Great Expectations

Twitter is an excellent networking tool for coaches and among the coaches that I have met, one of them struck me with his love and passion for the game. His name is Tyler Roberts and he is an up and coming coach. Over his career Tyler has had stops at many different schools in the Rochester, NY area. To name some: St. Johns Fisher, Victor High School, Geneva High School and he is the current head coach at Midlakes High School. I was impressed with Coach Roberts knowledge and asked him to do some blogging over here at Dif's World. Coach Roberts decided to be topical and write about point guard play. Take a look, and you can follow him on Twitter he's @CoachxRoberts.

Here is a list of what most coaches EXPECT an "average" point guard to be able to do on the basketball court consistently.

• Handle the ball under pressure.
• Find the open man.
• Knock down game sealing free throws.
• Recognize/exploit mismatches.
• Defend bigger guards.
• Run the offense.
• Balance the floor.
• Make impeccable decisions in the open floor.
• Pass to shooters with the seams on their fingertips.
• Finish in traffic.
• Make open 3's.
• Act as an extension of the coach on the floor in games and practice.
• Set the tone on defense.
• Stay out of foul trouble.
• Get the ball to the right people at the right times.

If a point guard fails to accomplish these tasks they are considered unworthy of the position, and are either moved to an off guard position or they are simply benched. Often times the expectations of a PG are so demanding that you'll hear coaches say that they are splitting the responsibility between two guards that will play at the same time. This happens more at the high school level.

As a high school coach I like to have at least two capable point guards on the floor at once and designate one of them as a "primary point guard" to receive outlet passes and bring the ball up. I've had as many as four guys on the court at once that could assume the role of PG. I think it's important to have multiple players on the floor with the mindset that they have significant responsibility for relieving pressure and carrying out the other tasks of a PG.

Next time you watch a basketball game ask yourself if you are holding every position to the same level of expectations. It would be safe to say that PGs are expected to do far more than any other position.

What a Point Guard Does

Point Guards can come in all shapes and sizes from the tiny Mugsy Bogues to the big hulking Magic Johnson. They can have different playing styles, from Stockton's pass first attack to Tony Parker's penetration attack.

The point (no pun intended) is they win and they do what's necessary.

Truehoop takes a look at Lou Williams and his attempt to play the point guard position for the Sixers this season, despite not being a "natural".

Take a look. I think its important as long as Lou is making plays, that he will succeed.

PG Links

Here's some links to keep point guard week rolling...

• I think the true measure of a point guard is if he's a winner or not, much the same way a quarterback is judged. In that sense, I love Chris Duhon's attitude. He doesn't care if other PG's are brought in as long as it makes the Knicks better.
  
• The Oklahoma City and head coach Scott Brooks knows made a great coaching hire when they grabbed Mo Cheeks. Brooks a former PG recognized the mind of another former PG in Cheeks to have him join his staff. Says a lot about both of those ego's.
  
• A good sign for Gilbert Arenas and the Wizards as Agent 0 went out to famed Barry Farms in D.C. and put on a show. Only took two jump-shots on the way to 35 points.
  
• Duke getting a recruit to come in a year early and help bolster a back court that could use some depth. Andre Dawkins may be a true shooting guard, but says "If they need me at point guard, I'll play there."
  
• Think Kentucky is going to have a loaded back court next year? Here's the Top 5 NCAA Men's Basketball Point Guard recruits according to Associated Content. #'s 1 and 3 are headed to UK.

Tyreke Evans Tops Rookie Point Guard Edition

As promised for Dif's World of Basketball this was going to be point guard week. In honor of that, I decided to kick it off with a massive ranking of all the NBA starting point guards. If you haven't had a chance to look at that yet, you can do so by clicking here.

If you're coming over from Sir Charles In Charge welcome and you've found the right place. The following is my rookie edition of that rankings list. For the rookies since they don't have any NBA games to go from, I decided to use mostly what I saw during their respective summer leagues and their expectations coming into this season to construct my rankings. Enjoy.

1. Tyreke Evans - Of all the rookie point guards, Evans is one of the two I feel has a chance to become a "star" in the league. By star meaning All-Star. He's a bull when going to the basket and his mind frame of always being in attack mode, whether crafted from the dribble drive or just a product of what's within Evans, is perfectly suited for the new style of play in the NBA. Here's to hoping the Kings allow him to make plays on the move. Right now I believe Evans is slotted to be the point guard for the Kings. Certainly he has some ways to go in terms of play making and helping his teammates get better, but based off his summer, I have to put him at number one.

2. Jonny Flynn - The other potential "star" of this rookie point guard class. I think his game will translate well to the NBA. He's small but explosive. He can penetrate. He can finish. His shooting is coming along. Plus I think he has the competitive edge which is going to set him apart. He's a guy other players can rally around and that is an important (obviously) quality to have as a point guard.

