OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

[cubsfan203]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

How do you develop confidence on the court? I struggle so much with this, it destroys me.

Basically just go out there thinking "no one can stop me." Having confidence in your game will really help with your confidence on the court as well. If you sit there thinking that everyone is better than you, it's going to wind up happening.

[bgeno]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

I know with me, I just worked hard on something I was already good at(rebounding,post defense)and it just built up on it's own because I knew I may not do anything on offense but on the Defense, I kinda looked at that as like a "Yea you're in my world now *****" type confidence lol.

Ya, that was basically going to be my suggestion.

Like anything, just do what you're good at. If you're good at jumpers from the baseline, shoot those. If you're good at driving and dishing, do that.

The other stuff should build off that. Once you become really comfortable doing a few things you're good at, and they become second nature, you can work on the parts of your game that you lack and become more comfortable with them.

[Salhus]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

Drive and kick. In pick up ball, there is good help D at times, but there is usually never good recovery. Just have the best slasher penetrate and dish it out for 3's. That'll keep the D honest and get some open looks

[jct32]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

Ha, I always found that funny when people do that. This little asian kid(like 5'5) tried the box me out and get a rebound. His head was at my waist, and I simply leaped over the top of him(not over him, but grab the ball over the top of him). No way in hell he can get a 'board over me. Then again, he didn't have any bounce, so no offense to the little dudes. Most of the lil hoopers can get up there.

Yeah my favorite part it playing defense on the bigger guys and being able to shut them down. I'm not blocking shots or anything, but I cause misses.

I can get up pretty good too. I can almost grab rim, I think in a couple of years I might be able to dunk (I work out a lot and I'm still not done growing).

[bowdown2shadi]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

Yeah my favorite part it playing defense on the bigger guys and being able to shut them down. I'm not blocking shots or anything, but I cause misses.

I can get up pretty good too. I can almost grab rim, I think in a couple of years I might be able to dunk (I work out a lot and I'm still not done growing).

How old are you man? Im still 16, and I can hit rim. Im about 6'2. I still cant dunk on 10 though, but my goal is to be able to dunk by August.

[bball_1523]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

how do you guys stop choking in big games? I sometimes don't play as good in games where the competition is high. I get too nervous and even when I'm open, my shots don't feel so good.

[The 24th Letter]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

how do you guys stop choking in big games? I sometimes don't play as good in games where the competition is high. I get too nervous and even when I'm open, my shots don't feel so good.

Stop caring. seriously. Eliminate your conscience from the equation. Stop thinking so much. Just play ball...let your basketball instincts take over. That way nothing becomes too big....

I always take the time at some point to take a deep breath and clear my mind when it comes to clutch situations.

EDIT: http://www.operationsports.com/forum...nt-clutch.html

[bowdown2shadi]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

Stop caring. seriously. Eliminate your conscience from the equation. Stop thinking so much. Just play ball...let your basketball instincts take over. That way nothing becomes too big....

I always take the time at some point to take a deep breath and clear my mind when it comes to clutch situations.

EDIT: http://www.operationsports.com/forum...nt-clutch.html

Ahhh, 24th is much in the clutch

[Brankles]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

how do you guys stop choking in big games? I sometimes don't play as good in games where the competition is high. I get too nervous and even when I'm open, my shots don't feel so good.

I used to be the same way growing up in 7th, 8th and 9th grade. I would kill my teammates in practice in Middle School and AAU, but when gametime rolled around, I would get mad nervous. It effected every aspect of my game... ballhandling, shooting, passing, constant mental errors. My knees and hands would shake during timeouts it was so bad. On top of that, any confidence I built up from practicing would all disappear because of my poor game performance. I basically was playing in survival mode in each game, playing purely off of instincts and adrenaline, not wanting to make mistakes, but at the same time not making any plays. It was horrible. I loved the game but my nerves just got the best of me.

Finally, summer of 10th grade, something just clicked. I was playing summer-league with our varsity squad, just got done with a semi-finals game, where I was nervous to the point of being sick. It was summer league, so we had the finals game in another two hours and I went out to my car and laid the seat back and tried to clear my head. Staring at the felt roof of the car, I got mad. I hated the way I felt after that game, I didn't want to play in the finals, but I couldn't punk out on my team. I kept sitting there, trying to mentally prepare myself, but it wasn't working. I slid my seat up, put the key in the ignition, turned on the car, drove out the parking lot, went a block, changed my mind, turned around, parked in the same parking spot and walked straight into the gym and played one of the most memorable games of my life.

