Does Your Obsession to Succeed Negatively Impact You?

We go to extreme lengths to achieve our goals. Pre-cook and organize our food for the week. Wake up at 4:30 AM (right?). Pass up wedding cake at our best friends’ wedding. Even avoid the Thanksgiving feast because the potatoes and corn have too much starch and the turkey was farmed and not wild. But where do cross the line from being dedicated and focused on achieving our goals to become obsessed at an unhealthy level, where our lives become consumed by nutrition and training. In reality, even though physical health is highly important in our lives, emotional health damage can be just as poisonous towards our overall health and our chance to succeed in our goals.

I’ve really been thinking a lot about what I am doing to myself. I feel that the obsession of achieving optimal health has taken over my life. It has limited my enjoyment of certain activities and caused me to judge people for what they do and what their opinions might be. I have had a personal revelation that when an obsession takes over our lives, we lose sight of understanding that whatever we are obsessing over is just a small area in our life.

It is important to know what you can handle, individually. Some people thrive in discipline and find pleasure in doing things that are difficult. Others feel restricted or deprived when they try to achieve something.

The Restricted Life Epidemic

Those who see a disciplined life as a restricted life have negative thoughts with the changes they will need to make in order to achieve what they want. The thought of waking up to workout before they get to the office immediately causes them to realize they won’t be able to sleep as much. Even if they plan on working out after work, they feel deprived of their down time. When they are told to avoid processed foods, they quickly think about how hard it will be to cook/prepare real food.

The best way to solve this epidemic is to change your mindset. However, a mindset shift is an even longer process than a lifestyle change (although you could say they go hand in hand). If you are feeling restricted of things you enjoy while obsessing over the cans and can’ts of eating, it can cause emotional or mental stress.

You have to put your emotional stress into consideration. If you are someone who feels like life is ending because you can not munch on Doritos, that omission in your diet can hurt you mentally as much as it hurts you physically.

Then it gets tricky.

Think about what your goal is. Will one handful of Doritos cause detrimental damage to your process? And will one handful cause you to eat the whole bag? One handful, probably not a huge setback. A whole bag, major setback. You have to understand your personal boundaries. Are you more likely to succeed on keeping your sanity by having a small amount of your favorite processed snack, or will that lead to a breakdown?

This is not limited to food. How you use your time can be just as important towards achieving your goal. Watching 3 hours of TV every night is probably not the best choice of leisure activities is you have a fitness or athletic goal. Some people feel restricted and deprived if they can not watch TV from the time they get home until the time they go to bed.

You are not me, and I am not you.

We are each unique. Some of us can live day-to-day with the understanding that how we spend our time determines our identity and what we choose to eat either becomes fuel or poison. Others proclaim that they have freedom and do not see a purpose in restricting themselves of their favorite activities or foods, although they may be destructive towards physical health. Understand what type of person you are, and then find your balance by determining the importance of you goal in comparison with the importance of your feeling of freedom.

Working Out vs Training...What's the Difference?

I hear people talk about working out and training like they are the same thing. Lately, I have been thinking about the difference. These are my thoughts in comparing the two... If you go to the gym to workout, your goals are most likely to burn some calories or get your heart rate up. A wide variety of activities could fit this mold. There is little thought into what you will do at the gym. People who like to keep exercise fun often stick to working out as opposed to training. The problem with working out is that once you finish your workout, you have achieved your goal. There is little thought about what you do once you leave the gym. Basically, working out doesn’t take much thought or preparation.

If you train, however, you have specific goals that you want to accomplish, usually in a specific time period. Training involves thought and preparation, which is why most people who are serious about achieving a goal hire a trainer. Training involves working out - - workouts that are planned in phases with progressions. When you go to the gym, you know what the workout is that day, and you know what future workouts will be as well. Training also involves thought and preparation outside of the gym. Recovery and nutrition are huge (and often underlooked) factors in training. Those who train understand that the benefits of working out are limited when recovery and nutrition are not handled correctly.

