A Perfectly Timed Message

Another birthday celebration -- this time in France!

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  I woke up at 2 this morning. Not for a mid-night snack. Not to get up and go to the bathroom. And not for a glass of water.

  For good.

  I didn't plan on it that way, of course. But jet lag is still rearing its ugly head, so my eyes popped open at 2am like it was nothing. After roughly three hours of sleep.

  I turned on the BCS Championship game, and hoped that would entertain me for a while. But after Brent Musburger ever-so-gracefully talked his way into the realm of creeper status, and Alabama scored touchdown after touchdown, I had had enough football.

  I tried sleep again. But to no avail.

  So I flipped on a movie, and thought that might put me to sleep. Nope.

  When it became clear that sleep would escape me the rest of the morning, I started brainstorming. What could I do? Practice isn't until late this evening, so I have ALL day to kill. And when that day began before some had even gone to bed, no question, it was going to be a long day!

  What is the first thing I always do when I have time and energy on my hands? Run!

  I checked the weather. It wasn't too cold, and it wasn't too windy. Even though it was still dark, outside I went!

With Nana and my nieces -- minus one.

  Instead of my usual music playlists, I thought I'd turn on a podcast this go 'round. I had several of  Jillian Michaels' podcasts to catch up on, and I was in the mood to stimulate my mind a little, instead of drowning myself into music as I ran.

  One segment in that particular podcast struck a nerve. I had heard the ideas before, but it stuck with me as I ran. It was titled 'Failure Role Models'. And they talked about the many famous role models who had failed at various points in their careers (Bill Gates, Michael Jordan, Thomas Edison, Steven Spielberg, Steve Jobs, etc.).

  The second point they stressed during the segment was how important failure is in finding success. Through your failures, you learn. You alter your approach. You better yourself. You succeed.

Gearing up for a run in the cold!

  So many of us are afraid of failure. If you stop trying, simply to avoid failure, you're failing. All those people listed above, took a chance. They put their necks on the line over and over, til their goals came to fruition. And now look how they are regarded.

  'There's only one true failure, and that's never trying.' If you never try, you'll never accomplish anything. It's the safe way to live. Not trying. Not engaging.

  People fail over and over, all around us. Everyday. So it shouldn't be that scary. They pick themselves up, brush themselves off, and try again.

  That was my take-away during this morning's run in the dark. So I guess I can look at my jet lag as a blessing in disguise (for today, anyway). Because I don't know when I would have gotten to that podcast otherwise!

  As a new year has gotten underway, that is something I want to keep at the forefront of my life. Trying, engaging, putting my neck on the line, possibly failing -- both off the basketball court and on.

  You should try it too!

LINKS:

Jillian Michaels Podcast 11/10/12

No Redos, No Regrets

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CU Frontcourt: Me, Tera, and Linda.

  I think I've always played basketball without regret. You play hard, you leave it all on the court, and there's nothing to regret.

  But ever since my eligibility expired as a senior at Colorado, I've wanted to have one play, and one play only, back. A redo so to speak.

  If that play had resulted differently, maybe the rest of the game would have gone differently too. Then maybe my career in black and gold wouldn't have ended that afternoon in Knoxville. Maybe we would have moved on to our second straight NCAA Elite Eight appearance. And after that, who knows?

  It's been almost nine years, so some of the details are a little foggier than others. But here's the set up:

  It's 2003. The Colorado Buffaloes are playing the Villanova Wildcats in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 in Knoxville, Tennessee. The winner moves on to the Elite Eight. With, in all likelihood, a match up with host, the Tennessee Lady Vols. You couldn't ask for anything better.

Timeout vs. Villanova.

  We had played Villanova earlier in the season, in a tournament we hosted over Thanksgiving called the Coors Classic. Villanova beat us that night in a close game. It was the first time we lost in the Coors Classic in forever (I don't know the actual stats on that, but you were never supposed to lose in the Coors Classic).

