CKal - developing to be a PG

[CKal]

To do fadeaways, you need strength and body balance. I don't have enough strength so I can only do fadeaways near the rim.

OK I played with my cousin (aged 21) 1-on-1 today. His shots were very accurate and I lost all 3 games.

But not talking about that - let's talk about my development.
Layups with my left hand

- one big miss - airball - went flying over the backboard.
- doesn't get the chance to do layups on the left side much.
- uses my right hand often when laying up from the left.
- left-handed layups are more natural now - made 3 in a row when cousin was not there contesting.

Left-hand dribbling

- great.
- no turnovers caused by left-handed dribbling.
- actively practiced left-handed dribbling.
- dribbled home with my left hand.

Dribbling

- lost the ball when trying to crossover without protecting the ball.
- no other cause of turnovers (except airballs).

Shooting

- very bad shots.
- missed free throws.
- banked 3 free throws in a row.
- able to hit 1 or 2 free throws later.
- jumpers off the mark mostly.
- confirmed that areas near the baseline are my "hot spots" - 2 of 3.
- type of shot attempted most - layups and wild hooks that I should not be doing.

NOTE: I shoot better when there is a net - but there isn't one in the court we went - which is the court of the elementary school nearby.

Off to the sit ups and push ups now.

***
8:11 PM (GMT -4)

I won't be doing sit ups and push ups today - maybe tomorrow.

And there will be exams on Monday, on Math, which I don't need to, or rather, there is nothing to study.

[Modifly]

Nice to see you progressing. Dont be too concerned about "wild" shots which you attempted in a 1 on 1 game. Weird things happen in 1 on 1. You will find out that you will never perform those shots in a proper 5 on 5 game

When there is no net, what you should use as a target is the backboard. Aim for the top line of the square, that's the trick.

As for your shooting, it will improve from time to time. What you should do seriously is to observe yourself. Observe the way you shoot and try to catch a rhytm. The other important thing is try to remember how hard you have to shoot (how much force you need) from different spots. If you can remember how much force you need in each area, then it would make your shots much better.

I know lots of things about shooting because like GazuN, I'm a sharpshooter too XD I'm good at three points and jump shots

GazuN, for fadeaways, the trick is you have to get a good spring when you jump. (Jump backwards) As soon as you jump, bring the ball up to your shooting position. Wait until you reached to the top height and release the ball just when you are about to fall. Getting a good jump is the key, it's not neccessary to jump high but it's the timing. What I noticed most NBA players do is kick their legs forward. (T-MAC, Kobe) That help swing the momentum (gives them more hangtime) and help protect them from the defenders too. Hope that helps.

[Andrew]

It also helps if you've got a good shooting touch to begin with, so don't stop working on your normal jumpshot.

[Modifly]

Andrew, I agree. If you already have a good shooting touch it makes things much more easier

[CKal]

Thanks Drew for your comment and it's really nice to have you just posting in this thread.

When there is no net, what you should use as a target is the backboard. Aim for the top line of the square, that's the trick.

Um... the backboard, has no square...

I shoot much better with at least a square, and maybe best when there's a net.

As for hook shots, I just love them - I can't hit them, but I kept doing it, which is wrong of me.

[Joe']

Useful advice from Joe: Don't ever do hook shots during a basketball game if you're 5'3" and recently started playing.

Hook shots are traditionally used exclusively by those who play the post (usually the Center and the Power Forward), but more importantly they're extremely easy to block. Not to mention they're very difficult to execute: they require talent in the player who executes them and that's something only few have. That's the reason Abdul-Jabbar is considered a legend.

Besides, hook shots take much more time than jump shots or layups, as a result they're MUCH more predictable. Add that to the fact that you're 5'3", very thin and inexpert and the fact that hook shots are easy to block and you got yourself an explanation on why you shouldn't do them.

I used to do them all the time when I started playing basketball. It actually worked really well until I started playing in the U-16 team. Since I was two years younger than most the guys on the team, I was the shorter.

You can imagine what happened when I, a 13-year-old 5'9" little shit from the U-14 team at the time, tried to do a hook shot against some guy that was roughly nine inches taller than me and almost 100 lbs. heavier.

[CKal]

Thanks for the tip. And like I said, I know it's wrong. I shouldn't do hooks.

I think I should try laying up with my left hand without banking - seems easier...

My tear drops are OK though. But the main focus now is ball handling, left-handed layups, and jump shots.

[GaZuN]

Ohh.. About the runnig hook shot..Mann I love it.. And there is no way to block me.. Coz with the free hand i get full protection of the ball.. Really beautifull shot.. And i am not very tall - 1.75sm..

