KAC Thunder: Saturday night update

Nice, light workout today for the Thunder. Good job, guys. It's always good to play the older guys at Kahala Park, with and against them, and learn. I'm glad they helped us get ready for tomorrow's final game. 

Extra bonus was meeting Keanu for the first time. What a great kid! He's got a great attitude and terrific skills for a freshman.

KAC Thunder: Friday night update

Colby, Cody, Shawn and Tai good workout this afternoon. Wish I could've gotten there earlier, but work beckoned. Cody, just remember to follow through properly and you'll be all right from the 3-point arc. Colby, you're finding your long-range shot these days, but remember to keep that elbow in (tight) and it's all net. Shawn, go easy on that sore back.

We'll go light tomorrow, run through plays and basic drills, plus lots and lots of free throws.

KAC Thunder: Friday update

Thunder, I just found out that my football photo shoot (for work) at Waipahu has been moved from Saturday to today, 3:30 p.m. That means I won't make it to Kapaolono Park until 5 o'clock at the earliest.

Shawn will lead you guys through drills until I get there. I want you guys to work smart and focus. We're going to ease up so you'll have fresh legs for Sunday, but that also means you must be sharp, aware and in a calm, assertive state of mind.

See you guys in a few hours!

Schedule
Friday, practice 4:30 p.m., Kapaolono Park
Saturday, practice 4:30 p.m., Kahala Park
Sunday, pregame 3 p.m., game 4 p.m., Kalani High School gym

KAC Thunder: Thursday update

Nice workout yesterday, Thunder. A bit sloppy, but the effort was solid. I don't expect perfection. I do expect improvement. That takes repetition, time and diligence, and you guys have been fairly diligent lately. What does it mean to be diligent? 

diligent

Main Entry: dil·i·gent 

Pronunciation: \ˈdi-lə-jənt\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin diligent-, diligens, from present participle of diligere to esteem, love, from di- (from dis- apart) + legere to select — more at legend

Date: 14th century

: characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort : painstaking 

We did our work yesterday on ballhandling, 1-on-1 breakdowns, shooting, rebounding and boxing out. The scrimmage was icing on the cake. I love it when you guys want more after two hours of solid drills. Even the day before, on Tuesday, was one of the rare times when I was the first to leave and everyone else stayed to play and keep working.

If there's anything I hope to see once this league is done, it is this: that you understand in your mind and heart that through consistent, proper repetition, improvement is inevitable. Improve 1% per day and that adds up to a huge change over time.

Thanks to A.J. and Sharazz for joining in on Wednesday. The more, the merrier.

See you guys this afternoon.

Schedule
Thursday, practice 4:30 p.m., Kahala Park
Friday, practice 4:30 p.m., Kapaolono Park (I'll be there by 5 after a football photo shoot at Waipahu)
Saturday, practice 4:30 p.m., Kahala Park
Sunday, pre-game 3 p.m., game 4 p.m., Kalani High School gym

Thunder photos, July 26, 2010

From Thunder practice on Monday at Kahala Park. Step-by-step work on boxing out with Coach Jimmy Miyasaka.

KAC Thunder: Tuesday update

Solid workout yesterday, Thunder. Shooting, ballhandling, 1-on-1 breakdowns, rebounding. Another BIG mahalo to Coach Jimmy for his teaching on box-outs and shooting. We might be the most blessed team in KAC!

About Wednesday...

Just got a call from Dickson Wong, the athletic director at Boys & Girls Club. The facility is closed this week, so no pizza pickup games on Wednesday. We'll have practice at Kahala Park instead.

Schedule

Monday, practice 4:30 p.m., Kahala Park
Tuesday, practice 4:30 p.m., Kahala Park
Wednesday, practice, 4:30 p.m., Kahala Park pickup games 5 p.m. signup, Boys & Girls Club
Thursday, practice 4:30 p.m., Kahala Park
Friday, practice 4:30 p.m., Kapaolono Park
Saturday, practice, 4:30 p.m., Kapaolono Park (note: I have a football photo shoot at Waipahu and won't be at practice until 5 p.m.)
Sunday, pre-game 3 p.m., game 4 p.m., Kalani High School gym

KAC Thunder: What time is it?

This time, gentlemen, clock management was Priority #1 in the final minutes. Much as I like to see you guys run the floor and shoot — as opposed to walking the ball upcourt and passing up open shots like most teams do — it was of utmost importance that we slow the tempo in those last 4 minutes yesterday.

It was similar to last week to that point. We had a 31-22 lead in the third quarter yesterday against the Bulls before they began to chip away. Our lack of depth (eight players) got more serious when Shawn suffered a back injury in the fourth quarter.

That's why I issued the "Only Layups" decree. That's why I asked you to let the defense chase you as if you were playing keep-away with five angry Kyles. Did we succeed? Well, we got a win for the first time in three weeks. But did we take care of the ball and manage the clock properly?

That's a debatable question. It's something that will be a focal point this week at practice, not because I always expect a really close finish, but because you will need to be outstanding in this area of the game as you progress as players. Every coach needs closers, players who understand how to finish a game. How to win under duress. How to withstand frenetic defensive pressure and respond with proper ballhandling, wise decisions (no bad passes) and, most importantly, how to make free throws.

We hit enough foul shots down the stretch thanks to Colby and Karl to overcome our own inefficiencies — dangerous lob passes across the court, picking up dribbles in traffic, dribbling away from open space and into traps, taking outside shots after I said "only open layups", etc. You guys are young and learning, so this is just part of the process. In time, you'll know how to milk time off the clock and protect a lead without so many bumps on the road.

Enjoy the win, Thunder. You earned it and your coach managed to not lose the game this time.

One week left. One game left. League title is there for the taking. Enjoy the ride, guys.

Schedule
Monday, practice 4:30 p.m., Kahala Park
Tuesday, practice 4:30 p.m., Kahala Park
Wednesday, pickup games 5 p.m. signup, Boys & Girls Club
Thursday, practice 4:30 p.m., Kahala Park
Friday, practice 4:30 p.m., Kapaolono Park
Saturday, practice, 4:30 p.m., Kapaolono Park (note: I have a football photo shoot at Waipahu and won't be at practice until 5 p.m.)
Sunday, pre-game 3 p.m., game 4 p.m., Kalani High School gym

Thunder photos, July 20, 2010

Photos at Thunder practice by Joshua Kuroda. Nice work on his first time with the camera!