  Villanova was a good team. A lot like us actually. Fundamentally sound. A balanced team, in that they had three or four players you had to focus on, not just one or two 'superstars'. They were patient, and they were smart.

  I think it shocked us a little to lose that game in November. But early season losses aren't as devastating as losses in March.

  Now fast forward several months to tournament time. The brackets for the NCAA Tournament were released, and we saw Villanova in our bracket. I know every single one of my teammates immediately thought about a possible re-match with them in the Sweet 16. We saw that as a chance for redemption. And another shot at reaching the Elite Eight, like we had done the year before.

  It was my senior year. Lose, and you're done. So you play with a little extra energy, a little extra emotion. I was playing on a fractured left ankle (explains the 'robo-ankle' I have now) -- you better believe I wasn't going to miss my senior year NCAA Tournament. So if I could handle the pain, I was going to be on the court. Unfortunate, but I managed.

Headed to the Sweet 16.

  Like the game in Boulder in November, the Sweet 16 match up went back and fourth. We didn't really change anything strategy-wise from the first time we played them (which also might be a 'coulda-shoulda-woulda' moment for me).

  We believed in the way we played, our system. And we believed that we would make the plays down the stretch, and pull out a win the second time around.

  Villanova played us the same as well. They chose to take away all our perimeter scoring chances by sticking tight to their man when the ball went inside. As a result, our All-American center, Tera Bjorklund was racking up the points in the post with no double team, or help in sight. 

  The exact time and score scenario escapes me. We were either up by a few, or down by a few. Either way, it was a tight game, with less then seven or eight minutes to go. We ran the Triangle offense, of course made famous by Phil Jackson and Michael Jordan. And we ran it pretty well.

  Here's the play I want back:

Tough loss.

  The ball was on the right wing, with fellow senior forward Linda Lappe.

  One of the bread-and-butter cuts out of the Triangle calls for the opposite forward (me, on this particular play) to cut towards the ball, and receive the pass at the high post (or elbow). Villanova knew that cut, and over-played it.

  I did what I had done countless other times in past games and practices, and cut back-door to the rim. I knew Linda would respond, just like she had done time and time again, with a pass right on the money.

  I spun towards the hoop, and the ball was right there. I jumped to catch it on the left side of the rim -- and here's where I made a quick (unfortunate??) decision -- I chose to catch the ball and lay it in in one motion (an alley-oop per se). But there was a problem. I felt a push in my back, sending me off balance, and off the court. I put the ball up, only to have it trickle off the rim. I ended up out of bounds under the basket, and play continued.

  In hindsight, I should have caught the ball, come down with it, and gone back up strong. That way, you have better chance of putting the ball in the bucket, and any foul would have been more-obvious. I make that shot, and maybe things in turn our favor for the rest of the game.

  Regardless of that play, or any other of the dozens that didn't go our way that afternoon, we lost to Villanova by two points. And with that, our season ended, and my career at Colorado came to a close. Tough way to go out, but those are the breaks.

CU-Boulder: not a bad place to spend your college years.

  There is no regret. You live and you learn. It's just the same on the basketball court.

  I'm still not sure what I learned from that moment in Knoxville. Maybe I learned that you don't get redos. Not on the basketball court, not in life. You have to make each opportunity, every chance, count the first time.

  For me, I knew I wasn't done with basketball after that game. But I was done in a Colorado uniform.

  There's something special about putting on that black and gold, working in the shadows of the beautiful Flatirons, playing with the girls you've lived, sweat, laughed and cried with, day in and day out, for years. Nothing replaces that.

  That game had been on my mind quite a bit in past weeks. Probably because it's March, and it's tournament time. Call it irony, but as it turns out, the Colorado women (now coached by Linda) are playing Villanova this Thursday (the 22nd), in Boulder, in the Sweet 16 of the Women's NIT. Let's hope this time the game ends with the Buffs on top!

  Go Buffs!

Pushing Through the Rough Patch

Who knew I had a defensive stance like that?!?

