Pick-Up Basketball Across the Pond

Tweet As I am vacationing home in my country of Serbia, I have not had much chances to write during this rather dull time of the sports year.  Champions league qualifying begins tomorrow and I may write some things about that, as well as taking a shot at a Premier League season preview.  In the mean time, here are some observations and differences about pick-up basketball here in Europe vs. back in Canada.


I decided to leave my house at around 5pm, the court is a 2-minute walk and I wanted to get as much runs in as possible.  I was back home at 5:15; outside temperature: 42 degrees Celsius... probably better to wait this out a bit.  By the time the outside temperature dropped to levels where I could inhale without passing out, it was 6:30pm.  There were about 9 guys on the court, 10 with me, perfect for some 5-on-5.

Difference #1: Nobody here plays 5-on-5

Its all about 3 on 3 half court.  Did I suggest some 5 on 5? Yes.  Did I get laughed at? Yes.  Apparently the Idea of 4 guys watching (with more coming) while 6 guys play is very appealing, oh well.  To be fair, games are played to 15 (ones and two's) and actually move very quickly because of...

Difference #2:  No clearing after missed baskets.

Yeah...

If you do not have your team-mates in a position to rebound and you put up a shot and miss you give the other team a point.  If you rebound and (conditioned by years of Canadian pick-up) head out to clear, your teammates, and people watching yell at you incessantly, while your opponents ramp up the shit talk for your stupidity.  You would think that this would mean many more inside shots and rough-housing in the paint but you would be wrong because of...



Difference #3:  Calls are a lot softer here.

Whether this is because in Canadian culture (dominated by hockey) we allow more aggressive and physical play or because here there is more of an emphasis on 'playing the right way' (that means treating pick up as if it were a true organized game) I do not know.  What I do know is that after being called for a 4th tick-tack (in my opinion) foul in a row I stopped playing defense.  Good times.

Difference #4: Everyone here knows the euro-step, and shoots lights out.

I'm serious, if you give a guy ANY breathing room no matter who he is he turns into Ray Allen (slight exaggeration).  Heaven help you if a guy drives because between the soft call that will come if you body him, the shot that will go in if you do not guard him and the euro-step, you're gonna start feeling like the Raptors when Kobe dropped 81 on them pretty quickly.

Difference #5: If you are watching you behave like a tennis crowd.

In Canada you could be shooting on the other rim, chatting up with some players, making sure that the "next" team is lined up etc.  Here you watch the game, and cheer nice moves, passes, and plays.  When the game ends there is no argument over who has next (this is miraculous, really).

So there you have it, if any of you find yourself in Serbia, use this as a guide to not make a fool of yourself when playing pick-up basketball here.  Some tips:  Find what you are best at and stick to it.  You'd be surprised how much more effective you will be in this style of play if you keep it simple.  Secondly, keep your hands up at all times.  This allows you to play a bit off your man and stay in front of him when he drives while still being able to contest the shot somewhat. Lastly, ALWAYS crash the boards, there are plenty of easy baskets to be had with the 'no clearing' rules.  Personally, I do not prefer one style of pick-up to the other as both have elements I like and dislike, but one thing I will always like is the fact that no matter where I go in the world I can just play.