Skill Science

In this episode of Skill Science, PD Web and Raj discuss Gonzaga star Chet Holmgren's developmental pathway with a specific focus on his strength development and how the “he's just too weak”  argument is a major disservice to the overall player and pitfall for scouting processes.

In this episode of Skill Science, PD Web and Raj discuss Philadelphia 76ers rising star Tyrese Maxey's step-back jump shot including his general approach and key read to initiate the move, his yank-back power technique to create separation, and key things he can improve on and calibrate moving forward.

In this episode of Skill Science, PD Web and Raj discuss New Orleans Pelicans guard CJ McCollum's step-back techniques, including his mastery of timing, shooting windows, movement efficiency, deception, how he developed these micro-skills, and similarities /carry-over between different target sports

In this episode of Skill Science, PD Web and Dr. Raj, DPT discuss the step-back jumper; including what game factors enabled it to be used more often and become so popularized, key physical - neurological - contextual components that make a step back effective, and why using step-back archetypes ("I want a step-back like Luka's") is often more detrimental than helpful for developing players.

In this episode of Skill Science, PD Web and Dr. Raj, DPT discuss New York Knicks wing RJ Barrett's ongoing development and how he has focused on developing his key strengths in lieu of variability, key incremental additions that make him effective, and why he's a valuable lesson for many players, coaches, and trainers.

In this episode of Skill Science, PD Web and Dr. Raj, DPT discuss Isaiah Thomas' return to the NBA with his 10-day contract with the Los Angeles Lakers including an analysis of his movement and confidence on the court, a key quote from IT3 that piqued our interest, and a very valuable lesson about properly reintegrating players back into games and understanding the return to play process.

In this episode of Skill Science, PD Web and Dr. Raj, DPT discuss New Orleans Pelicans superstar Zion Williamson's ongoing injury saga with his foot fracture (5th metatarsal fracture) including our viewpoints and experiences on how to guide players and athletes who are dealing with injury through physio and return to play process to the mental side of injuries and dealing with them to how to reduce their occurrence to overall best practices for health and fitness.

In this episode of Skill Science, PD Web and Dr. Raj, DPT took questions from listeners and answered them to the best of their ability (thank you to all those who sent in questions!).  Topics included why block training is so prevalent, how to put on weight "the right way", some of the hardest things for young players to develop, practice a game-like handle in non game-like situations, the most interesting case of development we've seen in a top level player, and more!

In this episode of Skill Science, PD Web and Dr. Raj, DPT break down Detroit Piston #1 pick Cade Cunningham's early season play centered on why Cade has shown an increased penchant or "reversion" to certain habits and movements that have made him predictable to guard rather than a player who has shown the ability to be creative and fluid. Further, PD Web discusses Cade's type of training growing up and how his current focus on a certain playing style and helping his team could be impacting his fluidity.

In this episode of Skill Science, PD Web and Dr. Raj, DPT break down Toronto Raptors wing OG Anunoby's development from limited, segmented straight-line player when he came into the NBA into a fluid, creative on the ball wing creator who's in the top 25% percentile across multiple unassisted categories - including key takeaways for coaches, trainers, and players on how to develop fluidity in multiple movements and planes

In this episode of Skill Science, PD Web and Dr. Raj, DPT break down current Los Angeles Lakers wing Carmelo Anthony's transformation from subpar 3-point shooter to one of the best in the league including key components of his jump shot, his embracing of a specific technique and how that impacted his mechanics on every shot, and why Carmelo Anthony is a great teaching example of how the body's nervous system works and how we can use that in training.

In this episode of Skill Science, PD Web and Dr. Raj, DPT break down Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander's elongated stride step including the key physical, mental, and neuromuscular components along with his unique ability to pre-plan and adapt his movements along a wide spectrum of outcomes (motor adaptation or variability), key biomechanical advantage, how he uses the step as an attack and counter on his route tree, and lastly, and key ways for athletes and/or coaches to train his usage of the elongated stride.

In the premier episode of Skill Science, PD Web and Dr. Raj, DPT break down Memphis Grizzlies guard Ja Morant's landing mechanics including his progression over the years, what they've seen most recently from him, the keys to landing mechanics and common deficits each sees when working with athletes, and some general background on common terms and definitions that they'll use moving forward.