Des Moines 1000 SHOTS SHOOTING CAMP

The Des Moines 1000 Shots Shooting Camp Starts today!

There's still time to sign up, so that you don't miss out on a weekend of excellent basketball instruction!

At this camp, we make sure that we accomplish 2 main things:

1. We will teach you how to shoot the basketball correctly, then.......
2. We put you through a series of drills which works on what you have learned, so that your shot is perfected.

You will receive the Nurse's Pill (an instructional teaching aid to better shooting) and a Camp T-shirt.

So, come on down to the Aspen Athletic Club, for a great weekend of basketball!

10930 Hickman Road
Des Moines, IA 50325

Nick Nurse: The Continuing Education Of A Coach

by Neil Johnson, D-League.com

Iowa Energy head coach Nick Nurse could have settled. In the dog days of the season when road trips turn weary, eyes tire of seeing the same faces, and ears begin to deafen from whistle to whistle, Nurse could have assessed his coaching and his team’s play with a “That’ll do.” The Energy sat atop the Central Division. Courtney Sims would go on to be crowned NBA Development League MVP. Standout teammate Oythus Jeffers took home Rookie of the Year honors at the season’s end. But for a man with one Masters Degree under his belt who was clearing wall space to hang another diploma, improvement isn’t finite. Development isn’t just measured by wins, losses, or awards. Unbeknownst to his players, Nurse enrolled in two Michigan State University Global Online Learning courses—Interpersonal Communication and Conflict Management—in February to sharpen his player and referee communication skills.

When Des Moines opened its doors to the NBA D-League for the 2007-08 season, the city laid the groundwork for Nurse to return to his roots. The Iowa native had spent the previous 12 years as a head coach in Europe, honing his skills in England and Belgium against the likes of Pau Gasol and Andrei Kirilenko. His impressive resume didn’t make the transition from Europe to the NBA D-League effortless, as the team went 22-28 in its inaugural campaign. However, his experience did limit the growing pains, and Nurse reversed the Energy’s fortune this season to the tune of a 28-22 record and Central Division title. Nurse can’t guarantee Iowa that level of success every year, but if his players continue to follow his lead, fans can expect each season to be played with an unwavering desire to grow and improve. “Our league is about development, and I think players and coaches both can take advantage of these opportunities. I’m a big fan of higher education and continuing education, and I think people should always be trying to take classes and improve themselves.”

Nurse found the aforementioned classes through the NBA D-League’s Player Development program, which allows players to take advantage of continuing education opportunities. As the first coach to participate in the program, Nurse and his MSU professor embarked on the two-class, four-week journey into academia in February despite the midseason rigors of coaching. “It was a really enjoyable experience for me. Being an NBA D-League coach, there are a couple of pressing issues that I would imagine most of my colleagues face, and one is handling the constant change of players. One of the things we talked about was just how to handle problems and how to handle the guys who have been playing for 15 to 20 games and all of a sudden two or three NBA players get sent down to you and how to communicate with the guys that are currently on your roster. Another area we tried to work on was communication with referees. Trying to improve how I could express questions and concerns to referees in a better manner.”

The courses began with a lot of reading and exercises to refresh Nurse on many of the concepts and then evolved into “… role-playing and setting up some real scenarios of how conversations might go with players and referees. My professor was amazing.” And what’s class without homework? When Nurse began refining his conflict management methods, he had to rate his behavior toward each game’s referees on a ten-point scale. Between phone calls and text messages, Nurse and his professor evaluated his improvement through the end of the season.

As the season progressed and Nurse incorporated the communication strategies into his coaching, the results became evident. “I had an NBA guy coming to my team, and a player that had been with me from day one didn’t like it. It was a real tough deal to handle with a really good player coming in. My professor and I role-played the conversation that I needed to have with the current player beforehand; it was a like a dress rehearsal. She may have a career in acting. She made it tougher for me than it was in real life.”

Between his professor grilling him in practice scenarios, players coming in and out of his lineup, debating calls with referees, and fending off the eager Dakota Wizards and Erie BayHawks for the division lead, Nurse also adopted a personal assignment: balance. Twelve years coaching in Europe left him with a clear view on balancing work and life: “I think it’s important to do that. I found it was a nice way to get away from the constant grind of film work. You can sit in your hotel room on the road and watch film and make player personnel decisions 24 hours a day, and sometimes it isn’t the best way to get the most out of them. I did it on purpose so that I could have a diversion away and get refreshed to go back to my basketball work.”

