Basketball etiquette...

[Cuda1447]

Alright, so I just started playing basketball on a consistent basis. I played here and there as a kid, but never really got into it. I guess being a short white guy does that to you. Now that I'm an adult and of average height, I decided to get back into it. A co-worker invited me to play with a group of guys who have been playing together for a long time. Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 5am till 7-8amish. The age ranges from young adults (early to mid 20's like me) to 60 year old men. Most everyone there is in good shape and almost everyone is pretty decent. Being a new sport to me, I was pretty bad at first. I've gotten a lot better, shot is falling now, I can drive to the basket a bit and my dribbling has improved a great deal.


On to the problem...
My game has always been hustle. Defensively I work very hard. I quick and make a lot of steals. If there's a loose ball I'll dive for it. I work my ass off defensively and try to make a difference. My team usually is very happy with my effort, but sometimes the guys I'm playing against are assholes. They make snide remarks when I full-court press them. Often times I'll press the guy the ball is inbounded to and then switch off on the pass, just making them make decisions. Here and there they will make a bad pass or get hurried and it will cause a turnover. There was one particular play today when the ball carrier had spun away from one guy toward me and the ball was a bit out of his control. I stepped in attempting to poke it away and lunge a bit further than I had anticipated I would. I lost my footing and went to the ground while poking the ball free. I definitely got to the ball before he did, not touching him at all, but his momentum carried him over me which caused him to fall. It wasn't my intention to take him down, but sometimes with my aggression/hustle it will cause another guy to run into me or lose their balance. This guy got pissed off and started bitching at me. I just shrugged, whatever. But I guess my question is, this is just a recreational for fun and exercise type of thing. Its the same group of guys every morning (maybe 30 of us total) and its not like we are getting paid or anything. Is my type of play out of line? Should I be laying off a little bit and not playing so hard? It's not like I'm hard fouling anybody or anything, but I play aggressively. Do I need to lay off a little bit?

Sometimes I feel like I'm the white boy who doesn't know what the hell he's doing and a couple of the guys really look down on me. Sort of pisses me off. But at the same time I think they need to not be so lazy and work harder. *shrugs*

What say ye' ATOT?

 

[Pardus]

 

[Cuda1447]

I think I play to hard. Do I?

 

[slayer202]

Eh, I think that unless you are playing competitively in a league you need to chill out. No one wants that in a friendly game

 

[waggy]

really? what he posted was to long? perhaps a forum is not the best place for you.


OP: yeah if its a friendly pickup game then sometimes its not best to play as hard as you can. but hell i do the same (well used to before my back and hips went to shit). When i play i play 100% all the time. Some people don't like that though.

 

[DingDingDao]

Every pickup game is different, but if you're playing with the same group of guys every time and your intensity/aggression level is way higher than everyone else's, either take it easy or find another game.

 

[Blackjack200]

There's no simple answer. You really have to adjust your level of agressiveness to suit the game.

Your team is winning and the other team has a bunch of older dudes? Lay off a little, don't full court press and just defend their shots. The other team is a bunch of younger guys and they are ahead (or the game is very close)? Go for it.

Also, you'll find that some people are just prone to bitching about stuff. Learn who these people are and ignore them when they complain about your play. It's when the other players say something that you should pay attention.

 

[Scotteq]

New York and New Jersey Basketball Etiquette:


"If the other guy isn't big enough to kick your ass, then there is no foul"

 

[Jeeebus]

You're definitely in the right and all 30 of them should mould their behavior to be more like you. Notwithstanding that these guys have been playing together for years and seemingly get along fine with their style of play, as the new guy, it is your obligation to tell all 30 of them that they are wrong and should play more like you.

 

[Cuda1447]

The games are friendly, but very competitive. We all take it fairly seriously and especially when the games get close the competition heats up. I don't ALWAYS full court press. But I do up my intensity/aggression when the game calls for it. I guess it just pisses me off when people say shit to me because I hustle... but at the same time I want to make sure I'm not out of line.

