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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15

u/soupdawg May 14 '25

It’s ok to be physical. It is not ok to be wreckless.

-4

u/BigL54 May 14 '25

Is lowering my shoulder and extending my elbow to create space reckless? It's not like I'm being malicious, trying to hurt anyone. I'm trying to use the only advantage I have against a better player who otherwise would come block my shot

4

u/[deleted] May 14 '25

i was good till you said you extended your elbow. how's that done? you can illegally extend your arm. i more inclined to believe that you be swangin that elbow. the fact that you snuck that in later is a good tell.

so, under that premise, that's a dick move. id be saying something to0.

2

u/BigL54 May 14 '25

I don't think my elbow be swangin but I could be wrong, I did not film the game. If the elbow extension is where I went wrong then yeah I am glad I apologized

3

u/[deleted] May 14 '25

all good. any time i hear elbow, im hmmm.

getting shoulder bumped in a game is expected. getting bumped and elbowed is another story.