The Atlanta Hawks Season Ahead

By Toby Kahl

The 08'-09' season for the Atlanta Hawks was bitter sweet for the most part. While the team improved upon their previous season, the playoff perform against the Cleveland Cavaliers wasn't what the Hawks team hoped for.

The Hawks advanced through the first round of the playoffs, defeating the Miami Heat in round one, before meeting the Cleveland Cavs in the second round. The Cavs pounced on the Hawks, easily defeating them and putting an end to what was otherwise a successful season for the Atlanta Hawks.

Much of the team's success in 2008-2009 can be attributed to Joe Johnson and Al Horford, two talented individuals who have had a profound impact upon the success of this team.

Johnson is a prolific shooter, especially from the perimeter, and Horford is an exceptional, multi-faceted basketball player whose presence has dominated the team greatly during his two seasons in the league. This is the man to build the team around for years to come.

Horford has great rebounding and shot-blocking ability, and moves up and down the basketball court with great speed. A work in progress, he's expected to improve steadily during the next few seasons. If Horford can develop into what they think he can be, Johnson will have some really nice help around him.

One of the major concerns for the Hawks was the lack of scoring on offense - out of the 30 NBA teams the Hawks were the nineteenth in scoring, which for a playoff team isn't acceptable. If the Hawks ever hope to reach the Eastern Conference Finals their scoring must improve.

The Eastern Conference has many championship quality teams such as the Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, the Miami Heat and Philadelphia 76ers should be improved.

Look for the Hawks to build on their success from the last two years. This is a talented, young team that can't be slept on looking forward. Hawks fans have many reasons to be excited. - 31494

About the Author:

For more Atlanta Hawks chatter, check out the Hawks forum at RootZoo Sports, where you can also check out thousands of basketball trivia questions.

Can Shaq Help the Cleveland Cavaliers Bring a Championship Home?

By Louis Rogalia

The Cleveland Cavaliers thought they were going to hoist the NBA Championship in 09', it wasn't to be. Their record during the regular season impressed all.

It was great to make the finals, but they were swept by the Spurs that season, LeBron James was young and constantly improving his game. Standards are set really high in Cleveland and this isn't acceptable anymore.

Shaguille O'Neal is suppose to be the player to fill the void the Cavs had last season in the playoffs, a scoring threat besides Lebron James. Shag can't score 30 points per game anymore but if he gives the cavs 17-18 points per game and 8-9 rebounds, Cavs fans will take that.

During the 2008-2009 season, the Cavs looked like the team to beat. Boasting the best home record in the NBA (they had a 39-2 home record), the Cleveland Cavaliers also had the best record in the NBA. A 66-16 finish gave them the top seed in the Eastern Conference and home court advantage throughout the entire playoffs. It looked like it'd be the year for Cleveland.

Unfortunately, the team's run was spoiled by the Orlando Magic. This left Cleveland fans wondering if Dwight Howard and the Magic had the Cavs' number, and what could be done about this.

Surely, the team was lacking in the big man department. Enter Shaquille O'Neal. The Cavs now enjoy the presence of the big man on their roster, and will look to use his physical prowess and playoff experience to bring home an NBA title.

Lebron is entering his 7th season, he has a lot of success on and off the court, nothing will be as sweet as a championship ring.

With Lebron's contract coming to an end, the time is now for Cleveland. If they have any hope, it's only going to be while Lebron's in town. There's a chance he stays in Cleveland, but there are going to be some real hefty offers from some major market teams, which Cleveland may not be able to match. - 31494

About the Author:

Check out the Cleveland Cavaliers forums at RootZoo and stay up to date with the latest fantasy basketball news.

Trouble in LA, Cleveland, and Orlando

By Andy Rockwell

I know that it's very early in the season, but it's never too early to begin an exciting conversation that can get basketball lovers going back and forth for hours. It's a simple question, but the answer is never so easy. Who is the best team in the NBA this season?

Sure, a lot can change over the course of the season and it probably will. Still, I have some strong opinions about the state of the league right now and some of the teams that many predicted would dominate.

Some of the newer players on the best teams simply don't seem like good fits, in my opinion. In the same way that Allen Iverson was bad for the Pistons, I think that these guys will unfortunately have negative impacts on their new teams.

In the case of Ron Artest with the Lakers, I'm not quite sure if he'll be good for the team. While he's obviously an exceptional player, I think that he still has attitude and maturity issues to deal with.

I don't believe that Ron Artest wins his team games. He's a dramatic distraction to a team that had incredible chemistry.

As far as the Cavs go, Shaq is a different situation than the chemistry issues that Ron Artest may pose. His teammates will most likely love him. As far as the impact he has on the team goes, however, I'm not so sure that it's a good one. He's big and slow, and I think he's mixing things up too much.

With the Magic, I'm just not a fan of Vince Carter. I loved him during the earlier part of the decade, but I think that his best days were behind him and I do think that Hedo Turkoglu was a better fit for the team.

This leaves me with the Boston Celtics. Rasheed Wallace was a winner in Detroit, and will be the same in Boston. Therein lies the strongest team in the NBA, in my opinion. - 31494

About the Author:

The author of this article also writes about chafing dishes on sale and copper chafing dish deals.

