The worst pick up players.

[cima]

The worst pick up players.

Yep I hate being older (I'm nearing 35). Thought my calf strain had healed but it strained again today.

Side note, Lifetime is a high end club like $120/mo so there's tons of rich kids that play. Got my first taste of youth teen basketball from this generation and I hate it. Small kids just chucking up 3's even after getting a board and having a wide open layup. **** them kids


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[cima]

The worst pick up players.

Also one of the kids was Luther Head's son, anyone remember him? The kid was nice


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[The 24th Letter]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Getting older does indeed suck.

but I've found that sticking to a routine has worked wonders for me. I still play about 3 times a week at 35. We have a 55 year old that plays with our Tuesday group and he still moves and plays great. Not great for his age, dude can still go. He played for the Iranian national team back in the day and still has it. He told me that's, his secret, sticking to a routine.

I stretch before I leave, and when I get to the court. I don't care if I'm the 10th man and they're ready to run, I'm stretching.

I have a pre and post workout shake that always gets me going and helps me wind down.

Even off days I'm doing some kind of activity and staying loose. Inactivity is worse than an actual injury sometimes if you let stiffness add up. I just wish I was more disciplined in my 20's

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[RockinDaMike]

Re: The worst pick up players.

God I miss Lifetime fitness. I used to live there at the Gilbert one.

It’s worth every penny. That eucalyptus steam room, dope *** indoor/outdoor pool,unlimited towels and classes.

Also for a good three years, all girls I dated I met there. To think about it good thing I left, started getting awkward [emoji23].


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[ojandpizza]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I'm a few weeks into this league and just now starting to get my legs to feel like I'm not a baby deer out there. Almost wish I would have stayed retired, it's not that fun going from being pretty solid in comparison to guys I would play against to being trash. Basically, either stick to it or stop. Sitting out 16 months and just picking it back up straight to game action is a horrible idea. Last two games I've scored 20+, and a couple dunks (weak dunks), but nothing about the game feels 2nd nature right now. In my head I try to do something off instinct, the body is like "what are you doing old man".

[cima]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I'm a few weeks into this league and just now starting to get my legs to feel like I'm not a baby deer out there. Almost wish I would have stayed retired, it's not that fun going from being pretty solid in comparison to guys I would play against to being trash. Basically, either stick to it or stop. Sitting out 16 months and just picking it back up straight to game action is a horrible idea. Last two games I've scored 20+, and a couple dunks (weak dunks), but nothing about the game feels 2nd nature right now. In my head I try to do something off instinct, the body is like "what are you doing old man".

I feel the same way lmao. I just started shooting around again maybe 2-3 weeks ago and I still had it. My first two games of actual 4 on 4 I missed every ****ing shot that wasn't a layup to the point where I got picked last in a 4 on 4 game and they were leaving me open from 3 which has never happened to me before. But I was awful, would've left me open too. The other 7 guys were all in their teens/20's and really good...like everyone was draining every 3 off the dribble good...was ****ing annoying, lol.


Which brings me to my next point, what's the consensus on how y'all play in terms of physicality? I'm only 5'10" but I'm 245 lbs so when my shot isn't falling I just drive to the hoop because I'm always the strongest guy on the court and most can't stop my drives. I wouldn't say I lower my shoulder like LeBron or Giannis but I probably do a bit but the dudes I play against I move with ease and every now and then I get those little bitch dudes that complain and call an offensive foul when it's their own fault for being too weak. These dudes drive me nuts and I encountered one yesterday. I know back when I was younger a lot of the basketball-only guys hated when guys like me would play because we were more physical...do y'all typically let the physical play slide? And to clarify, I'm not ****ing bulldozing guys...though the dude yesterday I wanted to just to prove a point that if I wanted to "play football" like he said I was, he would know the difference.

[VDusen04]

Re: The worst pick up players.

it's not that fun going from being pretty solid in comparison to guys I would play against to being trash.

Last two games I've scored 20+, and a couple dunks (weak dunks)

Does not compute.

Maybe we have different definitions but if you're dropping 20+ points (or even 20+ points split between two games) with multiple dunks (weak or not), I think it's safe to say you're still pretty far from trash.

I get what you're saying. It's all relative. A 10-point night in a league where you used to drop 30 probably sucks, but there's still a lot of room for fun and success in there.

As for dunking, just be grateful you're still throwing down some weak ones. I forgot your age but I thought it was similar to mine (37). After I almost maimed myself trying to dunk on one of those all-purpose courts a few months ago I've basically settled for just... not dunking anymore.

Which brings me to my next point, what's the consensus on how y'all play in terms of physicality? I'm only 5'10" but I'm 245 lbs so when my shot isn't falling I just drive to the hoop because I'm always the strongest guy on the court and most can't stop my drives.

It's all about finding a reasonable happy medium. And most of the time, everyone knows where that happy medium is, even if they want to play dumb and innocent about it ("What?! I'm just driving to the hoop!")

