Comparing players across eras

“The Last Dance” documentary about Michael Jordan and the 1998 Chicago Bulls has raised debates about where MJ and other top players rank all-time.

ESPN’s masterful documentary series “The Last Dance” has concluded, leaving many with a hard stance that Michael Jordan is in fact, the G.O.A.T. Naturally, that has also led to many to also rise up in opposition, laying claim that LeBron James or someone else is actually the greatest. Once these debates start, other names wind up stirring into the mix - Russell, Wilt, Magic, Kareem, and so on.

More now than before his passing, Kobe Bryant is making his way into top-3 debates as well. Bryant clearly modeled his game after Jordan and had the ability, determination, and competitive tenacity to pull it off. The two were similar but found themselves in many different circumstances throughout their careers. How can we accurately compare individuals in a team sport that were in varied circumstances, let alone different eras of the sport of basketball?

LeBron James is a competitor, hard worker, and basketball savant. His combination of size, strength, and skill is unprecedented. However, it is known that Jordan and Bryant were MORE competitive than James. Winning matters and LeBron is not on pace to win as Jordan won. So, does winning in the ’90s outweigh being a dominant force in the 2000s?

There are clearly many questions inside these debates. The variables are immense across the history of basketball. Wilt Chamberlain was incredibly gifted and built for the sport of basketball. Wilt averaged 50 points and 25 rebounds in a season. However, the level of competition was undeniably low. Bill Russell was a great defender and teammate and he amassed 11 championships, but his Celtics only played seven other teams and owned a talent monopoly over the league for years. Also, neither Wilt nor Russell had the aid of the three-point line.

Did teams of the past, such as those in Jordan’s championship years really value defense much more than teams of today, or do the teams today just place so much more emphasis on offense than teams of the past?

The game has been evolving over time and each step has been special in its own way. It was fun to watch the Bad Boy Pistons bludgeon opponents. It was fun to watch the recent championship Warriors teams swing the ball and drop impossible long-range bombs.

Comparing players and discussing where the greats rank makes for a fun debate that you can have with almost any basketball fan. That said, it is worth acknowledging that it is actually an impossible task. We will never know how prime Oscar Robinson would perform in 2020. We will never see Jordan and LeBron go head-to-head. We can’t stick Giannis Antetokounmpo in the ’60s.

Debates will rage on, but remember that you are lucky to have seen the basketball players of the past. You are lucky to see today’s players in their primes. You will be lucky to see the next generation of players rise up. We are all witnesses to unique and exciting eras of hoops - that we can all hopefully agree on.

Desmond Polk commits to SIU Edwardsville

The Basketball Movement gym rat Desmond Polk has committed to SIUE and is ready to take his game to the next level.

It has been a long road for Desmond Polk of Link Year Prep, but the journey has finally led to an NCAA Division 1 commitment. Polk has verbally committed to Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. He said that Coach Brian Barone seemed to really want him and the team pursued him hard, despite hurdles.

“My recruitment took a hit last summer,” Polk tells The Basketball Movement. “I wasn’t performing and needed to rebuild myself. SIUE stuck with me.” Polk has been working hard and will be looking to let his new team know that they made the right choice by believing in him.

He does not know anyone on his new team yet but is looking forward to hearing how soon he can get on campus to go to work with his new squad.

“Strength is what I’m working on most,” Polk says about what he needs for the next level of play. “Everyone at this level has to get bigger, faster, and stronger. I’m working on ball handling, consistent shooting, and being a downhill, attacking player.”

Desmond has been at the gym at The Basketball Movement quite a bit in preparation for this big move and we couldn’t be happier to be able to help him on his journey.

“Coach Rob (Yanders) has definitely helped my jump shot. My form is now more comfortable and I’m getting better rotation on the ball.” He says that Yanders is also responsible for helping him become a downhill attacker on offense. “He has helped me make sure that I am thinking north/south instead of east/west.”

Polk was a good player when he first came to The Basketball Movement and we are proud to say that he is already much better. SIUE will be pleasantly surprised with the player he is and we will be watching closely as he continues onward and upward in his hoops career. Congratulations on your selection, Desmond, and good luck!

The Basketball Movement continues

With local restrictions lifting, The Basketball Movement is finally able to open our doors once again.

As cautious optimism spreads across the country in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, The Basketball Movement is slowly ramping back up. While things may not be back to normal, we are still excited to be back in motion even in a limited capacity.

Individual workouts are back underway at The Basketball Movement, so larger group and team workouts will still have to wait until the next phase. We are currently limiting the number of people in the facility to 10 when possible. It is tough, but we must all crawl before we can walk and be grateful to have our doors open again! We will keep you updated in the coming weeks as plans unfold in these uncertain times.

To inquire about workouts, please email us at basketballmovement@yahoo.com

The Basketball Movement trainers and staff have been blessed with good health to this point and we are feverishly cleaning and sanitizing to continue that trend. We ask that you be patient with us during this limited stretch as we do what is in the best interest of our people!

We will continue establishing a sense of direction before we hit it hard and recommend that you do the same. Stay informed, practice good hygiene, and get some shots up so you don’t come in too rusty!

Thank you to the community for all of your support. We really have a big family here that extends well beyond basketball and we are excited to be back. See you on the court!

NCAA: Significant change on the horizon for players

With athletes pursuing alternatives to NCAA basketball, the association is finally supporting avenues for players to receive compensation.

At the NCAA’s April meeting, the group reported that they are backing a proposal that would allow players receive payment for the use of their name/likeness, endorsement deals, and social media. There is still much work to be done in establishing the groundwork for this decision, though officials are hopeful that there can be movement by 2021.

