DIRTY BASKETBALL TACTICS

[W. Unseld]

I'm in a league where the refs don't blow the whistle for fouls...ever...so my teamates and I are coming up with tactics to use, here is what we have so far, feel free to add if you know of any...note, I like all of the NBA players I named in this post, I'm not trying to bash anyone, I'm honestly looking for good, sneaky/dirty tactics:

1. Hand checking: Use your inside hand, not your outside. Don't stiff arm simply push off from time to time as needed. Do this around waist level, if you go much higher it will probably get called.

2. Dealing with a streaking shooter: a. Jab the shooter's elbow with your fingers on his release. You may get called the first time but it will effect his shot for the rest of the game--especially if you luck out and hit the funny bone. Think Harper guarding Jordan in the early 90's. b. Take up the space where the shooter is supposed to land and box out early.

3. Defensive Rebounding: Use the old Wes Unseld: turn, stick your forearm into the gut of the guy behind you, then box out. This usually knocks the wind out of them and allows for a much easier box out. Note: this tactic almost got me killed in a league a few seasons ago. The counter to this is the chicken wing which Danny can demonstrate.

4. Moving pics: Make good use of them until they start calling them.

5. Driving: Do the D-Wade and clear with your off hand while driving. Not only will this give you an advantage over the defender but it will also prevent the reach in.

6. The Steve Nash: The defender is chest-guarding/hand checking you and you can't get by. Grab the defender's jersey w/your non-dribbling hand and pull him in the opposite direction that you want to go. Note: I am not coordinated to pull this off, but it should work for some of you.

7. Push off to get open. Push in one direction go to the other. It's away from the ball so it's almost never, ever going to get called and it gets you open and helps keep the offense in motion.

8. Foot Step Post Up: Step on a taller or high jumping defender's foot to get your shot off--they will not be able to block it all though it's harder to convert than you would think.

[greenbeans]

now thats a damn basketball league!!

[ZZZ]

b. Take up the space where the shooter is supposed to land and box out early.

for the love, do not employ this tactic. Taking out a players (intentionally) is just wrong. You're going to break someones ankle and that's not cool. Pushing off and all that other stuff is good but let a person land. I'm coming off ankle injury number 6 (the worst yet) and it is not fun.

[Wilford Brimley]

When you are guarding a guy who is shooting a 3, stick your leg out so when he comes back down to the ground, he steps on your foot, twisting his ankle.

When driving to the basket, in the air, kick you leg out into the defender's chest.

When you are in the paint battling for a rebound, step on opponents feet so they can't jump to get the ball.

[Wilford Brimley]

When you are posting up on the block, swing you elbows into the defenders chest as you turn.

[chrice]

When you are guarding a guy who is shooting a 3, stick your leg out so when he comes back down to the ground, he steps on your foot, twisting his ankle.

That's messed up.

[hoops4life]

The only thing that I have really done is when taking a charge kind of grab the other guys jersey to make sure that he falls as well making it look worse.

My dad's main advice (not really dirty, just common sense): If you are going to foul the guy you better be 100% sure that he isn't going to make the shot as well. If you are going to foul him, make sure he doesn't get any shot off.

[Hard2dhole]

The butt bump. Can be very useful in 2 ways~
1.Back into the paint by bumping the player gaurding you with your butt. I'rs technically an offensive but no one ever calls it and you can get down low for a high percentage shot.
2. Creates space. if someone is defending you tight with your back to the basket bump them to create your opening and go for the turn around J.

[Boognish]

Really use your lower body. It's way easier to get away with checking someone with your hips than with your hands. While on defense, if you keep your hands up, letting everyone know you're not fouling, you can get away with using your lower body to push.

These subtle little bumps are useful in rebounding, off-the-ball movement ect

[Duffman100]

When you're rebounding, lock arms with out opponent. When he jumps up, pull him down and then jump and get the ball. You miss the ball, pretend he was the one who locked it up.

[greenbeans]

Bowen-isms

[Master Shake]

Ugh, I've played in competetive leagues for years, and in high school varsity... etc. And I hate when players do this, absolutely hate it.

While I'm guilty of the occasional dirty move, especially jabbing my knee out on screens, but these are just cheap. If you do these all the time, then you have no pride, I can't stand winning by cheating.

The tapping of the elbow on the jumper, and sliding under a jumpshooter is so dirty. That can really hurt some players depending on how much they elevate, and since I'm mostly a jumpshooter coming off screens, this affects me the most. Any good ref will whistle you, and I as a player will inform the ref of what the opposing player is doing.

But please, if you respect the game, and respect winning fairly, don't use these tactics, but if its the championship game, and some guy is just destroying you, I guess I can't get too mad at you for doing what you can to win.

[W. Unseld]

To be clear: WE ARE NOT TRYING TO INJURE ANYONE. Just looking for little annoying advantages and ways to take advantage of our league's extreme lack of foul calls.

[Chubby Chaser]

If the refs don't call any fouls, it benefits the defense more than offense. What I always did on defense was hold onto their jersey when they didn't have the ball so I could keep my head on the swivel and watch the guy who has the ball. Keep your feet moving though, because if he makes a quick cut and you're flat footed, it'll be really obvious that you're holding once his Jersey gets stretched out in front of everyone to see.

[HighOctane]

When driving to the basket, in the air, kick you leg out into the defender's chest.

This one's good.

Don't use it while defending though, it looks blatant

[W. Unseld]

In addition to not trying to hurt anyone, we are also not trying to get into a group fight after or during the game since we all have kids and jobs, etc. Some additiional tactics from the Wiz board:
9. Go with the flow. If someone is posting you up, when he raises his arm to call for the ball, push his arm up from the elbow. When he pushes the arm down (resisting you), flip your hand over and push his arm down. It's unsettling to the guy posting up -- he generally will feel like he can't get comfortable in the post. Especially if you couple this tactic with dropping your knee on his calves now and then.

10. When posting up a smaller/lighter guy, get low as he is trying to chest guard/bump you and use the elbow of your non-dribble arm as the ball comes up on the bounce. nice, short elbow on every bounce will get you room for a short jumper or a spin move. it doesn't look bad because it is with the flow of your body.

[W. Unseld]

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This one's good.

Don't use it while defending though, it looks blatant

How would you kick your leg into the defender's chest on a lay up?? How flexible are you guys?? Also, how the h*ck could you pull that off w/o a ref seeing it? I know the "lead w/the knee lay up" but the kick to the chest strikes me as more Kung Fu movie than bball game, but enlighten me if I'm wrong.

[greenbeans]

^^thats what i was thinking. is Lebron or Kobe posting these responses?

[Rocky5000]

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This one's good.

Don't use it while defending though, it looks blatant

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QOTnU2VaS_s

[chrice]

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How would you kick your leg into the defender's chest on a lay up?? How flexible are you guys??

I think he might be talking about pulling what Gasol did last night against Utah, where he made a running layup by sticking his right knee forward to clear space. Definitely a playground move, might be able to get away with that depending on the angle of the ref.