Vertical Leap Exercises - How To Increase Your Vertical Leap Without Weights

By Brayden Fisher

Do I need to lift weights to increase my vertical leap? I get this type of question all the time. Although I personally love it, there are many people who do not enjoy lifting weights. These people would like to know if it is possible for them to improve their vertical jump without weights. And the anser is.....YES they definitely can improve their verticals.

I love vertical jump training and I want everyone to be able to benefit from it. There are many of us out there that cannot afford the dues or do not have access to a gym. Don't let that stop you from training. Below I have included a vertical jump workout that will increase your strength using a variety of body weight exercises that are very challenging.

A Vertical Jump Strength Workout - (Without Weights)

Step ups - Step ups are a simple exercise and can be done pretty much anywhere. All you need is a bench or platform. Step up onto the bench and then step down. Once you are back on the ground step up again with the opposite leg. You can make this exercise more difficult by holding dumbells.

Squats - The squat movement is without a doubt the best overall exercise you can do to increase your vertical jump. Bodyweight squats can be challenging if done correctly. When performing squats stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and lower down until your thighs are parallel with the ground. Do 3 sets of 20.

Lunges - Lunges are a very common exercise and they are effective as well. Step forward with one leg while lowering your body. Try not to take too large of a step, you should have about 2 1/2 feet between your front foot and back foot. Keep your shin perpendicular to the ground and do not let your knee pass in front of your toes. Push yourself back up and repeat this with the other leg.

Rim Touches - Although these are called rim touches you can perform this without a basketball hoop if you want. Find a basketball rim and jump as high as you can. Do not take more than one step before you jump. Now EXPLODE up as hard as you can. We are only going to do this five times. Then rest for a minute and repeat this exercise three more times. DO NOT do more reps than this. In order to improve your vertical jump you need to train your EXPLOSION and if you do a bunch of reps you will be training your stamina and this will not improve your vertical.

It is possible to get significant gains in your vertical jump without weights. BUT.....yes there is a but, most people are not going to even come close to their true vertical jump potential without using a proper weight training program. If you only train using body weight exercises there will come a time when your vertical leap gains stop and the only way to further your progress is to improve your base strength.

Using both weight training and plyometric exercises is the best way to increase your vertical leap. It will give you excellent results. In fact, I was able to improve my vertical from 31 to 43 inches over a 7 month period of time by using this type of training. If you would like more information about how I was able to improve my vertical leap then check out the links I have below: - 31494

About the Author:

Would you like YOU can learn more about how YOU can increase your vertical leap? Then head over YOU can Brayden Fisher's website at www.40inchvertical.net for the latest workouts and exercises.

Buying Shoes to Increase Vertical Jump?

By Ben Johnson

You would probaby have heard about the increase vertical jump shoes if you've registered with some vertical jump program. You might have heard about numerous brands from either your colleagues or via the internet. But beware : most people who are : most people who buy vertical leap shoes mostly end up in disappointment. Why? This isn't because the shoes don't work properly but because those who buy it simply do not know how to use them.

The aforementioned reasons are sufficient enough to say that before going in for purchasing an expensive pair of vertical jump shoes, a thorough knowledge about their working should be there so as to use it effectively and benefit the most from it.

A fact about increase vertical jump shoes you should know: many people have no clue as to what these are actually designed for. This is what you'd generally hear from people who aren't very familiar with the purpose of these shoes -Only exercises and not shoes better your jump -Its absolutely dangerous to wear vertical shoes - they would only result in injuries So, lets begin ou discussion on what vertical shoes are alll about and why they were designed primarily and how they can help expand your vertical jump.

Vertical jump shoes are nothing but platforms in your training shoes. The vertical jump shoes do not make your jump higher just like that. They are just catalysts and make sure that the calf muscles work to their limits. They raise the Achilles tendon in the leg. Thereby, with enough training, the calf muscles become strong and springy, thereby giving enough power in your legs to make your jump very high.

Training with vertical jump shoes can prove to be fun. This is because the shoe puts in a lot of effort in stretching your calf muscles and raising your Achilles tendon, thereby reducing the amount of force that you might have to exert while jumping. Though, while practicing exercises in which sprinting and running are present, the vertical jump shoes become more of a hindrance. Basically, the extra platforms become too heavy when it comes to running, thereby making the process of running cumbersome.

In case you bought the vertical jump shoes just to train yourself, you might as well chuck it under your bed after a few days. However, you can do yet another thing with your vertical jump shoes. You can use the proprioceptor plugs and play with them.

The proprioceptor plugs are very useful if you'd like to train in an unstable environment. Also, if you're building sufficient calf muscles - which are powerful as well as strong - training in environments li in environments like these would actually push your muscles to stabilize your joints and body. These plugs help in recreating those same conditions and hence, yield better results while performing your vertical leap.

However, the most important question is this: do they work? The vertical jump shoes do indeed work if you incorporate the proprioceptor plugs in them. The users who have used the vertical jump shoes are of the opinion that the vertical jump shoes work better than the Springboost B-Trains.

