A group of people are throwing bags from a distance as close to gift voucher (target) as possible. Those who know they will get money (have the desire to get money) are throwing bags closer than the target. Those who think it’s just a game  throw bags further than gift voucher.

Psychology experiment

This psychology experiment concludes that our perception of reality could be directly influenced by our desires.

The reason I decided to write about this experiment is because I remembered my recent important free throw shot. We played basketball and there were 7 players on the court. For a 3×3 game only 6 players are needed, so we decided that those players who will make a free throw will play and the remaining one will go out. Well I missed and had to go away. However, guess what my free throw shot was like. You bet, it was short. I underthrew the ball despite wanting to make it. It was very important shot.

Now I remember that while shooting I still had in mind that desire to make a free throw but according to the experiment my mind was already affected and probably I underestimated the distance.

Of course you could say free throw is an easy shot that needs just practice but my tip would be never have in mind your desire to make a free throw, instead try to clear your thoughts and forget about everything while shooting from free throw line.

Next Manute Bol or another no name in the world of basketball? Bienvenue Letuni will show his real potencial some few years later.

Bienvenue Letuni grabbing rim

I love videos from old times so watching some game on Youtube I noticed two players with names Boozer and Allen on their backs. It’s from 1971 when Wilt Chamberlain and Kareem Abdul Jabbar dominated the court.

Boozer and Allen Reincarnation

Today probably Carlos Boozer and Ray Allen are better players than these guys.

If you like vintage NBA, here’s a good source to watch some great basketball clips on Youtube.

Pat Riley and Michael Jordan watching a game

Now look at the image from Dexter season 4 series 5, where special agent Lundy (actor Keith Carradine) is encountering Trinity killer.

Special Agent Lundy

Both of them look having something in common. They could make a duo team of special agents, that would look really cool.

In this video you can see some basketball shooting and defence tips from the MVP itself Kobe Bryant. I think he gives especially good tip on how to defend against left handed player. Usual defence is against right handed players at which left handed players only laugh and go by you standing like a chair.

Kobe can convert opponent strong sides into weaknesess. So for example to effectively defent against left handed player try to handicap his left arm by overplaying him from right. Don’t hesitate to use quick moves and push his left arm near his body. This way you will be able either steal the ball or make him to loose control because it’s only a matter of time when left handed player will try to cross over to the left.

I’m waiting anxiously to try this advice from Kobe Bryant in practise and there are 2 left handed players I will try to surprise in the next game.

Please comment whether it helped you to defend against left handed player.

Shaq is clearly not interested in the interview and most of the time looks somewhere away from announcer Fred McLeod while resting his left hand on the chair’s backrest.  This looks kinda funny because Shaq’s hand size is huge. Being not the tallest center in the NBA he has biggest foot size and I believe his hand size is also the biggest.

His thumb is probably twice as big as the interviewer’s you can compare from the screen-shot below.

Shaq hand size

Now imagine Shaq is celebrating Halloween dressed like Jason and it starts looking a bit scary

Shaq Hand (Halloween Edition)

This is the video itself.

Retro Nike Shoes

By the way, this is from documentary called “Black tar hero1n”. Very sad one I might say. Many young people lost their future by taking dangerous habits and one of the reason for that was “they didn’t know what to do”. Various sports including basketball can deter young people from doing wrong things in their lives.

I like watching old videos showing how things looked in the past and it’s amazing how the world evolved in this short amount of time. In 1995-1998 (when this documentary was filmed) there were no Google, no Twitter, no Digg and other popular websites.

When information spreads so quickly in the internet nowadays it is important to find fresh news before it gets old. Google and other traditional search providers rely on the authority of domain and backlinks while real time search is based on freshness factor. You don’t have to be an authority to get listed in search results.

