PICKUP BASKETBALL THREAD

[michigancat]

My work complex is about half office space and half warehouse/shop. There is a decent group of lunch time players, but some of them skip the shower, put their work clothes (dickeys type work pants/shirts or full flame resistant coveralls) back on and head back to work still sweaty/stinky.  One guy does the same, but is in an office and wears chinos and a dress shirt, although he does splash water on himself at the sink.

that's really gross. (even for the shop guys)

[michigancat]

Yesterday we had a 2 on 1 break and a guy threw a lob to me...I caught it mid air...laid it up...


And got the ball stuck in the rim.

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

I shoot more "dirk-esque" shots from the sides of the court than I ever have before. Off foot, fading back, doesnt matter. Think I make up for my lack of volume shooting in high school by pulling from pretty much anywhere in pickup ball.

[_33]

I'm in the process of getting back in shape so I can play basketball again.  Last time I played I fell down when I tried to make a quick move because my legs gave out.

[j rake]

best part about playing pick-up basketball is taking charges.

 

[yoga-like_abana]

Yesterday we had a 2 on 1 break and a guy threw a lob to me...I caught it mid air...laid it up...


And got the ball stuck in the rim.

how does that happen.. and did everyone look at the one guy that could actually jump up there and get the ball?

[michigancat]

Yesterday we had a 2 on 1 break and a guy threw a lob to me...I caught it mid air...laid it up...


And got the ball stuck in the rim.

how does that happen.. and did everyone look at the one guy that could actually jump up there and get the ball?

I don't know how it happened. I think someone just got a ball to knock it out.

[MakeItRain]

We've had two guys drop out because they broke their eye socket bones last month (separate incidents).

Elbows guy I mentioned tried to yell at me because I was too far from my man. My man was setting a screen on the block (you know the old HS motion move) and I was in the paint.

YOU'RE LIKE SIX FEET FROM YOUR MAN!!!

Other things this guy does:

1) Points for a pick, then immediately dribbles away from the pick.
2) He ONLY sets screens where he comes to the ball. so he's screening for someone moving away.
3) Like, the second he sets a screen he screams "SOMEONE'S OPEN! LOOK UP!"

His team almost always loses.

I would repeatedly hard foul this guy until he wanted to fight or quit. Hard box outs, moving screens, offensive fouls, give a little extra when trying to block his shot, last time I did this to a dude I chuckled whenever I did something dirty, he left in the middle of a game and didn't come back.

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

Threw some sick passes last night and grabbed some great boards but the jumper wasn't working until the last 2 games. Several Dirk-esque shots did not fall and so I became more of a playmaker. Do whatever I can to help the team win, ya know.

[michigancat]

We've had two guys drop out because they broke their eye socket bones last month (separate incidents).

Elbows guy I mentioned tried to yell at me because I was too far from my man. My man was setting a screen on the block (you know the old HS motion move) and I was in the paint.

YOU'RE LIKE SIX FEET FROM YOUR MAN!!!

Other things this guy does:

1) Points for a pick, then immediately dribbles away from the pick.
2) He ONLY sets screens where he comes to the ball. so he's screening for someone moving away.
3) Like, the second he sets a screen he screams "SOMEONE'S OPEN! LOOK UP!"

His team almost always loses.

I would repeatedly hard foul this guy until he wanted to fight or quit. Hard box outs, moving screens, offensive fouls, give a little extra when trying to block his shot, last time I did this to a dude I chuckled whenever I did something dirty, he left in the middle of a game and didn't come back.

he would fight, he's almost fought with multiple people that have never gotten into it with anyone. He apologizes and is fake nice off the court.

[Daddy Claxton]

They have a "league" going on at the gym at work. 8 teams, all people who work for the same company. The league is notorious for fights (usually stopped before punches actually thrown) and HR has had to intervene in the past. 

Apparently something got screwed up with the score during one of the "playoff games" and no one really knows which team actually should have won.  So this guy sends a 3 page email to everyone on the basketball distribution list (including the CEO and several VP's) airing all of his grievances about the league, mostly the scoring and refereeing. It prompted a bunch of email responses (all with the CEO cc'd) until finally the guy that runs the league (employee of third party service that runs the gym) responded that the league is a privilege and they do the best they can. Made for a pretty entertaining afternoon yesterday.

[michigancat]

They have a "league" going on at the gym at work. 8 teams, all people who work for the same company. The league is notorious for fights (usually stopped before punches actually thrown) and HR has had to intervene in the past. 

Apparently something got screwed up with the score during one of the "playoff games" and no one really knows which team actually should have won.  So this guy sends a 3 page email to everyone on the basketball distribution list (including the CEO and several VP's) airing all of his grievances about the league, mostly the scoring and refereeing. It prompted a bunch of email responses (all with the CEO cc'd) until finally the guy that runs the league (employee of third party service that runs the gym) responded that the league is a privilege and they do the best they can. Made for a pretty entertaining afternoon yesterday.

great for many reasons!

[Daddy Claxton]

Amazing how seriously some people take this stuff- to the point of hurting their career. 

[raquetcat]

Question for you regular pick up bball players (asking for a friend):

Does it suck when you have to play with guys that aren't good, like with people who didn't play high school basketball, but know how to play, I mean this person isn't a ball hog and pretty much just shoots wide open layups, and tries on defense and sets the occasional screen, but otherwise just passes the rock around and usually guards the other teams tall guy because he's kind of tall. Also this person doesn't have basketball shoes (if that matters). Anyway does it suck to play with that guy?