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  I'm not going to pretend like losing is the worst thing you can go through. Unfortunately, we are reminded on a daily basis that there are things much more difficult to experience. But let me tell you, losing starts to wear on you after a while.

  I'm not exactly sure what my personal record-losing streak stands at for my career, but it's safe to say, if we haven't already surpassed it, we're getting dangerously close. Losing streaks aren't something you really want to keep track of, so you'll have to excuse my lack of stat-keeping.

  My team and I suffered our fifth straight loss over the weekend. That puts our last win coming before Christmas. Here's a situation where only having one game a week isn't doing me any favors. Nearly two months without a win makes for a very frustrated blogger/basketball player!

On the drive.

  When you lose a game, you're chomping at the bit to get back out on the court as quickly as possible, to right any wrongs. To somehow correct the mistakes you made that may have contributed to your team's loss. Practicing makes you feel a little better. But it's not til you get that win, that you're finally 'over' any loss. Until then, you keep seeing the mistakes over and over in your head, playing like a movie.

  I can say, though, after our most-recent game against Armentieres, I am encouraged. We played with fire, and intensity. I could see in my teammates that we were all into the game and focused on winning. It was the most 'together' we had played in months. We played hard, we fought for loose balls, we had a team-spirit that brought us closer. Unfortunately, we just didn't make the plays down the stretch, and came up short on the scoreboard.

  But we'll keep plugging along. There's no other choice. We'll learn from our latest loss, and hopefully become better players (and a better team) because of it. Losing is never ok! But if there's anytime you can be 'ok' with a loss, or a failure, it's when you turn it into something you learn, and grow from. You never want to numb yourself from losing, or from failing. If you're numb, and downfalls no longer affect you, then you're as good as finished. Cause that means you no longer care.

  One quote I continuously come back to is Michael Jordan talking about his failures: "I've failed over and over and over again in my life...and that is why I succeed." That's how MJ made himself the best ever. He took those failures and made himself better. He used his slip-ups as motivation. We can all do the same. We can't let our failures be for naught.

  We're close to turning it around, I can feel it! Fingers-crossed for a better report next week. I think it'll happen!

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My Time

Jumper vs. La Roche.

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  Basketball's a team sport, yes. And having unselfish, team players will always be the centerpiece of a successful team.

  Every once in a while, you need to put the focus back on yourself. When your team is struggling, it's very easy to start pointing fingers; to get caught up in what you feel your teammates are doing (or aren't doing), what plays your coach is calling (or isn't calling), and what calls the refs are making (or aren't making).

  But at the end of the day, there is only one person you have complete control over, and that's yourself.

  My family has a series of favorite family sayings. I'm sure you know the ones. They've been repeated so many times, that you forget where they originated. One of those sayings comes from my Papa (at least I think it started with him!): 'take care of yourself, and it's a full-time job'.

  In other words, stop worrying about everyone else, and take care of you.

  It might not be the same context as he used it, but I think I can hear Papa telling me right now: 'don't worry about your teammates, don't worry about your coach, don't worry about the referees, don't worry about your opponent. Only you control how aggressive you are, how hard you're playing, and what kind of mentality you bring to the court every day.'

Help defense, or something.

  Like I said before, basketball is a team sport. It's one of the things I love most about it. Working together with your teammates towards a common goal. One person can't win a game by herself, and one person can't lose a game by herself. It takes a collective effort either way.

  If I wanted to play an individual sport, and only be concerned with myself all the time, I would have played tennis! But I love being a part of a team. It's a special atmosphere, and that's what has always drawn me to the game.

  Given that, what I sometimes have a hard time with, is finding that balance between a team mentality and individual mentality. I naturally am a 'team first' kind of player. Always have been. Throughout the years, I have discovered it is one of my greatest strengths, and it can be my greatest weakness on the court as well.

  I facilitate, instead of attack. I run the play, instead of making the play. I defer to my teammates, instead of leading the way.

MJ

  This week,the focus shifts back to me.