Most people think that athletes are the only people who train. However, anyone with a fitness or health goal should be training instead of just going to the gym with a the goal of doing a workout. If your goal is to lose fat, you need to know the path to get there. Going to the gym and looking for a different machine to stay on at a comfortable pace for 30 minutes is probably not your best bet. If you are serious about a goal you want to achieve, take time to plan your path to success (or hire a professional to plan it for you).

Here are some tips to plan out your training:

What is my goal? - - You need to know what you are trying to achieve before you can start planning what you need to do to accomplish is. Is it fat loss? Is it to improve your vertical jump? Different goals will require different paths.

How long do I have to get there? - - This is also a question to determine how realistic your goals are. If you want to lose 45 pounds, that’s great. Trying to do it for a wedding coming up in 2 weeks is probably not realistic. Make sure you allow enough time for yourself to be successful. If you are an athlete, you have to know when your season starts. Starting 2 weeks before your season will not allow for significant performance gains. Plan ahead!

What do I need to do at the gym? - - What will your workouts look like? This is where a professional really comes in handy. You can definitely research the web or read books to get some decent programs, but having a trainer perform a Functional Movement Screen to assess your movement patterns can help you workouts not only be effective, but also improve your long-term health.

What will I need to change about my lifestyle? - - Again, specific factors are related to your goal. However, just about every goal you can think of will require optimal recovery, nutrition, and possibly supplementation. Having a BioSignature modulation is a great start towards your goal. The BioSignature can provide a hormonal profile and a body composition analysis. No matter your goal, it is important to get adequate sleep and sufficient protein intake.

The Athlete's Mindset: A Predictor of Success

“The way you view your own intel­li­gence largely deter­mines how it will develop.” - Carol Dweck I recently enrolled in “Drive-Time-U.” This comes from Darren Hardy. My driving time has turned into learning time. I have traded music for audio books and presentations. A friend of mine recently let me borrow "Mindset" by Carol Dweck. It took me about one weekend of driving to finish it.

Dweck talks about the two types of mindsets that people have: the fixed mindset and the growth mindset. In the fixed mindset, our ability or talent is what it is. No matter what we do, we are given ability and must do what we can with it. People with a growth mindset have a belief that they abilities can be developed through passion, education, and feedback.

Developing a growth mindset is crucial to your success as an athlete. You must understand that it is possible to develop new skills and increase your athletic capacity. It doesn’t matter if you’re the most talented in your school or if you’re on the verge of getting cut. A growth mindset is the only mindset that will allow you to maximize your potential. It is important to understand that you are not as good as you will one day be by putting time into development and seeking feedback from mentors that can help you learn.

Too often, we label young athletes as naturals or prodigies. We assume that are good because they were born that way. This feeds those young athletes the recipe for a fixed mindset, which will cause the athlete to peak. They will never reach their full potential.

And for those who are struggling to make a team, a fixed mindset can be equally dangerous. Early in my high school days, I assumed there was nothing I could do to get playing time. The starters were selected, and I was not fast enough or good enough to be on their level. It wasn’t until the middle of my Junior year that I understood hard work and accepting coaching/feedback was the pathway to become a more skilled basketball player. After my Junior year, I started realizing that I could develop speed, strength, and jumping ability. My transformation from a fixed mindset to a growth mindset is what sparked my improvement as an athlete.

To this day, no matter what it is I am doing, I am content knowing that I am the best I have ever been, but the worst I will ever be.

In His Words: Jordan Carter on Off-season Training (Video)

http://youtu.be/ia4b_o6AsNE With high school basketball season approaching quickly, players should already be preparing for the first day of practice. Take a look as Jordan Carter (Corban University, Jr.) begins his on-court preparation. Also, he shares his thoughts on what young players should do in the off-season to improve their game. Corban begins practice this week. Good luck on a successful season, Jordan!