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

Question for you regular pick up bball players (asking for a friend):

Does it suck when you have to play with guys that aren't good, like with people who didn't play high school basketball, but know how to play, I mean this person isn't a ball hog and pretty much just shoots wide open layups, and tries on defense and sets the occasional screen, but otherwise just passes the rock around and usually guards the other teams tall guy because he's kind of tall. Also this person doesn't have basketball shoes (if that matters). Anyway does it suck to play with that guy?

Get basketball shoes. Set a few more picks, especially up top for your point guard and down low for your other big guy. Get your hands up on defense and you won't suck.

[michigancat]

Question for you regular pick up bball players (asking for a friend):

Does it suck when you have to play with guys that aren't good, like with people who didn't play high school basketball, but know how to play, I mean this person isn't a ball hog and pretty much just shoots wide open layups, and tries on defense and sets the occasional screen, but otherwise just passes the rock around and usually guards the other teams tall guy because he's kind of tall. Also this person doesn't have basketball shoes (if that matters). Anyway does it suck to play with that guy?

you're fine unless you're a dickhead (in most pickup games). If you turn it over a lot, people will just stop passing it to you but probably won't care much.

[Daddy Claxton]

If that's how your friend plays, and someone gets upset, that's their problem. If you'll rebound and set screens i'll want you on my team so i can shoot more open shots.  Only type of teammate that annoys me is the one that just stands at the three point line waiting for the ball and standing in the spot where i could catch and shoot if he would move.

[Johnny Wichita]

Another guy to add to the crap list:  guy who runs/drives super hard and fast with zero regard for anyone in the way.  He knows no one will step in a take a charge, but I'm pretty sure he wants someone to so he can get really pissed off.  He tweaked his knee today for the nine billionth time and then threw a huge fit, shaking his head and throwing his jersey on the ground.  Hey dork, you tripped on the ground.  Go be condescending to the ground for not being able to get out of the way of your clumsy, out of control feet.  He's got good speed but will just run through anything.  Also the guy that always gets fouled but never fouls anyone.  In a real game he would foul out in five minutes. 

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

i absolutely never call a foul if someone fouls me. if they dont wanna call it, thats fine, but its gonna get bumpy on defense for them.

also, i cant stand people who call fouls while shooting jumpers. one guy i play with is constantly pump faking and then leaning in and calling a foul like hes kobe bryant or something.

[michigancat]

Another guy to add to the crap list:  guy who runs/drives super hard and fast with zero regard for anyone in the way.  He knows no one will step in a take a charge, but I'm pretty sure he wants someone to so he can get really pissed off.  He tweaked his knee today for the nine billionth time and then threw a huge fit, shaking his head and throwing his jersey on the ground.  Hey dork, you tripped on the ground.  Go be condescending to the ground for not being able to get out of the way of your clumsy, out of control feet.  He's got good speed but will just run through anything.

he would get hammered at our game and probably never come back.

Also the guy that always gets fouled but never fouls anyone.  In a real game he would foul out in five minutes.

Offense doesn't call fouls? If he's really making bad calls, he'll get mocked and most likely change.

i absolutely never call a foul if someone fouls me. if they dont wanna call it, thats fine, but its gonna get bumpy on defense for them.

Sometimes you have to, or your teammates will get pissed at you.

[Daddy Claxton]

i absolutely never call a foul if someone fouls me. if they dont wanna call it, thats fine, but its gonna get bumpy on defense for them.

also, i cant stand people who call fouls while shooting jumpers. one guy i play with is constantly pump faking and then leaning in and calling a foul like hes kobe bryant or something.

Shooting jumpers is about the only time i will call a foul, other than an obvious tackle on a lay up. I wouldn't call it on a lean-in, but touch my elbow when i'm shooting a normal jump shot, i'll call it because it affects the the shot. I'll also call it on my self if i touch a shooter

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

i absolutely never call a foul if someone fouls me. if they dont wanna call it, thats fine, but its gonna get bumpy on defense for them.

Sometimes you have to, or your teammates will get pissed at you.

meh, as long as i get the shot up i dont really care.

[michigancat]

I NEVER call a foul on myself. But yeah, you have to call fouls on jumpers. You're more vulnerable and likely to get hurt than in the paint IMO.

[michigancat]

i absolutely never call a foul if someone fouls me. if they dont wanna call it, thats fine, but its gonna get bumpy on defense for them.

Sometimes you have to, or your teammates will get pissed at you.

meh, as long as i get the shot up i dont really care.

but what if you don't? Or it's a really bad shot? Don't be a dick. Just call the foul.

[The Tonya Harding of Twitter Users Creep]

i absolutely never call a foul if someone fouls me. if they dont wanna call it, thats fine, but its gonna get bumpy on defense for them.

Sometimes you have to, or your teammates will get pissed at you.

meh, as long as i get the shot up i dont really care.

but what if you don't? Or it's a really bad shot? Don't be a dick. Just call the foul.

i guess my games are different, mich. i play with friends ive played with for years so we usually call it on the defensive end. if someone doesnt call a blatant foul and your teammates dont bother to ask, its an eye for an eye out there.

i suppose if i played with strangers id call it when it was necessary but no one likes the guy who calls a foul every time down the court.