Hoops

Highest valued basketball skill

please have a look at this study for the value of the rebounding skill
The Case for Dennis Rodman

http://skepticalsports.com/?p=1201

being coachable!!

Offensive rebounds end of story

Agree Isaac, also it just seems that teams in the current playoff series are really struggling away from home.

Mentally, psychologically they just aren't the same team as they are when playing on home court.

Early playoff games were awesome, close and the teams were not getting blown off as they seem to be right now.

Mind you, it is very demanding playing 6 or 7 games in a row almost, so I can see that if you are off 5% it really hurts you, especially in such a competition like the NBA where teams that are on will just kill you if you are slightly off...

Maybe the true character of the player comes out in crunch games like the one today? Stephens for example, I feel he is hurting his team more and more as he carries on with his silly antics. That smack on Cole's face was pretty bad really!

I agree with bear! These type of players are invaluable

I agree with Bear. Decision making smarts very important. Leave your selfishness at the door. It's the team score at the end of the day that counts.

My thoughts are along the lines of decision making and sacrifice.

If you find a player with decent ball skills, can shoot and pass and handle the ball etc... Then apply the intangibles to make that player one who can help his/her team win; I think these two combined into one skill set may come under something called 'character'.

Decision making and being able to sacrifice some of your own personal ego on court is huge for me.

Not easy to teach as the character of a player, probably shows up early in juniors actually, then it is a hard thing for a coach to change a player's character as they mature.

Not saying ego is a bad thing, got to have self confidence at the elite level, not many greats have a small ego, but their character in this example is important IMHO...

A bit of both is necessary.

All offence and no defence won't get you far e.g. Phoenix Suns 2006ish

All defence and no offence won't get you far e.g.
Chicago Bulls 2014

Just wondering if anybody from SA can shed any light on why the SA 18 and Under teams didn't travel to Canberra to play in the Pacific School Games last week.

Full complement of states and territories plus China, Singapore and Macau (boys only) but SA only fielded a team in the Primary Girls Division it seems.

An excellent tournament with a high standard across most teams (with the usual regional variations obviously) so interesting that SA chose not to send teams.

Any ideas.