3. Rodrique Beaubois - He was pretty dynamic in the Las Vegas Summer League and was a surprise. There is a lot more to playing point guard in the NBA than just being an athlete, but Beaubois has elite quickness.

4. Brandon Jennings - Jennings certainly has the swagger of an All-Star. I've the two summer games I saw him play I was impressed with his fearlessness. Jennings is going to be a work in progress but the more reps he gets at playing point guard the better he is going to be. As a defender, he's going to give opposing point guards fits and may be a game changer already. He has a certain flair to his game, which is ok, but he is to make sure that flair is always being used for him and not against him.

5. Toney Douglas - This ACC guard proved he's about more than just scoring. During summer ball he was giving out 7 assists a game. He will be a nice addition to the Knicks back court and should push Duhon for minutes.

6. Stephen Curry - One thing Curry made clear to all those watching the Las Vegas summer league, the rookie will not be afraid to put up shots. During summer ball he was putting 16 shots per game. Paired in a back court with another offensive minded guard (Monta Ellis) one of them is going to have to defer. Despite his appetite for shooting, Curry is cerebral enough to play point guard in the NBA. Plus he has really good hands which help him on defense. There were times at Davidson last season, however, where he got caught up trying too hard to make the spectacular pass. This may have been a product of the situation he was in, or simply his way of playing the game. I think if he can tone that down and concentrate on making simple plays, Curry is going to be just fine, borderline All-Star one day.

7. Ty Lawson - Fell into a nice situation being on a contender. Should offer up a significant change of pace to Billups bruising style. He also had a nice summer league and he's proven he can lead a team to a championship.

8. Eric Maynor - Can learn a lot playing behind Deron Williams and he is going to be in some big games as a rookie. With skilled teammates spreading the floor for him his game is going to flourish.

9. Jrue Holliday - Made an impact in the summer league as a defender and that's where I think his most value will be this year. Once his offensive game meets where his defensive game is at now, he's going to be a special player.

10. Jeff Teague - It's going to be interesting to see how Teague handles himself as an NBA guard. At Wake Forest he was inconsistent. There were times though when he was a top guard in the country and that's what the Hawks are hoping they get each night.

So there you have it. Once again, if you're interested in point guard talk then check back here periodically all week as all the content up on this site will be point guard related.

Also, in case you missed the complete rankings, you can find them right here.

Point Guard Week

Just stating in advance. Starting on Monday, I'm declaring the upcoming week "Point Guard Week" for Dif's World of Bball.

No reasoning for it simply other than, I love point guards and point guard play.

Look out for it.

Recruiting

I'm generally new in the whole art of the recruiting thing - that is to say I have barely one year's experience.

This year though I have gotten started in the process much earlier than I did last year and I have to say I am enjoying, so far, the process.

A few times I have been given just a name and a small bit of information about a potential recruit and am left to myself to go ahead and try and track down more information. I think it is the gathering of information part that I am enjoying.

This is also where I feel having a strong network behind you to go ahead and try and track down more information is vital, which is why I am trying to build my network.

Enjoying it though.

Perry Jones, Baylor Commit

Just saw this video of a Baylor Commit, Perry Jones.

Kid is 6-10 and just observe his handle. Sickening.

Remembering Horace Jenkins

Now I know the title says Remembering Horace Jenkins and titles like that are usually left for those that have passed on. Make no mistake about it, Horace Jenkins the basketball player is alive and well. Matter of fact, Jenkins or "Junie" as he was known amongst his friends is not even retired. No the "oldest rookie" in the NBA is still playing the game he loves, this time for Italian team Climanio Bologna.

I came across an article recently from the past, about Horace, and it was this article which inspired me to write.

Back when I was in the 8th grade, my father read a short snippet in the newspaper about how the upcoming Division III basketball game between the Montclair State RedHawks and the William Paterson Pioneers was going to be a big game, with the winner deciding who would win the New Jersey Athletic Conference that season. The game was going to be played at William Paterson and since we lived just minutes from Willy P's gym, he decided to take me.

Really knowing nothing about either team and the concept of Division III basketball fairly new to me, I had low expectations for this game. As we arrived to what I'd call a rather frenzied atmosphere, my father and I were a little late, however managed to find two seats in the home side bleachers. Just minutes before the game was starting, a player on from William Paterson was rewarded for scoring his 1,000th point. Again, this achievement didn't quite mean what it means to me today, but I applauded all the same. Little did I know how much the player receiving the award, Horace Jenkins, was going to suck me in as a fan and change my life as a basketball player.