Per ESPN’s report on the release: “The NCAA's news release said athletes will be allowed to appear in advertisements and can reference their sport and school, but they would not be able to use school logos or branding in those advertisements.”

Several states, spearheaded by California, have already paved the way for player options such as these. The NCAA is expected to seek the support of Congress to ensure that their decisions supersede state laws as to not have preferential conditions from state to state. This is where the plan could take a while (especially with the ongoing coronavirus pandemic), but hopefully, we will see action soon.

Another important piece will be placing “guardrails” for boosters, to make sure they are not given too much power or the ability to use workarounds through endorsements to bribe athletes to attend certain programs.

This decision by the NCAA comes on the heels of top prospect, Jalen Green announcing that he will be going straight to the G-League instead of pursuing college ball. The G-League is going to establish a new team in LA with Green as the centerpiece, sweetening his deal and becoming a more attractive option for other top prospects going forward.

It is a shame that it took the nation’s top players playing semi-pro or overseas to create action from the NCAA; an action that is arguably 30 years slower than it should be. Either way, it is refreshing to hear that college athletes are nearing a state in which they can be compensated for their substantial amount of labor. The top athletes generate plenty of income, and they are finally going to be able to get a piece of their own pie.

We will continue to monitor this situation and relay any big moves here in as digestible a form as possible. It is exciting that young athletes may be getting a chance to receive compensation for thousands of hours of hard work. Keep checking back for updates!

Around the NBA: Snapshot of where things left off

When the NBA came to a sudden halt amidst coronavirus scares, we were already about three-quarters through the season.

It has been a little over a month since the NBA came to a screeching halt before the tipoff of a Jazz vs. Thunder game once it was discovered that Rudy Gobert had coronavirus - now more specifically called covid-19. All teams had played at least 64 games of the 82 scheduled and the playoff picture was coming into focus.

It is unknown at this time if or when the Association will return to action. It has already been a lengthy hiatus, greatly disrupting the flow of the season. The players have been working in home gyms, playing NBA2K, and even had an ESPN televised game of horse, with current, former, and WNBA players participating (below).

Discussions have suggested that the season may be over. Others suggest a return as soon as early May. We don’t know for sure, but until then, we take a look at where we left off.

James Harden unsurprisingly leads in points per game, even after slowing from his early, ridiculous pace at 34.4. Bradley Beal, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Trae Young are all averaging right around 30 with Lillard and Doncic not far behind. Andre Drummond leads all rebounders with 15.2 per game. Hassan Whiteside is next with 14.2 and Antetokounmpo and Gobert are tied at 13.7 apiece.

LeBron James is on pace to lead the NBA in assists for the first time in his career, averaging 10.6 per contest. Trae Young is the only other player averaging at least nine at 9.3.

Only two players are averaging at least two steals per game - Ben Simmons (2.1) and Kris Dunn (2.0). Whiteside is the blocks leader at 3.1 with Brook Lopez and Anthony Davis tied for second at 2.4 swats.

Current Standings

The Milwaukee Bucks were well on their way to having a historic season, though they did begin resting players, going on a three-game losing steak before the hiatus. They still have a comfortable lead despite the strong play of the reigning champion Raptors.

In the West, LA reigns as the Lakers sit in first with the Clippers in second. The battle towards the bottom of the playoff picture interesting as well. Rookie of the Year hopeful, Ja Morant has Memphis in a surprising position, but Lillard has been scorching earth and New Orleans has Zion Williamson back. This race is one of the most interesting parts of how the NBA will choose to return (if it does).

The Current standings are below from basketballreference.com:

Giannis Antetokounmpo is likely the MVP favorite with his team on top and his numbers and defense as elite as it comes. LeBron and Davis both make strong cases, as does Harden, though the Rockets are believed to be underachieving a bit. Leaders on a pair of surprising teams, Luka Doncic and Jimmy Butler are in the conversation as well.

Whether we dive right into the playoffs, resume the season, or miss it altogether, this will be a memorable time for the league. We are excited for basketball to return, but above all, hope for the safety of all. Stick around as we monitor the rapidly changing developments and how the sport of basketball will be impacted. Stay safe!

Note: The 2020 WNBA Draft is still on! Tune into ESPN at 8:00 pm central!

All statistics used from basketballreference.com

What we are missing at The Basketball Movement

As we continue through these uncharted waters, we stop and appreciate what we are missing about The Basketball Movement experience.

Walking into The Basketball Movement is a sensory overload. Overload may be a term that some would shy away from, but for basketball junkies, it is just what you seek out in a gym.

The smell of hardwood is ingrained in the building. It has been that way for years and did not go away when we re-did the floors a few years back. Hoopers know the smell and can still recall it even after being away from the hardwood for a lengthy period of time. It smells like your home away from home. A place where you can shed blood, sweat, and tears for glory, for your brothers/sisters, or just for knowing you put in a helluva day’s work.

Sensory overload comes too from the sounds. Balls bouncing on both courts make the whole facility feel alive. You are not alone here. There are others that share your passion, your goals. They may be older or younger, male or female, professional or youth ball hopefuls. They are here too, smelling that same hardwood scent, shooting at the 10-foot hoop, dreaming of greatness.

There are sounds of shots going up. Many are connecting with the iron, some fall through with that ever-satisfying swish. Everyone hopes their shot is going in. Some do, some don’t. They all get rebounded and lead to more and more work on the journey.

Other sounds come from trainers and players. Some players are communicating with each other - striving for unison under the guidance of a coach. The trainers are barking, constantly producing advice, encouragement, and due criticisms with the goal of improvement for all. The more players succeed, the more the trainers succeed. The more trainers succeed, the more renowned the facility becomes, drawing in more players and more opportunities to produce something special.

