mybloodisorange wrote:I can actually dribble very well with my left but I cant shoot or finish layups with it. Defense im pretty good all around with either hand; my game is basically based on defense, IQ and versatility. I am a great midrange shooter but my 3 is shaky at best probably because my legs are still not as strong as I want them to be. I'm not super quick and I have no vertical but I do pretty well of minimizing my weaknesses by playing an oldschool "dirty" type game. I've gotten pretty good over the years at anticipating and beat people to the spot etc... basically just hustle and harass.
It's amazing how many people just play on cruise control on defense but when they have the ball suddenly they want to score like there is an NBA scout watching or something.
When I was in HS, I wasn't really a good shooter, limited layup ability, still decent long range shooter, but my main thing was defense. I would harass people and be in their grill the whole time. Late in HS and going into college I would practice shooting for hours at a time all the time. It was the only sport I played. I became a very good shooter, and now with constantly working on my bank shot, I am confident from almost anywhere NBA three and in. Like I said, later in college I worked on my left, my really only weakness on the offensive side. My defense was still very good, but I have never been a fan of fouling, or "dirty" old school play. I always felt that if I fouled, it was because I was late in my rotation or slow on my defense, and I never wanted to be the reason someone got injured on the court, because I didn't do my best.
After college I started coaching, I coached boys and girls for six years and also taught PE for three years besides my coaching. I went to tons of coaches clinics, and sat in and ran through practices of other coaches. I learned a ton. I used those experiences to improve my game, you can't teach something you don't know how to do. Through my coaching I also worked on my shot, and shot form, and that Steve Nash YouTube twenty minute workout is great to do for that (saw it much later than my coaching, but still good).
Over the last few years, I'm just not as quick as I was, but I still see to out hustle all the youngsters at the gym. My lateral quickness is weaker. I'm not sure about my vert, because I never could dunk.

I play defense like Grant Hill did on Kobe. I try and read his moves (whoever I'm guarding) and try and disrupt his shot before he gets it past his chest. I use my body more, to keep bigger guys from setting up in the paint. On offense, if I'm not bringing the ball up, I set screens like crazy, and I try and grab as many rebounds as possible. I find the best shooter on my team besides me, and I make sure he or she is open as much as possible. I really just love good team play. But I still love twenty-one where I can get exercise, and out hustle everyone, while not having to worry about hogging the ball.