  In high school, our coach had us write individual goals before every game. And that is something I've done off and on throughout my career in Europe. I haven't done it in a while, but I think now is a perfect time to break out the game goals this season. It simplifies the game.

  What exactly do you want to focus on? I try to be as specific as I can. Sometimes I even break the game down into quarters. I remember reading Michael Jordan's Rare Air years ago where he simplified scoring 32 points a game. It's easy: eight, eight, eight, eight. Only to MJ, I guess.

  So we're shifting mentalities. Not to being selfish, but to getting the job done. And with the shift, I'm hoping to turn the season around. Cause what I have been doing isn't working. My team has lost four straight games, and I have been less-than-stellar on the court. Looking forward to a great week of practice, and
getting back on the right track!

...fitting song for me right now below.

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Back from Hiatus

With my three nieces!

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  Happy 2012, and welcome back to Sabrina's Crossing! I took a longer-than-expected hiatus from blogging while home for the Holidays, but I'm back in France, and ready to get back to it (basketball and blogging, that is)!

  I had an awesome time at home, spending most of my time with family and friends. And of course I continued to workout to stay in shape for the remainder of the season!

  Since I was in Oregon for nearly three weeks, I had to keep reminding myself that I was in-season, and still had four months of basketball to play! From past experience, a 7-10 day break for the Holidays is the norm. Last year in Sweden, I had about five days. So I guess it all balances itself out from year to year. While a longer break is always more-desirable, at a certain point you realize it's time to get back to 'doing what you do'!

Playing Wii with Sofie.

  That said, I'm excited to get the second half of the season started! But first I need to get my land legs back, and get this jet-lag under control (I think I spent all of Sunday drifting in and out of consciousness, and then had my eyes pop open this morning around 4am!). 

  So what did I do at home, since I obviously wasn't blogging?!? A little bit of everything, I guess.

  I made frequent visits to ClubSport to keep my conditioning up to par, and to stay ready for the second half of the basketball season. ClubSport is always changing, they're always making upgrades. And this time around was no different.

  Among other things, they added a 'high altitude training' room. I immediately wanted to give it a try, and see how a simulated run at altitude compared with the many runs at altitude I've done in Colorado. I didn't lose my breath as quickly as I thought I should (room was set for 9,500 ft.), but it was a fun/interesting thing to do.

The line up outside the ES.

  One of the more-ridiculous things that happened while I was home was when I took a trip to the Nike Employee Store the day the Jordan XIs were released. I guess I underestimated the power of  possibly the most-popular Nike ever. But needless to say, the appetite for shoes, and Jordans in particular, never cease to amaze me.

  I quickly made the decision to reschedule my pass to the ES for another, less-chaotic day when the line just to get into the store was out to the street, several hundred feet from the door.

With Sadie.

With Stella.

  After spending four months away, it's always fun to see how much my three incredible nieces have grown and changed during that time. I swear, they just get cuter, funnier, smarter, and more- entertaining every time I see them (no bias)!

  We have a great time together, whether it's playing Wii, playing dress-up (them, not me!!), going to the coffee shop for a treat or two, playing basketball, or playing on scooters, bikes, or roller racers!

  Stella, Sadie, and Sofie always keep me on my toes, and always manage to keep a smile firmly planted on my face!

First birthday dinner with Nana & nieces!

  The benefit of having a long Holiday break, was that I was able to celebrate my birthday at home for the first time in several years. I share a birthday with my Nana, so it was a special day to be able to see her on January 3rd this time around!

  We definitely took full advantage, and spent some quality family time together (I count two family birthday dinners). Nothing like having a homemade chocolate birthday cake!

  I was also able to take advantage of scheduling and timing, and make the three-hour drive to Seattle to watch the Colorado women's basketball team take on the Huskies. I hadn't seen the Buffs play in person since 2008, and it was my first opportunity to catch the Buffs in action since my CU teammate, and good friend Linda took over the reins as head coach!

Coach Lappe and the Buffs in action!

  Seeing a college game again was fun. The pace and the intricacies of the game are much different than the European game, and the college game has changed a lot since I wore the black and gold.