Often hip hop music is bumping out of a speaker in the main gym. This lends to the facility’s urban feel, something that is a unique twist in our community. Still, the warm Yanders smile makes everyone feel right at home.

Rob Yanders, The Basketball Movement’s founder is constantly dispensing basketball wisdom, always in motion. He gives his athletes hell, then turns and gives the parents a sly wink. The parents see what is happening, as Rob is just pushing limits, bringing out the best in the players. Really, the players understand as well. Not just any player can step on Rob’s floor. He can tell if you want it or not and he will let you know.

For those players, their muscles burn as they pound the dribble, stay low, and keep eyes forward even as sweat streams down their face. They understand the privilege of their on-court agony and welcome it on the path to improvement.

The Basketball Movement is a special place. Sure, it has a barber station, leather seats, and a cushy film room. At its core, those that have stepped through its doors understand it to be a grindhouse - a place where players come to get their butts kicked and bodies pushed to their limits. This is where they improve as players. This is where they build character. This is a place they will remember for the rest of their lives as a temple of self-improvement.

We miss this place like crazy, and we vow to come back better than ever once this pandemic passes. Support us and keep up the hard work by checking out Rob’s Evolution of a Hooper program. Yanders had spent years amassing this collection of on and off-court curriculum - it is definitely worth your time. Keep checking back here with more updates as we work through this together. Thank you all!

Follow The Basketball Movement across all platforms

At The Basketball Movement, we do our best to keep you in the loop. Help us help you by giving us a follow on all social media platforms!

At present, The Basketball Movement's social media accounts certainly share consistencies, but also some slight differences too. To make sure you are getting the full experience, you should be following along across the board to take in all content.

Give us a like on Facebook! On Facebook, you will see these blog updates, the biggest player news, and facility updates. It is also a great place to reach out and let us know if you or your athlete have any big news concerning recruitment or otherwise.

On our Twitter, you will see much of the same in the form of these posts and big player news. In addition, Twitter is where basketball news often hits first. Big media names break news there and the NBA is all over the platform. This is where we funnel the most relevant news right to you.

Finally, our Instagram is the best place to get visual glimpses inside The Basketball Movement. The posts come directly from the founder himself, Rob Yanders. He drops workout videos, news, drip, and his patented motivation that everyone can benefit from.

Rob’s personal Instagram is another way that you can stay plugged into the brand that we stand for. Tonight, he will be dropping new never-before-seen footage from some of his most intense workouts.

So, make sure that you are tuned into all outlets of The Basketball Movement to get as much basketball goodness as possible! Even during these times that have our doors closed, we will be coming at you with recruiting news, basketball tips, motivation, workouts, and more.

Do yourself a favor and stay tuned! Thanks as always for being along for the ride!

Missing basketball / Maintaining perspective

With gyms shut down across the nation, it is a good time to examine priorities in our lives.

“I miss basketball” is a phrase that is being heavily circulated online as well as in conversation around the world right now. As the coronavirus pandemic continues, fans and hoopers alike are having withdrawals in a time that should be full of basketball goodness.

Men and women’s March Madness has been taken from us. High school seasons have been cut short around the nation. The NBA is on hiatus and may not complete the current season. The WNBA is expected to be postponed. All of the players involved as well as the fans are completely justified in missing hoops. Many of us have the sport deeply woven into our lives in multiple ways.

What we at The Basketball Movement would like to remind you to do in these difficult times is to maintain perspective.

The Basketball Movement is more than a hoops haven - it is a business. As long as our doors are closed, livelihoods will be impacted. So trust us, we get it. We are as ready to get back to basketball as anyone. Just remember that it is bigger than basketball.

Folks are losing their lives to this thing. Those people are parents, siblings, sons/daughters, and friends. Others are putting their lives directly in the line of fire to combat the virus and its effects. People are in hospitals for other reasons as well; illness, having babies… what have you. Those people cannot always have their loved ones present with them, which is devastating.

We must do our part to combat the spread of coronavirus. Stay home, demonstrate good hygiene, and practice social distancing as lives depend on it, because that just may be the case.

Missing basketball is 100% okay. As we said, we miss it as much as anyone in the world. Just keep in mind what is truly important. Enjoy film of old games, do ball-handling drills in the garage (like these), get up shots if you have a hoop. Just prioritize doing your part for the greater good.

This is a great time to reflect. Get priorities in order and just be ready for hoops when it is finally time to get back out there. You will probably get stir crazy, but that means you are staying in and doing your part. We are all in this together. Miss basketball, but always maintain perspective!

What is Evolution of a Hooper?

Robert Yanders’ Evolution of a Hooper program is available for coaches, trainers, players, and parents.

The Evolution of a Hooper is up and running for anyone around the sport of basketball that has a desire to improve. Click this link to go directly to Patreon, which is home to the Evolution. The on-court curriculum is in abundance in the form of drills that coaches, trainers, and players can benefit from.

These drills have been created and perfected over years by The Basketball Movement’s Founder, Robert Yanders. This curriculum has been a trade secret of Rob’s that has gone into elevating the play of NBA players down through college, high school, and younger athletes. New drills are uploaded frequently to The Evolution. To have access to all of these is an incredible value for the price, but it doesn’t stop there.

The off-court curriculum is included as well, focusing on many aspects of life that are important for ensuring a balanced approach to the sport. “The person is the player,” Yanders says. Making sure that your circle of friends, goals, and approach in all you do is optimized will translate to the court as well.

