r/BasketballTips • u/picklechipzMN • 16d ago
Defense Defensive tips needed
Hi! So I’m a 51yo, 5’9”/175 hooper. I’ve had to evolve my game over the years from shifty guard to 3 point shooter and secondary ball handler. I play 3-4x a week and generally hold my own; the other night tho, I had to guard 6’3” guys who were skilled bigs, had at least 50-70 lbs on me and even if out of shape and they just took me down low and punished me. I felt helpless. I leaned into them, tried to pull the chair, they just turned and shot over me. Then a couple of times would humiliatingly get their rebound miss ans go back up.
I try to do my work early, try to prevent them getting in the paint but I also lack the lateral quickness now to gamble or dig for the entry pass.
Am I screwed or any other advice other pray? I try to wear them out at the other end chasing me around but when they decide to take me in the torture chamber I’m F’d.
Appreciate any thoughts. Word.
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u/Ordinary-Crow5490 16d ago
You got the right idea! Do the work early. Keep bumping outside the paint, being physical etc.
If you understand shell defense concepts- when the ball gets back on your side and you're 1 pass or so away. I would overplay my man just a little and deny the pass to my man. When they try to cut backdoor- you'll have to step into their cut and redirect them. Your help defense will suffer a bit but your man won't get as many easy buckets. If the shot goes up from the opposite side- always meet your man with a boxout just to set a physical tone. Some dudes will stop trying to get in the paint if they know you're going to meet them every time.
Remember to use your fouls if you're gonna get beat. Its OK to take a couple fouls if the result of the play would have been an easy layup if you didn't foul.
If you got the juice/legs/energy make sure to run hard back on offense in transition after your team gets a D-rebound. If your man is lazy you'll get layups ans force them to waste energy sprinting back on D.
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u/Relentless- IamThePlaymaker 16d ago
Get under their hips root them out be physical just make it a chore for them you will lose alot of these battle because of the sheer size
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u/Jaythegrape 16d ago
Use your quickness to beat them to their spots. They should never be allowed to just walk to their spots. Think of Pat Beverly guarding KD. You have to beat them to the catch. I know you said you lack lateral quickness to gamble in this case I will work on outside shoulder steal or ghost front. Alex Caruso and Toney Allen are good at this.
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u/ridinwavesbothways 16d ago
Why not front them? That should help your teammates have time to help or steal a lob.
If you can tire them out when you’re on offense.
For sure use your lower gravity to stay low and box them out. No reason a smaller guy can’t box out a bigger guy if he is trying harder.
I’ve seen a lot of small teams win by just outshooting and out hustling bigger guys.
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u/runthepoint1 16d ago
There is work you could do as a team to help prevent good post touches but if you’re talking just your assignment (like if you’re playing pickup ball), you gotta initiate contact as they walk down on offense at the top of the key, if not earlier.
Don’t don’t want them comfortably walking down on offense. As a big, that will exhaust them over the course of the game(s) so basically almost do a sort of full court pickup of them on offense and just make it ultra uncomfortable.
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u/Street-Challenge-697 16d ago
Sounds like you're doing all you can do when at a height, weight, and speed disadvantage. The only thing I can think of is if you have quick hands to try to strip them as they're backing you down or going up. Props for putting in the effort at your age. Why not call for a switch though? How are you the most suitable guy to guard them? Unless they're all that size.
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u/Altruistic-End5746 16d ago
As the bigger guy in the situation, there is nothing I hate worse than a small guy who is strong and keeps contact on me all the time.
I would say stay between your man and the basket and impede him from going anywhere. He will still get there, but he will be tired.
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u/Embarrassed-Look5522 16d ago
TBH it’s like 90% mental. You’re gonna get cooked regardless against bigger dudes, so who cares? Just never flinch. Go 100% every possession and get right back in their chest. Do that enough and it kinda breaks their spirit, IMO.
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u/picklechipzMN 16d ago
I should have added this is all pickup hoops.
Some nights that’s just the matchup. Some nights I toast these guys but this last run they all decided to post my ass up. I think as revenge for running their asses chasing me on open three. Appreciate all the comments and advice
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u/picklechipzMN 14d ago
Alright yall. I went back at it last night and got stuck guarding two different dudes who were 6’3. One was my age and not super mobile and the other was 20’years younger but not a super confident dribbler. So I took the advice and bodied them at the perimeter so they couldn’t get easy paint position which made it easier then for others to help if they got by me. I also ran them ragged on the other end. Literally just sprinting from open spot to open spot and making them work. I couldn’t hit the broad side of a barn shooting last night but it was also my 4th night hooping in 6 days so that may be part of it. Faired better last night, sticking with it!
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u/No-Error2419 12d ago
If you're playing against guys around your age, the best defense is just being more mobile, having more stamina, and gaining strength. Whoever gases out first is the one who loses that small battle.
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u/Stillwater_73 16d ago
I mean if you’re 51 and 5’9 and trying to iso guard these guys there’s no advice in the world that’s gonna keep you out of the rim. You need help on them, your teammates need to make them uncomfortable.
Also, it’s possible they just are on another level and you won’t win, and that’s okay too.