View Video on YouTube Site

In His Words: John Olinger - Creating Your Own Luck

I am honored to have John Olinger provide this weeks content. I have always looked up to John, both as a person and a basketball player. When I was in high school, watching him during his senior year motivated me not to give up; that the possibility of succeeding at basketball despite a lack of early success. Most importantly, his words are great lessons to everyone. You can check out more of John's writing at his blog, Like Me, Only Different. Thanks, John! +++

If you looked at my life now - the things I’ve gotten to experience with and because of basketball – you would assume I was always one of the best players on each team I played on growing up. You would assume the results are natural from being one of the best. You would assume it’s always been as easy as it looks in retrospect. And your assumptions would be wrong.

It’s been said nothing worthwhile comes easy, which is true of my journey. The things I’ve experienced with and because of basketball are worthwhile but they weren’t easy. And I don’t want you to think that I’m so great – I just tried to make the most of every opportunity, and some things worked out. I hope you’ll enjoy reading about my journey in basketball, and life.

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In elementary school I liked basketball, but I spent much more of my time as a long distance runner. The combination of being a runner with my genes, led to me being a pretty scrawny kid. My mom had been deeply involved during my time running, but when she passed away after a bout with breast cancer, I turned my attention away from running and onto basketball. And though my attention turned, my body did not. I was still a scrawny kid as I started to play more and more basketball in middle school. I made the “A” teams in both my seventh and eighth grade years, but was the one of the last guys off the bench. I kept working on my game throughout the summers and off-seasons – knowing I had a lot to improve upon.

Lesson 1: Nothing substitutes for hard work and dedication

When it came time to try out for the freshman team at my high school, I was the last guy to make the team. At the end of my high school career, my coach said the only reason he kept me as a freshman was because I was a nice kid and I worked hard. Yet, my game was improving – I remember one of my freshman teammates remarking that my ball handling had really improved, and he wanted to know how. It was one portion of the previous summer’s workouts – twenty minutes of ball-handling drills every day. When our freshman season ended I continued to work hard on my ball-handling and other parts of my game, hoping to be a bigger contributor on the junior varsity (JV) team.

As JV tryouts ended my sophomore year I was no longer the last guy kept. A few guys from our team the previous year didn’t play which helped, but also my game had improved. I turned into the sixth-man on our team, being a regular contributor off the bench. Throughout the year I continued to work on my game and I thought it looked bright for me to join the varsity team the next year. As the school year ended we had a head coaching change on the varsity team, meaning it was a fresh start for everybody. I played well in the summer league games in front of the new coach, so it seemed to me that I must have impressed him and set myself up well for the upcoming season.

Lesson 2: There is only one outcome when you quit

Yet, as tryouts started during my junior year, the new coach asked me to spend most of my time playing JV. He said I could swing (meaning playing for the JV team and the varsity team), but that pretty much meant I wouldn’t play much varsity as a junior. It felt like a slap in the face. I had worked so hard, and frankly, I thought I was good enough to contribute. And if I wasn’t going to get to play as a junior, then I probably wouldn’t get to play as a senior. It seemed that basketball wasn’t going to work out for me, so I heavily considered quitting.

I can’t remember the exact reason I didn’t quit – maybe it was because I loved basketball, or I really hoped I would get my chance – it doesn’t matter the reason, all I know is that I kept working hard and did whatever I could to prove my level of play. In the end, I didn’t get much of a chance on the varsity team, only playing in one game that really mattered during my junior year. But if I would have quit, what happened next would have never been possible. If I had quit there was only one outcome – I would have no longer been a basketball player at my high school.

In the summer after my junior year, two guards from our program transferred schools. And this meant our coach had no set options at point guard.

Lesson 3: Luck is a matter of preparation meeting opportunity

If a guy says he wants to be a great basketball player but doesn’t actually prepare to be a great player, it is almost 100% certain he won’t be ready to be a great player when the opportunity comes. You don’t just wake up one day and become a great player – who you are as a player (and a person) is born over a series of moments leading up to an opportunity, not on a single occasion. The reality is that you can prepare for something your whole life, and the opportunity you are expecting may never come. (I do believe God uses all our experiences to prepare us for things, even when we don’t get to do what we want or think we are preparing for – but that is a longer discussion for another day.)