And guys about fadeways.. I tried but no good.. When i jump back and it is really hard to release the ball.. Maybe i don't have strenght yet..
Also there is kinda bug.. When i am jumping (my lefthanded shooter) My left foot is lookin like i am kicking someone.. Really funny.. I can jump with the two legs.. I don't know why
Now my friend joking me - " You will KICK kobe's ass "

[CKal]

That means you are as good as Kobe - Kobe kicks his legs as well.

For me, I am too weak - clutch the ball hard, then push the ball upward and forward much more harder than you normally shoot. Try it near the rim first.

[njkobe]

GazuN, that is just the natural way of keep ur body balanced when u r doing the fade-away jumper, and yea, fade away is tough esp at the beginning. Maybe u can try normal jump shot without fadeaway 1st.
Modifly, damn, i also want an indoor court
CKal, keep practicing, both bball skill and go to the gym

[shadowgrin]

when I hang in the air, I don't have enough strength to shoot the ball - I think...

For me, I am too weak - clutch the ball hard, then push the ball upward and forward much more harder than you normally shoot

Your football background is catching up to you in basketball. I can relate.
Speaking with that background in mind and based on personal experience, there are things that may help you overcome that weakness or use that to your advantage like these ones:

If your not naturally skilled the best thing to do is try to become the best defender and hustle player you can be.

Defense is the key, if you can stop your man from scoring, he will lose confidence fast, and most likely not play at his best.

you have to be confident in what you can do

defense comes naturally when you move your feet to stay in front of someone.

Pride and confidence in your skills really helps. My football pride dictated that I wasn't going to let some chump outdo me in terms of footwork.

I still remember when someone crossed me over, my legs got into an X position, I know I can do nothing at that point, I didn't fall or break my ankles but the player blew past me. I took note not to let that happen again so I started sliding my feet, which is basically easy with a football background such as yours.

I was now able to stay in front of the player but he was still able to get by with some effort, because I forgot another thing: keeping my hands up in defense. That helps a lot, especially if you're 5'7" with a 6' wingspan. There's nothing more satisfying than stripping the ball of a smaller quicker player who's doing crossovers and that player would rather shoot jumpshots than drive to the lane after you stripped the ball. Sweet.

Don't know where to position when without the ball

Being worthless in offense, I usually don't have the ball so I pretty much have an idea of where to position myself. The posts below say it best of what needs to be done in terms of positioning when you don't have the ball:

when you don't have the ball, don't stand around and watch. You should be moving around to places where you can score or help out your teammate if they're trapped by the defense. It's just a matter of knowing whereabouts on the floor you feel most comfortable and are the most effective.

if your teammates is struggling with the ball, you have to help him out by running to him in a way that he can feed you the ball. Always keep an open eyes out incase someone need you

I usualy stay at the weak side or high post because of my l33t offense. I try to be aware of the rotation of my teammates and position myself as to have proper spacing and able to be fed the ball when a teammate needs to pass out, which I then pass out to whoever has a better chance or mismatch. I guess passing is my only decent offensive skill.

[CKal]

Thank you very much for the analysis shadowgrin, or should I call you JT?

And I'm full of confidence in defending. If you noticed in my "match summary", I said my cousin was a sharp shooter - it means that I was able to force him to do jump shots. I sometimes got faked though.

Defensively I'm a much better/aggressive player. My friends that I played with actually told me to be less aggressive. With my football, or soccer background as they call it here , I know how to slide my feet and stay in front of a defender - I play defensive midfielder in football, and every one had a hard time getting past me.

Even if they got past me, with my speed, I can chase them back - in basketball, it's a matter of chasing them and putting a hand in the face when they are shooting. I forced my cousin an airball as well.

I hate this cocky guy - once he said that out loud, pointing at me, "this guy can't shoot. Leave him open." Well - my shot was bad, but guess what...

My shot went off the mark, and he rebounded and attempted a fast break. I ran back chasing him, and when he did the pump fake, I STRIPPED HIM ! The whole pump fake moving the ball up and down before you make the layup right? When he move the ball from up to down, I got my hand on it and brought the ball down!

As for positioning in offense, I think I have quite an idea of where I should be positioned now, thanks to you guys. However, it's always 1-on-1 with my cousin here in Canada. I think I can play with more people back in Hong Kong.

Also - should I be like Tim Duncan? My bankers are pretty good - once in my gym class last semester, I hit two 3-pointers, banking.

[Andrew]

I think anyone who plays recreationally or competitively tries to emulate the players they watch to some extent but my advice would be to play to your strengths and adopt a style that suits you. It does pay to be able to use the backboard though so if you can make those shots, by all means use them. But use them because they work for you, not because you're trying to be like Tim Duncan.