My stats weren't earth-shattering, I might have had a double double with a few blocks, assists and steals, I can't really remember. The thing I do remember, though, is starting off the game really angry and in a "F*** This" attitude. I was to the point I would have taken someone down if they drove to the basket near me. I went for every rebound, I hustled, I went up strong with my shots. If I was open, I would shoot it. If I wasn't, I passed. I was literally a basketball robot. I was waiting for someone to chew me out so I could snap on them, but nobody did. I was just playing ball the way I knew how, the way I had been practicing for years. It just clicked all of the sudden in this very strange way.

Ever since then, nerves haven't been a problem for me. I started hitting shots late in games, wasn't intimidated by anyone (actually, that's a lie. Neefy Moffett, FSU's defensive end destroyed me with a bull rush one game... but that's an extreme situation), and developed a sort of hidden confidence I had never had before. I don't remember having another game like that where I was so mentally frustrated, so it's not that attitude that helped me change. It's just the realization that if I played within my limits, hustled, was a good teammate and played with a purpose that I would be playing basketball the right way, regardless of the competition.

Obviously you will run into guys who are better than you, who can shut you down on defense, then blow past you on offense... but that's part of the game. Don't beat yourself up over mistakes and don't get too excited about making a great play. Keep the emotions steady and don't be afraid to miss a shot or turn the ball over.


This is basically a long-winded version of what 24th said in two sentences. Don't worry about the results, just put forth your best effort and play the game.

[DC]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

Give ball fakes. People ALWAYS go for them

[bowdown2shadi]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

Give ball fakes. People ALWAYS go for them

In the post, works all the time


It really depends how eager the defender is to swat the shot.

[Marino]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

I played 4 games today and did amazing.

At NC State we play to 16, and the first game I was nailing 3s left and right. I scored 7 points in that game.

Then in the next game I hit all 5 of my 3 pointers which count as 2s. But then they started guarding me tight so I would pump fake and drive and hit this little floater I had.

And that was what I did the next 2 games, that and get rebounds.

[bball_1523]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

I choked again yesterday while playing on a team with some good players. I seem to get nervous and insecure while playing on a team with good players. I went 1-5 FG, hitting a 3 pt shot which first bounced on the rim then went in. My other shots just didn't feel good, but I got good looks!. I don't know what's wrong with me, lol.

By the way, what are some of the rules you guys play by? Such as to what score do you go to and do you play by 1's, 2s and 3s, or 1s and 2s? Do any of you play with offensive fouls and

The place I play at (San Diego State Univ.) we play to 11 and go by all 1's, which means every shot, 2 pt or 3 pt counts as 1. Sometimes the first game goes to 15.

[Marino]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

I choked again yesterday while playing on a team with some good players. I seem to get nervous and insecure while playing on a team with good players. I went 1-5 FG, hitting a 3 pt shot which first bounced on the rim then went in. My other shots just didn't feel good, but I got good looks!. I don't know what's wrong with me, lol.

By the way, what are some of the rules you guys play by? Such as to what score do you go to and do you play by 1's, 2s and 3s, or 1s and 2s? Do any of you play with offensive fouls and

The place I play at (San Diego State Univ.) we play to 11 and go by all 1's, which means every shot, 2 pt or 3 pt counts as 1. Sometimes the first game goes to 15.

What I do to get my confidence up when playing basketball is to first make a couple of easy layups or short shots. See the ball go through the hoop first to build up your confidence.

[KG]

Re: OS Hoopers....What are your balling tips?

I choked again yesterday while playing on a team with some good players. I seem to get nervous and insecure while playing on a team with good players. I went 1-5 FG, hitting a 3 pt shot which first bounced on the rim then went in. My other shots just didn't feel good, but I got good looks!. I don't know what's wrong with me, lol.

By the way, what are some of the rules you guys play by? Such as to what score do you go to and do you play by 1's, 2s and 3s, or 1s and 2s? Do any of you play with offensive fouls and

The place I play at (San Diego State Univ.) we play to 11 and go by all 1's, which means every shot, 2 pt or 3 pt counts as 1. Sometimes the first game goes to 15.

If there are a lot of people playing 1st game will be to 13 w/ 1's & 2's. Last game is usually to 16.

Playing w/ no 2's is terrible. The 3 point line helps to spread the court and prevent everyone from standing in the middle. Helps to open up the post game for your bigs.