It also depends how stubborn you want to be. Every court and every group of ballplayers is going to have different opinions on physical style of play. You can generally either acclimate to your surroundings and stop truck-sticking people or be the guy everyone hates who just comes in and truck-sticks people all the time. Unless that's how that group plays, in which case, have at it.

I'm stubborn and I had some habits I stuck to that made me persona non grata at some pick-up courts over the years. But many other times, I adjusted my game a bit to make it work for my environment. Sometimes it's ridiculous (I remember one group got upset with me for running someone down and stripping the ball on a fast break too aggressively) but that's just how it goes sometimes.

[cima]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I definitely don't truck stick people, lol. I'm trying not to sound arrogant when I say this but how often do you come across a guy playing basketball that can bench press 400lbs? Probably almost never...I'm that guy. Like it's understood you're allowed to create a little contact, right? The problem for me is say we're all allowed to use 50% of our Max force to create contact (this is totally an arbitrary number, I'm just using it as an example)...my 50% hits a lot harder than everyone else's to where some think it's a foul or unfair. And I'm already at a disadvantage at 5'10", so that's how I make up for it. Same thing on defense if a guy is trying to drive by me or into me, I can just give a little nudge and knock them off course...but if that same guy gave the same nudge to me, wouldn't do anything...know what I mean? Some just don't like it [emoji2369] but I definitely couldn't truck stick like you say because that would definitely be just me plowing over guys and I don't wanna play ball like that.

So basically I kinda already feel like I'm holding back as is because of my strength but at times I don't like it cause like I said, I'm already almost always one of the shortest guys out there.


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[ojandpizza]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Does not compute.

Maybe we have different definitions but if you're dropping 20+ points (or even 20+ points split between two games) with multiple dunks (weak or not), I think it's safe to say you're still pretty far from trash.

I get what you're saying. It's all relative. A 10-point night in a league where you used to drop 30 probably sucks, but there's still a lot of room for fun and success in there.

As for dunking, just be grateful you're still throwing down some weak ones. I forgot your age but I thought it was similar to mine (37). After I almost maimed myself trying to dunk on one of those all-purpose courts a few months ago I've basically settled for just... not dunking anymore.

To be fair these were games that some of our better guys were missing, so I'm scoring 20 basically out of necessity but losing by 20 lol. First game of the league I shot 0/2 lol. I've progressively gotten more legs and more rhythm since.. League is mostly younger guys, or guys who still play a lot, I think I'm actually the 3rd oldest player in the entire thing this time around and on top of that hadn't even played in a pick-up setting since before covid. You're right we are pretty similar, I'm 35 and the "dunks" were plays where I just happened to catch the ball right by the rim and alone. I'm a two foot jumper and always have been, so 1 step for me is pretty similar to what a max jump attempt would be. Honestly my goal at this point is just to be able to still get one down at 40. Think I'm past the point of trying to still be a good player all around lol.

[ojandpizza]

Re: The worst pick up players.

As far as the physical side of things, I mean it's really hard to tell unless you're on the floor with someone. Nobody likes the dude that just tries to run people over all game because in a pickup setting it's not like you can draw a charge. That said I see nothing wrong with stronger guys using that to their advantage, it's just hard to tell what is excessive or not without seeing it.

I'm not a "big" guy by any means but I'm a big guy for a guard in a pickup ball setting. So lots of times in the past I would have smaller guys on me as guys closer to my size couldn't really stay in front. A few too many slaps on the arm or holds on the jersey/hip and I'm going to start throwing my weight around on guys too.

[VDusen04]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I definitely don't truck stick people, lol. I'm trying not to sound arrogant when I say this but how often do you come across a guy playing basketball that can bench press 400lbs? Probably almost never...I'm that guy.

Ah I think I understand now. I played ball with a guy like you a few years back. Former heavyweight wrestler in college. We called him Wreck-It-Ralph.

We all understood that things were going to be different when he was involved for the reasons you mentioned. Casual screens shook your bones, touch-fouls put you on the floor, etc.

That said, he also seemed to be aware of himself and clearly didn't try to abuse teams on purpose by trying to Shaq everyone out of the way. I'd say as long as you're not doing that, you're probably golden. However, if you're not getting the angles on drives or finding space and instead are just relying on brute force to power through, I'd understand people having issue from time to time. But it sounds like that's not what you're doing.

As far as the physical side of things, I mean it's really hard to tell unless you're on the floor with someone. Nobody likes the dude that just tries to run people over all game because in a pickup setting it's not like you can draw a charge. That said I see nothing wrong with stronger guys using that to their advantage, it's just hard to tell what is excessive or not without seeing it.

I'm not a "big" guy by any means but I'm a big guy for a guard in a pickup ball setting. So lots of times in the past I would have smaller guys on me as guys closer to my size couldn't really stay in front. A few too many slaps on the arm or holds on the jersey/hip and I'm going to start throwing my weight around on guys too.

Right there with you and pretty much the same way I got down. If defenders wanted to go there, I'd go there. Otherwise, it's just normal hoops.

