A little over a year ago, I started getting really into pickup ball. A younger co-worker got me to start playing a couple times a week, and now I'm pretty much obsessed. Considering my basketball experience prior to this was minimal (e.g. once in a great while shooting around), there are still a lot of things I'm learning and figuring out at the early age of 32 (lol).
After a year+, I've turned into a pretty consistent shooter (especially from deep) and I can play decent defense. But, there are things I really want to get better at. Some (like being able to hustle longer and harder or improving my handle) are just a matter of me exercising, training, and practicing. For others, I'm not sure what to do.
The biggest thing I'm trying to figure out is court vision- like understanding where and when to both 1) set screens/picks and 2) how to find screens/picks to get open more often. I also want to get better with my footwork.
There is a plethora of YouTube videos and how to guides/articles out there, but I wanted to see what BBI had to suggest in terms of advice or resources (blogs/articles, videos, drills, exercises). I've even considered finding a coach/trainer to do a couple sessions with me. Got anything?
get someone you play with and work on some give and goes and backdoors.
also start dribbing with your weaker hand until you can go both ways
2) I'd definitely look at youtubes of pick and roll. It's a very simple play and the cornerstone of modern offenses. Learn the roll of the ball handler and what to do when the defender fights under the screen or goes over. If you're a good shooter work on shooting off the dribble and this could work for you.
Also look at how to play as the roll man. A lot of times, you can help another teammate by getting them open for a shot and even if they don't pass, crash to the hoop for weakside rebounding. There's a ton of ideas there.
3) If you're gonna try and come off a screen, there's one simple rule. When your teammate sets it you must come around that screen hip to hip. Make that defender either be behind you or jump around it.
4) I tell my kids to have a clock in their head, 1sec, 2 sec and when they get to three, they have three choices. Cut to the hoop, set a screen for a teammate to cut, set a pick for the ball handler. Wait too long and they'll hear it from me. If your defender takes his eyes off you, make a cut. Put your hand up and go.
5) Keep good spacing. It's hard to do any of this stuff if everyone is trying to post up their guy like Olajuwon. If your neighbor makes a cut or penetrates, fill in his spot on the floor and keep the defense honest. Be open for a kickout from dribble penetration, especially if you can shoot.
Heisenberg - lots of fantastic coach's advice there and plenty for me to keep in mind. You're absolutely on the money when you talk about the lack of smoothness in pickup games. And the advice about keeping a clock in my head is great - sometimes I think I actually move too much and pausing for a second or two will let me get a better look at where and when to go.
I have a decent understanding of the PNR thanks to some extensive hours of NBA 2k but my handle isn't quite there to where I feel comfortable running it as a ballhandler. But I will definitely work on getting there. I may not have the skills yet, but the will is there.
Heisenberg - lots of fantastic coach's advice there and plenty for me to keep in mind. You're absolutely on the money when you talk about the lack of smoothness in pickup games. And the advice about keeping a clock in my head is great - sometimes I think I actually move too much and pausing for a second or two will let me get a better look at where and when to go.
I have a decent understanding of the PNR thanks to some extensive hours of NBA 2k but my handle isn't quite there to where I feel comfortable running it as a ballhandler. But I will definitely work on getting there. I may not have the skills yet, but the will is there.
No worries. Moving around all the time is good but a pause here and there can also help create separation. If you pause, the tendency for the defender is to track the ball. Float a bit further out of view and then make a cut. If you're far away from the ball (like the other side of the floor, it's better to keep spacing sometimes than move. It's more important to move when the ball is on your side especially if the ball handler is dribbling toward you. if he's not driving but is dribbling in your direction, that's when you definitely have to make some kind of basketball move. cut, screen or pick.
If there's one or two guys that you usually play with, some times you could get a little two man game (pick and roll, give and go).
Lastly, if you're a good shooter, the one basketball move to master is shot fake and pulling it down and attacking the basket. The idea is to get the defense to commit to defending the outside shot and then using that moment to get past the defender.
My best shot was the fadeaway jumper..unblockable unless the guy guarding me was 6"5 or so...
Try to play big, shoot 3s, and be able to post/rebound.
Don't even bother trying to become a good ball handler, you have to learn that as a kid. You could develop handles but it'll take lots of time and you'll never be AI with it. I feel your pain. I was good at basketball and loved playing it, but being 6-1 and not ever developing a good handle frustrated me enough that I played more baseball instead.
I played like Shaq though, was a monster in the paint and couldn't hit foul shots. I was able to make some 3s though. I was an amazing shot blocker as well. If I was 5-6 inches taller I would have definitely kept with it
Also HIIT on the bike helps also. Or manual HIIT on the stairmaster
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-yoga. I’m tall but can’t jump but it’s crazy how much yoga helps your body. I don’t even do it often, but when I do and play basketball the next day I feel springy and can finish from weird angles. Try out just a class or two and then play, trust me.
My best shot was the fadeaway jumper..unblockable unless the guy guarding me was 6"5 or so...
Oh by the way I am 6"1 - 6"2..
BS- I still play and I'm 62 and we play with younger guys like yourself... Never say die!
...always, absolutely always, call myself for committing a foul
(i.e. if my team got possession, I'd call myself for the foul, and be sure the ball went back to the shooter)
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hang up the sneakers. You should have played enough during your youth ....the only thing you'll get out of this injuries to layout of work.
BS- I still play and I'm 62 and we play with younger guys like yourself... Never say die!
WTG SEC show these youngsters what pickup basketball is all about...We should get together a BBI team...lol
...always, absolutely always, call myself for committing a foul
(i.e. if my team got possession, I'd call myself for the foul, and be sure the ball went back to the shooter)
I don't want anyone calling a foul on themselves if I have the ball. Too easy to stop advantageous situations, like hacking someone on a 3 on 1.
You'll have 3 options off the pick, 1-curl the pick (defender is trailing you) 2-veer off the pick to the top side (defender slides under the pick) 3- fade the pick (defender jumps the pick) and you fade back for a jumper. All 3 scenarios create the next play for you, drive to the hoop, drive and dish, fade and shoot, fade 1-2 dribbles and pull up, etc. Once again, this will become easier as you play more.
Also, there isn't anything wrong with calling a foul when its legit. Little bumps and touches should be played through, but if you can hear the slap or your legs get taken out, its a foul and I dont care who bitches.
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...never, absolutely never, call a foul on another player
...always, absolutely always, call myself for committing a foul
(i.e. if my team got possession, I'd call myself for the foul, and be sure the ball went back to the shooter)
I don't want anyone calling a foul on themselves if I have the ball. Too easy to stop advantageous situations, like hacking someone on a 3 on 1.
Yea, I should clarify, I don’t ever call a foul on myself unless I’ve caused turnover in possession .... I mean duh ... we don’t shoot free throws so calling a foul on yourself without having obtained possession would be a pretty fucking stupid concept ... I don’t know how your mind even goes there
2) when you are away from the ball and cut... always be sure to continue your cut back out to the 3pt line. nothing worse than a guy cutting and bringing his defender into the lane and staying there.
2) when you are away from the ball and cut... always be sure to continue your cut back out to the 3pt line. nothing worse than a guy cutting and bringing his defender into the lane and staying there.
This is great advice. Really great players have a good idea of floor spacing at all times. It's okay to be on the other side of the court when your team has the ball. Things change quickly.