The worst pick up players.

[Dtownballa]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Objection. My ballhandling, slashing, and shooting abilities far surpass any semblance of a post game I may have, even standing at 6'3''-6'4''. I think we may have covered this in the thread already but I'm not sure. Every once in a blue moon, I'll get a stranger who'll say something like, "Just get in the post and get to work" and I have to be like, "I don't think you understand, guy." It usually becomes clear where I belong.

And maybe this is on me for never truly developing an ultra reliable post game, but as someone who is similar in stature to guys like Russell Westbrook, I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that we all must post up. 6'3'' or 6'4'' is more likely to be a guard position than a pivot.

With all that said, I'll take a leap of faith and presume you're referring to 6'4'' guys who have no guard skills, are only effective in the post, and still insist upon hovering around the perimeter. I can feel you on that.

I understand what you are saying. I am 6'2 myself. I played guard in High School. However, I understand when playing pick up around where I am at (Novi area) I am mostly needed to to play down low due to my height. If your the biggest guy on the court, you should be on the block. Either for rebounds or for the post game. Now if your 6'3 - 6'5 or whatever, and you are playing with people around your height. Then sure, guard or what have you. BUT I hate seeing a person who can just turn in shoot in the post, playing point guard. And a guy that is 5'8 is playing forward (or down low in a sense)

[VDusen04]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I understand what you are saying. I am 6'2 myself. I played guard in High School. However, I understand when playing pick up around where I am at (Novi area) I am mostly needed to to play down low due to my height. If your the biggest guy on the court, you should be on the block. Either for rebounds or for the post game. Now if your 6'3 - 6'5 or whatever, and you are playing with people around your height. Then sure, guard or what have you. BUT I hate seeing a person who can just turn in shoot in the post, playing point guard. And a guy that is 5'8 is playing forward (or down low in a sense)

Good stuff. Didn't notice you were from Metro Detroit. I grew up in Farmington and Northville. I still have a varying opinion on this matter though. There's a few times here or there where I might be the tallest person on the court, but it's still not as simple as just being able to plant my post-play-inexperienced self down low and just turn and shoot for a bucket each time. Regardless of whether I'm the tallest player on the floor or not, I'd be holding back myself and my team if I played in a position that was unfitting for my skill set. In short, just because I'm 6'3'', it doesn't mean I'll be able to dominate my, say, 6'1'' defender down low. I mean, I wish it was that simple and easy, but it's not.

Secondly, handling the ball, pushing tempo, and slashing has never deterred from my ability to rebound. My thought process has always been, if Jason Kidd (6'4'') can crash the boards and rebound amongst NBA bigs, I should have no problem crashing and rebounding over variously sized amateurs.

Third, unless you're a bonafide post presence, playing with one's back to the basket in a pick-up game can often be an exercise in frustration. In the few times I've found myself posting on the block, I've struggled in 1) receiving the ball down low 2) having a teammate who can consistently recognize and execute a good pass 3) being bombarded by double teams 4) getting hacked when making a move 5) establishing solid position only to watch my teammates opt to fire from deep and 6) being outmuscled by a defender perhaps shorter, but stronger than me. In my case, and many others like me, it just doesn't make sense to get down low just for the principle of being down low. It's clipping the wings of an effective player and their team.

Conversely, my older brother stands 6'6'' 260lbs. His post game is refined, thorough and effective. He's spent his playing days developing himself as a post player. As such, he has no problem playing in the post during pick-up games, because that's where he's comfortable and that's what he enjoys doing. Just, man, if I were confined to more or less standing down low just because I was the tallest guy on the floor (or one of the tallest) I think I'd quit basketball altogether.

As a small addendum, I actually played power forward in high school. Even then, I rarely operated out of the post (lest it be on a flash leading to a quick jump-hook). It was a similar situation where even though I was one of the tallest players on the floor, I was still utilized according to what my skill set was, not what it should have been. That meant, even as a 4, I was primarily slashing and handling the ball in the open floor while hitting open threes and garnering 7 boards a night.

[Dtownballa]

Re: The worst pick up players.

To every opinion there is an exception. You must fall under the exception. I'm talking about the tall guys that just shoot 2 balls all day, and want to run the break. No effort on the boards, nor on D.

Do you guard your counterpart?

[VDusen04]

Re: The worst pick up players.

To every opinion there is an exception. You must fall under the exception. I'm talking about the tall guys that just shoot 2 balls all day, and want to run the break. No effort on the boards, nor on D.