[shadowgrin]

Damn, bankshots.
I used to be able to shoot those decently when I was really new to playing basketball, even those that played with me were surprised for a noob to hit those. I aimed for the square in the backboard (as posted by others in this thread). Now, I can't even hit squat.
It's like I became Trenton Hassell. Can shoot in the past but only hits bricks now.

I play defensive midfielder in football, and every one had a hard time getting past me.

Same with me, I usually got assigned as a defender and as last man option for goal keeper if no one's available. There's nothing wrong with an opponent getting past you as long you get control of the ball.

I hate this cocky guy - once he said that out loud, pointing at me, "this guy can't shoot. Leave him open."

I'm guilty of that as well.
There was this "husky" dude that kept getting open outside, I didn't bother defending closely 'cause of my impression of him. Turned out he was a lethal shooter despite his frame and sank three straight 3's, one of which is in my face.

Don't be fooled by appearance, an opponent may seem stronger/weaker or quicker/slower than you but you never know until you're assigned to him.

[CKal]

Andrew, thanks again, but I hate TD. I'm not trying to be like him. I'm just wondering if I should develop bankers seems I'm a bit good at it? Is it an advantage to hit bankers?

shadowgrin, too much experience on that "appearance vs reality".

[Andrew]

Guess I misunderstood what you were saying there. I'd say it's an advantage to be able to hit shots from all angles and it's certainly a good idea to have a feel for the backboard. If you find you can use the backboard to your advantage then perhaps you should look at developing those bank shots.

[CKal]

Just to tell you that I rained threes one day, in Hong Kong. And played pretty well the other day, 3-on-3, making a marvelous lay up over the tall guy, banking the ball high.

So I'm kinda developing well, just that my dribbling skill is still quite lousy... I think PG dribbles more than SG, so am I kinda like an SG now?

Oh, and I made a steal against that guy, who was really good at dribbling.

[Lamrock]

Shut the fuck up, these threads are worthless bullshit, don't start this up again, kthxbye.

[cyanide]

Take it easy, lamrock. This is my opportunity to shine.

Last week, I was taking jumpers outside on my basketball hoop. I made a lot of shots. I also varied my jumpers with layups and free-throw shots. It was fun. I haven't lost my skill, but I was pretty rusty, especially with my dribbling. I think it makes me a shooting guard, which is fine, because I can shoot.

[benji]

You should post in the Comics thread your thoughts on those comics when you get around to reading them. Some people, especially awesome ones, might be interested in that.

Anyway.

Yeah, well, I totally hit a shot sitting on the floor on a friends nerf hoop recently. Any tips to improve my skills? And what position I should play? I kinda like PG because that's Kevin Garnett's true position. Bench-warmer seems to be key because of the sitting aspect. Also, should probably look to the WNBA since they have the smaller ball. Plus, that girlish figure of mine.

Although the fights are a little rough, the more feminine NBA might be a better prospect for me.

Develop that left hand. Can't say it enough how important that is.

Oh, I should note I did it with my left hand.

[Jyrxx.]

Your left hand must be as good as your right hand, work on passing and dribbling, improve your basketball awareness. Don't focus on shooting (comes by itself), make sure you don't miss easy lay-ups, work on your body (don't use the gym too often), push-up and stuff like that. And the main things: hard work and strong will.

[Dramacydal]

After the 3 previous replies only a retard would post some serious advice in this thread.

[cyanide]

Oh, I should note I did it with my left hand.

Are you left-handed? I'm right-handed, and I can't shoot too well with my left hand. I think that makes me a power forward.

make sure you don't miss easy lay-ups, work on your body (don't use the gym too often), push-up and stuff like that.

Exactly.

[CKal]

Shut the fuck up, these threads are worthless bullshit, don't start this up again, kthxbye.

As I read in other threads, correct me if I'm wrong, but I gathered that the "bullshit" part of these threads are that you think the thread creator do not take these advices seriously. Me? I just want to keep track of my b-balling, as well as receiving opinions from other, maybe more experienced ballers. Once again (because I have already said this a few times in my life), don't stereotype people, and correct me if I am wrong, and I apologize, if I am wrong.

And I am not like posting here everyday. I just stop by and made a post about my progress - if this cause anything, well, really - I'm serious - lock this thread. I am satisfied with the situation.

As for those who really gave useful opinions, I thank you for the one last time. I don't think I will visit NLSC again, unless EA release NBA Live on PC again in the future.

[Dramacydal]

I don't think I will visit NLSC again, unless EA release NBA Live on PC again in the future.

Awww, and you only needed one more post to get to 1k.


EDIT: And don't dare to use this post here as an excuse to make another reply just to get that one missing post.