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So I have a Center that has 7 Driving and 7 Inside Scoring, along with 7 Jump Range. True, his Jump Shot is lacking... but that's what training is for.

Now, let me preface this... I'm in the lowest division. I'm playing this guy at SF. I'm assuming most teams are like mine (slightly better due to time played/training, etc.) overall, with a majority of marginal players and only a handful really carrying the teams. I also assume some guys are only 'training' to make the money needed so that in 5-10 Seasons they can REALLY build a Starting 5 and small Bench to and win THEN, thus starting the climb up the ladder.

So, I have visions of this guy really dominating in time. What do I need to train to make this beast... well, a beast. And what Offensive Set would showcase his talents running the game through him the most?

I really want to show case his ability to get to the rack and put the shot in, and I want to improve his ability to hit from the outside when he does take those long shots he love. Right now I'm working Forwards One V. One Training, with him at the Starting SF. I'm hoping this will focus on the 3 Majors I'm seeing (Driving, Inside Scoring, Jump Shot). Also, I wouldn't mind things like Handling, Passing, and of course any extra Defense he gets popping, but those can be trained later. Right now, I want him attacking the basket and popping jumpers when they clog the lane.

So, how do I do that? :D

Center? Which one? None of yours have enough potential to make a little Nowitzki.

You'll have to find a player with atrocious outside and inside defense.

Just cut my roster way down. Here is the guy I'm talking about (remembering that I'm in the V League, bottom of the barrel... so not a National Team Dirk).

Inaki Meert JS 1 OD 6 DR 7 IS 7 RB 3 STM 7
Age 18 JR 7 HND 4 PS 2 ID 4 BLK 3 FT 2
Height 6' 10"
Potential: Star

The Drive/Inside Scoring are what I really like about him starting out. The Stamina doesn't hurt. His Outside Defense is at an okay starting point as well. The Range is there, but without the Jump Shot that isn't really good. His only game he did go 3 of 4 from Down Town... but I chalk that up to bad defense and some good luck.

I would want to improve the Inside Defense to help the team overall, as he'd be viable covering more than just 3 Pt Shooting SFs then. His Jump Shot obviously has to improve as well. Then he can score Inside and Outside. Handling will keep turnovers down as he drives, and better Passing will improve Team Offense overall. Rebouding (Dirk does this) and Blocks (and gets these on occasion) are more of a wish, and FTs would have to be improved to be a 'true Dirk'.

So what I want is the Driving, Finishing and Popping Outside Scorer... while moving the bad skills up a little at a time (like when doing PG Training I can PG/SG and move Meert to SG, get the Handling/Passing or the Jump Shot/Jump Range) and keep driving home the good with solid Forward Training (like SF/PF One on One for Driving, Inside Scoring and Jump Shot).

I have other Prospects, and they need training too, so he won't be a Build to Sell One Player Trained type, but I'm going to make sure no matter what I'm training... I'm training Meert.

What I hate is that I lose the 'Height Advantage' over smaller SF because Height isn't used In Game, just the 3 Rebounding and Shot Blocking. Fortunately, at his Height those Skills will train faster... and I can always have him at PF for Single Position Training Weeks if need be to really focus on these.

While not the most Potential, his Drive/Inside Scoring/Stamina for a V League had me hoping I could do good things here, especially at 18. Any advice and ideas on Meert would be appreciated.

By the way there is no single position training for PF, only for C.

But, but... but I love Meert! LOL!

Seriously, thanks for the discussion. With the Draft coming up and my team being bottom of the barrel I should be able to add at least one more legit player to the roster. The idea is to add a SG, then have a full Starting 5 of Youth, and a Back Up Big Man that is still comparable (trainable) young as well.

I would then run two cycles during a Season. One for Big Men and one for Guards (of course, getting all 6 Prospects into each training, with the Bigs enjoying greater success with the Big training and the Smalls getting more out of the Guard training... but everyone improving as a whole). Of course, the main benefit of this would be that Meert needs all this training anyways.

Season One I want to improve Scoring Effectiveness of my Team, so I'm seeing Forward 1 on 1 for half the season. For the Guards I'm thinking Guard 1 on 1 since the Secondaries that pop are so important... but would almost be tempted to just improve Jump Shot (not that worried about Range at the moment overall). I know Handles and Passing are pretty crucial as well and my 'PG' has Inept Handles with his 7 Passing so I could train there... maybe a week or two of Individual Training with him and Meert though... with my best Passing Big thrown in for the Scrimmage? Or my Worst Passing Big to really improve a sore area?

Season Two would be time to take that improved offense and start producing better Defense, with the Bigs working on Inside Defense and the Guards on Outside Defense. I think, once each player got the ID or OD Pop (ID for Bigs, OD for Guards... not waiting on EVERYONE) I'd move to say Shot Block or Rebounding until anyone got a Pop on Bigs, then Steals or Rebounds until some Guard caught a Pop... then right back to the next Set (Big or Small) and Cycle (ID/OD).

Season Three would have my oldest 'prospect' at 26 starting the year (the back up Big) and give me a decent idea of what my Core can do. Some guys would still be very trainable, but by now I should know exactly what this team can do with the Core and what adding other pieces will/should do and how they will train as well.

I can't forget Roland Hanson, PG, as he actually has Superstar Potential. I feel, especially in a V League, that this kind of potential can develop into a devestating player.

Maybe you won't like this, but it's coming from a guy who knows a bit of BB theory and especially training, mainly for guards. I don't want to make elaborates and "why is this good" and "why is this bad"...I will just throw you some lines that come from experience - mine and others.

- MOST IMPORTANT: choose either "guards" or "inside players" and stick to either outside or inside training. Don't mix up the two. Train outside and buy inside, or viceversa

- don't train players that have less then allstar potential. One of the trainees should have at least perennial allstar potential.

- single-position training will get you there much faster than two-position. It's worth it.

- watch the heights of trainees. For guards don't take anyone over 193 cm and for inside players don't take anyone under 201 cm

- the younger, the better. Try to start with 18 years. Don't bother training 24y old players unless you are "rounding them out" with those final pops.

- secondaries rule. For guards: IS, RB. For inside players: PA, HA.

If you train like this, manage well your money, enthusiasm and game shape, you will get to D.III in three to four seasons.

However, when I was in your place, I discarded advices like the one I'm giving to you now (that's why I don't write 3000 words since they prolly won't matter). Now I have mixed feelings about it: on one hand, if I stuck to the advices experienced players gave me, my team would be a bit better. On other hand, it was my journey and nobody else's. So take whatever you like from my advices, discard the rest and enjoy the journey.

Last edited by Koperboy at 10/18/2011 8:08:43 AM