Been playing for past 15 years, the highest level I played was semi pro overseas at PG. I'm well passed my prime and just play as a weekend warrior for fun. I can drive and dribble with me left and right hand, and also can lay it up with left or right hand. I have your basic cross over between the legs that iv always used to get by.

Playing with people 10 years younger than me, iv noticed that everyone basically cheats on offense, whether push offs, carrying, the ball, or this bs hand slapping the defenders hand away. Once I realized that I'll never play a competitive organized Game of basketball, I started to dribble like these young fools. I started to carry the ball putting my hand under and added a hesitation dribble. Once I started doing this, it was basically cheating. I blow by defenders like it was nothing because they think I'm going to shoot it everytime. I do a crossover, counter whatever the defense is doing, then hesitation. It works everytime. This move is basically broken. It creates an unlimited ammunition for the offense. And if I'm being honest, it's purely cheating.

so i admit im a weak defender compared to most people. im 5'10 and way too slow to guard guards but too small to guard bigs. im basically just a terrible defender and everytime i go to the park to play people, they just automatically know im a bad defender before the game even starts. They target me or try to get me on their best offense player. I have no clue why considering the people at the park are also around my height if not shorter most the time. yes im working on my defense but how can I stop getting automatically recognized as a bad defender the second i step on the court.

I’m 5’6 barefoot and 18 years old, I can get the occasional blocks on people around my height, but against people 2 inches or taller who are skillful compared to me it feels nearly impossible, I feel like if I was 5’7-5’8 I wouldn’t be a defensive liability. Is that true?

I always purposely bank it when shooting any 3s or free throws or really any thing... ive always found it a lot easier to hit and I shoot way more consistently when purposely going for a bank.

Curious of everyone’s thoughts on this.

I play pickup regularly at my local gym. Very typical; random teams, no jerseys, winner stays, etc.

I don’t have a great shot, but I am generally the biggest and strongest guy on the court so I like to set screens, get boards, move the ball around, and play tough in the paint. (I’m 6’3 230 mostly muscle)

Something that has pissed me off lately is when someone on the opposite team calls for the ball. I fall for it every fucking time. They will be wide open under the hoop and yell “ball!” with their hands up and I realize the second I release the pass that they are on the other team. I never play with the same team, half these fuckers look the exact same, and I want to be a selfless player and assist my team mates.

This play feels so dirty to me. When it happened yesterday I ran to the other end and blocking fouled the guy that did it to me pretty damn hard (it was a play on the ball, not dirty but I knocked him to the floor when he tried to drive on me in the paint).

I’m curious what people here think. Is calling for the ball when the other team has possession a dirty play, or am I just an idiot that needs more court awareness?

UPDATE-

Interesting to see how split the comments are. To clarify, this situation happens in chaotic situations, such as when I am double teamed after an offensive rebound, forced to pick up a dribble, or driving in traffic. Times when you can’t get a good view of the court and need to make a split second decision. I’m not taking the ball down to court and passing to the first guy that yells ball.

My plan for if this happens again is to obviously first avoid it, but if I am tricked I’m gonna call foul, say “that’s unsportsmanlike” and ask to check the ball. If they refuse then I’m switching on them and they get the big boy playing draymond green defense on them the rest of the game to return the favor.

On a softball diamond, I look like prime Russell Westbrook but I can also play great defense in the outfield. In fact, I pinch run for most slow footed players and teams rarely sit me even when it should be my turn to sit.

But come a basketball court, even pickup, it looks like I'm one of those beer belly softball dudes that need running. I could track the ball fine for a rebound but I can't jump really high. I can put effort to guard my man but if he's too strong or fast, there's nothing I can do.

How do I improve on my defense if I'm not really athletic for basketball player?

My coach said I load too much and when recording myself, I do look awkward, but loading less it feels really weird. When I load to jump I typically get in just about a sitting position, my bottom almost lined up with my knees. No my bottom and knees aren’t lined up completely, I’d say if I lower about another 1 or 2 inches then my knees and bottom would be lined up. But If I keep farther up it feels really awkward and I feel like I can’t get enough power but again my coach said I’m loading way to much.

I thought I was a really good defender, locking down even some of the best pickup players in my area... but just today, someone told me it was illegal to use my chest while defending.