Training with these increase vertical leap shoes could not only help you with your hop training but also on other facets such as improving your ankle, knee, and hip stability. Working on these areas could also mean less probability of injuries in both training and your game. - 31494

About the Author:

Want to find out more about ways to jump higher, then visit Ben Johnson's site on how to improve vertical jump for your needs.

Read Three Plyometric Workouts To Improve Your Vertical Jump

By Blake Helton

Increasing your vertical requires a lot of motivation, effort, and doing the exercises the right way. Use these three plyometric exercises to help you improve your vertical jump. If you want to reach your main goal of jumping higher then set smaller, simpler goals of performing the exercises right the first time.

The following plyometric exercises are all very different and effective ways to improve your vertical. They are push-up jumps, drop jumps, and deep lunge jumps. Make sure that you do all three and not just one of them.

A push-up jump involves a few simple steps. First you should start standing straight up with your feet shoulder-width apart. As quickly as you can get down into a push-up position and do one push-up. Once you have done the push up bring your legs back under your body and jump up as high as you can. Continue this for a certain number of repetitions.

The next of many plyometric exercises is a drop-jump. All you need for this exercise is a box that is two feet or taller. Stand on the edge of the box and step off. Land with your knees bent as little as possible when you absorb the impact. Stay in the same position that you landed on for a couple of seconds and then get back on the box. Repeat this for however many repetitions you decide.

If you really want to improve your vertical, then this is the exercise for you. It is called a deep lunge jump. You will be sore next day so make sure you do not do this exercise the day before you have a big game or something like that. All you have to do is get into lunge position and push off with both feet so you jump forward. When you land, land with the same foot forward. Go all the way down the court using that same forward foot. Then come back the other way using a different foot.

Doing these exercises is a sure, but still simple, way to improve your vertical. Plyometrics are among the most effective vertical jumping exercises in the country, and for a reason. You will probably be sore afterwards, but it will be worth it when you jump inches higher.

If you do not feel sore after these exercises, then there are really only two reasons. The first is that you have done these exercises before or exercises similar to these. The other is that you are not doing the exercises correctly or you are not doing enough repetitions.

If you want to improve your vertical leap than you read the right information. Use these exercises to jump higher than you ever thought you could. Just make sure you perform everything right. - 31494

About the Author:

You can find out more about how to jump higher on various articles written by Blake Helton on improving vertical leap.

Micheal Jordan's Vertical Leap is 48 inches! Start Jumping Like Jordan With This Workout Routine.

By Brayden Fisher

Michael Jordan forever changed the game of basketball. His 48 inch vertical leap gave him a tremendous advantage over his opponents. Just think about it, being able to jump higher makes it easier to grab rebounds over people, block shots, and dunk. It pretty much makes basketball an easier game overall. Now I can't tell you that I can have you throwing down dunks like Michael Jordan, but if you put in a little hard work and use the right training program you CAN dramatically improve your vertical leap.

The major muscles involved when a person jumps are the quads, hamstrings, and the lower back. Most people think that the calves play the biggest part in your vertical jump, but they are wrong. What, you don't believe me then test it out for yourself.

Stand in place with your feet flat on the ground. Do not bend your knees and jump up as high as you can. Alright,....well I'm guessing you didn't jump very high. That would be because when you try to jump that way your body is only able to use the calves. Ok, repeat the test again but this time take a deep knee bend. Are you done? This time you should have jumped much higher because you are using your large muscle groups in your legs.

Believe it or not, about 80 percent of your jumping power is generated from the quads, hamstrings, and lower back. Therefore, if improving your vertical jump is your goal I would focus most of my attention on increasing the strength and power of these muscles. Here are some of the exercises I would use:

Squats - Squats are BY FAR the best overall exercise that you can do to help you improve your vertical jump. Just think about the squat motion in general. It closely resembles the motion you use when you are preparing to jump. It hits all the right muscle groups as well. So make sure you incorporate HEAVY squats into your workouts.

Sprints - Running sprints has several advantages. They will increase your speed, build your leg muscles, and improve your vertical jump. You can perform sprints anywhere, you don't have to take time out to go to the gym. You can easily make them harder as well by running up a hill if the flat land sprints become too easy or boring.

Jumping rope - Getting proficient at jumping rope will improve your reflexes and cardiovascular system. Once you have mastered the rope, add ankle weights to increase the difficulty.

Box Jumps - Box jumps are a basic exercise and can do wonders for your vertical jump. Jump onto a tall box or bench. Jump off and as soon as your feet touch the ground, jump again and EXPLODE back up as high as you can.

Heel and Toe touches - Stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Jump as high as you can and bring your heels toward your butt. As you are in the air touch your toes. Land, jump again, and then your heels.

An area that is commonly overlooked is the individual's jumping form. It is easy to gain a quick 2-3 inches on your vertical just by implementing the proper jumping techniques. Trust me, I can say this from experience because I have seen it in myself. - 31494

About the Author:

Learn more about Michael Jordan's Vertical. Stop by Brayden Fisher's site at www.40inchvertical.net and learn how increasing your vertical leap can help your game.