  Unfortunately, I probably won't be allowed back for any games in the near future, since I was on-hand for the Buffs' first loss of the season. But it was great being in the stands cheering for my alma mater!

  My mom made the day-trip to Seattle with me, and we had a wonderful afternoon together: spending time downtown, at Pike's Place Market, Starbucks, and of course cheering on the Buffs and yelling at referees!

Mom & I in Seattle.

  Obviously, the main reason I went home, was to spend Christmas with my family. To me, it just isn't Christmas unless I'm with my family! I had a chance to catch up with a lot of friends I only get to see on occasion. I got to meet a new second-cousin (my cousin Robbie's son, Wesley). I managed to finish my shopping in time, and hopefully everyone enjoyed the presents I brought home from Europe!

  But outside of that, the time I got to spend with my family was the real gift! I had a great Holiday at home, and I loved every second of it.

  The sun is finally rising on Monday morning here in Dunkerque

  I'm also looking forward resuming my journey with this blog. As you might notice, I made a few changes to the layout. Please let me know if the text is too difficult to read, or any other feedback you might have. Thanks again!

2012 in Dunkerque!

Happy 2012!

The Days When the Shot Isn't Falling

CU vs. UNC - 2003 NCAA Tournament.

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  One thing I have always prided myself on as a basketball player is the ability to be a multi-dimensional player. Being one-dimensional just won't cut it. There are too many facets of the game to ONLY be good, or productive, at one of them. The players I respect and admire the most have ALWAYS been the players that can impact a game in more than one way.

  We all know that the part of the game that gets the most shine, the most publicity, is the ability to put the ball in the bucket. That's a no-brainer. Everyone wants their name in the headlines as the top scorer. But the reality is, what happens when that shot's not falling? No matter how much you practice, and how good a shooter you are, you WILL have those days! So when that game comes, do you find a way to contribute in other areas, or do you become an ineffective player?
  

2009 - Germany.

  For me, that game happened on Saturday versus Limoges. I got open shot after open shot, and didn't knock down nearly enough of them. Sure, it's frustrating! But you can get frustrated with yourself and quit playing, or you can dig down and play even harder. Grab rebounds, get some steals, create open shots for your teammates. The game doesn't end on the offensive side of the ball!

2009 - Germany.

  I think that is the process of maturing as a basketball player as well. You can't pout when you miss shots. I know I still become furious with myself for missing shots. But the difference between me now, and 5-10 years ago, is now I don't let it affect the rest of my game. I work even harder to positively impact the game in other ways.

  Actually, I think it's kind of fun. How you can literally dominate the game without necessarily scoring. No, I don't think it's fun when you can't hit the broadside of a barn. But what I mean, is it's fun to find other ways to be a dominant force.

2008 - Sweden.

  Think about your favorite player. What do they do on the court that draws your admiration? We all know Michael Jordan was an incredible scorer. But he also wasn't afraid to mix it up defensively, hit the boards, or find an open teammate for an easy bucket.

2007 - Poland.

  On the women's side, the same can be said for Tamika Catchings. She's been a player I have admired since I was in high school. She plays incredibly hard, and absolutely fills the stat sheet. That's something I've always tried to emulate.

  You can't be a one-dimensional player and make it very far in this game.

   My team had a great win versus Limoges on Saturday. Winning by 20-plus points, for our second blow-out win in a row at home. Even when I missed more shots than I thought I should, I managed to walk off the court happy with the way I played. Yeah, I felt I could have played better (but I always feel that way), and shot the ball better. But because I dug down I found other ways to contribute, I still was proud of the way I played.

  That's one of the things I love about basketball: there are so many ways to affect a game, or even one specific play. There is not one thing that makes you a player. It's the combination of all the things you can do, that makes you standout. There's always a way to make an impact on the court, you just have to find it.