Was I just fouling this whole time without realizing it? 😭

Basically, I like to keep the same distance between me and the ball-handler, around an arm's length, close enough to contest a shot, but far enough that I can react to a drive. I usually just let them do their thing until they decide to drive.

When they drive, I try to stay in front of them and let them come into me, using my chest to absorb the contact. I might push my chest forward slightly to maintain my position, while keeping at least one arm up and the other to the side depending on the situation. I'm not trying to hold or grab them.

Usually this results in either a block/steal, a really high contest that makes their shot difficult, or them being forced to change direction.

Is this actually legal defense, or have I just been fouling people this entire time without realizing it?

What do y'all think?

I’m on a mission to becoming the best ball handler I can become and PG, I would appreciate any tips 😊

Should I be keeping the ball in front of my face or on the right side of my body? It’s far more uncomfortable with the ball to the right of my body but I can see the rim better, and when i keep the ball to the front of my body it’s way more comfortable, but it’s harder to see the rim. I’m asking for tips for maybe finding what I like or maybe if it’s my release or set point when shooting that makes it harder to see? Also just general tips for maybe getting focus on the rim better even with the ball blocking my face for most of the shot.

I keep getting called on blocks, I play with shorter guys and I guard down alot of the time. I was guarding this guy and he kept calling fouls on me. Specifcally, he had a go to move where he drives to the free throw line and does a pull up. And one time he went to baseline and lost his dribble and I saw the jumpshot coming so I blocked him. I palmed the ball basically and pushed it down so it doesn't go out of bounds but it was still in his hand and he shot it and the ball went into his face. I didn't touch his hands at all but he still called foul and they got the ball. After that I didn't really try anymore because they were constantly calling on me. Is it some specific rule where I used excessive force or sm?

kinda self explanatory.. my league isn’t full of like super tall kids so im good on that front but my defense isn’t great the second someone tries to push up on me. What can i do to ethier counter it or attack it

Thoughts on a being physical at a pickup basketball game? Recently had a situation where a player significantly better than being got mad when I was driving to the hoop but tried creating space by bumping into him. I'm bigger than he is, and also I have a hard time stopping when moving at full speed, so I can see how he took it as me being overly aggressive, and I feel bad. Alternatively, should I have just let the better player block my shot? Or am I justified in trying to use literally the only advantage I have? I am conflicted because I don't want him or anyone to think I am a dirty player. I apologized, but he seemed to still be mad but didn't wanna argue

I started out basketball at 16, and during that time most of the students in my school were in the basketball team/ training extra class which you had to paid. I didn't join it, cause I had no money back then and my parents were reluctant to let me go. All my skills I currently have is pretty much from my own watching youtube videos, 2k, and playing at my local park.

It's been 4 years and I haven't really seen a major improvement and it's kinda discouraging. Never once I was the main player unless it was like a 2v2 against some uncs. Most of the time I am just the hustler, getting boards, shooting that open shots and pretty much that. I find pickup basketball at the park being a bad place to develop your skills as a complete beginner. In fact, I think basketball as a whole is pretty hard on beginners. Unless you went to some sort of training camp or team when you are a kid, you aint gonna improve cause pickup basketball as a whole are just filled with those type of players who went to training camps when they were a kid. Like you will always be relegated to a rebounder when playing. And it's also discouraging when people start getting angry when you miss putbacks or open shots when you only get like 5 chances while they get 20+ chances and it's ok for them to miss. Like it's so toxic for beginners, from my 4 years of playing, never once I see a beginner return after playing once at the park.

I just want to try and improve so people stop giving me dissapointed looks everytime I miss a shot, and a lot of times I don't really know what's going in their head, sometimes I will run in for a cut but then they decide to go for a 3 pointer and it kinda messes up my prediction whether I should just stand in the paint to better position myself for rebounds or position myself so i can get the ball. And they get angry when I don't try to attack but also get angry when I try to attack and miss or get block. The person defending me was a state player so why tf should I try to force my way in?

If I don't improve within a year I probably will quit and switch to pickleball cause I don't find any fun playing basketball and it's taking a toll on my health when I just want to have fun and relax after a stressful week and not get scolded or not appreciated when I got scratches all over my body trying to rebound, screen and do everything I can to help.