A “Midwife” section in the curriculum is made specifically for parents that want to help their athletes by doing all the right things and letting coaches and players take the reigns at the right moments. This is not a lesson in parenting, but how to be the best parent that you can be in terms of maximizing your impact related to your athlete’s performance.

Rob Yanders’ Evolution of a Hooper will continue to grow and will soon be linked with a documentary that explains where Rob has come from in the sport. Yanders’ journey through life has been directly linked to the sport of basketball through each step and we want to show how important it is to him that you get the most out of him as a coach and out of this product. His desire to improve those around him shines through absolutely.

Frequent drill uploads alone would make this online program worth it, but the abundance of other materials is what sets the Evolution of a Hooper apart. Give it a shot - for yourself or the coach/athlete in your life. You will not regret it. It is also the best way to support us as a small, local business in these times when we cannot be certain when we will be able to open our doors again as the coronavirus pandemic continues.

If you or your athlete want to maximize potential as a hooper, this is a must-have resource. Click here to give it a try, or go download the Patreon app for Apple or Android and search for The Evolution of a Hooper.

The Basketball Movement will be back!

Stay-at-home orders may have closed the doors at The Basketball Movement, but you can still follow the movement online.

Amidst unprecedented circumstances, The Basketball Movement is suspending activities as local officials issue stay-at-home orders in our area. Though we are all bummed, we are hopeful that these events will put a stop to the spread of the coronavirus that is wreaking havoc on our country and our community.

If you have been following us for a while, you know how seriously we at The Basketball Movement take the well-being of our community both on and off the court. We ask that everyone do their part to slow the spread by staying inside and practicing excellent hygiene.

The sooner we come together and beat this thing, the sooner we can get back hooping and doing what we love. That’s right - The Basketball Movement will be back!

We ask that you stick with us by giving a follow on Twitter, likes on Facebook and Instagram, and checking back frequently as we update this blog as usual. We are going to be doing our best to continue a flow of quality basketball content in a time that sorely misses the sport already.

To not only help support us as a local business but also to stay on top of your game in this surprise offseason, dive in on Robert Yanders’ Evolution of a Hooper series on Patreon.

Not only will your contributions help us come back strong from this trying time, but you will gain access to an incredible library of on and off-court curriculum from the basketball mind of our Founder, Rob Yanders. New drills will continue to be uploaded, many of which you can work on from your driveway, garage, etc. More on The Evolution coming soon.

Thank you to everyone who has already been doing their part to combat the virus. Everyone else, join in and just study some film for a few weeks! We will be back soon!

- The Basketball Movement

Film analysis with The Basketball Movement

Stuck at home? Need something to work on? An undervalued skill in basketball is knowing how to adequately prepare for matchups - a skill The Basketball Movement can help you develop.

As you grow in the sport of basketball, the intricacies get more and more important. You have heard for a long time that the little things add up - that becomes more true in each level of the sport. By the time you are playing high school ball and especially hit college or the pros, you should have the fundamentals down. You will be working on the finer things.

One area that too often goes uncoached is the art of mental preparation. You may be equipped with a deep bag of on-court skills, but if you aren’t as prepared as your opponent for the mental portion of the game, the scales will tip.

Luckily, you have a resource. The Basketball Movement has been helping players develop these skills for years, not only teaching players to learn on the fly but also what to look for in film analysis. As you grow in the sport, prepping for teams and individual players becomes crucial if you wish to be competitive. Shouldn’t you learn how to get the most out of this aspect of the game? (The answer is yes)

If you as a player or coach need to learn how to adequately prepare for matchups by studying film or even what to look for in-person, contact us at The Basketball Movement.

Our facility includes a state-of-the-art film room that is designed to teach these skills with interactive smart screens and just the man for the job. Head Trainer, Rob Yanders has learned from years of collegiate and professional basketball exactly what to look for and exactly how to look for it.

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This is just one piece of what The Basketball Movement has to offer, but it is a piece that will be difficult to find anywhere else in Southwest Missouri. The specific knowledge and expertise that go into providing lessons on film analysis shouldn’t be discounted. We help hundreds of players each week in so many ways, but this is one way that does not get used enough. Use us! We want to help and need you to know how much more there is than on-the-court action.

Again, to take advantage of our facility and knowledge to give you an edge, please contact The Basketball Movement here and keep it locked to this blog for more of what we do best!

March Madness cancelled, NBA season on hiatus

It has been a wild few days for hoops, with the threat of coronavirus impacting every level of the sport.

What started as a breakout virus far from home has turned into a national pandemic with coronavirus working its way across the globe. The Basketball Movement does not have anyone on hand that is an expert on infectious disease, but we do know that it appears to be contagious and potentially quite harmful to elderly individuals or those with weakened defenses against such sickness.

So, even though most players would not likely feel the full effects of the virus, many fans are susceptible. This week, an OKC Thunder game was put on hold moments before tipoff after it was discovered that Rudy Gobert of the visiting Utah Jazz tested positive for the illness. It was later discovered that teammate Donovan Mitchell was positive as well.

The NBA acted quickly, not only canceling the remainder of the games that evening but placing the league on a “hiatus” for at least 30 days as they determine the threat of the virus as well as the next steps.

Action of this magnitude by the NBA triggered responses from all other major American sports leagues. The NCAA has not postponed but canceled their national tournaments for both men and women. That’s right - no March Madness for fans in 2020 and no big endings for the many athletes involved.

We have since seen statements of action from the WNBA, NFL, and state high school sporting programs about the next steps. Major League Baseball’s regular season has been pushed back and the NHL, MLS, and XFL have all gone on hiatus as well.

Again, this is largely for the safety of fans and the personnel involved. Large gatherings of people produce a dangerous situation regarding the airborne virus.

