The worst pick up players.

[wwharton]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Here most of the times it's defended playing zone; I think it's because it's more used outside of the states, the lack of people in shape, most can't play 1 on 1 defense and because it takes less effort. I prefer to play man defense but I had to get used to playing this way, it can be annoying because many don't try much to defend well and I try to rotate and help as much as possible because I like playing defense, even more than offense.

I think the biggest issue is the misconception that playing zone is "easier". It can be, but man to man can be in some situations too if everybody's playing good defense. I think it's easier for someone to get lazy and not be accountable in a zone so there is that. But really, you can apply the same principles in man to man if everyone is connected (rarely the case, which again is the problem). A good man D often looks like a zone and a good zone often looks like man. But I'd much rather tell the bum on my team to "stick that guy" than have his area of a zone be abused. In other words, lazy people think zone is easier but the reality is finding the weakest player to guard in a man to man is probably easier if the other team knows how to play against a zone.

[KG]

Re: The worst pick up players.

People that want to play zone. That **** is lazy as hell.

When I first moved to Miami and went to play, I walked up to a guy on offense as we're about to check the ball and said "I got him." Then dude on my team looks at me and says, "we're playing 2-3. You got that space. I was all like...



Zone? Who the hell plays zone in a pick up game? That was the first time I ever played zone during a pick up game and I was 23 at the time. Lol

The trend continued during my time there, and more often than not, teams played zone. But what pissed me off the most about it was that most these dudes did not know how to play it at all. Always having guys that over rotated, didnt rotate to the right spot, or stuck completely to their "zone". Plus guys at the top always played the zone as if they dont really have to D up because theres help behind them. So it was easy as hell to get into the paint.

I would get so pissed because even though we are in the zone and there SHOULD be help, that doesnt mean you can take it easy on defense. Your goal should be to not let anyone get past you and into the paint, because then the zone is broken. They did not understand that for crap.

Then sometimes they would have the nerve to actually call more complex zones like a 3-2 or 1-3-1. This always registered this response...

Spoiler

As a guard I loved playing against zones. Easier to get open looks for the most part and I love it when defenders run at me. Lazy & over-active zones are really easy to punish.

Question:

In some crazy universe where you had to guard yourself do you think you would shut yourself down?

[VDusen04]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Played with one of the wilder characters I've ever come across while playing pick-up ball tonight. This guy:

1. Vehemently argued un-arguable calls. In one instance, he had the ball thrown squarely off his chest before the ball bounced out of bounds. Perhaps he could have argued the guy saving the ball off his chest was already out. Instead, his argument was the ball never hit his chest, which it so undoubtedly did.

2. Made three shots in his first game, proceeded to make one shot (out of what had to be between 15 and 22 attempts - many from three) in the next three games, taking 90% of his team's shots along the way.

3. Would drive into a crowded lane, pick up his dribble take two steps, nearly get tied up, then use that near tie-up as a means to take three to four additional steps (without ever losing momentum toward the basket) then re-established control and attempted to finish the play. Due to his volatility, folks ceased calling him out on it and instead just scoffed and went with the, "Alright, we'll let him cheat, we just have to make sure we make things happen on our end" route.

4. Would fail to run back on defense, then yell at teammates when scored upon.
4a. Would dribble around like a chicken with its head cutoff until in desperate trouble, then heave a horribly misguided pass to a teammate, of whom he'd then yell at for not catching it well enough.

5. Would dominate the ball, then call for the ball every single moment it wasn't in his hands.

6. Attempted to start fist fights with two different players

Honestly, I've seen a lot of crazy things on the basketball court and this wasn't the craziest, but it was up there. The fellow who ran the open gym tonight even came up and personally apologized for this random guy's actions.

Separately:

In some crazy universe where you had to guard yourself do you think you would shut yourself down?

I would undoubtedly dominate the defensive version of myself.

[wwharton]

Re: The worst pick up players.

