How to Dominate Your Opponent in Pickup Basketball
You are at your local open gym playing some pickup basketball and your team will take on the winner of the current game. Use this downtime wisely by determining who you will be matched up against in the next game and analyze their game. From this analysis you can build your strategy. If you are not a dominant player, this can give you the edge to outplay your counterpart and help your team win the game.
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Instructions
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Determine whether the opponent is left or right dominated. Does the player display a strong tendency toward the left or right when dribble penetrating? If so, guard that side and force the player to go away from his/her strength.
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Establish whether he/she is an outside shooter or penetrator. In most cases a player exhibits a confidence level related to shooting from the outside versus driving to the basket. By analyzing their game you can see which he/she prefers to do more often. Of course any player can do both, but most players want to do one more than the other. Take away their favorite option by either crowding an outside shooter or laying off a penetrator. You will be amazed how much this can frustrate the typical pickup player.
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Gauge your quickness level versus the opposing player. Before going into the game you should have a plan how to take advantage of your quickness or minimize their quickness advantage.
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Gauge the mental toughness of the opposing player. Perhaps a slightly more physical approach (not advocating playing cheap here) may cause the opposing player to scale back his/her game.
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Determine the opposing player's "hot spots." Where do you see the player consistently making shots? Pickup superstars are renowned for having hot spots at their local gyms-know what those spots are and beat your opponent to them, so they don't get easy looks.
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Understand if the player is pass first or shoot first. You can dial your defense appropriately when you know their tendency to want to score versus create opportunities for their teammates to score.
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Learn favorite finishing moves. Does the player always go off one foot and with the right hand, reverse layups or finish with a two foot take-off? Whatever they are, be ready for them around the basket.
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Watch how they play defense. Does he/she apply intense pressure all over the court or just kill time until they get the ball again? Take advantage of weaknesses that you see.
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Box out or cherry pick. Pickup games are notorious for having players that cherry pick, which means they do not go for rebounds-instead they start running toward the offense end looking for an outlet pass and fast break. Take advantage of this by crashing the offensive boards and getting easy baskets for your team.
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Tips & Warnings
Most pickup games are the same guys getting together to play. You can pick up these tendencies over time and continually update them in your head.
Take pride in being the thinker on the court-you will be a valued player, as most pickup players are all about scoring points and are not looking to apply themselves fully to the game.
Remember that you are not playing for the NBA title and it is only a local pickup game, but why not apply yourself and do the best you can?
