OT: Playing Basketball

[MrMiyagi]

Hey guys, just looking for some advise from other guys who like to play basketball (hopefully some of you considering this being a basketball forum). I'm 6'3 210 and I'm usually a post player (mostly defensive/rebounding) and I've been pretty successful against the group I've been playing with/against, but lately a guy who's a bit bigger, like 6'4-6'5 ish and probably got 15-20 pounds on me. As you would expect, my normal post moves don't work as well against the new guy. I was just looking to see if anyone knows anything on how to improve your post moves/footwork. I usually don't have that hard of a time getting into position on the block, it's just getting around him and taking a good shot.

Not too sure if this should deserve it's own thread, but I didn't know where to put it. Mods, if need be merge it with another thread.

[Krush32]

Turn, and face up. Pump fakes, rip thru moves, and up & under moves.

[sunsbum]

Work on sealing with footwork IE dropstep, you cannot defend someone who can seal well. period. If you play with someone that has a decent post entry pass and can get you the ball at the right time (which can be a somewhat small window) that will obviously help even more.

[lilfishi22]

Work on sealing with footwork IE dropstep, you cannot defend someone who can seal well. period. If you play with someone that has a decent post entry pass and can get you the ball at the right time (which can be a somewhat small window) that will obviously help even more.

I like this.

It's easy to practice and you don't have to change up your entire repertoire in the post.

[DRK]

See if you can work on your quickness in the post. Little spins, turns, drop steps. Even mix it up a bit with fade away jumpers, although they are difficult because you must have alot of air on them otherwise they will be blocked.

Another weapon you could use in your arsenal is the "old school" hook shot. Yeah, nto many people use it nowadays, but against bigger players, trust me, they work. Cath the ball in the post with your back to the basket,drop step, and just launch a hook over his head. You could even mix it up a bit with a spin leading into your hook shot.

[MrMiyagi]

Thanks for the advice guys, definitely going to start working on some of these areas. I've been trying hook shots, but I haven't gotten consistent enough for it to be a go-to move. I think sealing down low is going to help a lot against this guy.

[Miklo]

Yeah good advice so far. The hook shot as a whole is great for that so just shoot a million of em when you're practicing, if you can hit a hookshot you hardly need any breathing room. When I played in the post I was never strong enough to do much against a bigger player so that's what I fell back on.

[rsavaj]

Throw the ball at his gonads and then score at will!

[Sun Scorched]

Haha. The hook shot. Guys get so pissed when you hit those with any regularity in pick-up games. Almost like they think it's a circus shot.

I would recommend pump fakes. Don't know how quick this guy is, but if you're smaller and operating in the post often, back-to-the-basket head fakes and face-up pump fakes are the best.

[Miklo]

Haha. The hook shot. Guys get so pissed when you hit those with any regularity in pick-up games. Almost like they think it's a circus shot.

I would recommend pump fakes. Don't know how quick this guy is, but if you're smaller and operating in the post often, back-to-the-basket head fakes and face-up pump fakes are the best.

I don't use it as much in pickup bc I don't play in the post

But when I was on the team I used it with regularity bc I got stuck playing in the post at 6'2

[YFZblu]

I'm always confused when I see a 5'8 guy down on the block swishing hook shots....

[Sun Scorched]

Haha. The hook shot. Guys get so pissed when you hit those with any regularity in pick-up games. Almost like they think it's a circus shot.

I would recommend pump fakes. Don't know how quick this guy is, but if you're smaller and operating in the post often, back-to-the-basket head fakes and face-up pump fakes are the best.

I don't use it as much in pickup bc I don't play in the post

But when I was on the team I used it with regularity bc I got stuck playing in the post at 6'2

I don't really ever play in the post, butI'm not afraid to post up a smaller guy.

I live and die with the fast break. Big fan of earning my points the easy way if possible, so most of my moves were developed going at the basket at high speeds. I love the runner/floater. My favorite shot.

[DRK]

My favourite move is the drive along the baseline. If you leave a gap open for me on the baseline, I will dribble hard down the line and finish with a reverse layup on your head every time. Earned alot of my points doing that, but also hitting the mid range J. My 3 shot isn't at the stage where I can hit it with confidence though. Much more comfortable around 16-18 feet.