While preparation does not guarantee opportunity, what if your opportunity does come? That’s my story as the two other point guards on our roster transferred before my senior season. The coach threw me the keys to the team, and it turned into a magical year for me. Our team won the Valley League with me as the starting point guard. The season was capped with my selections to the Valley League 1 st- Team, as well as the 1st Team All-State Tournament. I ended up leading the State Tournament in scoring – even tallying more points than guys who went on to play short stints in the NBA.

Some people would say I was lucky. Others would say you make your own luck. Isn’t that life though? Sometimes you’re in the right place at the right time, and other times you aren’t. But when you are in the right place at the right time, your preparation is what will determine what happens. I didn’t magically become a better basketball player my senior year of high school – I had been preparing for several years for that opportunity. If I had quit there would have been no opportunity. And if I hadn’t worked hard, there would have been no luck.

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After high school I went on to play a year at a Division 1 school (Portland State University), before a year at a JUCO and three years at a Division 3 school (Willamette University). I was selected All-Conference two times and had a fabulous time as a collegiate player. If my basketball journey ended there I would have been happy.

I also started my MBA while I was still playing for Willamette. When I finished my MBA I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to continue my time as a player. I was able to go to Israel with Athletes in Action (AIA) – traveling the country by day, and playing games at night. That led me to play on a traveling tour in the US with AIA, which ultimately opened the door for me to spend two seasons playing in England.

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My time as a player has officially come to an end, but I’ve been really blessed to land a job where I still get to work around basketball. This job is a culmination of what has happened over a series of years in my life – combining my playing and life experiences, with my education. And frankly, it is all tied together with basketball playing a central role in what I’ve done, and will continue to do.

The rest of my life and basketball journey has been largely shaped by what happened as a senior in high school. My senior year in high school was shaped by the years of hard work prior to it. I didn’t know that when I started – I just knew I loved basketball and wanted to work hard at it. My encouragement to you is to find what you love and work at it. You may not get the opportunity out of it you want, but if you quit there’s only one outcome. Your hard work is preparation for something – and in the end, you won’t be sorry for giving it all you have. That’s where luck is made.

Looking at where I’m at now makes it seem like it must have been easy, as if it just happened for me. It doesn’t just happen – things ultimately happen because of preparation. God often opens doors when we least expect it, and the person who is ready for that opportunity is the one who has prepared.

The ATHLETE'S Back to School List

School is only a week away for high schoolers, and some colleges are already underway. But fall practices are in full swing. This list is for student-athletes who view their athletic performance as an important part of their life. So in addition to the paper and pencil list you may have already bought, here are some items that every athlete NEEDS this coming school year. Click on the item's image to view on Amazon.com.

For the life

The Compound Effect

I know, reading is boring. But do you what’s not boring? Succeeding at something that is important to you. The Compound Effect is must read for ANYONE who has a goal. I wish I would have had this book when I was a student-athlete. There are clear, outlined steps for actions you can take to improve, no matter what sport you play.

Foam Roller

Foam rolling is one of the most effective ways you can relieve soreness and stiffness from muscles from your house. Hiring a personal trainer is a great way to properly learn how to foam roll, but you can also use YouTube to find some demonstrations.

For the day

Primal Fuel

After your weight training class (you do have a weight training class, right?) it is important to provide your body with nutrients. A Snickers and a Gatorade will not be the answer for you. A quick protein shake is an efficient way to do this when you have classes to get to. There are some other high quality protein powders on the market besides Primal Fuel, so don’t feel limited to this one.

Blender Bottle

A quick way to mix your protein shake after a mid-day workout. Wash it when you get home, and reuse it the next day.