My 2 Cents on the NBA Lockout

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  I know, we're all sick and tired of hearing about the NBA Lockout. Most people hit their limit a while ago. And after yesterday's developments (where the season was seemingly lost when the players decided to decertify their union), I've seen more, "I'm done with the NBA" statements than I can count. But I'm curious about who people are mad at. The owners, or the players? Or maybe fans are just upset in general?

  The common punchline I've seen over and over again since July is: "millionaires arguing with billionaires." And yes, that's a true statement. But my feeling is that folks are holding the players more responsible than owners for the disaster that is the 2011-1012 NBA season. "Shut up and play", right? After reading more 'the players are so greedy' sentiments than I could stand, here I am, hopefully putting a different perspective out there.

  So here are my two cents.

  Admittedly, there are several things about the NBA Lockout that I do not understand. Nor do I care to understand. But here are some things I do know: the owners and players are arguing over revenue sharing (otherwise known as BRI, or Basketball Related Income), aka how much of the gigantic pie ($4 billion pie to be exact) each side should get. And they are arguing over the salary cap; whether it should be a hard cap, soft cap, or flex cap.

  I know I am over-simplifying things. But those are the major issues, and where the snags have been hit.

Deron Williams has been playing in Turkey during the lockout.

  Obviously, I think the lockout stinks. And it's even worse that we're going to lose an entire season of basketball because the millionaires and billionaires couldn't come to a compromise. But I understand where the players are coming from.  And not because I'm a professional basketball player (my situation is NO WHERE near an NBA player's financial situation)!

  Don't forget, this is a LOCKOUT, not a STRIKE. The players want to play, and the owners won't let them. Because the owners made poor business choices in past years (by giving, yes, GIVING huge contracts to players), they are now losing money. So to keep this from happening even further, the owners want to change the rules of the game (change the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement they agreed to in 2005), and potentially take money back from players they were already promised (through their contracts). What's the point of signing a contract if you don't have to carry out the terms of the contract? Again, the problem started with owners doling out HUGE contracts in years past, in my opinion. And now they're regretting it. Bad way to run a business, if you ask me.

  In my opinion, it's not about the money now. It's the principle, and fighting about what is the right thing to do as businessmen. Sure, all we see are millionaire players upset that they might not make as much money. But if the players give into the owners, and take a bad deal now, it shows the owners they can essentially do anything they please, and don't have to honor contracts when they sign them. Take a bad deal now, and each time the CBA needs to be renewed, the owners take more and more of the pie. As it stands, the previous share of the pie was 57-43% for the players. The owners initially offered 47-53%, and that figure has been negotiated up to 51-49%.

Nicolas Batum is playing in his native France during the lockout.

   If it was about the money now, the players would take the deal that is on the table. Take the money now, and play. Remember, they're not getting paid during the lockout! I keep reading about the greedy players, the greedy players... How long is a typical NBA career? I'd say an average career might last 7 or 8 years. Not very long. If they were truly being greedy, they would take the deal (and the money) now, and never even think about the future generations of players. So again, if the players take a bad deal now, it will just continue to get worse for them down the road.

  I do understand how the players receive the brunt of the blame from fans. They are paid more than enough already, aren't they? And lots of other people are affected by a lost season, not just players and owners. People who work at the arenas, etc...have lost their jobs because of the lockout. And in our economy now, we are seeing jobs tougher and tougher to come by.

  But don't forget, the NBA is entertainment. We have overpaid for our entertainment for years. No different than movie stars, baseball players, football players, and so on. They all want a fair shake. That's all I feel the NBA players want too. The owners were hoping the players would give in, and take a bad deal because they we counting on the players wanting the money now!

  Lucky for us, basketball goes on! There are lots of other ways to get your basketball fill: college, high school, Euroleague! How are you going make up for the missed NBA season?

"I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed." -- MJ

MJ w/the game winner.

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  After two consecutive weeks of less-than-stellar performances on the court, I decided it was time to seek out a little extra motivation.

  Basketball, like any sport (or life, I guess), is like riding a roller coaster. Nothing stays the same for too long. Just as you're starting to get comfortable, something comes along to shake things up and get you back on your toes.

