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Pickup Basketball: A Survivor’s Guide
Want to avoid ugly games of pickup basketball? You may not know anything about your new teammates, but it’s pretty clear that none of you are rookies and that’s enough basketball IQ to have a plan. Without the need for clipboards or a team meeting, you can transform yourselves from scrambling maniacs into a cohesive bunch. ESPN college basketball analyst Fran Fraschilla diagrams:
1. Use the pick and roll.
There’s a reason the classic keeps being called. The key is setting solid screen and the key to that is to have a wide base and have your chest and the defender’s shoulder form a T. When your teammate comes around, have your shoulders touch so there’s no space for the defender to move through, forcing him to quickly decide whether to switch. Confusion and indecision are created. Mismatches can be formed and you can decide to either pop out or roll to the hoop. “This has worked since James Naismith decided to put up a peach basket,” Fraschilla says.
2. Pass and move.
If you want to stand around, get a camera. Otherwise you’re clogging up the floor and making it easy to defend you. Once you pass, either set a screen – which you now know how to expertly do – cut to the basket, or just move to some open floor. Anything but standing and watching. “You can’t go wrong if you pass and move somewhere with a purpose,” Fraschilla says.
3. Bounce judiciously.
Only use the dribble to create a better passing angle, or to beat your defender and drive to the rim to either shoot or dish off to a teammate. “All the guys do when they dribble and stay in place is give the ball a headache,” Fraschilla says.
4. Use words.
You don’t have to know names. You just have to open your mouth, because just as standing still will kill you on offense, silence will crush you on defense. A liberal dose of calling out switches or warning of screens will keep your team on the court. “There’s a certain language and basketball communication that’s universal,” Fraschilla says.
About The Author
Steve Calechman – Steve Calechman is a contributing writer for CorePerformance.com. He has published articles for Men's Health, Natural Health, The Robb Report and Women's Health magazine.
