Whenever i play pickup games at the rec center i just stand at the three point line and the guys just give me the ball. I then hardly ever pass the ball unless i'm immediately tripled and I am really good at scoring and defense. But when I go to high school open gyms and we play, I don't know what to do. I feel like a complete idiot when it comes to off ball movement and as soon as I get the ball I just look to pass. If I try to drive I forget to kick it out and try an impossible finish at the rim against an entire team. I know I am better than half the kids on the team but because of my confusion ive been cut twice now. what can i do to learn how to stand out and take control of the game cuz im sick of getting cut.
Edit: I think i kind of worded this wrong. I'm like that in rec games because i know it dont matter. But when I get in a scrimmage that i feel like matters, I'm too scared to do anything. I dont fail because I tried to do some crazy shit and it didnt work out. I fail because i pass the ball and go sit in the corner. whenever i set screens i know nothings gonna come from it cause my teams full of assholes tryna hit fingerolls from the three point line. Thats the type of shit id do at the rec, but not in a situation where its gonna affect my real team that i care about. and no matter how i come off a screen im not gonna get the ball because im five eight and the six foot kids wanna drive and try and fingertip dunk or shoot a three right off the screen.
another edit: i just found a short that perfectly describes my high school basketball experience – https://www.youtube.com/shorts/4T4-aH-EijM?feature=share
by theLightmamba
9 Comments
watch some college film, or nba guys like klay thompson, cj mccollum, steph curry, jj redick and pay attention to how they move without the ball. if ur not a shooter, watch slashers like andrew wiggins in ‘22, derrick jones jr, and pay attention to what the defense looks like when they cut to the rim. a lot of off ball movement is knowing patterns in the defense and how people have played you before then going off of that
[removed]
Watch women’s college basketball. Watch high level girls high school basketball. You’ll see how to play basketball without depending on raw athleticism.
Don’t do anything crazy, focus on playing how you naturally play and build off of that.
You stay in the corner? Great, every team needs these guys. Stay in the corner and watch the defender’s eyes. You cut when he looks away from you.
If your big is on your side/blocking your path to get the ball/get the free layup, swing all the way to the other side and do the same thing. If ur team mate is already in that corner, you set a screen for him and have him cut.
Rinse and repeat.
You create scoring opportunities from the first initial cut, when you pop after setting the screen, or for the wing cutting in.
If your defender learns to stop looking away from you, that’s great. That frees up your ballhandler to drive on your side without your defender coming to help. Even if he does, he should be a touch late just because he’s not keeping track of the ball. And even if he does manage to get there in time, they got you.
learn to play a role there is no value in a player that can only score, unless you’re a pro level scorer, and can’t pass or create offense for the TEAM. Being a high value player is one that not only scores but also learns how to manipulate defenses to generate great shot quality for the team.
Watch spurs basketball from the 2011-2017, be a ball mover not stopper, learn to score within the flow of an offense. If you can’t do the above be a knockdown shooter and play defense. honestly if at the bare minimum you just move off the ball and maintain good spacing this should be enough at the high school level.
Based off what you posted you are a one trick pony and have tunnel vision in all honesty play your game with intent to pass. if you’re finishing against a whole team at the rim someone on your team is probably open and you need to identify where the help is coming from and that should be your first read.
Most people who play pickup are generally individually talented but they struggle when they play against teams that work together. Basketball is 5-5 not 1-1 and the better you can leverage your teammates and start seeing plays in real time the better your team will be.
Exp. Former high school hooper turned LA fitness hooper who now participates in watching 5 individual 1-1 in pickup games cause everyone thinks they are kyrie or steph
Also just learn to shoot this helps everyone the only players that can get away without shooting are the super athletic can get by for now but in the long run shooting is a skill that can be learned but it will require time and effort.
Sounds like your problem is more mental. What you described is what is layman called “choking”. Try to find ways to play competitive meaningful basketball
[removed]
Serious question, why do you think you are better than them? Rec center ball is total trash, go play organozed ball somewhere since that is where your disconnect is.
Same here too man. Basically, you are in a DIFFERENT SYSTEM of basketball. In pickup nothing is organized, it’s all just do whatever shit and there are no plays unless you have good players who can do them on the fly.
In organized high school ball, there’s a lot of spacing and movement involved compared to pickup. Go talk to your coach what plays he normally runs. Remember spacing and learning to read the floor. You don’t have to be open all the time, just means you’re not in the action.