 

[Cuda1447]

You're definitely in the right and all 30 of them should mould their behavior to be more like you. Notwithstanding that these guys have been playing together for years and seemingly get along fine with their style of play, as the new guy, it is your obligation to tell all 30 of them that they are wrong and should play more like you.

They don't have to play like me. And a lot of them don't mind the way I play at all. My teammates always give me kudos. I just don't see why people would get pissed that I play hard.

 

[slayer202]

They don't have to play like me. And a lot of them don't mind the way I play at all. My teammates always give me kudos. I just don't see why people would get pissed that I play hard.

because, whether it's justifiable or not, as another player it's annoying

 

[Blackjack200]

The games are friendly, but very competitive. We all take it fairly seriously and especially when the games get close the competition heats up. I don't ALWAYS full court press. But I do up my intensity/aggression when the game calls for it. I guess it just pisses me off when people say shit to me because I hustle... but at the same time I want to make sure I'm not out of line.

OK, I can't say for sure without seeing a video of the game. But hustling, going for steals, full court pressing and diving for loose balls (as long as you're not diving into someone else) are perfectly legit.

It's when you're bumping people for position, fouling them on their shots, and diving into their legs to get a ball that they'll have a legitimate gripe. It doesn't sound like you're doing this.

 

[dougp]

They don't have to play like me. And a lot of them don't mind the way I play at all. My teammates always give me kudos. I just don't see why people would get pissed that I play hard.

Because you're beating them. People always get pissed when losing - odds are, if they're on your team the next week, they'll cheer you on. Are they assholes when the games are done, or is it only during a game? Watch how players act towards one another during NBA/NCAA games, and then how they act afterwards or off the court. It's the nature of the game.

 

[Blackjack200]

because, whether it's justifiable or not, as another player it's annoying

What's annoying? That he's hustling? Again, it's hard to say for sure without seeing it, but it doesn't sound like he's playing rough. In any group of rec players, some people will always bitch.

 

[Cuda1447]

OK, I can't say for sure without seeing a video of the game. But hustling, going for steals, full court pressing and diving for loose balls (as long as you're not diving into someone else) are perfectly legit.

It's when you're bumping people for position, fouling them on their shots, and diving into their legs to get a ball that they'll have a legitimate gripe. It doesn't sound like you're doing this.

Correct, I don't foul on shots, at least not anymore than anyone else. I get bumped for position as much as anyone and I don't ever intend to dive at anyones legs. The only exception was today when the guy spun around and I went to poke the ball and lost my footing. I can understand him being a little upset, but he blew up. I didn't even mean to go to the ground on that, just lost my footing.

 

[Cuda1447]

because, whether it's justifiable or not, as another player it's annoying

Why is it annoying? If you don't want to compete.... don't play? I mean... I just don't get it. Should I be letting them get off easy shots, complete easy passes and never have to protect the ball when dribbling? All so I don't annoy them? Oh and if there's a loose ball I'll only go for it if its easily within my reach. If I have to run for it... nah someone else is closer, right?

 

[Cuda1447]

Oh, and let me point out one more thing. With the bitching some of these guys do... I find it funny that they absolutely don't care about charging. I am one of the smaller guys out there, at 5'10. Unfortunately I'm taken down into the post a lot. I hold my own, but I am down low more often than I want to be. If someone comes driving to the hoop I will get my feet in place and they will just run straight into me. Over and over and over. Sure, they're 6'3 and can do it pretty easily and still get off a shot. But jesus christ they literally run right into my stationary body and think its fine. I don't say shit, but I find it interesting that I can't hustle, pressure and dive for loose balls but they can just truck me if they are driving to the hoop.

 

[Cerpin Taxt]

OP, is this you?

 

[Cuda1447]

Nope, I wear a t-shirt and shorts. I don't even have basketball shoes yet. No headbands, wristbands or any other crap.