  My team had won two consecutive games, so we were starting to feel pretty good about ourselves. And then BAM! Just like that, we're staring at a two game losing streak.

  It's equally important to not get too high with the wins, and not get too low with the losses. Maybe each person is different, but for me it's easier to hold onto the negatives, and forget about the successes you've just had. So in the effort to get my mind back on track, I looked for motivation from the best.

  Some of the best quotes I've seen regarding bouncing back from failure/defeat have come from Michael Jordan. When you think of MJ, you most-certainly don't think of failure. You think champion, competitor, success.

  But undoubtedly there were times in his career where he came up on the short end. Where he missed the game winner, where he didn't play up to par, where his team lost in the playoffs. But one of the things that made him the best ever, was that he always bounced back from those defeats.

"If you're trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I've had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it."

                                                                                                            - Michael Jordan

  So if someone like Michael Jordan has had failures similar to yours, there's no reason to get down. He's proof that if you keep working, and learn from your defeats, you can turn things back around in your favor.

  I know that's what I'm going to keep in mind this weekend as I take to the court! Have a great one!

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Playing Your Efficient Best

Colorado bench - 2002-2003.

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  A competitor wants to be in the game as much as physically possible. Find a game anywhere in the world, and the most competitive people will never want to be on the sideline. Competition feeds something deep inside of you, it gets your blood boiling. A competitor also believes down deep, that by being in the game, you're giving your team its best chance to win.

  If the game lasts 40 minutes, I want to be on the court 40 minutes. I never want to sit out. Period.

  But there is a fine line between wanting to be in the game because you're ultra-competitive, and staying in the game a few minutes too long and causing your team harm. At some point, efficiency takes a hit. Obviously, you work to condition yourself to be able to stay on the court, and be effective for as long as possible. But you WILL get tired. In an intense, high-paced game, there WILL be a point where you tire, no matter how good of shape you are in. You get fatigued, and can no longer play as hard. Your legs get tight, and your reactions become a step slower. You lose your focus mentally, and you make some mistakes. Fatigue can arise in many forms, and when it does, it has the potential to cause a player to be counter-productive.

Subbing out in Germany - 2010.

  Once that fatigue hits, you always think you can get through it. You'll catch your breath, or your legs will come back to you soon enough. You always try to push to the next possession, or the possession after that. Or you try to find a place where you can rest on the court. But in hindsight, that's probably a selfish move, and exactly where you do your team more harm than good.

  In this situation, hopefully you have a coach that sees when you are trying to rest on the court, or heaven forbid, you just ask for a sub! I have been horrible with this throughout the years. Maybe it's a pride thing, but I HATE subbing myself out of the game. Sometimes, it might be exactly what you need to re-energize yourself, and raise your level of play for the remainder of the game. You have to trust your teammates enough to know they'll be able to survive without you for a couple of minutes. ;)

Sweden - 2008-2009.

  So the reality is, sometimes less really IS more. Fewer minutes on the court might result in playing 'better' in the time you are in the game. Better overall statistics, and playing a more efficient game. If instead of pacing yourself through 40 minutes, you only play 30, you're able to play your hardest the entire time you're on the court.

Even the best ever, Michael Jordan, didn't play the entire game. Over the course of his career, played an average of 38 minutes a game (NBA games are 48 minutes). That means he was allowed 10 minutes of game time to rest and re-focus on the bench.

  Now don't get me wrong, I still get mad when I am subbed out of the game (as all my coaches can attest to, I'm sure). Even though I know it's for the best, and will benefit me later in the game, I can't help myself. I've always wanted to be on the court every second of every game, and don't see that changing anytime soon.

Fast break in Germany - 2010.

   Call it what you want: maturation, experience, etc..but I've finally realized a little rest isn't a bad thing. To be at your best on the court you have to be allowed a few minutes to re-focus mentally, and re-gain your legs physically. But once that recovery has taken place, get me back out there coach!

  ~ Sabrina