In the season’s final stretch when the focus shifted to capturing the Central Division title, Nurse finally did settle—on the Dakota Wizards—as the Energy’s playoff opponent. Iowa felt another growing pain in their first-round loss to the Wizards, but just because the season ended, their opportunities for growth haven’t. Nurse’s development will have an impact for years to come and will benefit not only him, but his players and the franchise. “I felt better about the way I was approaching things with both the players and the referees. I felt better in the ways I was handling situations with them. Communication with players is always an ongoing process and is such a huge and important part of what we do.”

How to "MAKE IT" Part II

After yesterday's amazing response to the email about Cartier Martin, wouldn't you know, there is some press about him today. This is interesting because I did this interview at least a month ago and it comes out today! Enjoy!

BY AUSTIN MEEK April 23, 2009 - 11:00pm

In all, Cartier Martin cashed more than $50,000 in paychecks from the Charlotte Bobcats this season.

Not bad for a guy who wasn't supposed to earn a dime playing professional basketball.

It was former Kansas State coach Bob Huggins who said the next basketball experience for Martin and the rest of his seniors would come at a rec center or a YMCA. Huggins later softened that comment - sort of - by saying Martin might have a chance to play in Europe once he graduated from K-State.

In Huggins' defense, being drafted by the Kansas Cagerz does not typically foreshadow a long and profitable NBA career.

Even Nick Nurse, who coached Martin with the Iowa Energy of the NBA's developmental league, didn't necessarily expect to see the 6-foot-7 swingman starting for an NBA team this season.

"To be honest with you, when we did our research to draft him, we probably did not see that, that he'd make that kind of quick elevation," Nurse said. "We really liked him. He's got a multi-faceted game. We thought he'd really be a good player in our league with an outside chance of moving up."

For anyone who watched Martin at K-State, "multi-faceted" probably isn't the first adjective that comes to mind. Martin finished his career as one of the top outside shooters in K-State history - his 178 3-pointers rank third on the school's all-time list - but his contributions in other areas were limited.

"Cartier's biggest drawback is he's not a great athlete," Huggins said before the 2007 NBA draft, which passed without any mention of Martin's name.

Martin still won't be confused with LeBron James, but his game clearly has evolved. When Nurse scouted Martin before the D-league draft, he saw a versatile player capable of contributing in a variety of areas.

"I always tell the scouts, he does every single facet of the game above average," Nurse said. "Other than his shooting, I wouldn't say he's excellent at anything, but he's not poor at anything, either. He's got every facet.

"He's a great help defender who can get over and take charges. He doesn't get a high volume of rebounds, but he blocks out really well. He makes the extra pass, understands spacing on offense, all those little things. He was a great teammate and a great leader for us."

Before signing with the Energy, Martin played professionally in Turkey, where his numbers were relatively pedestrian. But with input from various friends in the Big 12 coaching ranks, Nurse opted to gamble on Martin early in the D-league draft.

"We used our first-round pick on him, which I think surprised people, but we were really confident we found a good player," Nurse said. "That's why we drafted him so high."

The gamble paid off, as Martin averaged close to 21 points in the 21 games with the Energy and was selected to the D-league all-star game. That was enough to earn Martin a pair of 10-day contracts with the Bobcats when swingman Gerald Wallace suffered a collapsed lung in January.

Most observers expected Martin's NBA career to expire along with those contracts, but the Bobcats instead signed him for the remainder of the season.

"He's a classic example," Nurse said. "He just flat-out works. He works harder than anybody I've ever coached to improve himself. I'm not talking about showing up for practice 30 minutes or 45 minutes ahead of time. He was showing up three hours ahead of time, and he was staying afterwards."

Martin maintained that habit with the Bobcats, reportedly showing up to his first practice hours early and finding the gym locked. That work ethic seemed to catch the attention of coach Larry Brown, who inserted Martin into the starting lineup for a game when Raja Bell went down with a calf injury.

Charlotte finished 35-47, four games out of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, meaning Martin's NBA future is once again uncertain. He went 0-for-5 from the floor over the final five games of the season and averaged 2.6 points in his 33 games with the Bobcats.

But even if Martin doesn't win a roster spot next season, he's already playing with house money.

"If they don't keep him and he comes back to the D-league next year, I'm sure he'll get another chance," Nurse said.

Austin Meek can be reached at austin.meek@cjonline.com.

Have a Supergood day!

Nick Nurse

Summer Basketball Program
There's less than a week to go until the end of the EARLY BIRD prices for the 1000 Shots Camps. We'll show you how to WORK HARD and give you the teaching and drills that you need to improve this summer.