 

[jhbball]

Alright, so I just started playing basketball on a consistent basis. I played here and there as a kid, but never really got into it. I guess being a short white guy does that to you. Now that I'm an adult and of average height, I decided to get back into it. A co-worker invited me to play with a group of guys who have been playing together for a long time. Every Monday, Wednesday, Friday at 5am till 7-8amish. The age ranges from young adults (early to mid 20's like me) to 60 year old men. Most everyone there is in good shape and almost everyone is pretty decent. Being a new sport to me, I was pretty bad at first. I've gotten a lot better, shot is falling now, I can drive to the basket a bit and my dribbling has improved a great deal.


On to the problem...
My game has always been hustle. Defensively I work very hard. I quick and make a lot of steals. If there's a loose ball I'll dive for it. I work my ass off defensively and try to make a difference. My team usually is very happy with my effort, but sometimes the guys I'm playing against are assholes. They make snide remarks when I full-court press them. Often times I'll press the guy the ball is inbounded to and then switch off on the pass, just making them make decisions. Here and there they will make a bad pass or get hurried and it will cause a turnover. There was one particular play today when the ball carrier had spun away from one guy toward me and the ball was a bit out of his control. I stepped in attempting to poke it away and lunge a bit further than I had anticipated I would. I lost my footing and went to the ground while poking the ball free. I definitely got to the ball before he did, not touching him at all, but his momentum carried him over me which caused him to fall. It wasn't my intention to take him down, but sometimes with my aggression/hustle it will cause another guy to run into me or lose their balance. This guy got pissed off and started bitching at me. I just shrugged, whatever. But I guess my question is, this is just a recreational for fun and exercise type of thing. Its the same group of guys every morning (maybe 30 of us total) and its not like we are getting paid or anything. Is my type of play out of line? Should I be laying off a little bit and not playing so hard? It's not like I'm hard fouling anybody or anything, but I play aggressively. Do I need to lay off a little bit?

Sometimes I feel like I'm the white boy who doesn't know what the hell he's doing and a couple of the guys really look down on me. Sort of pisses me off. But at the same time I think they need to not be so lazy and work harder. *shrugs*

What say ye' ATOT?

I'd say, just go with the flow of the game. Nothing wrong with playing aggressive defense, but a full-court press is pretty obnoxious if everyone is just playing for fun.

 

[vi edit]

Couple comments....

You don't full court press in pickup basketball. You just don't. Hell half the time we don't even inbound after a make. We'll reset at the other end. So head on down to the other end after a basket and call of the dogs. When it comes to defense, in pickup leagues offense is always going to get the call. I've never seen a charge called. Ever. It's just not how they are played. Defense really is kind of a second thought. It's sort of like an all star game...put up points, play some defense to make it look honest, and just have some fun.

Other than that, you just have to accept that these "rec leagues" can have their share of washed up athletes that have a boring job, and a family life they aren't all that happy with and take that negativity and hostility to the court with them. They bitch, moan, and talk shit. Shrug it off, make a play, and shut them up.

I'm fortunate that my league is a very mature, happy go lucky group and we all get along very well.

 

[edro]

I play quite a bit of pickup soccer and I absolutely hate the over aggressive douchebags.
It is proper etiquette to allow an easy inbound pass. (same in soccer after a goal)

It's PICKUP! It's meant to be fun and slower paced so no one gets hurt and the older guys can keep up.

Pressing in a pickup friendly game of basketball is douchbaggy.
If you want to play aggressively, join a competitive league.

 

[zebano]

Pressing is pretty rare in pickup games, but I'm also a 5'10" white boy and I do it occasionally. The thing is if you're playing decent players they will immediately pass, or they will know they have good handles and just bring the ball up anyway. The only time a full court press pisses me off is when this 50 year old 6'3" guy does it and leaves one of us to pick up his man. He inevitably gets beat off the dribble, then runs back to his man without worrying about who he leaves open, he just doesn't understand how to rotate on defense at all and just gives away open looks at the basket.

 

[rasczak]

meh. play hard if you want. nothing wrong with that. maybe those guys will pick up their game a little bit too. however, i agree with the full court press. don't do it. just play hard in the half court.