The first particular game that I saw him in, that game against Montclair State, I had no idea who he was, or that I would pay any particular attention to him. I don't remember much about said game, though I do remember that in the closing moments of the game, William Paterson had the game in hand, and Jenkins got a steal and the opportunity to go to the basket uncontested, which he finished beautifully with a monster reverse dunk. This dunk absolutely brought the house down and hooked me.

As we left the Rec Center that night, all my father and I really knew was that we just watched some amazing basketball player do what he does best on the court, yet we didn't think anything out of the ordinary. It wasn't until we got home and my dad did some further digging to find out Jenkins' whole story. Jenkins became ineligible his senior year of high school and could not play ball. He went on to Union County Community College and through one season he averaged 20.6 ppg, but had to drop out when his son, Hakeem was born. He needed to get a job to support his son and the only ball playing he did was in pick up games.

This wasn't a bad thing. William Paterson's head coach, Jose Rebibmas went to one of these said pick up games to watch another player, Mufeed Thomas. Only one problem occurred, Rebibmas couldn't take his eyes off Jenkins. After the game, he approached Jenkins and told him about the school and if he'd like to attend and play basketball. The rest is history.

Jenkins led William Paterson to their best run in schools history. They made it to two Final Fours and even the National Championship Game in which they lost. I still remember sitting on my desktop computer that day, listening to the audio broadcast of the game. This was way before high speed internet, so the broadcast was bumpy, but I still had to support my guy. It was during his senior year also that they asked Jenkins to compete in the NCAA slam dunk contest. Guys like Jeff Trepanier from USC and other Division I schools all represented and then there was little Horace Jenkins, from William Paterson College as Dickie V called it. Well, Jenkins not only won the thing, but did so in electrifying fashion.

It was in Horace's senior year that there began real chatter about the possibility of Horace getting drafted into the NBA from Division III. During that summer when he went and participated at the Portsmouth Invitational Camp, I read and followed the updates as much as I could. However, as good as his story was, the draft selection was not to be.

Jenkins held his head high though and played in Europe, his shot at the NBA yet to come. Either way this story isn't about Jenkins' time in the NBA. (He did make the Pistons roster in 2004 yet not their playoff roster. He finally achieved his NBA dream at the ripe age of 29.) For me, this is story about all those times, going with my father to the William Paterson Rec Center and watching Horace play. He taught me swagger. He taught me leadership. He taught me perseverance. All and all, he basically inspired me to become a better basketball player and I thank him for that.

Below is one other story I found about him:

D3 Horace Jenkins Shocks the World

Collection of Tweets - Transition Defense

Here's a collection of my tweets from yesterday regarding defensive transition. I pulled this information from notes given by basketball coach, Kevin Eastman. Enjoy.

• 5 Keys to Transition D: talking, pointing, matching up, loading to the ball, switching on weakside only (if necessary)
  
• Talking is the voice. As loud as possible call out first open man. May not be your original matchup.
  
• Pointing is needed in loud arenas where the voice may not be heard.
  
• Transition is unpredictable. When matching up you are guarding the "team" not necessarily the "individual"
  
• Loading to the ball, "shrink" coverage. Requires proper body positioning. Offense should see no gaps when advancing ball.
  
• Transition D is a scramble. If there ever is a switch (big to big, small to small),its on the weakside where your D is less vulnerable.
  
• The 5 keys require - voice, fingers, eyes, body and mind.
  
• There are 2 types of fast break offenses. Pass ahead and dribble advancement.
  
• When playing pass ahead team, its most important to stop that first advancing pass.
  
• Try to be matched up with your player and touch them by the time they reach half court.
  
• On dribble advancement, you need to cover the ball as quickly as possible, without getting beat.
  
• The two defensive wing players should sprint back and get to the elbows. So dribbler sees no immediate gaps or lanes.

Again these were notes pulled from a 6 minute audio of Kevin Eastman discussing the topic. I can be followed on Twitter - @justindefeo.

What is Hustle?

For a small portion of my life I sold tickets for the New Jersey Nets. One of the pages they handed out was called "What is Hustle?". I recently found that paper and thought it was relevant so I decided to post it. Enjoy.

What is Hustle?

Hustle is doing something that everyone

is absolutely certain can’t be done.

Hustle is getting commitment because you got there first,

or stayed with it after everyone else gave up.

Hustle is shoe leather and elbow grease and sweat

and missing lunch.

Hustle is getting prospects to say “yes”

after they’ve said “no” twenty times.

Hustle is doing more unto a customer

than the other guy can do unto him.

Hustle is believing in yourself and

the business you’re in.

Hustle is the sheer joy of winning.

Hustle is being the sorest loser in town.

Hustle is hating to take a vacation because you

might miss a piece of the action

Hustle is heaven if you’re a hustler.

Hustle is hell if you’re not.