Fit and Fresh CleanTek Vortex Hydrator

A hydrated muscle will perform better than a dehydrated muscle anyday. Be consistent with drinking water throughout the day. Since people complain about school water fountains all of the time, this CleanTek bottle is ideal because it has an inserted chill pack and also a built in water filter.

For the road

Tiger Tail

A great way to get your muscles prepared to play. You can use a Tiger Tail on the bus or in the locker room before you stretch or warm-up. For post-game, using a Tiger Tail will keep you fresh for the next day. The benefits for limiting stiffness and soreness allow you to recover faster. Because this is portable, you can use it on the bus after games.

Zig Ziglar Audio - “How to Stay Motivated”

How many times do you need to hear the latest Meek Mill mixtape on your road trips this year? Zig Ziglar is one of the top speakers of motivation and improvement philosophy. Try listening to this presentation to get a new perspective on what hard work needs to be productive. Maybe instead of texting during it, you can take notes.

DCI Large Collapsible Lunch Box

Road trips are best known for junk food and fast food stops. This lunch box allows you to pack a pre-cooked meal and some snacks that will help your body prepare for performance. Believe it or not, Flamin’ Hot Cheetos are not an athlete’s friend. If you need tips on what kind of food to pack, just send me an email at espinoza@dynamicpd.net .

How to Stay Young - - Regardless of Your Age

When I turned 20, I thought I was getting old. When I turned 25, I realized I was halfway to 50.

I am turning 28 in December, leaving 30 only 2 short years away.

When we’re young, all we want to do is grow up. When we ‘re old, we realize how good we had it when we were young. So we look for answers to stay young, often found in immature actions and behaviors and physically modifying our appearance in unnatural ways. Keeping a hold of our youth has nothing to do with not caring about anything, disrespecting authority, YOLO, or dropping individual responsibility. If that’s your view of being young, then you are mistaking it for being immature. Maturity is important. Being forever young involves a deep participation with the world around us and valuing every interaction we have.

When you “get old”, you trade in your hobbies for lounging and watching TV after coming home from a job you hate. Even if you hate your job, you can keep your youth (not everyone liked going to school, right?). Staying young requires keeping your health, both physically and mentally. Here are some ways that I am making sure I never get old.

Tips for PHYSICALLY staying young

Get outside

Do not be confined by walls! As kids, we ached to get outside of the house. We weren’t afraid of the elements (Who can remember getting yelled at constantly for not wearing a coat?). The new generation of kids are losing this, resorting to a life of video games and internet usage. This is causing them to get older at a faster rate. Getting outside lets you breathe in natural air and boosts your Vitamin D levels. It will also help you with the next tip...

Be active

Do not be confined by furniture! There is so much talk about getting a certain amount of exercise per day and making sure you “do your cardio.” But let’s be realistic, becoming unhealthy is quite often connected with a sedentary lifestyle. Most of our jobs involve long periods of sitting, which lead to our leisure time which involves even more sitting. This leads to loss of strength and loss of mobility, which leads to aches and pains, which leads to more sitting. So take advantage of the time you have to participate in an active life. The more you do, the more you will be able to do.

Eat what you were meant to eat

Most children are raised on mac n’ cheese, Gushers, and Kool Aid. We were not made to eat this stuff. We were made to eat food that comes from our world (i.e. veggies, fruits, and meats). If it comes from a factory, don’t eat it (including meat! The more wild, the better). Most of our pain we gain as we age can be attributed to our diet. One small change, simply avoiding grain products, for example, can give our bodies a boost.

Build muscle

Staying young is most commonly associated with physical appearance. Maintaining a youthful appearance requires muscle growth and maintenance. Also, muscle will help you stay active. And eating what you’re supposed to eat will help you build muscle. It’s all connected!

Sleep at night, live during the day

Sleep is optimal for physical recovery. The normal recommendation for sleep is somewhere between 7-9 hours per night. I don’t think that anyone would dispute this. Some people can survive on less, some people might desire more. Usually, more than 10 hours of sleep results in feeling lethargic, which would limit your activity during the day. A lack of sleep will, on the other hand, help you maintain stress, become moody, and give the aging process a boost.

