Jason Williams retired

The Los Angeles Clippers confirm this shred of a report from Lisa Dillman on the L.A. Times website.

According to the Clippers, point guard Jason Williams has decided to stop playing basketball. There is no known reason for his decision, and messages left with his agents have not been returned.

Williams signed as a free agent with L.A. just in August, and evidently decided at some point since then few weeks that he has had enough.

There had been talk this off-season that he might play overseas.

Williams, who played high school sports with NFL star Randy Moss, entered the league in 1998 as one of the most exciting players of his generation. His work as the ringleader of Rick Adelman's thrilling Sacramento Kings teams is the stuff of YouTube legend.

I remember once clearly seeing him hold the ball behind his back, at a full run, as he popped it with his opposite elbow to a streaking teammate. Even though I saw it, I wasn't sure it had really happened.

Under old-school Coach Hubie Brown in Memphis, Williams learned to be less flashy, which may or may not have contributed to his winning a championship ring with the Miami Heat in 2006.

In more recent years, Williams' star has faded somewhat as he has dealt with various injuries. At 33, however, a decade into his career, I don't think anybody suspected he may be ready to leave basketball, so needless to say this comes as a shock.

Knicks To Waive Stephon Marbury

Any NBA teams looking for a veteran point guard?

If so, Stephon Marbury is your man.

Newsday is reporting that the New York Knicks are planning to waive the point guard by the end of the week:

Several persons with knowledge of the situation have indicated that the Knicks are planning to part ways with Marbury by the end of the week. One caveat is the approval of Madison Square Garden chairman James Dolan, who must sign off on yet another multimillion-dollar payoff for his NBA team. Marbury is in the final year of his contract, which is to pay him $21.9 million.

It’s going to be another long season.

It sounds crazy when your team waived one of the most gifted point guard in the NBA, Stephon Marbury. Without Stephon, could knicks survive?

Enjoy Chris Duhon and Anthony Roberson in your backcourt, Knicks fans.

Height in Basketball

Basketball news is one of the most popular sports news in the world. Many professional, as well as unprofessional teams are trying to raise young sportsmen, eager to play basketball. This game has its own very high demands: it is important to stay in good physical shape, devote your time to daily practices. Basketball, unlike other sport games, demands tall players. Naturally, this demand has its own reason – it is easier to access the hoop, if you are tall, and it is also easier to hit the target. We must ask ourselves, whether the player’s height plays a crucial role in the game.

There are many people, whose height is not above average, but they nevertheless want to play basketball. They read articles about basketball, watch basketball tv, read the sports section and pay special attention to basketball games. They never miss a single basketball game on TV and discuss the results of every game with friends. What chance do they have to play serious basketball?

As a matter of fact, basketball needs technique not less, but even more, than height. A good basketball player needs, first and foremost, a good technique, which includes an ability to think and decide upon the right moves, good eye-hand coordination and swiftness. A good player should know how to move, run and through the ball, but he doesn’t need to be the tallest, in order to succeed.

The smallest player in the history of basketball was an American player Tyrone Muggsy Bogues. Even though his height was only 5.3 feet, Tyrone became a professional basketball point guard in NBA. He left professional sport after playing for five teams during his fourteen’ season career. Tyrone has proved that it is possible to succeed in basketball, even if you are not as tall as other players of the team.

Even though height is important in basketball, it doesn’t serve as a most important criterion. The most important of all criterions is a good technique. The most important thing about basketball, as in any other game, is playing and winning; it is important for the player to remember, that good technique brings success.

Basketball Offense: 10 Bad Habits To Avoid!

In order for basketball players to be successful on the offensive end of the court they must develop good habits. At the same time, they should avoid or eliminate bad habits. As simple as this sounds, players have a tendency to continually repeat their bad habits on the basketball court.

Bad habits are developed the same way good habits are - through repetition. The key then, for coaches, players, and even parents, is to practice the good habits and eliminate the bad habits. This occurs during in-season and out-of-season practices and work-outs.

By avoiding the ten bad habits listed below, players and teams will be much more successful on the offensive end of the court.

1. Focusing too much on the one-on-one aspect of offense, rather than the team aspect. Players that are more concerned with their individual game hurt the overall success of their team.

2. Standing around and watching the action, rather than being a part of the action. Players should not be spectators of the game. They must always be involved and moving, even when they don't have the basketball.

3. Looking to shoot before looking to pass. Players must always be aware of their teammates and the defensive players on the court. If a teammate is open and has a better scoring opportunity, then the pass must be made to them.

4. Looking for only one option on a set play. This makes the defenders' job much easier. Players must always look for various scoring options on their set plays. If the first option that opens up leads to a good scoring opportunity, then the pass should be made. Otherwise, the players should look for other options.

5. Telegraphing their pass to a teammate. These passes are easier for the defensive players to read and possibly steal. Players should use eye, head and ball fakes before passing the basketball.

6. Committing a cheap and foolish foul after making a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes in basketball. When it happens on the offensive end of the court, players should hustle back and play good, strong defense to make up for it. They should avoid committing fouls out of frustration.

7. Using fakes and moves that their teammates are not ready for or familiar with. Players must play within themselves on the court. New moves and fakes can be worked on during practice - not the game.

8. Being unaware of how much time is left on the game clock or shot clock. Players must always know how much time is left on the shot clock during each possession. They must also be aware of how much time remains at the end of each quarter, the half, and the game. This is every player’s responsibility, not just the point guard's and coach's.

9. Losing their concentration during an offensive possession. Players MUST ALWAYS stay focused and concentrate when their team has the basketball. They should know what their responsibility is at all times and also follow the action of their teammates.

10. Not playing at game speed. Players should always cut and move at game speed - which is also how they should practice their offensive plays. Failing to do this disrupts the timing of their teammates and the overall flow of the offense.