Just click on the link to make your selection and sign up today! Nick Nurse Basketball Camps

How to "MAKE IT"

"Self discipline is the rejection of instant gratification in favor of something better. It is the giving up of instant pleasure and satisfaction for a good opportunity or reward that is far more important and valuable in the future. It is the ability to go through the rigor of repeating an activity again and again until your skill or competence increases." *

Ok, the above is a great way to understand how we push through and achieve our goals.

And....I have been dying to write this email for a long time about one of our players here at the Iowa Energy. But, amidst winning the divisional title, coaching in the All-Star game, having nine 10-day call ups, the league's MVP, and the league's Rookie of the year, the daily emails had to take a back seat.

But the player I want to talk to you about today is one of our guys who made it, Cartier Martin who played his college ball at Kansas State.

Cartier was our first round draft choice this past year after having a "decent career" at KSU. He started until his senior year where he then came off the bench under a new coaching staff. I did a lot of personal research on him before the draft, talking to several people that both knew him and that he played against in college. They all confirmed the same things about him being a good guy but they all talked about his work ethic as well, which seemed to strike a chord with me with everyone I talked to about him. So, we surprised most people when we chose him with our first overall selection (he was only a mid level salary player).

Anyway, the story goes quickly like this. He is pretty much not on anyone's radar in the NBA. He plays 21 games for us, gets a call up to the Charlotte Bobcats for 10 days. He then makes their team and ends up not only playing for them for the remainder of the season, BUT even starting in the NBA!

How can this be?

Well, I have NEVER seen a player WORK like him......EVER.

I am not talking about coming to practice early and staying late. A lot of our players (in fact most of them) do this. Cartier was on another level. If practice was at 4pm. I would see him down in the gym at NOON. I am talking 4 HOURS BEFORE practice. And he was working and working on all facets of his game. He would be doing two ball dribbling, shooting tons of Free Throws, shooting of course, footwork and even passing drills. Most of the time down there by himself (he even asked me to create a "music" workout for him, which we called C2 and he downloaded the workout to is ipod). My instructions would be something like...... "Go to the right wing, pump fake, take one dribble and pull up......do this for 90 seconds.....ready..GO!" To finish off the workout, I dropped some music in the background that I thought he might like (and would motivate him). It turned out to be a 90 minute workout for him. His first response was....."Coach, I love this, can you make the workout longer for me?"

He was down on the floor every day WORKING. He would go through two sets of practice gear a day because of all the sweat he would work up. He also was a leader. Every practice, every game. One of those guys pushing their teammates. "Let's have a good practice today and we have a big game coming up", were often heard coming from his lips. It is no wonder to me that he got the call and that he struck in the NBA.

One last story before we finish up for today. When Cartier went to Charlotte for his first 10 day contract, on about the 4th day, the team had an 11am practice scheduled for the day. He arrived at the practice facility at 7.30am to find it locked and no one around. A security guard saw him at the door and didn't know who he was, and had to call the coach's to say "who is this guy, claims he is on the team". The coaches said "yes, he's a new guy" and that it was ok to let him in. The coaches asked the security guard to watch and see what he was doing there that early. The report: "hit the weights hard, ran and shot and dribbled the entire morning, absolutely worked his rear end off all morning."

Hall of Fame Coach, Larry Brown fell in love with Cartier right there and then.

Is it any wonder?

It all comes down to discipline and hard work. I really believe that.

What do you believe?

Have a SuperGood day!

Nick Nurse

P.S. - One week to go for EARLY BIRD prices for the Summer Program Camps. We'll show you how to WORK HARD and give you the teaching and drills that you need to improve this summer. Just click on the link for more information. Nick Nurse Basketball Camps

*Taken from the book: The 12 Factors of Business Success: Discover, Develop and Leverage Your Strengths by Kevin Hogan, Dave Lakhani, Mollie Marti

ENERGY END SEASON WITH HOME LOSS TO DAKOTA

833 5th Avenue • Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 462 -2849 • Fax: (515) 564-8551
www.IowaNBA.com

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release
Contact: Katie Mahnke
E-Mail: kmahnke@iowanba.co

ENERGY END SEASON WITH HOME LOSS TO DAKOTA

DES MOINES, Iowa, April , 2009 – Player of the Game, Othyus Jeffers, scored 31 points, grabbed 14 rebounds and shot 13-for-18 from the field, but the Dakota Wizards defeated the Iowa Energy 114-109 on Thursday night at Wells Fargo Arena.

The Energy jumped off to an early start, leading by 17 during the first quarter. Six members of the Energy squad finished in double-digits, including Denham Brown (20 points), Demetris Nichols (19 points), John Edwards (13 points) and Mark Tyndale (10 points). Curtis Stinson finished the season with another double-double, adding 11 points and dishing out 11 assists.