Tips for MENTALLY staying young

Be creative

You don’t need to make an imaginary friend or build a fort (side note - if you do build a fort, please invite me to come play), but don’t get stuck in the same routine of “I hate getting out of bed” followed by “I hate my job” followed by “There’s nothing good on TV”. Be creative with your activities. Maybe sit down and write. Perhaps engage in a water balloon fight. Discuss new ideas instead of discussing rumors about co-workers or other people you know that you are jealous of. Don’t let your mind get old.

Respect other people

By respecting people, you automatically become one of the popular kids that everyone loves. You also set yourself up for great relationships and unknown opportunities. Never close the doors that you did not know existed because you treat people disrespectfully. Rebellion is cool when you are immature, respect is respected when you are mature.

Learn, and learn again

Don’t go to school (unless you want to), but learn. Learn about something you love. Learn about things you are curious about. Just as we need our muscles to help us remain active, we need our brain to continue to develop so we can maintain our creativity and social interactions. Shoot, learn about building a fort. Then invite me over to play.

Do what you love

We were never too tired to hit up the big toy on recess. When you get a break from your busy life, do what you love to do. Even if your passion seems like a meaningless hobby, the fact is that it is meaningful to your happiness and satisfaction as a person.

Sleep at night, live during the day (most of the time)

Please do not sleep in until the PM. Get up in the morning and set the tone for your day. This requires going to bed before midnight. Now, there are exceptions. There are some occasions where staying up late is necessary. It should not be your ritual, though. Start your day off in the morning by being active, reading, or engaging socially.

There you have it, a cheat sheet for staying young. Youth is not defined by acting reckless and destroying your body. Nor by listening to Wiz Khalifa and wearing skinny jeans. Your appearance might have something to do with your age, but nothing to do with youth. Once we settle for a life that has been created for us and not by us, we surrender our youth. By actively engaging in life and continuously seeking development both physically and mentally, we will sustain our youth well beyond our teens, 20’s, and 50’s. Grow up, but stay young.

Here’s to staying young. Forever.

Our Hunger Problem

We have a hunger problem. Over the course of history we have developed this hunger problem, and it affects us more than we know. If you were to ask someone, they would probably deny it. But it’s true, we have a hunger problem. We have developed an appetite in which our consumption is not based on need, but on availability. It’s not that we lack food; the amount of food we have in front of us is plenty to feed communities. The problem is we refuse to fill ourselves with food that provides us with what we need for efficient development and functioning.

This leads to a lack of satisfaction, leaving us wanting more. Ever had five cookies and still wanted more? (I know I have...) We keep eating because what we are eating does nothing for us. Therefore, it leaves us wanting more, which generally leads us to eating more. If one serving of potato chips would provide us with what we need, then the bag would not be empty after one sitting. And we wouldn’t reach for a soda after the chips.

Until we realize that our diets should be filled with foods that fulfill what our bodies need as opposed to processed foods and grains, we will remain hungry. We will reach for food because we will remain searching for something we need. We will complain about chronic symptoms, problems with sleep patterns and energy levels, and see a continued rise in obesity and diabetes.

Most of us are so focused on the instant gratification of what we are doing that we neglect how our choices produce our future results. You may seem perfectly healthy while continuing to lean on drive-thru products and sugar filled beverages. You might think that a short, weekly jog or 100 crunches every other day is enough to keep you at a good fitness level. The problem is, the longer you make those choices, the harder it will be to break the habits that they form. The once healthy body you thought you had will turn on you. You will try to rely on medical advancements to trick yourself into believing you are healthy; striving to attack symptoms without reaching the root of the problems. No matter what happens, you will still not be satisfied. You will still be hungry.

What Are You Going to Do When You Get There?

