The worst pick up players.

[Streaky McFloorburn]

Re: The worst pick up players.

We always play man to man, simply because the majority of the guys we play with never played organized basketball. They would get flat our abused if they tried running zone.

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The last time I played in a rec league, a common friend hyped up the guy who put the team together big time, so I thought it would be a good experience. As it turned out, he was tiny, arrogant, and had never played organized basketball. Everyone else came in thinking it was a good idea to pay registration fees just to get some exercise, rather than playing pickup ball for free. After I realized this, I invited the team to play at my regular gym to get familiar with each other, but they refused.

Dude insisted on playing zone anyway. Needless to say, stops and rebounds only came through sheer luck and we got blown out for most of our games. I convinced them to play man for one game, which we only lost by 2, but it was too much work I guess, so we went right back to zone and getting blown out after that.

The season finshed with a doubleheader, and a couple players waiting to play a later game offered to run with us in the capper, but he turned them down so the rest of us could "get our money's worth". By the 2nd half of the 2nd game our guys were feigning injury due to exhaustion, and I had both calves cramp up simultaneously going for a putback - before and after which there was no one willing to sub in for me.

It was the most demoralizing basketball experience of my life. For a few months I really questioned why I didn't shout the guy down or quit, and basketball seemed to be the complete opposite of what it had always meant to me.

So for me, the worst player in any context is the know-nothing with a Napoleon complex who doesn't see any difference between a game at the park and a paid 2-month-long commitment. Thanks for the therapy, OS!

[JerzeyReign]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I haven't seen someone use a zone since I left NJ - in Washington State, Germany, and Texas (so far) it has been all man to man.

I've also noticed different play styles as well - back home its isolation ball whether its in the post or perimeter - in Germany it was a 3 point shootout - Washington was 44 passes prior to shooting - Texas so far has been shoot if you're open no matter where you are haha.

[VDusen04]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Dude insisted on playing zone anyway. Needless to say, stops and rebounds only came through sheer luck and we got blown out for most of our games. I convinced them to play man for one game, which we only lost by 2, but it was too much work I guess, so we went right back to zone and getting blown out after that.

Yup, I know those types. I wouldn't be surprised if there's areas around the USA featuring good players opting to play zone and playing it aggressively while working their butt off. But the times I've seen it in my area, it feels more like a cop-out, usually involving players who are too lazy or slow trying to take the easy way out.

Zones could be nasty good in street ball if all players are skilled and committed but around my way, the skilled and committed players almost overwhelmingly prefer to man up at all times.

[buickbeast]

Re: The worst pick up players.

This dude called a foul on the same person who was guarding him like 5 times.
It was a chick.
I nearly fell off the treadmill laughing when he called the first one lol

[wwharton]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Did you ever find success in using a 1-3-1? Just curious to be honest with you

The 1-3-1 isn't that hard actually, and would work great in a pick up situation bc, when run properly, it'd force the offensive team to have a plan usually far too organized for pick up.

The problem is EVERYONE needs to know where they should be and where everyone else should be in every situation for it to run properly. Unlike a 2-3 or 3-2, where there can be little movement necessary (especially in pick up where many guys just aren't moving without the ball), almost everyone should be moving SOMEWHERE whenever the ball moves in a 1-3-1. And if it's intended to trap, you should really be trying to force the ball handler to stay in an area rather than preventing them from attacking the basket. Just a different way of thinking that brings us to...

We always play man to man, simply because the majority of the guys we play with never played organized basketball. They would get flat our abused if they tried running zone.

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Guys don't even know how to check or recover when the ball moves quickly against a standard 2-3. Shouldn't even mention a 1-3-1 without seeing every one of your teammates' basketball resume first.

[JerzeyReign]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I've never in my life seen a pickup game in which someone ran a 1-3-1. The only I've ever seen ran is 2-3 and thats because if you lost you will be sitting for awhile.

Then again you have guys who were great isolation players so its either zone it up with all eyes on the ball or someone is getting beat off the dribble and someone is getting yammed on haha.