David Bell’s 10 three pointers helped push the Wizards to a victory. Bell finished with 31 points and shot 12-for-17 from the field. Contributing double-doubles were Blake Ahearn (20 points, 11 assists), Richard Hendrix (16 points, 14 rebounds), and Maurice Baker (12 points, 10 rebounds). Renaldo major added 20 points.

Dakota will move on the play Utah in the D-League Semi Final on Monday.

NBA Affiliates:

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Phone: (515) 462-2849 • Fax: (515) 564-8551

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TOYOTA OF DES MOINES TO SPONSOR “ ENERGY PLAYOFF DRIVE ”

Car Dealer to Purchase Tickets for Children Thursday Night

Des Moines, IA (April 15, 2009) – The Iowa Energy announced today that Toyota of Des Moines will be the “Official Sponsor of the Energy Playoff Drive” beginning with Thursday nights game vs. Dakota.

As part of the promotion, Toyota of Des Moines has announced they will purchase tickets for all children aged 17 and under for Thursday’s playoff opener. Fans can obtain these tickets at the Wells Fargo Arena box office or by calling the Energy office at 515-462-2849. Fans must ask for the “Toyota Kids Tickets” for their children.

In addition, five lucky fans will be selected at Thursday’s game to attempt to win a free Toyota Camry courtesy of Toyota of Des Moines. The five fans selected at random, will have to make four shots from specific locations on the floor in 25 seconds to win the car.

“ Toyota has been a partner of ours since day one, and we feel very fortunate to have them as our official playoff sponsor. The gesture to purchase tickets for the children of greater Des Moines shows a lot about the type of people they are, and their commitment to the community,” said Energy General Manager Chris Makris.

For more information please contact the Iowa Energy at 515-462-2849 or visit www.iowanba.com.

ENERGY TO HOST RIVAL DAKOTA WIZARDS IN PLAYOFF OPENER

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IOWA ENERGY TO HOST RIVAL DAKOTA WIZARDS IN PLAYOFF OPENER

Energy Franchise to Play First Ever Playoff Game Thursday in Des Moines

DES MOINES, IA, April 12, 2009 – The Iowa Energy selected the Dakota Wizards as their opponent for the first round of the 2009 NBA D-League Playoffs and will host their division rival Thursday night at Wells Fargo Arena in Des Moines.

“This is an exciting time for our team and for Des Moines. To have a playoff game of this caliber right here in people’s backyard doesn’t happen all the time, so I encourage everyone to come out and cheer us on Thursday night,” said Energy Head Coach Nick Nurse.

Iowa won five of the seven matchups with the Wizards on the season, but several of those games came down to the final seconds. The two teams last played Thursday, April 9^th in Des Moines. The rivals came into the game tied for first place in the division with two games to play. The Energy won 130-120 behind 27 points from former Iowa State star Curtis Stinson to clinch a playoff birth.

The Energy enter the game on a two game win streak. After their loss to Iowa last Thursday, Dakota defeated Anaheim on Friday night to clinch a playoff birth.

The winner of the Iowa/Dakota matchup will face the winner of the Utah/Bakersfield contest in the second round. Date, time and location of a potential second round game will be determined upon completion of the first round.

Tickets for the Energy’s first round game are on sale now starting at $8. Fans will be treated to $1 beer at the game. To purchase, visit www.dahlstickets.com or call 515-462-2849.

ENERGY TO SELECT PLAYOFF OPPONENT SUNDAY NIGHT

NEWS RELEASE
833 5th Avenue • Des Moines, IA 50309
Phone: (515) 462-2849 • Fax: (515) 564-8551

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ENERGY TO SELECT PLAYOFF OPPONENT SUNDAY NIGHT
Iowa to Select Third in Unique Playoff Format
DES MOINES, IA, April 11, 2009 – The Iowa Energy know they will host their first ever playoff game Thursday night at Well Fargo Arena. Their opponent, however, is still up in the air.

The NBA D-League has implemented a unique process to select playoff matchups this year as the top four seeds will be allowed to choose their opponent for the first round matchups. The selection process will occur Sunday night at 5:00 PM Central and can be followed live online at www.d-league.com.

The top four seeds in the eight team D-League playoffs are:
1) Colorado 14’ers
2) Utah Flash
3) Iowa Energy
4) Austin Toros

The remaining playoff teams are the Idaho Stampede, Dakota Wizards, Bakersfield Jam and Erie BayHawks.

The selection process will begin with Colorado selecting their opponent from the four “non-seeded” teams. Utah will follow with their selection among the three remaining “non-seeded” teams. At that point, the Energy will have a decision to make between the two remaining “non-seeded” teams.

