Even the best get into a "slump"

Klay Thompson is a shooting guard for the Golden State Warriors and son of Mychal Thompson 1st round draft pick of the 1978 Lakers. He is one of the best shooters the game has ever seen, especially from 3 point range. Klay is a classic "catch and shoot" player, he takes advantage of screens that his teammates set for him, and this allows him to get off his quick release shot, with barely a dribble. He is a 3 time NBA Champion, 5 time NBA all-star, and winner of the 2016, 3 point contest. On Dec 6, 2016, Klay scored 60 points in only 3 quarters, until his coach took him out of the game, I still can't understand Steve Kerr's reasoning. In the first 35 games of the 2018 season, Klay Thompson's shooting efficiency was at an all-time low, a true shooting slump for one of the best. A shooting slump is described as mental clutter interfering with the shooting mechanics and affects the confidence and focus of the player. Most players would just get totally frustrated and take a break for a few weeks and go on a fishing trip, (or to Las Vegas, as in Dennis Rodman). Many of us in a "slump" situation would feel no hope, no reason to get out of bed, it will never get better, all negatives would circulate in our minds. It is like being in a bad stock trade, the tough' but the best decision would be to exit immediately. But how many people in a bad trade or a bad life situation use the reasoning, "well I am down a lot of money anyway, I will double down, how much worse can it get". Well, we all know of stories of how much worse it can get. When faced with a slump, or a difficult life challenge, each person has to search honestly for someone they trust to help them, step by step to break out of it. I think it would be helpful to start with the attitude that Klay had. First, his coaches went over tapes and analyzed his shooting form, and found it to be flawless. Likewise, we can also analyze our situation and see what conclusions we come up with. Most importantly I believe, let's not be too hard on ourselves, and we should have that confidence that we are only in a temporary situation. The key to Klay getting out of his slump was his refusal to get discouraged and lose faith in himself. Many times when the reporters questioned him, he refused to let the negativity enter his mind. If we can acquire the confidence by looking back in our lives when we were successful, then we can use that positive energy to rise up again. Here are some quotes on how Klay dealt with it: " I am not hard on myself, I care, but don't lose sleep over it" I am there for the team and we are in the first place" I will just have fun, play loose, and won't hesitate." As a result of his proper mindset, on Dec 29, 2018, Klay ended his slump and scored 32 points. He held up his right hand and said, "I missed you, it's good to see you again." A simple but meaningful comment was offered regarding a shooting slump, by one of the best 3 point shooters ever, Reggie Miller, "Shooters Shoot." This concept causes muscle memory, "consolidating a specific motor task into memory through repetition." Repetition, practice, and consistency, will eventually come to our aid again to help us with life's challenges. There is a saying in Mishlei (Proverbs) "For a Tzadik falls 7 times, but he gets up" The number 7 means many, and also connotes completion, like 7 days in the week, etc. Every one of us falls, but the Tzadik, righteous one inside us gets up. We get up because we have done wonderful things in the past, and if we stay down, we can no longer be good for anyone. It is as if our heart has spiritual muscle memory, the pleasure we experienced from doing a mitzvah, an act of kindness, is in our heart and when we fall down spiritually, the heart muscle says instinctively, I am righteous and must get up. 

Written by Joe Shapiro Inspired by Yitzchak Friedman