Two-time Defensive Player of the Year, Rudy Gobert was the first notable athlete in the USA to bring attention to the threat of coronavirus. Ironically, he also brought a difficult lesson as well. Gobert had been jokingly touching microphones during interviews and players/belongings in the locker room ahead of his diagnosis, making light of the virus and potentially contracting/spreading it.

Gobert has since apologized for this, but it does serve as a reminder for us all to be careful. If nothing else, his diagnosis prompted the NBA to take notice, which in turn prompted other sports leagues, theme parks, churches, and more in a country that had been taking the threat lightly. Hopefully, we have all learned our lesson early.

It will be tough without basketball for a little while, but safety and health are paramount. Stay informed and safe, everybody.

Check out our Open Clinic on Saturdays!

Every Saturday from 9:00-11:00 AM, The Basketball Movement hosts an Open Clinic

Boys and girls that are in 2nd grade all the way up to 8th grade are invited to come to The Basketball Movement's Open Clinic every Saturday. This is a great way to kick off the weekend by brushing up on basketball and getting a taste of what The Basketball Movement has to offer.

The one-day Open Clinic is essentially a mini-camp designed around the fundamentals of the game and basketball skills. Of course, if you are looking for more in-depth skill training, that is offered as well.

The Basketball Movement is working hard to provide an opportunity for area ballers-in-training to get into a gym and have a chance to learn from some of the best coaches in the area. If your player does not have a gym or needs a quick way to learn some skill or knock-off rust, the Open Clinic is perfect.

The two-hour session focuses on skill development, drills, and provides a scrimmage opportunity for the players to look forward to. Time to take advantage of one of the best basketball opportunities offered in the Springfield metro area.

If you have any questions, just shoot an email to basketballmovement@yahoo.com and one of our trainers will be able to assist you. Check out all that The Basketball Movement has to offer here. 

March Madness is approaching

A leap year means we have a spare day in February, but even so, March is nearly here and with it comes… Madness.

Hold up... It really is almost March already. As the name signifies, March Madness is one of the biggest times of the year for hoops fans. The NCAA’s big tournament is an annual source of basketball heroics, underdog stories, crushing blows, and darn good basketball.

Many players are looking to make a splash to get noticed by the next level. Some are just happy playing out their final seasons on a big stage. Either way, it is all on display for the fans, so when will you need to have brackets filled out?

For the men, selection Sunday is March 15th. This is when we will see who plays who and which teams on the bubble do or do not make that cut for NCAA March Madness 2020.

From there, you will need to get that bracket filled out so you can earn those precious bragging rights (or not) because the First Four play-in games take place March 17th and 18th in Dayton, Ohio. These games serve as a nice, immediate reminder that none of us really know exactly how this thing is going to shake out.

The first and second rounds begin on March 19th. Games played on this date and the 21st will be held in Albany, St. Louis, Spokane, and Tampa. Games played on the 20th and 22nd will take place in Cleveland, Greensboro, Omaha, and Sacramento.

The Midwest Regional (Indianapolis) and West Regional (Los Angeles) will take place on March 26th and 28th. The South Regional (Houston) and East Regional (New York) will be played on March 27th and 29th. This will conclude the March action and give us the Final Four.

Final Four games will be held in Atlanta and played on April 4th and 6th. ESPN has a breakdown as of February 24th that gives an early estimation of how the bracket will look here.

Women’s dates and locations

Let’s not forget the ladies. The women’s NCAA tournament is just as much of a catalyst for big stories, with yearly upsets, heroics, and more. There are some big names in women’s college basketball this year and it will be exciting to see everyone put to the test.

Selection Monday is March 16th and will be televised on ESPN. Locations for the first and seconds rounds are still to be determined, but they will run from March 20th to March 23rd.

The Dallas Regional and Greenville (South Carolina) Regional games are on March 27th and 29th. Portland Regional and Fort Wayne (Indiana) Regional games are March 28th and 30th. April 3rd and 5th will see the women’s 2020 Final Four games at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.

ESPN has an early glimpse of how this bracket may shake out as well, here.

As mentioned, this is always a crazy exciting time for basketball fans. The Basketball Movement will be bringing you the big stories and recaps of how the rounds shake out. Fill out those brackets, stay tuned all March, and embrace the Madness.

Join Robert Yanders' Evolution of a Hooper

ICYMI: Robert Yanders’ Evolution of a Hooper program is available for coaches, trainers, players, and parents.

The Evolution of a Hooper is up and running for anyone around the sport of basketball that has a desire to improve. Click this link to go directly to Patreon, which is home to the Evolution. The on-court curriculum is in abundance in the form of drills that coaches, trainers, and players can benefit from.

These drills have been created and perfected over years by The Basketball Movement’s Founder, Robert Yanders. This curriculum has been a trade secret of Rob’s that has gone into elevating the play of NBA players down through college, high school, and younger athletes. New drills are uploaded each week to The Evolution. To have access to all of these is an incredible value for the price, but it doesn’t stop there.

The off-court curriculum is included as well, focusing on many aspects of life that are important for ensuring a balanced approach to the sport. “The person is the player,” Yanders says. Making sure that your circle of friends, goals, and approach in all you do is optimized will translate to the court as well.

A “Midwife” section in the curriculum is made specifically for parents that want to help their athletes by doing all the right things and letting coaches and players take the reigns at the right moments. This is not a lesson in parenting, but how to be the best parent that you can be in terms of maximizing your impact related to your athlete’s performance.