In some crazy universe where you had to guard yourself do you think you would shut yourself down?

No doubt. Especially as old as I am now. I always focus more on defense anyway, but also look at everything like a chess game. I know all my weaknesses. If I don't have to help and we assume the team's getting back on fast breaks, I wouldn't score a point on myself.

[Kashanova]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I don't know about you guys but here in NYC, they usually play zone. Then sometimes they switch to man, as far as Zone goes. As soon as it's a zone I know I'm going to get open jump shots...

[Bull_Market]

Re: The worst pick up players.

Without question, ”look the part guy” is the worst. Looks athletic, looks like most shots he.takes should drop, just has a hoopers swagger. Except the dude cant play at all.

[TMagic]

Question:

In some crazy universe where you had to guard yourself do you think you would shut yourself down?

Yes.

I consider myself to be a pretty damn good defender. The only people I have trouble with are players that are small and quick with some nice handles. I cant recall a time I struggled guarding someone my own size or even a little taller.

[cavsfan2]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I hate when people call touch fouls. Man up.

[bball_1523]

Re: The worst pick up players.

I think zone is a good defense against taller players. I once was on a team that ran zone and it worked against the taller team in that they took outside shots and missed many, however we were unable to score on our end. Eventually that team found a way to score and we couldn't do it.

I think I'd rather make the other team shoot outside shots especially if I know their team doesn't have any great shooters.

[BlueNGold]

Re: The worst pick up players.

It's funny that all this talk of zone came up lately. I've never had anyone say "Let's play zone", but I just went and played a game yesterday and sure enough I hear those exact words after reading this thread.

[DukeC]

Re: The worst pick up players.

The guys who can't shoot in game situations. You know, that guy whose shot rims out everytime, yet when the game is over makes every single shot he takes.

On occasion I have been this dude. Most of the time though, my shot is either on or off. I don't have a middle switch I usually just focus on passing the ball and getting my teammates easy buckets instead of trying to get mine. I know if my shot's off I can easily miss layups. My confidence is fragile that way

[wwharton]

Re: The worst pick up players.

It's funny that all this talk of zone came up lately. I've never had anyone say "Let's play zone", but I just went and played a game yesterday and sure enough I hear those exact words after reading this thread.

Funny, exact same thing with me yesterday... not a true "pick up" game though, so it made a little more sense, but it was the first time I've played zone outside of a league game in years.

[Ramboooo]

Re: The worst pick up players.

These are mine. Some of my stubborn friends actually have some of these traits...

The guy that thinks he's Jordan but keeps bricking and plays no D and doesn't rebound.
The Shaq like player who thinks he's a PG, won't play inside and is brittle as a tortilla chip and gets super upset over the tiniest foul.
The guy that's hellbent on not changing strategy even tho the current one isn't working at all (i.e. someone who refuses to switch matchups when he's getting destroyed).
The guy that takes a charge ......IN STREETBALL lol

Dude that does behind-the-back everything.

Behind the back pass.

Behind the back all alone layup.


It could be the simplest pass, it has to be flashy.

Hahah this one is me. But I only do it cuz I can pull those off like a regular pass. Go flashy or go home :wink:. When Jason Williams went from White Chocolate with the Kings to a more toned down PG with Hubie Brown and the Grizz, I shed a small tear.

[cavsfan2]

Re: The worst pick up players.

The guys who can't shoot in game situations. You know, that guy whose shot rims out everytime, yet when the game is over makes every single shot he takes.

On occasion I have been this dude. Most of the time though, my shot is either on or off. I don't have a middle switch I usually just focus on passing the ball and getting my teammates easy buckets instead of trying to get mine. I know if my shot's off I can easily miss layups. My confidence is fragile that way

I'm the opposite of this. During the game I have better concentration but while shooting around I'm thinking about everything but the shot I'm taking.

[beast10]

Re: The worst pick up players.

A guy that doesn't give you one and I mean ONE inch to operate .
I still nailed 52 at the Y !