Iowa will be on the same side of the bracket as Utah and their selected opponent. This means an Iowa first round win would likely send them to Utah for a second round matchup, although the Energy could host a second round game if things fell in their favor.

Tickets for the Energy’s first round game are on sale now starting at $8. Fans will be treated to $1 beer at the game. To purchase, visit www.dahlstickets.com or call 515-462-2849.

ENERGY CLINCH CENTRAL WITH 114-110 WIN OVER SIOUX FALLS

NEWS RELEASE

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ENERGY CLINCH CENTRAL WITH 114-110 WIN OVER SIOUX FALLS
Iowa To Host 1st Round Playoff Game

DES MOINES , IA , April 10, 2009 – The Iowa Energy clinched their first division title in franchise history with a 114-104 home victory over rival Sioux Falls . With the win, Iowa will host a home playoff game Thursday. The Energy’s opponent will be determined Sunday night, as D-League teams select their opponents for the playoffs. Iowa will be the number three seed in the eight team field.

A back and forth first quarter was followed by a big Energy run in the 2nd stanza. With the game tied at 47, the Energy scored 17 of the next 19 points to head into halftime with a commanding 64-49 lead.

Sioux Falls cut the lead to three early in the 4th quarter, but were not able to get any closer the rest of the game. The loss knocks Sioux Falls out of the playoff picture.

Curtis Stinson led the Energy with his third triple-double of the season with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 15 assists. Othyus Jeffers, named D-League Rookie of the Year earlier in the day, scored a team high 29 points for the Energy while Demetris Nichols added 26 points.

Sioux Falls was led by Kasib Powell’s 23 points while David Bailey added 19 points on the night.

Tickets for the Energy’s first ever playoff game will go on sale Saturday at noon. Tickets can be purchased by calling the Energy office at 515-462-2849 or at www.dahlstickets.com. The game will be held Thursday, April 16th at 7pm.

OTHYUS JEFFERS NAMED NBA D-LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

OTHYUS JEFFERS NAMED NBA D-LEAGUE ROOKIE OF THE YEAR

NEW YORK, April 10, 2009 – Iowa Energy guard Othyus Jeffers, who ranks in the top 10 in scoring, rebounding and steals, has been selected by the League’s 16 head coaches as the NBA Development League’s 2008-09 Rookie of the Year.

“Othyus is a warrior. He competes every night, puts winning first and foremost in his mind and refuses to be denied,” said Energy head coach Nick Nurse. “He is absolutely deserving of the award and he gets a lot of credit in my book. In my 19 years of coaching he is without a doubt the most competitive player I’ve ever worked with.”

In 46 games (31 starts) for Iowa, Jeffers is averaging 20.9 points on 53 percent (354-for-667) shooting from the field, to go with 9.1 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 2.1steals, helping the Energy to a 27-22 record, good for first place in the Central Division. Jeffers, an NAIA All-America selection at Robert Morris College, also participated in this year’s NBA D-League All-Star Game in Phoenix, scoring 14 points on 6-for-9 shooting from the field.

Jeffers, who earned All-NBA Development League Honorable Mention honors, joins Blake Ahearn (Dakota, 2007-08), Louis Amundson (Colorado, 2006-07), Will Bynum (Roanoke 2005-06), James Thomas (Roanoke 2004-05), Desmond Penigar (Asheville, 2003-04), Devin Brown (Fayetteville, 2002-03) and Fred House (Charleston, 2001-02) as winners of the annual award.

“In a season filled with talented rookie performances, Othyus' contributions to his team's success stood out,” said Chris Alpert, Vice President of Basketball Operations and Player Personnel for the NBA D-League. “He demonstrated all season that he is a tremendous player and a top young prospect. With hard work and determination, he has used the NBA D-League as a platform to display his abilities to NBA scouts. There is no doubt that Othyus has a bright future ahead of him.”

The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league and features 16 teams with direct affiliations to NBA teams for the 2008-09 season. An expansion team will begin play in Portland, Maine for the 2009-10 season, and the Anaheim Arsenal will relocate to Springfield, Mass., with a new name, logo, and team colors. Sixty former NBA Development League players were on 2008-09 NBA start-of-season rosters, and the league continues to develop current NBA coaches and referees. In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote youth basketball, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs. The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA. Throughout this season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.