Rob Yanders’ Evolution of a Hooper will continue to grow and will soon be linked with a documentary that explains where Rob has come from in the sport. Yanders’ journey through life has been directly linked to the sport of basketball through each step and we want to show how important it is to him that you get the most out of him as a coach and out of this product. His desire to improve those around him shines through absolutely.

Weekly drill uploads alone would make this online program worth it, but the abundance of other materials is what sets the Evolution of a Hooper apart. Give it a shot this shopping season - for yourself or the coach/athlete in your life. You will not regret it.

If you or your athlete want to maximize potential as a hooper, this is a must-have resource. Click here to give it a try, or go download the Patreon app for Apple or Android and search for The Evolution of a Hooper.

NBA All-Star Weekend 2020 recap

The 2020 NBA All-Star Weekend was one of the most competitive in recent memory.

A perennial knock on the NBA All-Star game is that the players do not try hard enough. Big men jack threes, no one plays defense, and those jerks all have too much fun. This year there was plenty of fun, but also underlying competitiveness that we have not seen in almost all of the major events. Maybe it was the Mamba Mentality coming out.

Things kicked off on Friday night with the Rising Stars Challenge. Rookie and sophomore players were pitted against each other in the USA vs. The World format again, with both rosters looking pretty stacked. This is about the only event that did not come down to the wire, with Team USA comfortably ahead to end the fourth quarter.

A comeback was necessary though, with the energy of team USA led by Miles Bridges powering a third-quarter push to seize control. Bridges, a second-year player from the Charlotte Hornets would be named MVP for his efforts.

All-Star Saturday night is when things really began to heat up. The Skills Challenge, a mini obstacle course designed to show ball-handling, speed, passing, and shooting prowess was up first. Some favorites to win, including former winners Spencer Dinwiddie and Jayson Tatum, were knocked out immediately, with big men standing out from start to finish.

The final round featured two first-time All-Stars in Pacers forward Domantis Sabonis and Miami Heat forward Bam Adebayo. It came down to who could make the final three-point shot. After a few attempts apiece, Bam drained his shot to take home the trophy.

In the second event of All-Star Saturday night, the Three-Point Contest would also come down to a photo finish. From top-to-bottom, all eight competitors shot the ball well, which does not always happen. Despite strong shooting all around, three players stood out and moved on: Devin Booker, Buddy Hield, and Davis Bertans.

The Wizards sweet-shooting big man, Bertans continued his impressive display, but it was not enough to hang with Booker or Hield. Booker surpassed Bertans score by going on multiple streaks and hitting money balls when he needed them most. Even with the intimidating score though, the Sacramento Kings’ Buddy Hield would not be denied. Down to the wire, Hield needed his very last shot to pass Booker and… splash. Buddy is the first King to win since Peja Stojakovic in 2002.

Always fun if also a bit hit-or-miss, the Slam Dunk Competition was perhaps the most memorable we have had since the 2016 showdown between Zach Lavine and Aaron Gordon. Despite his arguably superior creativity in 2016, the Orlando Magic’s Aaron Gordon was runner up. This year, he had an unfortunate bit of déjà vu.

After a decade away, Dwight Howard made his fourth appearance in the dunk contest. His hops may be a bit diminished, but he put on a nice display with a nice nod to Kobe Bryant and his own superman dunk all in one. Pat Connaughton of the Bucks had a nice showing also, going full White Men can’t Jump with his outfit and dunking over teammate, Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The stars of the show were Derrick Jones Jr. of the Miami Heat and Aaron Gordon. Gordon’s creativity was on display again this year with varied dunks that pushed Jones Jr. into a dunk-off to finish. Gordon amassed a staggering five 50 point jams, including a crazy one-handed alley-oop 360 windmill off the side of the glass.

Jones Jr. impressed throughout as well, mostly relying on variations of between-the-legs jams. The judges could not give out 50s forever, so they eventually knocked a couple of points off what would be Jones Jr’s final dunk. That allowed them to make a final decision based on Gordon’s following dunk. Air Gordon brought out the 7’5” center of the Boston Celtics, Tacko Fall, dunked over him and was awarded one less point than Jones Jr., falling shy of the trophy once again in an epic battle.

A Saturday night filled with close, competitive action set the stage nicely for the big game on Sunday.

The format of the game was loaded with unique twists. Essentially, whichever team scored the most in a quarter got $100K towards the captain’s chosen Chicago charity. Both charities were for the education and betterment of kids, so one baseline area was loaded with the kids that would benefit, adding a fun element. There was no game clock in the fourth quarter. The high score was taken and had 24 points added to it (to honor Kobe Bryant) to create a goal score. The team that reached the goal score first won the game.

Team LeBron won the first quarter, Team Giannis the second, and the third was a tie, pushing that $100K prize into the winning pool.

The new format was entertaining and certainly seemed to add to the competitiveness of the game. There were still plenty of alley-oops and long bombs flying around, especially early. Chris Paul even dropped in a two-handed alley-oop slam for Team LeBron.

By the end, James Harden was jawing at the referees, Kyle Lowry was taking charges, and the preferred lineups were not exiting the game. What does this mean? The game was competitive and everyone was loving it.

Giannis was dunking essentially the entire game and Trae Young casually closed the half with a halfcourt bucket. Chris Paul led a second-half charge for Team LeBron, who eventually won the game 157-155 with Chicago native, Anthony Davis dropping in a clutch free throw to reach the goal.

Kawhi Leonard had 30 points including eight three-pointers to take the newly named Kobe Bryant All-Star MVP trophy home.

It was a weekend of fun, competitive hoops, and remembrance of David Stern and Kobe Bryant. For more coverage of the NBA as well as the basketball world as a whole, remember to keep it locked to The Basketball Movement!

