Conditioning your body to improve your basketball skills can be the most difficult part in any athlete’s training.  Strength and quickness training can help improve your 3 point shooting, dribbling and passing, but the easiest aspect of your game to improve, is your jump height.  Here are a few workouts that all of the pros use to increase their vertical leap height.1.  Hill Sprints!  Find a hill around where you live that has a steady incline.  The steeper the better for this workout.  Start at the bottom and simply sprint as hard and as fast as to can.  Keep the sprints limited to about 70 yards.  Remember, with this workout, you are workout on quickness, not endurance.  Do 6-8 hill sprints a day.

2.  Core Workouts!  Don’t forget that your abs play a tremendous role in balance and overall explosive power.  every morning when you wake up, do sit up, crunches, and v-ups.  These 3 workouts combined will strengthen both your upper and lower abs.  This is also important for cutting fat!  If you had to hold a 10 pound dumbbell when you jumped, you wouldn’t get as high as if you weren’t holding it.  Core workouts will help you strip away that extra weight.

3.  Bulgarian Split Dead-Lift!  The name is complicated, the workout is simple!  Get a pair of dumbbells at a weight that feels comfortable to you  (I started with 25 lb each but within 3 weeks I had moved up to 95 lb dumbbells).  Put a bench about 2 feet behind you.  Stand with the dumbbells hanging to your sides.  Step back with 1 foot ad place the top of your foot on the bench with the sole of your shoe toward the sky.  Now you are ready to begin.  Squat down on the 1 leg until your knee is at a 90 degree angle and press yourself back up.  Do 10 Reps of this workout for each leg. Try to do at least 5 sets.

For more tips to help increase your vertical jump height, check out The Jump Manual. This is the best program available to help increase your vertical jump fast!

Allen Iverson’s signature shoe line is the second longest in the history of the basketball sneaker market. Still running strong after 12 years the unveil the next installment of the line to be worn by the Denver nuggest guard. Here is our first look at The Answer XII which will be lighter than the heavier set shoes Allen has been wearing the last few seasons.

It is hard to believe that Allen Iverson has been in the League since 1996. It seems like yesterday Iverson was playing in the Big East tournament against Ray Allen in Madison Square Garden. For 13 seasons we’ve watched Allen tear the NBA up. Iverson has one, if not the most loyal fan bases a professional athlete can have. Even through the tough times A.I.’s fans ride out for him. The Answer’s ride throughout his career as an NBA player has been a journey that not too many can say they have been on.

Reebok tried to emulate that with Iverson’s latest signature shoe, the Answer 12. The back of the A12 has an excerpt from the poem Invictus by William Ernest Henley (if you’re in a black fraternity then you know this poem very well!). Invictus has been very instrumental in Iverson’s life. The poem speaks on how one is the master of their fate and the captain of one’s soul. Notice the three different color-ways. The first colorway, black-red-white, is inspired by the Philadelphia 76ers. The second colorway, baby-blue-white-yellow, is inspired by his days as a Denver Nugget. The third colorway is obviously the colors of his current team, the Detroit Pistons.

Andrea Mae is a blogger for latest basketball shoes for more information and articles on basketball shoes related, just visit Latest Basketball Shoes

Twenty-six of 31 NCAA Basketball league or conference titles were settled Monday (3-9-09). Twenty-three teams won outright championships, 3 wound up in ties with other teams, and playoffs will decide the other 5. Here is the scorecard:

The Dominators

Teams that won outright league titles by a 2-game-or-more-advantage included 2nd-ranked North Carolina in the Atlantic Coast Conference with a 13-3 mark and an overall record of 27-3. The Tar Heels were 14-1 at home. Two other teams also only lost once at home-Wake Forest and Duke-but neither could begin to match North Carolina’s 8-2 road performance.

Eighth-ranked Michigan State took the Big Ten title with a 15-3 mark and a 4-game winning advantage. The Spartans were 25-5 overall with a 12-2 home showing and a killer 9-1 road record. Indiana was 1-17 in conference play, begging the question: Where are the real clowns who sent Bobby Knight packing?

Fourteenth-ranked Gonzaga ran the table in West Coast Conference play with a perfect 14-0 mark and a 4-game winning advantage. The Zags were 25-5 overall with a sterling 9-1 road record.

Utah State won the Western Athletic title with a 14-2 mark and a 3-game winning advantage. The Aggies were 27-4 overall with a perfect 17-0 home record.

