"Dropping Three Balls" - Jared Dudley of the Phoenix Suns

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

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• dropping three balls
• I'm a
• wing player
• off-season

• three-pointer
• three ball
• playoffs
• up there

• hit

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

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A normal NBA team scores around 90-100 points a night. But the Phoenix Suns can score 120, 130—they even scored 152 points in one game this season!

One of the ways the Suns get so many points is by making a lot of three-pointers, and no one is better at them than Jared Dudley. In basketball, you normally get two points for a basket, but if you shoot it from far enough away, you get three points. You get the extra point because it’s hard to make a shot from that far.

This season, out of all the players in the NBA who made more than 100 three-pointers, Jared Dudley had the best percentage. Watch him talk about his “three ball” and the NBA Playoffs.

3. Watch - Watch the video without reading the dialog.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jason

Jared

Jason:  Welcome to English, baby! I’m Jason here with Jared Dudley of the Phoenix Suns. How are you doing?

Jared:  Doing great. How are you all doing out there?

Jason:  Good! So, you’re getting ready for a big playoff game tomorrow, right?

Jared:  Big playoff game here in Portland, hanging out, Grand Central, watching the game, you know it’s all about playoffs right now.

Jason:  We’re here to teach an English lesson and you’re actually the best three point shooter in the league, so we’re wondering if you could tell us some three point slang?

Jared:  Well, I’m not the best, I think I’m up therewith the three point percentage. A lot of different slang, lot of different terminology when it comes to hitting the three ball a lot of different ways. What do you guys need help with?

Jason:  I think earlier you said your favorite was “dropping three balls.” Was that how you put it?

Jared:  Yeah, “dropping three balls,” that’s what I like to do always, turn to the sign when I hit my threes. Maybe you’ll see one tomorrow night versus Portland.

Jason:  So how would you use that in a sentence if you’re learning English and you make a three pointer, what would you say?

Jared:  “Right about now I’m a drop some three balls on this team.” There you go.

Jason:  So when did you learn that three point shooting was going to be such a big part of your game?

Jared:  When I got traded to Phoenix and I saw their whole system, their whole offense and Steve Nash. If you’re a wing player and you can’t shoot it’s going to be hard for you to play, so that’s one thing I worked on this off-season.

Jason:  So when you were growing up and learning the game you didn’t know that three point shooting was your specialty until later on?

Jared:  No, definitely not. Early on I was rebounding. I was taller than everybody, bigger than everybody, so it was easier. The higher you get in the levels from high school to college, NBA, you have to develop your game. And in the NBA, if you’re not athletic or can’t shoot it’s hard for you to play.

Jason:  Well, thanks so much, Jared! Can I get you to give me a high five and say “English, baby!”

Jared:  High five, “English, baby!” Follow me on Twitter, @jareddudley619.

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