See what’s happening about basketball in real time here

Ricky Rubio Barselona

The best young basketball player in Europe in 2007 and 2008, Ricky Rubio after the statement of the desire to play in the NBA has moved to Barcelona. Why it happened and what to expect from this transition more Ricky said in his first interview with columnist official of his new club.

Finally concluding negotiations between the “Barselona” and “Juventut” you are satisfied with their results?

The truth is that the talks were rather difficult. But we came to mutual agreement, and now I want to enjoy the new team.

As you went through all this turmoil that has arisen around you, because so much has been said about what club you’re going to go … How it all really happened, and how you decided to join the “Barselona”?

When the season ended, I was going to go to the NBA. At the NBA Draft I was elected by a good number and I was pleasantly surprised, but I have not had a chance to go to the NBA. I tried but I failed, and now I joined a great club, with whom I’m going to win many titles.

Rumors about your transition lasted all summer, you’re 18, how do you cope with all this pressure?

You feel only one thing – pride, when all these great clubs want to sign a contract with you, but it is difficult to decide, because you do not know how the things will be in the future.

Were you satisfied when you were said to participate in the European Championship 2009 in the national team of Spain?

Yes, Sergio Skariolo spoke to me, the whole coaching staff supported me because they saw that I was very excited, and this is true, then I was incredibly excited.

“It’s nice to realize that I can play in the NBA, but my thoughts are only of the royal” Barcelona “, and for this team I will give all myself”

But the door to the NBA for you is not closed, just because you signed a contract with “Barselona”, and after two seasons you can come back in the U.S. …

Nice to know that I can play in the NBA, but my thoughts are only of the “Barcelona”.

Let’s talk about “Juventut”, whether it was difficult to agree on the transition to their competitors?

The question you had to ask those who participated in these negotiations, in particular Johan Creusa, our director of “Juventut”. I think that is normal when there is a big competition, but during negotiations, you should not think about who you are dealing.

You keep good relations with Juventut?

I have  spent several years in this team, and I have many good friends. And I would hope that I have kept good relations with them. I do not think that all our communications broke off, although I have not said goodbye to them. Yet few people I could say goodbye, and they supported me in my decision.

What do you think about how to become the most expensive “signature” in history? This adds pressure? You think that you can achieve something special with Barcelona?

Of course, I myself did not see themselves in such an amount, but if others do, it means that they believe in me. And I, in turn, am ready to compensate all that on the court.

Do you have a great experience to work under great pressure, since your debuted in the  ABC league as early as 14 years, 11 months and 24 days old.  What have you experienced that time?

While everyone says that it was very difficult, I do not think so. When you go to the playground, you forget how old you are and focus your attention only on what is happening around you.

In official statement by  Creusa he said that you’ll be an excellent addition to the defence side of the team. Do you think this is correct, or you hope to contribute as much in offence with your team mates Garden and Lakovic?

When the contract was signed, we had a conversation with Johan, in which he said that all three PGs could find a common language among themselves, and we can all play equal number of minutes in games.

What do you like to do more: to assist others or to score points yourself?

Both of these things I like equally. I like to create exciting moments. More interesting to observe the fast game, fans like passion.

What  personal achievements you want to accomplish playing in Barcelona?

Improve every year. Being the best in all aspects. I will train as much as I can to be the best, and then I’ll help the team win trophies and win titles.

“I think that with our arrival in the team and the club begins a new era, we must win, and the team for this, I am sure, is ready”

With you and the newly-arrived players, Ndong, Morris, Lorbek, the team is facing big changes?

I think that now the team looks very strong. Now on the court, we must show that such a great team as Barca signed a contract with us not in vain. I think that with our arrival in the team and the club begins a new era, we must win, and the team for this, I’m sure, is ready.

You have already spoken with someone from your new teammates?

I spoke with Juan Carlos Navarro, when we played together in the national team, and he also supported me in my choice.

Have you talked with Xavi Pascual?

No, we talked a few times, but it was before I moved to Barcelona. I think that our meeting will happen in a few days.