I'd love to see video of a pickup game with guys running a 1-3-1 - I guess since its so overpowering in NBA 2k13 they'll take their chances.

[ojandpizza]

Never saw 1-3-1 in a pickup game but we used to run it alot in highschool

[d11king]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Anybody ever have that guy who shows up with the headband, the arm and leg sleeves or something else obnoxious, who warms up on the sideline but once the game start is complete butt?

[VDusen04]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Anybody ever have that guy who shows up with the headband, the arm and leg sleeves or something else obnoxious, who warms up on the sideline but once the game start is complete butt?

Yeah, I think he's one of the most cliched types of pick-up players out there. The "Gear Guy", so to speak. Oftentimes, he'll be rocking all Jordan everything - shoes, shorts, cut-off, headband, double arm sleeves and optional calf sleeves. And as others have said, he's often terrible.

But I've been thinking about this for a while. Does he always seem terrible just because we tend to raise our expectations of one's abilities once we see them geared up? Would we be as disappointed with his play if he were wearing generic shorts and a white tee? Is it a matter of breaking the unwritten law of not super gearing up if your game isn't legit? And does or should gear insinuate skill?

I'm not an incredible player, but I'm good enough to be better than some people sometimes. I've considered intentionally super gearing up in certain instances, then dominating the comp., just to help dispel the street truth of super gear = disappointing play.

[JazzMan]

Re: The worst pick up players.

How about the guy who literally isn't in the game?

This guy comes onto the court in the middle of the game, steals the ball, and shoots. He does this repeatedly until he is on the verge of getting his *** kicked.

[d11king]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Yeah, I think he's one of the most cliched types of pick-up players out there. The "Gear Guy", so to speak. Oftentimes, he'll be rocking all Jordan everything - shoes, shorts, cut-off, headband, double arm sleeves and optional calf sleeves. And as others have said, he's often terrible.

But I've been thinking about this for a while. Does he always seem terrible just because we tend to raise our expectations of one's abilities once we see them geared up? Would we be as disappointed with his play if he were wearing generic shorts and a white tee? Is it a matter of breaking the unwritten law of not super gearing up if your game isn't legit? And does or should gear insinuate skill?

I'm not an incredible player, but I'm good enough to be better than some people sometimes. I've considered intentionally super gearing up in certain instances, then dominating the comp., just to help dispel the street truth of super gear = disappointing play.

If he were to come in FILA's with Champion shorts on, with a generic Quiksilver t-shirt on with a beat the f up outdoor basketball with no grip, when that door opens and he walks through, as a hooper myself, I'm not expecting him to do much... Gear shouldn't insinuate skill, but it's like some sort of unwritten code amongst basketball players I guess. Maybe it's where I grew up, but don't wear arm sleeves and think you're Iverson out here if you're buns, cause you will be the topic of all jokes when we're getting ready to leave haha. If you come in there with the sleeves on, we're going to think you're good cause its to a certain degree, you don't try and look pretty on the court, if your game isn't.

[JazzMan]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I just purchased an Adidas shooting sleeve for 7 bucks and an NBA headband for 3. I already feel like a D-bag.

Gonna test that sleeve out tomorrow. Does anyone actually know what sleeves... do?

[JerzeyReign]

Re: The worst pick up players.

How about the guy who literally isn't in the game?

This guy comes onto the court in the middle of the game, steals the ball, and shoots. He does this repeatedly until he is on the verge of getting his *** kicked.

Where they do that at?

[Vni]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Gonna test that sleeve out tomorrow. Does anyone actually know what sleeves... do?

+5 in midrange.

[VDusen04]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I've actually been dabbling with a sleeve throughout the winter due to what I'm guessing is tendinitis in my elbow. Recently, I usually experience pain in the ligament just about the elbow when I snap my arm on jump shots. It seems to subside a little as I get warmed up, so I thought maybe a sleeve would help encourage the warm-up process. As summer approaches though, I'm a little hesitant to go public with it.