Weber State (21-8 overall) won the Big Sky with a 15-1 mark and a 4-game winning advantage. Radford (21-11 overall) won the Big South with a 15-3 mark. Butler (26-4 overall) took the Horizon title with a 15-3 record. Cornell (21-9 overall) won the Ivy League with an 11-3 mark and a 3-game winning advantage. Siena (25-7 overall) won the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference with a 16-2 and a perfect 16-0 home record.

Morgan State (20-11 overall) won the Mid-Eastern Conference with a 13-3 mark and a 3-game winning advantage. Robert Morris (23-10) won the Northeast with a 15-3 mark and 3-game winning advantage. American University (23-7) won the Patriot League with a 13-1 mark. North Dakota State (24-6) took the Summit League with a 16-2 mark.

All You Need Is One More Win

Teams that won outright titles by a 1-game advantage included 6th-ranked Louisville in the Big East with a 16-2 mark and an overall record of 25-5. No. 3-ranked Pittsburgh (28-3 overall) was a runner-up with a perfect 19-0 record at home but could not match Louisville’s 8-1 road mark. Top-ranked Connecticut was also a runner-up and had a 27-3 record, but Louisville took home the trophy.

Ninth-ranked Kansas won the Big 12 with a 14-2 and an 18-1 home record. The Jayhawks were 25-6 overall. Fifteenth-ranked Missouri was third with a perfect 18-0 mark at home but could not win when it really counted.

Sixteenth-ranked Washington won the Pacific 10 (Pac 10) title with a 14-4 mark and an 18-1 home record. The outright championship was the Huskies’ first in 56 years. Washington was 24-7 overall. The Huskies started the year at 3-3 and then went 21-4.

Seventeenth-ranked Xavier (24-6 overall) won the Atlantic 10 title with a 12-4 mark and was 14-1 at home. Dayton, a runner-up, was a perfect 18-0 at home but the Flyers lost more games than they won on the road.

Jacksonville (18-3 overall) won the Atlantic Sun with a 15-5 mark. Cal State Northridge (15-13 overall) won the Big West title with an 11-5 mark even though Cal State was 5-11 on the road. Virginia Commonwealth (23-9) won the Colonial Athletic Conference with a 14-4 mark. Runner-up George Mason (22-9) was a perfect 14-0 at home but lost more games than it won on the road.

Tulsa (22-9) won the Conference USA title with a 12-4 mark. Tennessee-Martin (22-9) won the Ohio Valley championship with a 14-4 mark. Alabama State (19-9) won the Southwestern Athletic title with a 16-2 mark. Runner-up Jackson State was a perfect 9-0 at home but a terrible 6-13 on the road.

A Tie Is Better Than Runner-Up

Among the teams that tied for a title were Brigham Young (24-6), Utah (21-9) and New Mexico (21-10). All three went 12-4 for a 3-way tie in the Mountain West Conference.

Vermont (23-8) and Binghamton (22-8) both went 13-3 to tie for the America East title.

Creighton (26-7) and Northern Iowa (23-10) both went 14-4 to tie for the Missouri Valley championship.

Several Titles Are Still Undecided

Among the conferences with divisional champions but not league or conference champions are the Mid-American Conference that has East Champion Buffalo (19-10 overall) and West Champion Ball State (13-16 overall). The Southeastern (SEC) Conference has South Carolina (21-8) and Tennessee (19-10) as East Champions and LSU (25-6) as the West Champion.

The Southern Conference has Chattanooga (17-16) as the North Champion and Davidson (26-7) as the South Champion. The Southland Conference has Stephen F. Austin (21-7) as the East Champion and Sam Houston State (18-11) as the West Champion. The Sun Belt has Western Kentucky (22-8) as the East Champion and Arkansas-Little Rock (23-7) as the West Champion.

League playoffs are underway and the NCAA National Championship Tournament (better known as March Madness) will start March 19 after a play-in game to determine the 64th team to complete the bracket for the single-elimination tournament.

Copyright © 2009 Ed Bagley

Read my articles on track and field, cross-country and distance running, including:

“Updated USA Prep Track & Field Records and the New Best 2008 Top Performers”

“2009 Simplot Games Showcase the Nation’s Top High School Track and Field Talent”

“National Indoor Middle Distance USA High School Track Records - What It Takes to Be the Best”

“Several Track and Field Girl Athletes Prove Their Great Sportsmanship and Substance - Playing Sports Builds Character”

“Running: There Is an Inescapable Correlation Between Your Weight and Your Cardiovascular Efficiency - Part 5″

“Arthur Lydiard, the World’s Greatest Middle Distance Coach, on How to Train Effectively”

“Washington’s 2 Freshmen Lead Women to the 2008 National Cross-Country Title”