[ojandpizza]

Re: The worst pick up players.

We actually play again tonight, riding a 3 game losing streak and missing 2 starters again lol. Think we have 5 showing up, if the shot is dropping I might be aiming for 40 boys lol. All joking aside my brother is a really good shooter, I play lots of drive and kick game when we play together. That was easy in the past, but being older and removed from basketball for awhile it's not so easy for me to just get wherever I want on the court. I used to be great at drawing help, these guys sticking me single coverage is hurting my pride a bit.

[cima]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I just can't believe how much time has flown by since I've played basketball regularly, I think the more I'm realizing that the more it was okay how bad I sucked yesterday. I played casually some pickup games at LA Fitness a couple times a month from 2012-2015 and no basketball games period since that time as I switched gyms and it didn't have a court.


I'm also nursing a calf injury that I freaking got just shooting around (lol hello mid 30's) so I can't even go full speed yet...but odds are my full speed now at almost 35 is nothing like it was when I last played regularly (as in at least 2 games/week) in 2012 when I was...hold on doing math in my head...**** I was only 25!


Part of the reason I joined Lifetime Fitness is because they have basketball leagues...but if I played like I did yesterday then that would just be an utter embarrassment. I wish there was a 35+ league but I think at Lifetime it doesn't start until 40+ league.


Sorry I'm literally typing as I'm thinking out loud...just realized I was basically a slow Russell Westbrook yesterday. Ran point often, was the only guy crashing the boards, and bricked every wide open 3 they gave me...lmao.

[ehh]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Getting older does indeed suck but I've found that sticking to a routine has worked wonders for me.

I'm at an awful point where I can't even stick to a routine. Something goes wrong no matter what I do. Back, SI joint, old shoulder injury, scar tissue pain/flare-ups from my surgery.

I somehow sprained my sternum/chest muscles trying to get back in shape about eight months ago. I did it doing pushups. Seriously, just pushups. That's how broken my body is. I finally went to my doctor because I wasn't sure if I was having long-standing muscle spasms in my chest or if my heart was about to explode lol.

It sounds like you've had better luck than I have but being really tall becomes a major hassle as you age. I'm about out of ways to exercise without injuring myself. At 6'8", I own a spin bike but I'm way too big for it so it ****s up my hips and back and neck eventually. My PT has told me never to run outside or jog or whatever again. I'm well on my way to eventually needing hip replacements and that will only accelerate it. He said basketball is okay, but with my schedule (work, fatherhood, etc.) I'm lucky if I can play for 3-4 hours a week post-pandemic. Even bodyweight stuff and yoga and pilates eventually give me problems. I've swum in the past but I don't have access to a pool anymore.

I think I need to accept that I need to walk to get exercise lol. That doesn't get into all the other crap that comes with being tall: never fitting in anything, forcing you to have poor posture all the time because no seat or car or couch is big enough for you. No countertop is high enough for you. That stuff takes its toll over the years.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I'm at an awful point where I can't even stick to a routine. Something goes wrong no matter what I do. Back, SI joint, old shoulder injury, scar tissue pain/flare-ups from my surgery.



I somehow sprained my sternum/chest muscles trying to get back in shape about eight months ago. I did it doing pushups. Seriously, just pushups. That's how broken my body is. I finally went to my doctor because I wasn't sure if I was having long-standing muscle spasms in my chest or if my heart was about to explode lol.



It sounds like you've had better luck than I have but being really tall becomes a major hassle as you age. I'm about out of ways to exercise without injuring myself. At 6'8", I own a spin bike but I'm way too big for it so it ****s up my hips and back and neck eventually. My PT has told me never to run outside or jog or whatever again. I'm well on my way to eventually needing hip replacements and that will only accelerate it. He said basketball is okay, but with my schedule (work, fatherhood, etc.) I'm lucky if I can play for 3-4 hours a week post-pandemic. Even bodyweight stuff and yoga and pilates eventually give me problems. I've swum in the past but I don't have access to a pool anymore.



I think I need to accept that I need to walk to get exercise lol. That doesn't get into all the other crap that comes with being tall: never fitting in anything, forcing you to have poor posture all the time because no seat or car or couch is big enough for you. No countertop is high enough for you. That stuff takes its toll over the years.

Damn bro, that sucks...You sound a lot like where my brother is at. He's around 6'7 like myself but he's had 3 fusions and simply can't do much without his back going out on him. I'm constantly trying to tell him that there's no shame in walking/ lighter exercise but I get that it's hard to leave the game alone. It's good to do what you can. Height can definitely be a gift and curse, I was just telling someone the other day how much an investment things like buying a damn suit is for me compared to him, lol.

I've actually been pretty unlucky injury wise but somehow I'm still kicking. I've have 18 total surgeries in my life, head to toe, all kind off miscellaneous **** but It's just a blessing to still be playing.

OJ, you're up there height wise too right? Feels like the OS Pro Basketball forum could throw out a hell of a starting line up, lol

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