Freshstep Sundae

Being on the court is an interesting thing. You walk up the floor with four other guys, facing five opponents ready to take advantage of your individual or team mistakes. However, the most interesting concept I find in the game of basketball is the one on one psyche that goes on during the game. When the ball is in your hands, you feel an automatic sense of power—if I move one way, this chump will react, if I move another, he will either keep up or be left in my dust. But, and I say this wholeheartedly, OFFENSE IS FUCKING EASY. It’s easy to feel in control when you have the rock because everyone watches the ball. It’s the focal point of the entire game right? Jab step left, step through, put the ball down and go all out is an easy thing to do, the control is all in your will…

How-fucking-ever…

My absolute passion, my drive that keeps me playing this game, is the control you can take when you’re the defender. It’s more psychological to control someone when you don’t have the ball. You stare into the ballcarrier’s eyes and can tell the next 3 steps he will try to make. And when you have this elusive ability, you never react to the offense, you DIRECT the offense. No matter the amount of step backs, cross overs, or quick first steps, you will be able to make them go where you want them to go, make them think what you want them to think, etc. It’s the best feeling in the world, because you dominate the game without even having the ball. That’s Jason Kidd shit right there. For example, let’s say you’re on a two on one, you being the lone defender on the fast break. Now conventional wisdom would be to back up and keep both guys in your sights, all the way until the point that you’re stuck underneath the basket and the other team scores. It’s cool right? There’s two of them and one of me, it’s ok they scored right? WRONG. Now let’s take a look at this 2-on-1 situation again…if you take a step toward the ball carrier, as if you were going to steal the ball, his automatic instinct is to think I have the advantage—I see something he doesn’t, and he should play it safe and pass the ball to the other guy. Now when he does this, this 2-on-1 now becomes a straight 1-on-1, and I will always win my 1-on-1 matchup. More often than not, I will force this player to take a bad shot, get my rebound, and leave them demoralized. 

Now, when it comes to one on one’s…

This is basic primal instinct. You ever hear what people say you should do when you’re in the presence of a bear? Get big as possible. So get your hands up and seem bigger than you really are. I believe that’s because the offensive player has no idea how big he is, all he sees is a bigger figure in his way. Now when you can move your feet, move your hips like a cornerback to shadow this ballhandler, you can be the ultimate defender. Your mentality shouldn’t be to block his shot. Believe me, I’m 5’6 and a half (on a good day) and I have a better chance of dating a miss universe. Cmon now, I’m not gonna block the shot. With that said, I try to always stay on the ground and keep my hands up, and when they rise, put a hand in their FACE, NOT THE BALL. The best feeling I’ve had playing this game, and this is about to get really psychological, is when I’m denying a step back. So homeboy will come at me, dribble around the 3 pt line, pull a step back, create legitimate space and rise for a shot. Now I’m like a good 3 feet away from the guy, but regardless, I’ll jump straight up in the air with my hands up, trying to always stay eye level with the guy. I know I said not to jump, but I do it in this case because I’m not going to foul the guy, I’m so far away, this is my last-chance desperate attempt to make his shot harder. Now when said shooter sees me in the air, even though I’m far away, it will put the idea into his mind that I believe I have the advantage over him, that I still see something he doesn’t. And THAT makes him lose confidence, and when you’re not shooting the ball confidently, you might as well not shoot at all because you’re going to miss. And when I defend this, I KNOW YOU’RE GOING TO MISS. That’s some twisted shit right there, he thinks that i think i have something on him, even when i don’t, but the fact he thinks he missed something will make him think too much and miss the damn shot. That’s defense.

Confusing huh? Well it makes perfect sense to me. Try it out and call me crazy. But most importantly, start playing the mental game within the game. It’ll make you fall in love with the game that much more..

Dribble on young jordan’s..

-DreDre.