ENERGY LOSE FOURTH STRAIGHT 101-113 TO RIO GRANDE VALLEY

NEWS RELEASE

833 5^th Avenue • Des Moines , IA 50309

Phone: (515) 462-2849 • Fax: (515) 564-8551

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

ENERGY LOSE FOURTH STRAIGHT 101-113 TO RIO GRANDE VALLEY

Thursday’s Game vs. Dakota May Decide Central Division

HIDALGO, TX, April 5, 2009 – The Iowa Energy continued their season long losing streak, dropping their fourth straight game 101-113 to Rio Grande Valley Sunday. Iowa entered the day one game ahead of Dakota in the D-League’s Central Division. That lead may be in jeopardy as the Energy couldn’t overcome a 57-33 rebounding disadvantage in the game. Dakota plays Sioux Falls later today, with a chance to tie for the division lead.

Rio Grande sprinted out to a 19 point halftime lead and were never threatened in the second half as their rebounding dominance and 29 assists paved the way for the easy victory. The Vipers move their record to 21-26 with the win.

Energy standout Othyus Jeffers led Iowa with 25 points while Demetris Nichols added 24 points and 9 rebounds.

Rio Grande Valley was led by former Iowa Hawkeye Kurt Looby, who had a triple-double on the night with 14 points, 22 rebounds and 11 blocked shots.

The Energy return to Des Moines to host Dakota on Thursday, April 9^th at 7pm. Single game tickets are available by calling 515-462-2849 or visiting www.iowanba.com.

D-FENDERS HOLD ON IN OVERTIME, DEFEAT ENERGY 130-124

PRESS RELEASE

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D-FENDERS HOLD ON IN OVERTIME,
DEFEAT ENERGY 130-124


DES MOINES, Iowa, April 1, 2009 – Demetris Nichols hit a buzzer beating three at the end of regulation to tie the game, but the Los Angeles D-Fenders defeated the Iowa Energy 130 to 124 Wednesday night at Wells Fargo Arena in overtime.

The D-Fenders led for the majority of the game, leading the Energy (26-19) by as much as 22 points during the second half. Othyus Jeffers’ 37 points and 14 rebounds helped the Energy to a comeback, with Nichols adding 23 points. Curtis Stinson (21 points, 11 assists) Marvin Phillips (12 points) and Mark Tyndale (11 points) rounded out the Energy squad scoring in double-digits.

Dwanye Mitchell led the D-Fenders with 28 points, with Mickael Gelabale and Earl Barron adding 21 points a piece. Also contributing to the D-Fenders victory were Ryan Forehand-Kelly (20 points), Charlie Parker (18 points) and Brandon Heath (10 points).

The Energy will take on the Colorado 14ers on Thursday, April 2nd at Wells Fargo Arena. United States Olympian Lolo Jones will be featured at the game with a bobblehead replica of the athlete. Tickets can be purchased by calling 515-462-2849 or visiting www.dahlstickets.com.

ENERGY END ROAD TRIP WITH LOSS AT RENO

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Phone: (515) 462-2849 • Fax: (515) 564-8551

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ENERGY END ROAD TRIP WITH LOSS AT RENO

Team Returns Home for Saturday Night Game

RENO, NV, Mar. 26 2009 – The Iowa Energy ended their five game road trip with a 109-131 loss to the Reno BigHorns Thursday night in Reno. Iowa, playing without three of their normal starters, fell behind by 11 points after the 1^st quarter and couldn’t overcome a Reno team that made 16 of 27 three-point shots on the night.

Iowa was led by Othyus Jeffers who finished with 24 points and 10 rebounds on the night. Curtis Stinson added 23 points, 6 rebounds and 6 assists in the game. The Energy fall to 25-18 on the season, 2.0 games ahead of Dakota in the D-League’s Central Division.

Reno moves to 20-23 on the year and keeps their playoff hopes alive with the win. The expansion BigHorns were led by Richie Frahm, who scored 31 points on the night.

Iowa returns home on Saturday, March 28^th at 7pm for “80’s Night”. Fans are encouraged to dress in their favorite 1980’s attire and join the Energy for a fun night of hoops and entertainment. Tickets can be purchased by calling 515-462-2849 or visiting www.dahlstickets.com.

Bakersfield Too Much for Shorthanded Energy

BAKERSFIELD TOO MUCH FOR SHORTHANDED ENERGY

Iowa Runs Out of Energy, Falls 98-85

BAKERSFIELD, CA, March 24, 2009 – The Bakersfield Jam used a 23-2 second half run to break open a close game and cruise to a 98-85victory over the visiting Iowa Energy Tuesday.

Iowa played the game without three regulars as Courtney Sims (called up to New York Knicks), Patrick Sanders (injury) and Denham Brown (injury) were not available for the game. The Energy led most of the first half, and took a 54-44 lead into the halftime break. Bakersfield began their comeback in the third quarter, and tied the score at 71 heading into the final period. The fourth quarter was all Jam, as they scored the first 15 points of the stanza and coasted to an easy victory.

