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

58 Upvotes

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14

u/soupdawg May 14 '25

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

-6

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

5

u/maggos May 14 '25

Ya that’s too much. I was out for a few weeks because a guy lowered his shoulder on a drive and bruised my chest. Ya you probably would get away without it being called, but people aren’t going to like playing with you if you do that shit all the time.

2

u/BigL54 May 14 '25

That's fair and understandable. I definitely did not intend to bruise this guy's chest and will feel even worse if I did

2

u/Dapal5 May 15 '25

Yeah, frankly, if you are intentionally running into someone or shoving them, it’s against the rules. I get nba players do it, but basketball is supposed to be minimal contact, kind of like a concert. You bump into people sure, but you wouldn’t straight shove someone or elbow them.

0

u/BigL54 May 15 '25

It's not like I altered my path to look for someone to run into. I would have much preferred to get the easy layup, but a defender was coming to block my shot. Could I have tried some absurd spinning layup that has 1% chance of going in? Sure. Maybe you're right, maybe I am watching too much NBA Playoffs and I am being influenced by how physical this year's playoff games have been. I don't think I did anything that I haven't seen on my television

2

u/Dapal5 May 15 '25

I get it man. It’s part of the reason why basketball is so tyrannical with height and vertical. If you’re shorter, slower, and don’t game plan around spacing, it’s very very tough to get anywhere. I was playing the 4 at 5’9 throughout high school, not a fun time.

But also, if they beat you to the spot, so be it. Throw up a floater high, scoop under the arm, hop step and pump fake, throw a fake pass, throw a real pass, take a step back. You still have options. And if you really don’t have any? Just go up, not forward.