 It is right there in black and white - Chapter 3: Playing defense. It should be required reading for all of the Toronto Raptors , who have been struggling in all facets of the game under head coach Jay Triano, but especially on defence (notably this book by Triano, published in Canada, uses the American spellings throughout). Coaching and competing at the NBA level, obviously, is the apex of the game. This slim, soft-covered volume, full of photos and simplification, is aimed squarely at the grassroots, accessible to young readers. But still, how often have you heard pro players and coaches say: "We have to get back to the basics." Triano has solid credentials, having played for Canada for 11 years then gone on to be the national team's head coach as well as an assistant with the U.S. select team. The first Canadian-born coach in the NBA, he's had mixed success since replacing Sam Mitchell as the head man with the Raptors. "The basics: That's what pure Basketball is all about," writes Triano. "Sure, there are players who can dunk and make flashy plays that get on the TV highlight reels. But professional players, like the ones you see in this book, truly know and understand the fundamentals of the game." Executing them game by game, though, can be a challenge. Garth Woolsey Basketball Basics: How To Play Like The Pros, by Jay Triano (Greystone, 80 pages, $17.95)
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Author: Fox Sports
Author's Website: http://www.foxsports.com
Added: December 7, 2009
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