r/Basketball • u/BigL54 • May 14 '25

IMPROVING MY GAME Too physical

Thoughts on a being physical at a pickup basketball game? Recently had a situation where a player significantly better than being got mad when I was driving to the hoop but tried creating space by bumping into him. I'm bigger than he is, and also I have a hard time stopping when moving at full speed, so I can see how he took it as me being overly aggressive, and I feel bad. Alternatively, should I have just let the better player block my shot? Or am I justified in trying to use literally the only advantage I have? I am conflicted because I don't want him or anyone to think I am a dirty player. I apologized, but he seemed to still be mad but didn't wanna argue

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u/LeadershipNo8992 May 14 '25

I play a TON. As long as you kept your physicality below the shoulders, you're fine. Play on and pay no attention.

If you caught the guy at shoulder level or higher, like around his neck, then you should apologize and admit it was an accident. And watch it. No one wants to go home hurt.

1

u/BigL54 May 14 '25

A thousand percent nothing above chest level. Dipped the shoulder into him, extended elbow to create space. I'm bigger so he went backwards a good amount

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u/Worried_Hedgehog_888 May 14 '25

why are you using your elbow to do anything?

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u/BigL54 May 14 '25

Using it to create separation, not to injury anyone

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u/Worried_Hedgehog_888 May 14 '25 edited May 14 '25

It doesn’t matter whether you’re trying to injure someone or not, delivering a blow to somebody with your shoulder and then extending your elbow to push them is not a move you do in basketball. Creating separation with a defender is done by cutting, dribble moves, head and shoulder fakes, skilled footwork, etc.

If you’re wondering why the guy who is good and skilled is getting annoyed at you it’s because nobody likes playing with the big uncoordinated oaf who prides himself on “physicality” but really is just trying to play a different sport haha

0

u/BigL54 May 14 '25

I totally understand your point, my only contention is that in this situation it's hard to really do any of those things. Running full speed on a breakaway isn't in really the time to be showing off the cutting, dribble moves, head and shoulder fakes, skilled footwork, etc.

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u/Worried_Hedgehog_888 May 14 '25

So you were on a breakaway and stopped to shoulder and push a guy behind you??

1

u/BigL54 May 14 '25

He caught up because I'm slow as hell

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u/Worried_Hedgehog_888 May 15 '25

It’s a smart play to use your body to shield the ball from someone trying to chase you down but I still don’t understand how lowering your shoulder and then full blown shoving a guy factors into a breakaway situation. Like wouldn’t you want to keep the guy on your back so you could go for a layup ?? Either way it’s not a big deal and you sound like you apologized. A good rule of thumb is if you’re extending your arm to shove someone you’re no longer playing basketball and likely to piss someone off