Alright, so today I wanted to work on my picks in basketball. I’m not the biggest guy on the court, so I gotta be smart, you know? Setting a good pick can really open things up for my teammates.
Getting Started
First thing, I just started by watching some videos. I watched some random guys on the internet and I tried to find the key points.
- Wide base: Feet shoulder-width apart, maybe even a little wider. Gotta be stable.
- Solid stance: Knees bent, back straight, like you’re about to sit in a chair.
- Arms in: Protect yourself! Keep your arms tucked in close to your body.
- Contact: I am contact the defender’s hip or side, not their back.
Practice Time
I grabbed my friend, Mark, and we headed to the local court. It was pretty empty, which was perfect.
We started slow. I just focused on getting the stance right. Wide base, knees bent, arms in. Mark would walk into the pick, and I’d try to hold my ground. It felt awkward at first, like I was just standing there in the way.
Then we started adding some movement. Mark would dribble around, and I’d try to get in position to set the pick. This was way harder. I kept getting the angle wrong, or I’d be moving when he got there, which is a foul.
We drilled this for a good hour. I was getting tired, and my legs were burning. But I started to get the hang of it. I realized it’s all about anticipation. You gotta see where your teammate is going, and where the defender is, and then get yourself in the right spot before they get there.
The Results (So Far)
I’m definitely not an expert yet. I still mess up the timing a lot. But I feel like I’m making progress. I can see how a good pick can really create space. When I got it right, Mark had a clear path to the basket.
I’m gonna keep practicing this. It’s a simple thing, but it’s not easy. But I think it’s a really valuable skill to have, especially for someone like me who’s not gonna overpower anyone with size or speed. Gotta use my brain, right?
