PCTI Basketball Training: Bash Bro II

Wanted to treat everyone to a BASH Bros rendition of PCTI Basketball Training on the Friday going into Memorial Day Weekend! Here is Bruiser's response:

         I haven’t played much since about March last year because Allison was having a pretty difficult pregnancy as in not having any energy or feeling good and required me to do a lot and took up my ball time. Which kinda sucks because up to that point I was playing 3 times a week and feel that if I could have played in the last PCTI, It would have been the most prepared I’ve been for a PCTI. I was feeling like I did when I played at T-Rec where I could shoot the mid-range with confidence, put the ball on the ground and get to the hole and had a good overall sense of the flow of the game. To make a long story short(er), we then had our baby in June but there were some complications and as a result, Allison has been in pain on and off since then. This means I had to pick up husband/daddy duties since she wouldn’t feel good/have the energy/be capable of doing them. This resulted in long week days and sometimes weekends being taken up with all of that and I wouldn’t have the energy or want to get up at 5am to go hoop. With that being said, I’ve picked it up lately and I’m currently trying to play at least 2x a week, hopefully 3.  I’m in the phase of getting foot speed and defensive technique back as well as working my way back to being confident when I have the ball on offense.  I usually try focusing my energy on defense and I’m doing that more so right now and letting the offense come as it will.

         I work out in Spring Hill and there is a Williamson Rec center out here. Ever since I’ve been coming here, there’s been a pickup game that goes on every Monday, Wednesday & Friday morning. I went in the gym one morning, asked if I could play and that’s been my only consistent ball ever since.

         Varies. There are some good players out there and then there are some people just wanting to be a part of it. Anywhere from guys that played ball in college to people you feel nervous passing the ball to. There are high school kids sometimes and there are some guys that are like 50. All sorts of shapes and sizes. Of course, I typically get matched up with a guard that played ball in college who sprays threes and is the best offensive guy out there.

         Depends. A lot of times, for some reason, guys look to me to run the offense and pass me the ball no matter where I’m at on the floor. This is frustrating to me because I’m not comfortable in the position at the time and it’s completely different than PCTI. I can’t just post up every time during the pick-up game because that’s just not how pick-up games go. Right now I’m mainly just focusing on defense, rebounding and conditioning. My offense is coming along, plus I go and shoot for like 15min after a workout everyday just to try and get somewhat of a shot back.

         I love the consistency. Most of the guys are out there all 3days we play and whether they are good or bad, just enjoy playing in the morning. I dislike the competition at times. A lot of times the teams are completely uneven or I’m guarding or being guarded by someone that lowers my will to play hard because I feel (whether true or not) that I don’t need to put forth the effort. This makes me not be in the game as much, which makes me not run as much, which makes me not get in shape, which lowers my overall game, which makes playing pointless, which makes me feel like I’m wasting time, which makes……

Editor's Notes: While he feels like these games can be pointless at times, I think this will be huge in getting Bruise ready for July. For being on the opposition am worried about Bruise coming back on a tear.