You have had enough. You are ready to make a change. The weeks, months, or, possibly, years of being lazy and saying yes to anything edible have caught up to you. Finally, you are realizing that you are limiting your quality of living. Or, maybe, you are noticing yourself in the mirror and finding that you can not bear the sight any longer. So you make a decision: you are going to start going to the gym. Great idea. But what exactly are you going to do when you get there?

I had the opportunity to speak to over 300 young basketball players this past month about making positive choices on a consistent basis over a period of time in order to reach a goal. A common goal for them, seeing how it was basketball camp, was to become a better basketball player. I asked them some things that would help them improve as players. The top answer was to go to the gym every day.

If you’re answer to finding success is “going to the gym”, then you are fooling yourself. Because if that’s the case, once you arrive at the gym, you’re done for the day. Going to the gym was what you needed to do to improve, and you just did it. When I was a teen, I thought I was dedicated because I would spend more than 5 hours per day at the local athletic club. I don't think I spent one minute actually improving on anything. In fact, I would spend at least 2 hours per day in the lobby watching TV with my friends.

The key to improvement and reaching your goals lies in the answer to the question: What are you going to do when you get there?

We need a plan to reach our destination. If you are planning on driving to Disneyland, you’re directions aren’t as simple as “I’m going to get in the car.” We get directions that show us which turns to take and which roads to stay on so that when we get in the car, we can be successful on reaching the ultimate destination. If our directions are not clear, we get lost and have to re-route our trip.

If you make the decision that you are going to start going to the gym on a consistent basis, you are making a positive decision. It will not, however, guarantee that you will achieve what you want to achieve. A plan of what steps you will take once you get to the gym is a necessity.

Here is a roadmap you can use to achieve your goals:

1. What is your destination?

What exactly are you trying to achieve? Specifics are key. By saying you want to “be in better shape” or “lose a few pounds”, you are not setting yourself up to be successful. Define what being in better shape is, and make it measurable so you can track your progress.

2. Where are you starting from?

Not only your starting point, but where have you been? Is anything familiar to you? Have you tried to reach that destination before? If you have, and you did not reach the results you expected, find out what you can do differently. If you have not tried before, then determine what your starting point is. This will help you draw the map.

3. What roads do you need to take?

Make sure that what you are doing is productive to your ultimate outcome. Many of the young basketball players wanted to be better shooters. Playing pick-up games for 2 hours is probably not their answer to being a better shooter. They need repetition shooting the ball with correct form. If you have a goal of bench pressing your body weight, running three miles per day does not correlate to what you want to achieve. Make your path as direct as possible.

4. Who can help you get there?

We don’t always have the answers for what we want to achieve (although, sometimes we like to think we do). If you are hoping for results that you have never got before, you will need help. Whether that means hiring a personal trainer, consulting with a nutrition coach, or spending more time around your one friend who does not go to Buffalo Wild Wings every night, your influences are just as important as the path you take. Surround yourself with the right people.

5. Why are you going there?

If you do not have a reason why, there is not going to be a will.

All-Time NBA Starters and Playoff Results

One of the most enjoyable parts of working Willamette University Pro Hoop Camp during July is the chance to get together with friends I don’t get to see very often during the year. Every summer, we brainstorm and debate different topics. We posted a photo from our 1992 and 2012 Team USA player rankings on Facebook earlier this month. This debate, however, is much too big for a Facebook post. We discussed each NBA team’s all-time starting five. There were a few emotional debates (no Kareem on LA, DJ over Rondo for Boston, do the Bobcats even deserve a team) but the biggest battles came once we fielded the playoff seedings. There were only 6 of us in the room, so I am sure we missed some players who deserve to be on there.

Look for yourself, and let the arguments begin!