Monte Morris helps power Nuggets comeback victory

Down 23 points in the second half, Monte Morris and his Denver Nuggets teammates defeated the San Antonio Spurs 127-120 on Monday.

Any players that come to The Basketball Movement looking to get better are special. Monte Morris of the Denver Nuggets may just be about as special a player as we have had. The young guard is a tenacious defender and is more than capable as a scorer and distributor. Perhaps even more impressive is his possession of the clutch gene.

In an exclusive interview with The Basketball Movement, Morris describes a particularly big moment in Monday night’s game: “My adrenaline was pumping,” says Morris. “I saw (LaMarcus) Aldridge closing, but I let it fly. I knew it was in.” The shot Morris is describing was an extra deep three that acted as an exclamation point to the furious comeback the Nuggets mounted to close out the third.

“I glanced at the scoreboard and knew I had three or four dribbles,” Morris recalls. “It was deep, but that’s a shot we practice all the time. I knew how much I had to get under it and let it fly.” The Nugs had been clawing their way back and had the home crowd whipped into a frenzy. Morris’ deep bomb came at the final buzzer of the third quarter and cut the game to four. The crowd exploded.

The video below starts at four and a half minutes to give a feel of momentum and crowd excitement. Morris’ big moment comes at 4:48:

Paul Millsap and Jamal Murray also had big second-half performances en route to the Nugget victory with Nikola Jokic also excellent as usual. Monte Morris did his damage in only 22 minutes, totaling 16 points and four assists, finishing with the best +/- on the team.

Morris has been rolling of late, averaging 14 points and four assists per just 0.5 turnovers over his last six games. He has been shooting 54 percent from the field including 40 percent from deep.

We asked him what his mindset will be after the upcoming All-Star break: “I just need to continue playing at a high level,” Morris tells The Basketball Movement. “I’m going to be well-rested and ready to go.”

Denver plays tonight on ESPN (9:00 pm CST) against the LA Lakers and NBA All-Star captain, LeBron James. Then, Morris and company will get a much-deserved rest over the weekend before continuing their push to be a top team in the Western Conference heading into the Playoffs.

We would wish Monte luck, but he seems to make his own just fine. Hard work is paying off for Monte Morris and we will all be watching as his story continues to unfold.

NBA All-Star Weekend 2020 preview

One of the most entertaining weekends in basketball is upon us once again as NBA All-Star Weekend comes to Chicago.

In the NBA this year, there have been plenty of ups and downs. The stars have shown brightly, we have now had some interesting mid-season trades, and the weekly lineups of games have been fire. Unfortunately, the basketball world was also dealt a severe loss in the form of Kobe Bryant’s tragic death as well as his daughter Gianna and all others involved.

NBA All-Star Weekend is an annual celebration of not only the current league but those who have come before. We see legends of the sport compete or coach in the celebrity game, judge the dunk contest (or be used as a prop), participate in the Legends Brunch, and be a part of the Hall of Fame Class announcements. The NBA truly does a fantastic job of remembering those that have come before.

For this reason, it is an important weekend for all players that felt the effects of the loss of Bryant. He will be remembered, honored, and poured over in various ways all weekend long. The gathering of basketball’s most elite, coming together for various competitions is just what everyone needs to help get through this tough time.

Friday, Feb. 14th kicks things off. NBA TV has the start of the Valentine’s event lineup, with the Rising Stars Practice at 11:00 am Central followed by the Hall of Fame Class of 2020 announcement. The NBA All-Star Celebrity Game takes place at 6:00 pm on ESPN.

The highlight of the evening is the NBA Rising Stars game on TNT starting at 8:00 pm Central and will once again feature a U.S.A. vs. The World format. Below are the rosters, highlighted by All-Star starters, Trae Young and Luka Doncic as well as Zion Williamson, though he has only played a handful of games. (Also, Collin Sexton will replace the injured Tyler Herro)

Saturday, Feb. 15th brings some fan-favorite competitions. NBA TV has coverage of the beginning of the day again, with the All-Star practice and media availability at 9:30 am Central. 6:00 pm will be Commissioner Adam Silver’s media availability, and then 7:00 pm Central officially tips off All-Star Saturday Night on TNT.

The Skills Challenge is up first, where players demonstrate combinations of ball-handling, passing, shooting, and speed. Below are the participants, including defending champ, Jayson Tatum:

Note: Derrick Rose has since dropped out and has been replaced by OKC’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

Next up is the 3-Point Contest, which seems to always boast a legitimate sampling of the league’s best shooters (while the dunk contest, unfortunately, does not). The reigning champ, Joe Harris is back to defend his title after beating Steph Curry last year. Unfortunately, Curry is still out of commission this season. Below are the participants:

Last but not least is the Slam Dunk Contest. While the contest does not usually showcase the dunkers that fans would most enjoy, this year’s lineup should prove interesting. Dwight Howard is participating for the first time in 11 years, which has to be a record. Derrick Jones Jr. is an electrifying dunker that has been a runner-up in the contest before.

Pat Connaughton of the Bucks will be relatively unknown, but his vertical will definitely turn some heads. Another runner-up, Aaron Gordon lost to Zach Lavine in 2016 despite a barrage of perfect scoring slams. The ‘16 contest has been lauded as one of the best ever. Zach Lavine will be a Saturday night participant, though fans would undoubtedly prefer a rematch with Gordon instead of his three-point display.

Sunday, Feb. 16th wraps up the weekend with the main event. The NBA Legends Brunch will be on NBA TV at 12:30 pm Central. At 7:00 pm, the 69th Annual NBA All-Star game will tip-off, featuring a new format (coverage begins at 5:00 pm).