I'm 14, 2 years into basketball and this is the 2nd time I've been in a basketball club. I'm one of the tallest people in my basketball club yet I can't catch a rebound. I can't predict where the ball will go when it touches the rim, I just box out. My last game I kept being called soft, even my teammates, and I'm tired of hearing that everytime we have a game. How do I predict where the ball will go/ rebound better and how to gain more confidence before a game?

Hello all,

My 9 year old son has been getting into basketball and has completed two seasons so far. He genuinely loves it, he is excited for practice and often goes to the park to shoot on his own.

Skillwise, he’s solid in drills. His ball handling is a bit behind his teammates, but his shooting is actually quite good for his age.

The main issue is how passive he is during scrimmages and games. He doesn’t try to get open, gives up quickly on defense if beaten, and rarely goes for rebounds. It often looks like he doesn’t really want to be involved in the game.

What’s confusing is that he does seem to enjoy basketball. If he didn’t, I’d just accept it might not be his thing but that doesn’t seem to be the case.

Both his coaches and we as parents have tried giving him guidance, and I think he understands what he SHOULD be doing. He just doesn’t seem to have that “switch” that kicks in during games.

I know he’s young and having fun is the priority, but in organized sports kids do start getting sorted pretty early, and I’m already noticing him being sidelined more.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Any advice on helping a kid play more assertively or engaged more during games? Is this something that can just click over time? Thanks in advance.

TLDR: 9yo loves hoops and practices a ton, but disappears during games. Any tips for helping him “flip the switch,” or is this just an age/time thing?

I'm a busy-ish, broke 27yo with no athletic history. With no money to spend on coaching or anything like that, and at most a couple hours a week, I'd like to get good enough to hold my own in amateur competition, soon-ish. I'm in decent shape from running and doing calisthenics, but that's all I've got. What would you suggest?

19 , 6'2 6'3 wingspan 72 kgs.

I want to improve but idk what skills are most important

I grew early so I used to play the 4 in my country's equivalent of high school. My best trait is probably my perimeter defense, so I don't think that's my priority to work on that. Finishing is pretty decent , but it's between that , handle or shooting. I wanna join a league or something when I get settled into my new flat. I've started the gym as well so this recommendation is strictly off of what you guys think is expected of me. Is it important to be able to stretch the floor more than get to the rim. Also some game film players for me to look at would be appreciated, any questions lmk and I'll answer them if it helps

My friend is the best player in my team and the best defender gets put on him. I was in this small basketball tournament and defender was really faceguarding him, so I tried to set screens to help him get open but the defender would literally just run me over. Not go over or anything but just go into me and I would be stumbling back. Is that a foul of some kind? Do I just need to get bigger? Any tips would be appreciated

I’m currently 6’5 and want to be a center. At practice there is this guy who’s 6’10. How do I guard him effectively?

Whenever I play 1s I can't really do anything when I get to the to the hoop I can't do anything and is pressured to make a force layup or it ends up as jumpball

Im proboly average in the pickupteam so i know why im not getting the ball ofc, but idk what to do then, i can be completely open on the 3 and still dont get the ball, even if im an okey ish 3 point shooter.

Most of my points is from rebounds and then scoring and i guess im insane at that 😅, but yee, what you do?

Should i just cba and run around trying to improve my game, or stand in the corner untill i get the ball.

Like the best strategy ofc when im open is just standing ready to shoot on the shooting, but yee boring as heel when you never get the ball :(. Maybe 1 in 15 attacks.

I only basketball twice a week and am a beginner so am mostly defending. I do good defence imo but my shooting is horrible. For shooting is it possible to do smthng using my and my neighbor's terrace(Its a good length and i can shoot ) for improving my shots ? Im 15 and just started basketball a few months ago

Hi, i have been looking everywhere for a lower body workout to improve my athleticism and vertical jump, but i haven't found a full lower body workout that seems to be effective . What would be some good exercises I can add to my workout?

The hoop I have at my house is 10’4 and not the regulation 10’. Is this affecting my shooting negatively or at all? For context I’m in high school trying to improve, I go to all the practices but also try to do stuff at home. My biggest weakness is definitely shooting, my form is alright but the shots just never seem to go in. I do seem to shoot better in actual gyms as opposed to my home hoop though