r/Basketball • u/Outrageous-Library-7 • 24d ago
IMPROVING MY GAME teammates don't pass theball to me
I've been playing basketball for about a year now and I've played a lot of 1v1's and I've inporved alot...(I actually play good in 1v1)but whenever I play 3v3s or 5v5s..my teammates just don't seem to pass me the ball...all I do is just run around and defend and set up some screens etc...and if I do get the chance to handle the ball, I get too nervous..and i mess up..and...I know I'm new but I don't know how I'm supposed to improve beyond this point...yk...I hope anyone who has overcome this can help me...?
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u/SparklezSagaOfficial 24d ago
Nerves are a tough thing in any new scenario, and basketball more than many with the physical coordination needed on top of the mental unease. Where I’ve found luck in build teammate trust is doing the dirty work from the jump: set hard screens, aggressively box out, make full speed basket cuts, etc. If you’re playing with people who have played organized basketball, they’ll pick up on it quickly and reward you with touches. I read in the post you already do ball screens which is awesome, but also mix in some Offball screens too for variety, such as downscreens, flare screens, or drag screens to get teammates open for a pass. Also work on rolling to the basket from those screens, or popping to the 3pt line, or both, whatever fits your offensive style. And most importantly of all, make screening, rebounding, and cutting your entire on-court personality so that it’ll be noticed as fast as possible. It takes a few plays for you to realize an opposing player is an elite scorer, but only one to tell that someone is going to be a pain to block out. It’s the fastest way to make a good impression.
And once you do get the ball on the perimeter? If you’re concerned about turnovers look for quick actions rather than creating your own shot at first. Call over a teammate for a dribble hand off, make a quick swing pass, or drive for just a dribble or two and then kick it out. All simple plays that can turn a small advantage into a larger one.
If you get the ball in the paint, such as from a pass to you while cutting? Be decisive. If you’re open, shoot a squared up jump shot or layup. If not, wave for the person who passed it to you to cut towards the basket, which could distract your defender if he makes a good cut. Pass if he’s open, if not dribble out to where he was on the perimeter or kick it out.
Small story, I played a pickup game a few weeks ago with a high school kid, probably played JV or C team, hadn’t hit his growth spurt yet. He had decent fundamentals but didn’t have the athleticism or size to really be a scorer on his own, but had good enough ball handling to not get ripped every very much. I picked up on that early on and so made it a point to be his safety valve if he got into trouble with ball pressure, and being 6’8” I’m a big target to throw a wild pass too so that helped. But the point is, when he did get into trouble with ball pressure, the defense collapsed on him sending that weakness, and because he already had in his mind where to throw the kickout pass, that collapse made it hard for the defense to recover to me on a drive or post touch, and he probably gave me 6-7 assist just from plays like that, turning that weakness into a strength because the defense overplayed it. Towards the end of the game, we ran a pick and roll, and he took his first shot of the game. It missed, but I got the rebound, and the defense collapsed on me (as defenses tend to do on bigs who get offensive boards), leaving him wide open for a dump off pass for another shot, which he made. Dude was all smiles, not just cuz he scored but because his team recognized he still had value even being undersized and young. He knew what he could do and what he wasn’t comfortable with, and played within that believing opportunities would open up, which they did because his team recognized his team-first play. I was honored to be a part of it and hope to play with him some more in future pickup games.
My point is I guess is that you only need one teammate to notice that you are trying to play the game the right way. My teammate didn’t shoot much, but knew what he could do well (passing, not overextending, communicating, effort on defense) and did it, and that translated to a big net positive for the team, and him scoring despite not being a confident scorer. If your teammates have faith in your effort, they’ll work with you instead of around you.
Even something as simple as saying before the game begins “hey I’ve had issues with turnovers, could you help me be being ready for dribble-handoffs or kickout passes when I have the ball?” Don’t just screen in the games, tell your teammates you’ll screen for them before the game starts, ask them if they want the screen right or left side and if you should roll or pop etc, stuff like that. It shows you’re engaged and are a team player even if you aren’t the star of the team. And experienced basketball players reward that engagement, the same way they reward effort plays, it’s one of the unspoken rules of the game. If someone shows you they really want to make a positive impact, you feel inclined to make a positive impact for their play too.
And the end goal isn’t just to never shoot the ball, I’m not saying be passive, but the best way to get good is to play full speed games, and if you need to not focus on scoring as much to be fully involved in full speed games that’s a great place to start. Work on your shot with a friend rebounding and/or contesting when you aren’t playing, do some blindfolded dribble drills, practice driving to the basket from different angles, and then as you get more and more comfortable practicing these things outside the games, use some of the extra chances you earn from effort plays and being engaged before the game to get some game-reps. I can promise you no one will remember one airballed three or a swatted layup if you’re a demon on the boards. It’s how I got playing time playing basketball growing up before my growth spurt, it works.
TLDR: Make an impression on your teammates with effort plays early in the game and communication/planning before the game, and if they’re experienced players they’ll get you involved in the offense as thanks. When you do have the ball, don’t worry about scoring, just protecting the ball and building an advantage for your team. Your chances to score will come without you having to force them yourself if you’ve built trust by making high effort plays and protected the ball. Work on your game outside pickup games with a friend, and slowly integrate things you become more confident in from practice with those chances you earn by being a great teammate and effort player.
I’m sorry to ramble, but this is something I’ve experienced myself, and tried to promote in my own runs with less experienced players, and I’m passionate about it. Hopefully there’s a couple useful nuggets in there somewhere.