Teams in alphabetical order by conference, playoff results at the bottom

Western Conference

Dallas Mavericks Derek Harper Michael Finley Mark Aguirre Dirk Nowitzki Roy Tarpley

Denver Nuggets Chauncey Billups Allen Iverson Carmelo Anthony Dan Issel Dikembe Mutombo

Golden State Warriors Tim Hardaway Rick Barry Chris Mullins Chris Webber Joe Barry Carrol

Houston Rockets Kenny Smith Vernon Maxwell Tracy McGrady Yao Ming Hakeem Olajuwon

Los Angeles Clippers Chris Paul Ron Harper Danny Manning Blake Griffin Elton Brand

Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson Kobe Bryant Jerry West James Worthy Shaquille O’Neal

Memphis Grizzlies Mike Bibby Rudy Gay Shareef Abdur-Raheem Zach Randolph Pau Gasol

Minnesota Timberwolves Stephon Marbury Wally Sczerbiak Latrell Sprewell Kevin Garnett Kevin Love

New Orleans Hornets Chris Paul Eddie Jones Glen Rice Larry Johnson Alonzo Mourning

Oklahoma City Thunder Gary Payton Ray Allen Kevin Durant Tom Chambers Shawn Kemp

Phoenix Suns Steve Nash Paul Westphal Connie Hawkins Charles Barkley Amare Stoudamire

Portland Trailblazers Terry Porter Brandon Roy Clyde Drexler Maurice Lucas Bill Walton

Sacramento Kings Mike Bibby Mitch Richmond Peja Stojakovic Chris Webber Vlade Divac

San Antonio Spurs Tony Parker Manu Ginobili George Gervin Tim Duncan David Robinson

Utah Jazz John Stockton Darrell Griffith Pete Maravich Karl Malone Carlos Boozer

Eastern Conference

Atlanta Hawks Doc Rivers Dominique Wilkins Steve Smith Kevin Willis Dikembe Mutombo

Boston Celtics Dennis Johnson Paul Pierce Larry Bird Kevin Garnett Bill Russell

Brooklyn Nets Jason Kidd Drazen Petrovic Michael Ray Richardson Derrick Coleman Kenyon Martin

Charlotte Bobcats Raymond Felton Stephen Jackson Gerald Wallace Jared Dudley Tyson Chandler

Chicago Bulls Derrick Rose Michael Jordan Scottie Pippen Dennis Rodman Elton Brand

Cleveland Cavs Mark Price Ron Harper Lebron James Larry Nance Brad Daugherty

Detroit Pistons Isaiah Thomas Joe Dumars Grant Hill Rasheed Wallace Ben Wallace

Indiana Pacers Mark Jackson Reggie Miller Chuck Person Jermaine O’Neal Rik Smits

Miami Heat Tim Hardaway Dwayne Wade Lebron James Alonzo Mourning Shaquille O’Neal

Milwaukee Bucks Oscar Robinson Ray Allen Alvin Robertson Glenn Robinson Lew Alcindor

New York Knicks Walt Frazier Bill Bradley Bernard King Willis Reed Patrick Ewing

Orlando Magic Penny Hardaway Dennis Scott Tracy McGrady Dwight Howard Shaquille O’Neal

Philadelphia 76ers Maurice Cheeks Allen Iverson Julius Erving Charles Barkley Dikembe Mutombo

Toronto Raptors Damon Stoudamire Vince Carter Tracy McGrady Chris Bosh Marcus Camby

Washington Wizards Gilbert Arenas Earl Monroe Antawn Jamison Chris Webber Wes Unseld

Eastern Conference Seeding

1. Miami 2. Boston 3. Chicago 4. Philadelphia 5. Detroit 6. Orlando 7. Milwaukee 8. Toronto

Eastern Conference Semi-finals Miami over Detroit Chicago over Boston

Eastern Conference Finals Miami over Chicago

Western Conference Seedings

1. Los Angeles Lakers 2. Portland 3. New Orleans 4. San Antonio 5. Houston 6. Oklahoma City 7. Utah 8. Phoenix

Western Conference Semi-finals Los Angeles over Houston Portland over Oklahoma City

Western Conference Finals Los Angeles over Portland

NBA Finals

Los Angeles over Miami