regulation sized ball, let some air out so that the ball doesn't bounce right back up to you, it will help you to control the ball better when it's full. also practice driving to the hole with your weak hand, i'm right handed and people see me shooting right handed and try to make me drive with my left thinking my left hand dribble might be weaker, but then realize they have to play me straight up either way. that can help alot going to the hole, because thay won't cheat one way or the other and you can get them off balance. as for shooting, try aiming at the far side of the rim from wherever you shoot. so if you're shooting from the corner aim to shoot over the front of the rim, and try different releases. but one of the easiest ways to develope good shooting form and rythym is to practice lots of free throws. and try to recognize if you have more success with your shots when shooting while planted or when you jump and release.

[Matt]

shooting:
pick your fav spot on the court and take 50J's from there........repeat 3 times.............this worked well 4 me, when i practiced this for 2 weeks my shot was absolutely killer
dribbling:
check out some street ball sites
but basically, dribble the ball in figures 8's, pendulum swing, behind the back etc..........30 mins a day and in 4 weeks your dribble will be much better

and basically, as mentioned before, play against the best
when i wanted to get better i played dudes that were 4,5 sometimes 10 years older than me, they would have anywhere from 4-12 inches on me and 10-100 pounds. That's the best way to learn, sure i got my ass kicked a few times but it really teaches ya to be physical

[Boyk]

heheehehee ill teach ya some handles mate.
play nba street 2, im starting to do a lot of that shit in the playgrounds, but if you want legal crossovers, then just practice and make ya own up, thats what i did.

for shooting, well people say aim for the back of the rim, but i aim for right in the middle if ya get me, i aim for a swish everytime, and im a good shooter.

and same as matt said, play agaisnt older guys. i played some A grade ;ast year, and my bad decision making isnt quite as bad, and im a lot more aware of what i am doing. also these guys know how to defend, so to really cross em, you gotta do it quickly and swiftly, but just keep practicsing also, it helps.