You can get into a zone with the game where you see what chute they are rolling down and in which order so you just put the basket in the right place and wait each time. The more random approach and catching in air would make it more frantic and maybe more fun.
As for the emptying basket, you could just press down arrow (or move mouse down) and he would face the camera and dump them into a basket in front (or behind him if he faced the other way.)
As for the emptying basket, you could just press down arrow (or move mouse down) and he would face the camera and dump them into a basket in front (or behind him if he faced the other way.)