“Kathryn Martin Dominates on the Track at the 2008 USATF National Masters Meet”

“USA Middle Distance Outdoor Records for Male Super Master Runners Ages 50-74″

Find my Blog at: http://www.edbagleyblog.com
http://www.edbagleyblog.com/Sports.html

The 30-year-old Shawn Marion and the guard Marcus Banks from Miami Heat were traded to the Toronto Raptors for Jermaine O’Neal and forward Jamario Moon; given that for different aspects each team is looking for a refreshing change. On one hand, the Raptors need more consistency in rebounding and defense, as well as solidify the small forward position, while Miami is looking for a stronger front line of forwards. Therefore the new players could be just the solution for both groups: O’Neal, being a top shot-blocker, would start to rule in the paint for Miami; as Marion should be a good ingredient at the Raptors’ small forward position by opening options to the other players with his great shooting and rebounding.

Currently, Shawn Marion has an average of 12 points and 8.7 rebounds per game (RPG) -reached with the Miami Heats. Whereas Jermaine O’Neal, even out of the court for several games -due to a number of injuries suffered-, is averaging 13.5 PPG and 7 RPG. Moreover, Banks and Moon have helped their teams as well. Moon has been a strong forward, scoring 7.3 pts and 4.6 rebounds per game in 54 matches on his first time at the NBA; while Marcus Banks, although not being able to play that much, has a record of 2.6 pts and 0.90 RPG in 16 games for 2008/09.

According to some NBA sources, other conditions were added to the deal by Toronto, with a conditional draft pick being send to Miami with some sort of cash compensation in return. This trade has also saved money for both franchises, which is expected to be used to acquire new players next season.

Shawn Marion will be a free agent when he finishes with the Raptors, although general manager of Toronto Bryan Colangelo, who first drafted Marion in his early years in Phoenix Suns, will try to re-sign Marion for next campaign, who for this one is winning around $17,810,000. In contrast, O’Neal may decide to receive a lesser salary in Miami for the chance to compete for a title beside Wade and another prospective star free agent. O’Neal will win around $23,000,000 in 2009/2010.

Additionally, with Shawn Marion inclusion, the Raptors can get better use of Andrea Bargnani, who has been 50/50 in and out as starter and reserve this period; also Chris Bosh could enhance his work in the low post to take a better advantage of his talent. The joint of Marion, Barganani and Bosh will offer balance and a finer rotation to the team.

On the other hand, -as mentioned before- O’Neal and Moon would provide aid in the paint and in the forward positions for the Heat, on their intent to overcome the problems they have had this season.

About this deal, analysts think that it is a winning situation for both fractions, since their weaknesses are being strength with these four great players. Now, all left is to wish the best of the lucks for the players and their new teams on the remaining 2008/09 season.

Ally White is a top senior copy writer on NBA games and sports action for the sportsbetting industry

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To fully understand point spreads you must understand in part how bookmakers work. A sports book makes money by getting the amount bet on either side of a contest to be as equal as possible. This way, they can pay off the winners with the losers’ money and keep the extra fee the losers’ must pay (called the ‘juice’ or ‘vigorish’) for themselves. The sportsbook or online gambling site is not in the business of gambling themselves. They do not care who wins, as long as the money is basically even.

Using Point Spreads to Even Odds

However, many sporting contests are not even matches. When the Boston Celtics play the Washington Wizards, the Celtics – with Pearce, Garnett and Allen – are expected to win a large portion of the time. This means all the money will go on the Celtics, which could mean potential disaster for the bookmakers. To resolve this problem, point spreads were created. The point spread is the amount the favored team must win by in order for a bet on that team to win. It represents just how much better one team is assumed to be over the other.

Point Spread Example

In our Celtics-Bengals game, if the game is played in Boston, the line may appear: Celtics +10 Wizards. If the game were played in Washington, it might read Celtics -10 Wizards. Either way what it means is that the Celtics must win by more than 10 points for a bet on the Celtics to be a winner. If you bet on the Wizards and the final score is Celtics 80, Wizards 75; Celtics 77 Wizards 70 or Celtics 90 Wizards 81, you win. If the final score is Celtics 90 Bengals 89; Celtics 77 Wizards 65 or Celtics 88 Wizards76, you lose, and a bet on the Titans is a winner.

More on Point Spreads

Creating point spreads is not an exact science, and there will be times when a team wins by many more points than they are favored to win by, while there are other times where the underdog will win even when they are getting many points with the spread. However, point spreads are an effective way to make it fair to bet on either team.