Othyus Jeffers led the Energy with 18 points and 16 rebounds. Former Iowa State standout Curtis Stinson added 15 points and 13 rebounds.

Former Michigan State star Mateen Cleaves led Bakersfield with 21 points and 13 assists.

Iowa falls to 25-17 with the loss, and remains 2.5 games ahead of Dakota in the D-League’s Central Division. Bakersfield improves to 25-19 with the win.

The Energy travel to Reno for a game on Thursday before returning to Des Moines for a game on Saturday at 7pm vs. Ft. Wayne . Tickets for the game can be purchased at www.dahlstickets.com or by calling 515-462-2849.

1000 Shots Shooting Camps - June 2009

As you can probably tell, we are planning for a summer which is full of basketball in the 1000 Shots world!

It all starts in the month of June.......we're having our June 1000 Shots Shooting Camps, the Basketball Development School starts and there is also a 1000 Perfect Shots Shooting Academy. Isn't this just the best? Over the next couple of days, I'll be sending you more details.

The only way I know how to spend a summer is to improve my basketball skills. You know that you should really do the same! As a player, I spent my summers perfecting my shot and now that I'm a coach, I spend my summers learning more and more about the game of basketball.

Coaches of all levels need someone who can flat-out shoot. We are always looking for players who can spread the defense. Someone who can change the game. If you can shoot, in addition to you being able to score, your teammates will also have more room to score too!

Back to the June 2009 series of 1000 Shots Shooting Camps.......

We commit to delivering outstanding basketball instruction, and we always make a point of perfecting our delivery. We have more and more drills/concepts which we will continue to introduce at each and every camp.

You can be sure that we will teach you the fundamentals of shooting (we've added a few new things to the camp curriculum and we are going to teach stuff that we have NEVER taught before). We are then going to drill and shoot......and drill.......and shoot some more. Get the picture?

So, if you seriously want to improve your shooting skills, what are you waiting for? You need to sign up right away!

If you've previously attended any of our camps, you will definitely not want to miss out on these June sessions. It doesn't even matter if you're a rookie to a 1000 Shots Shooting Camp, this is a great time to start your journey to becoming a great shooter (or even greater than you are already)!

Our aim is for every player to leave camp absolutely ready for the new season. Attendance at the camps provides great opportunity for you to work on your shooting skills during the summer in preparation for the season ahead!

Don't miss out, get to the Website and sign up for the 1000 Shots Shooting Camps today!!

• June 6-7, Anamosa, Iowa
• June 11-12, Audubon, Iowa
  
• June 13-14, Chicago, Illinois
• June 27-28, Des Moines, Iowa
  

*Early Bird deadline May 1, 2009

Tomorrow, I'll be talking about what happens at the 1000 Perfect Shots Shooting Academy.

Let's get it done!

Nick Nurse

Iowa Energy

Head Coach

Iowa Energy Website
Nick Nurse Website

What Happens at the 1000 Shots Shooting Camp......

Do you know what happens at the 1000 Shots Shooting Camps? Well, I'm going to let you in on the deal!

At our camps we focus on the fundamentals of shooting and we do this in a visual way. We feel that what we teach is the single best way to learn how to shoot.

Each camper uses The Nurse's Pill instructional basketball. The Nurse's Pill is a red, white, and blue basketball with a stripe around the middle. The concept is so simple, when you use this ball, you have to have proper hand placement on the ball. So, when you actually shoot you will see the ball rotate perfectly. By using this method, I literally raised my shooting percentage by at least 20%.

Now, remember I said that it is a simple method? Well, believe me, it is! But, you know what else? It is also really, really effective. We work on this throughout the camp, it's really important to us that by the end of the Camp, you are clear on how to shoot the ball.

Our sessions are carefully designed to ensure that each and every camper learns the art of shooting the basketball - correctly and successfully. We achieve this by giving each and every camper individual attention. This is one of the many reasons that our camps SELL OUT every single time. Campers always learn and by the time they leave, they are totally amazed at how quickly they improve. Even Coaches, team mates, family and friends notice the improvement.

If you want to be a great shooter, make sure that you get signed up to one of the upcoming 1000 Shots Shooting camps:

* June 6-7, Anamosa, Iowa
* June 11-12, Audubon, Iowa
* June 13-14, Chicago, Illinois
* June 27-28, Des Moines, Iowa

*Early Bird deadline May 1, 2009

Let's get it done!

