By Jim Owczarski Sports Editor Published Nov 27, 2012 at 11:01 AM Photography: David Bernacchi

At the end of training camp, near the end of his session with the media, Milwaukee Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings slipped into his final thoughts about the year a little detail that people should look out for – a new move.

"I'm a gym rat, I stay in the gym all the time," he said, a smile beginning to spread. "I perfected the Steve Nash shot. I love it. It's my go-to move. You just can't stop it."

For the uninitiated, the "Steve Nash shot" is a floater the two-time MVP has become synonymous with – a nearly indefensible shot that has helped Nash maintain his position as one of the top all-around point guards in the NBA.

Jennings has incorporated several moves into his game over the years, including the "Eurostep" he learned while playing in the Italian League in 2008-09.

Most players like to add elements to their offensive repertoire or work on weaknesses such as off hand ball handling or shooting from a certain distance during the offseason, but there is a balance in doing that and then bringing to NBA courts – in practice or otherwise.

"That's what the summers for," said Bucks swingman Mike Dunleavy, who is in his 11th year. "Those types of things you improve and work on those in the summer. You back to training camp, you work on it in practice and if you feel comfortable you take it to a game. And if you do it in a game, you've got to do it at an efficient enough level. If you're going to shoot a left handed hook shot, you need to shoot it at a high enough clip where you're comfortable with it, where it's worth it. Otherwise, trying to add something to your game, no matter how hard you work and it's not effective, it doesn't do any good."

There's another element to that offseason work that helps players – especially players like Jennings – add new dimensions to their game.

"Have you ever heard the team say you've got the green light to do something?" asked Bucks guard Marquis Daniels. "That helps out a lot with some players. If they're coming into the league and they're quote-unquote not a great shooter, or this and that, but all of a sudden they get in this league and it's like 'man, they can shoot the ball.' It's not really that. It's really confidence. It's getting out there, getting the timing, getting the rhythm, picking your spots of where you want to shoot the ball at."

At a certain point however, a player's focus is not about adding skills but more about highlighting what you already do well and ultimately avoiding the things that you don't.

"You're always hoping a guy matures and kind of understands and stays away from his weaknesses and plays to his strengths," said Bucks coach Scott Skiles, who played 600 games over 10 years. "That's what makes guys hang around and have careers."

Daniels is playing in his 10th year this season and the Bucks are his fourth team. He's a career 45 percent shooter from the field and has averaged in double figures in scoring just twice. His reputation is that of a solid defender and it's something that 31, he's more likely to rely on.

"A guy like myself, I was called a never a guy who could really shoot the ball, so when I get my open shots I take my time, make sure I make my shots," he said. "You can change that, but I'm going to make sure I continue to do the things I can do better – like be a defensive player, a better passer, I'm going to do what I do to make the game better for myself and I'll make it easier for myself as opposed to putting myself in situations where I have to force a 3-point shot or force a contested dunk and make the situation look even worse to where it's 'he really can't do this or that.' You've got to try to put yourself in the best situation out there as well."

Recognizing such things not only helps the player "look good" but it also contributes to winning basketball by avoiding turnovers or poor shot selection. It also demonstrates how hard it really is to improve strengths and weaknesses at the highest level of basketball. It takes not just the dedication, but the timeline involved in making it work in an NBA game.

"That's the progression," Dunleavy said. "You can't just come in and say OK, today I'm going to add this after a couple days of practice. That's not how it works."

Jim Owczarski is an award-winning sports journalist and comes to Milwaukee by way of the Chicago Sun-Times Media Network.

A three-year Wisconsin resident who has considered Milwaukee a second home for the better part of seven years, he brings to the market experience covering nearly all major and college sports.

To this point in his career, he has been awarded six national Associated Press Sports Editors awards for investigative reporting, feature writing, breaking news and projects. He is also a four-time nominee for the prestigious Peter J. Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism, presented by the Chicago Headline Club, and is a two-time winner for Best Sports Story. He has also won numerous other Illinois Press Association, Illinois Associated Press and Northern Illinois Newspaper Association awards.

Jim's career started in earnest as a North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) senior in 2002 when he received a Richter Fellowship to cover the Chicago White Sox in spring training. He was hired by the Naperville Sun in 2003 and moved on to the Aurora Beacon News in 2007 before joining OnMilwaukee.com.

In that time, he has covered the events, news and personalities that make up the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, NCAA football, baseball and men's and women's basketball as well as boxing, mixed martial arts and various U.S. Olympic teams.

Golf aficionados who venture into Illinois have also read Jim in GOLF Chicago Magazine as well as the Chicago District Golfer and Illinois Golfer magazines.