[TASTIC]

Give him some face time with sweet lady brick...

Nah watch Hakeem in the playoffs against Admiral - that's how you destroy a taller guy in the post

[YFZblu]

Give him some face time with sweet lady brick...

lol'd

[RunDogGun]

I would develop your opposite hand as much as possible. It adds so much to your game. It will allow you to use your fakes better, because you can go either way. The defender will have to guess which way you will be going. I usually work more on my left handed hooks, than I do with my right. Off the court you can practice darts with your opposite hand to get yourself feeling the independence. Plus it is easy to do at home, and no one at the gym will know that your working on it. I play drums, so getting that independence in my left was vital. I found it also gave me extreme confidence on the court. My game was always from ten feet back, so I really had to work on my post game.

[JasonDaPsycho]

Watch how Dejuan Blair plays. Bang in the post. Keep pushing till you reach your sweet spot. Ask for the ball and act fast. Immediate turn around jumper or up and under. Improve your mid range game so you can play the high post. Send cutters. Of course that's assuming if you don't mind scoring less.

As for the defensive end, again keep banging. Make him work for each basket. Keep one of your arms up at all times.

Probably useless advices since I'm literally hopeless on the offensive end. I can't hit free throws. Will air ball in the post. Can't layup, and too short to be dunking. Prone to traveling. Can't hit a jumper to save my life, or the world for that matter. No such thing as hook shot in my game. Incredibly one-dimensional and predictable. I do handle double teams well though. But then it's not like I ever get double teamed.

[Miklo]

Haha. The hook shot. Guys get so pissed when you hit those with any regularity in pick-up games. Almost like they think it's a circus shot.

I would recommend pump fakes. Don't know how quick this guy is, but if you're smaller and operating in the post often, back-to-the-basket head fakes and face-up pump fakes are the best.

I don't use it as much in pickup bc I don't play in the post

But when I was on the team I used it with regularity bc I got stuck playing in the post at 6'2

I don't really ever play in the post, butI'm not afraid to post up a smaller guy.

I live and die with the fast break. Big fan of earning my points the easy way if possible, so most of my moves were developed going at the basket at high speeds. I love the runner/floater. My favorite shot.

Hmm for me, pickup I do a lot of cross screens and the guys I play with set screens as well, so a lot of my points come from the 2 man game. I use the runner/floater a lot too and, if the competition is smaller I try to punish em inside with some contact layups etc

[MrMiyagi]

I would develop your opposite hand as much as possible. It adds so much to your game. It will allow you to use your fakes better, because you can go either way. The defender will have to guess which way you will be going. I usually work more on my left handed hooks, than I do with my right. Off the court you can practice darts with your opposite hand to get yourself feeling the independence. Plus it is easy to do at home, and no one at the gym will know that your working on it. I play drums, so getting that independence in my left was vital. I found it also gave me extreme confidence on the court. My game was always from ten feet back, so I really had to work on my post game.

Thanks, that's a really good idea. I don't know if it's just me, but I normally only use my left for layups(I'm right handed). But now that I'm thinking about it, the ability to hit a turnaround J with the left would be pretty surprising.

This thread has become better than I expected.

Something that has also come to my attention is getting double teamed. I'm pretty good at reading where my perimeter shooters are and passing out, but sometimes they don't always find the best spots to set up. Any suggestions on how to deal with getting doubled besides looking to pass it away?

And just to add info about my abilities, I'm not a great jumper. I can't quite dunk it when I get a running start and am just shot of the rim from a stand-still.

[RunDogGun]

I take a ton of bank shots from about ten feet out from both sides of the court. I would say on a good day I take around fifty total. It gives you a good feel on the backboard( whether it is an indoor court or out) and it gives you a better spacial feel for your shot in general. If you are just working on your shot, watch that Nash 20 minute shooting drill thing he does, which actual covers both left and right hooks in the middle. As far as the double team thing, start reading who it that keeps helping on the double, be mindful of where he is at while setting up near the block. Then practice ways of getting out of that block, working on your handle and when to pass. If you're only 6'3" you should really work on your dribbling skills, and don't give up your dribble unless you have to. This might really frustrate a big guarding you, for they probably feel better guarding you in the post.