Nick Nurse

Iowa Energy
Head Coach
Iowa Energy Website
Nick Nurse Website

How to Gain the Mental Edge - Tiger Style

Ok, I am back to one of my favorite subjects today, Tiger Woods.

You know why I like Tiger right?

First of all he is the greatest athlete in his sport and I love looking at how these things happen. Second of all, in 2000, Tiger Woods won 2 majors and several other tournaments. However, he completely revamped his swing during the off season, and went on to get even better. How does this relate to basketball and shooting? Well, I teach what I feel is the very best way to shoot the basketball. The problem is for some darn reason, people do NOT want to have anyone "mess with their shot". It's incredulous to me.

I was a pretty good shooter after my sophomore year at the University of Northern Iowa (UNI)I In fact, I was one of the top in the conference for 3 point FG%. The summer between my sophomore and junior year, I met a guy named Des Flood, a great great shooting instructor from California. He changed my shot. And yeah it took some work by me, and yeah it was a little uncomfortable, but the results....well...I led the league and shot .497% from behind the 3 point line the next season.

However....

What I really, really like about TIGER is this:

When he was young he listened to motivational tapes. He listened to them
repeatedly. He FLOODED himself with positive thoughts that BOOSTED his
confidence tremendously.

I have talked before about how I have attended some the best seminars around the world with regards to motivational speakers (These guys are good. They study human performance, they dig deep into the WHY of why people are successful. It is WHY I go).

Anyway, I have been talking a lot about confidence and positive self talk lately
in your quest to becoming a great shooter. And I put affirmations right on the
"Nurse's Pill" (I am a great shooter, and everything I shoot goes in").

Back to Tiger. He listened to the following comments over and over, in fact he
WROTE them down and taped them to his bed as a young boy.

"I will be my own destiny."

"I believe in me."

"I smile at obstacles."

"I am firm in my resolve."

"I fulfill my resolutions powerfully."

"My strength is great."

"I stick to it, easily, naturally."

"My will moves mountains."

"I will focus and give it my all."

"My decisions are strong."

"I do it with all my heart."

Awesome or what?

Do you want to succeed? Here is a great place to start. Flood your mind and
your thoughts with these powerful words. Write them down. Go for it!


Let's Get it Done!

Nick Nurse
Head Coach
Iowa NBA D-League
www.nicknurse.com
www.iowanba.com

Farm like a Champion

The title of today's blog may seem a bit strange, but rest assured there is a point to it.

One Sunday a couple of years ago, we had a family reunion on my mother's side of the family. Trust me, this is no small gathering. My mother's father was one of fifteen children, I am one of nine, and most of her brothers and sisters have what most would call HUGE families. First of all it was great to see everyone, but it was really great to read about the family history and the amount of talent that abounds on this side of family. Numerous teachers, athletes, and musicians line our family history.

The "party" was held at one of my uncle's farm in the middle of Iowa.....and what a farm it was! Quite an impressive setting. It was a farm that any farmer or businessman would certainly be proud of. Now, my uncle, John, is a proud Irish Catholic and such is huge Notre Dame fan.

He had a beautiful sign hanging above his door, the door he goes out every morning to work (or do chores). The sign is his daily reminder and motivation for him to be the best he can be at what he does. His sign says:

"FARM LIKE A CHAMPION TODAY"

It's in Notre Dame colors and is the replica of the sign that hangs just above the entrance door of the Notre Dame Fightin' Irish football team entrance as they enter the stadium (most of you know this if you have ever watched the movie RUDY, and if you haven't ...rent it NOW!).

This sign is Uncle John's daily reminder that he is a farmer and that he wants to be the best farmer he can be. It is reminder that everything in life starts with the right mind set. It is his reminder that just going through the motions and hoping to be successful is NOT what it is about. He wants to "Farm like a Champion". Not only did he want to be a great farmer, he is an unbelievably successful farmer, father of nine, and husband (P.S. he is also just a great guy).

I took a picture of his sign with my phone and have it in my saved photos. And I told him I was doing this and had a chance to sit down and talk with him about it. He simply said, "you got to find out what motivates people, this motivates me, I have passion for what I do, I have passion for football, I have passion for Notre Dame, I just kinda put it all together. I think it is important to remind myself of what I strive for every single day."

That is awesome. I feel the same way. In fact, I often live by the following: "Get up every day and put in a great effort, let the rest take care of itself."

That may not sound like much, but I think the key is the everyday part. What is it I can do today to make myself a better person, a better coach, a better contributor to my community? It is all about today. That is the key.

I hope you have a great, motivating and Champion day today!


SuperGood!!

Nick Nurse
Head Coach
Iowa Energy

www.nicknurse.com