Do you guard your counterpart?

Yeah I've come across my share of taller fellows who have no business handling the ball or shooting jumpshots but will do so just because they can. That can be very frustrating to work with. Typically though, I don't let height dictate how or where I expect someone to play. I've played with a lot of 6'5'' bruisers, but also a lot of 6'5'' talented gunners.

Regarding defense, I'll pick up whoever it works best for me to pick up. Oftentimes, that does lead me to guarding the other team's biggest guy. Other times, it makes more sense for me to guard a smaller, quicker player if that's where I'm needed defensively. I'm not guarding the other team's big man by default though. Height plays a role, but not as much as skill.

[Nathan_OS]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Just played with the guy that would'nt take layups. He thought he was helping the team. I called him 6'nothing... he got pretty heated. lol

[st0rmb11]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Just played with the guy that would'nt take layups. He thought he was helping the team. I called him 6'nothing... he got pretty heated. lol

So, he was like Rodman, or something? He would pass up open layups to teammates with open jumpers?

[kayfngee]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I understand what you are saying. I am 6'2 myself. I played guard in High School. However, I understand when playing pick up around where I am at (Novi area) I am mostly needed to to play down low due to my height. If your the biggest guy on the court, you should be on the block. Either for rebounds or for the post game. Now if your 6'3 - 6'5 or whatever, and you are playing with people around your height. Then sure, guard or what have you. BUT I hate seeing a person who can just turn in shoot in the post, playing point guard. And a guy that is 5'8 is playing forward (or down low in a sense)

I'm 5'8' and love playing in and defending the post. Nobody in most of my games (including me) is very good. However, unlike those guys I know how to get position on offense and defense in the post. There is nothing better than abusing someone 6'3' on the block because he doesn't understand how to use his size. With that being said there is nothing more frustrating than having that guy on your team.

[Nathan_OS]

So, he was like Rodman, or something? He would pass up open layups to teammates with open jumpers?

In the beginning... Yeah to open jumpshots... Then the other team adapted and it was literally 5 on 4 smh. Just wouldn't take the shot.

[Nathan_OS]

Re: The worst pick up players.

"Oh **** dog, if I was your height, I'd be windmilling and 360's and ****. I'd be getting scouted by every division 1 school. I'd just dunk on dudes like ... ( enter sound effects here )... OHHH! "

[DukeC]

Re: The worst pick up players.

"Oh **** dog, if I was your height, I'd be windmilling and 360's and ****. I'd be getting scouted by every division 1 school. I'd just dunk on dudes like ... ( enter sound effects here )... OHHH! "

I don't want to be that guy but...I can dunk now (off of an alley) and I'm 5'9.

I would definitely be that guy saying that ****

All in good fun though

[Nathan_OS]

I don't want to be that guy but...I can dunk now (off of an alley) and I'm 5'9.

I would definitely be that guy saying that ****

All in good fun though

I just tellem that they're not might and to shutup before I knock em out.

That usually does it

[Gibbz]

Re: The worst pick up players.

The last guy you wanna see on the court is the easily-threatened juicehead. You know the guy: Swole upper body with icepick legs and an expression that looks like he's always on the verge of tears.

[Nathan_OS]

The last guy you wanna see on the court is the easily-threatened juicehead. You know the guy: Swole upper body with icepick legs and an expression that looks like he's always on the verge of tears.

The biggest, and probably the strongest guy on the court. That's calls blocking. Fouls, and takes charges

[Nathan_OS]

When you make a good cross over. Attack the rim, and when you make it. Kid is like" if I was that tall (fill it in) "

I know Vdusen knows what. I'm talking about

[DukeC]

Re: The worst pick up players.

When you make a good cross over. Attack the rim, and when you make it. Kid is like" if I was that tall (fill it in) "

I know Vdusen knows what. I'm talking about

I know what you're talking about. I know just how difficult it is to drive and attack the basket. Most dudes aren't thinking "I'm gonna yam that" unless their just that big, strong, and coordinated. It's not feasible to go in there looking to dunk cuz someone's going to either...

A) Get a hand on the ball (Ensuring the Rose cradle).

or

B) Put a body on you in some way.

The example I was talking about was a fastbreak situation. Yeah, I'ma rib you if you go up with a weak lookin dunk with one hand. Might as well do a layup

I can respect the two-hand no hang dunk though.