Once again top vote-getters, LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo selected their teams one by one, first from the starters and then reserves. The results are below, interestingly featuring only a few conference variations:

The new format will promote competition throughout the game. Whichever team scores the most points in each quarter will get a monetary bonus that is awarded to the captain’s chosen Chicago charity. So no matter the total, if Team LeBron scores more in the second, they win that one. If Team Giannis scores more in Q3, they win that one.

By the fourth quarter, the game clock is off. Whichever team has the highest score, 24 points will be added in honor of Kobe Bryant, and that becomes the goal score for each team. So, if it is 140 to 130, the first to 164 wins the game.

It may seem a bit complicated, but it is still simple at its core and should promote competitive play in an interesting way while honoring a lost legend.

That wraps up the preview! The Association brings plenty to the table year-round, but their All-Star festivities may be the best in professional sports. Tune in and follow along with The Basketball Movement through the weekend to stay up to date!

NCAA: Basketball power index update

The landscape of men’s college hoops has officially formed. How are things looking so far?

With plenty of games left, we have still seen enough college hoops to have a good idea of which teams are contenders and which still have a way to go. There is no perfect way to rank NCAA teams. Records are not enough, with the strength of opponents varying greatly in addition to other variables.

So, BPI (Basketball Power Index) is not an end-all-be-all system, but it does factor in important aspects. BPI focuses on what to expect from teams going forward, based on their past performances and upcoming schedule. The ranking occurs based on where a team falls compared to an “average” squad.

We don’t have to get into the math - just know that it is a handy tool for assessing top college hoops teams.

As of early Thursday, February sixth, Duke is at the top of the BPI rankings. Mike Krzyzewski’s Blue Devils are 19 and 3 with many of their most difficult matchups already in the rearview. Gonzaga is unsurprisingly near the top at number two. Next are Kansas, Michigan State, Baylor, Lousiville, Arizona, and Dayton.

Michigan State and Arizona do not have poor records, but at 16-7 and 15-6 respectively, they show some of the curious nature of BPI rankings. Losses to top squads and relatively soft schedules going forward propel them to their spots.

Ninth on the list is San Diego State, who deserves plenty of praise for being the last undefeated Division I team left standing at 23-0. West Virginia rounds out the top ten.

The BPI naturally gives favor to traditional power conferences. Plenty of Big 10 and Big East teams make up the next grouping of squads on the list. Again, not a bad overview for analysis, but not a perfect measurement.

The best way to determine the strongest teams in college ball is to see them for yourself. Smaller programs are still made up of excellent players that can upset the big dogs in any given game. Just tune in and see for yourself as the college season gets serious.

For more on NCAA hoops as well as all other levels of the sport, stay tuned right here to The Basketball Movement.

Striving for the Mamba Mentality

As the basketball world continues to mourn the loss of Kobe Bryant, we remind players to carry on the Mamba Mentality.

The world knew Kobe Bryant by the basketball player we saw on the floor. Only his close family and friends truly knew him as a person. We saw how hard he worked, what he was able to achieve, and for the most part, what it took to get there. There are still countless unseen hours, not just that he put towards the game of basketball, but into his other passions, hobbies, and relationships.

For that reason it is not fair of us, the public, to pretend we knew everything about Kobe Bean Bryant. Media figures and players say ”He would want this,” or “he would have wanted that.” All we know is that he loved his family, loved his occupation, and gave us a hell of a spectacle on the court.

The loss of a family man is an indescribable blow. So, let’s just focus on what we can wrap our heads around: Kobe Bryant’s Mamba Mentality.

We knew Kobe primarily by what he was on the court - a true superstar. Bryant was as feared an opponent as anyone could ever imagine. His offensive repertoire made him a killer, a basketball assassin. He could rip your heart out and crush your dreams in so many ways that he earned the respect of nearly every hooper on the planet.

Since the NBA has been naming first or second-team all-defense, Kobe earned the nod 12 times (nine first-team), the most ever by a guard. So despite being an offensive juggernaut, he was able to still exert enough energy and focus on defense that he was deemed one of the league’s best defenders multiple years. Impressive resume, but what does it mean?

The Mamba Mentality

Kobe Bryant was nicknamed the Black Mamba. He could and would strike on offense or defense at any moment, and it was always deadly. Players special enough to go so hard on both ends of the floor are rare, but they all possess something in common - a term coined by Bryant himself: Mamba Mentality.

Players do not need Kobe-level skills to harness the Mamba Mentality because it is just that - a state of mind.

The focus of the Mamba Mentality isn’t attacking the opponent like Bryant made it seem. Instead, the focus is internal; promises to yourself to get every loose ball, the drive to play every defensive possession like it is meant to be played, the willingness to let the offense come to you, but also the readiness to take over a game if that is your role.

Mamba Mentality will look different depending on your role. Kobe was asked to shoulder the load on offense and be a defensive stopper. For some players, it may be focusing on snatching every rebound or making sure teammates are involved. Players on the bench, coaches, anyone… the Mamba Mentality can be applied no matter what.

Perhaps the best way we can remember Kobe Bryant the basketball player is to all try our best to approach life with the Mamba Mentality. Fiercely protect family and friends, keep your foot on the gas while you chase dreams, and give your all in everything you do.

Enjoy the processes - even the little moments and the tough times. Keep loved ones close and let them know how much they mean to you. Bryant and the other individuals we lost were taken from the world too soon, but we can make their loss count for something big. Embody the Mamba Mentality and you will be surprised by the doors that open for you. Reach out to us if that means getting in the gym. Reach out even if it doesn’t and we will be a shoulder for you.

RIP Kobe Bryant - thank you for everything.