So, I got thinking about Lee Mayberry the other day. Not exactly the flashiest guy you remember, right? No crazy dunks or ankle breakers making highlight reels every night. But watching some old Arkansas games, then his NBA stuff, something clicked. It was about trying to actually do something practical on the court, not just look cool.
Getting Down to Brass Tacks
First thing, I pulled up whatever footage I could find. Youtube, old recordings, you name it. Watched how he handled the ball under pressure. Nothing fancy, just solid. Low dribble, using his body, always seemed in control even when guys were swarming him. Then, his defense. Man, he could stick to his guy. Quick feet, good anticipation. And passing – not always the highlight assist, but the right pass, setting up the offense.
So, I decided to actually try and work some of that into my own game. Sounds simple, maybe kinda dumb for an old guy like me just playing pickup, but whatever. I went down to the local court.
Here’s what I focused on, specifically trying to mimic Mayberry:
- The Steady Dribble: Forget the crazy crossovers for a bit. Just practiced keeping the ball low, protecting it with my off-arm and body, especially when moving through traffic or simulating pressure. It felt awkward at first, way less fun than trying a Jamal Crawford move.
- Defensive Footwork: Just sliding, staying in front. No reaching, no gambling. Tried to focus on mirroring the offensive player’s hips. Felt like I was moving in slow motion compared to the young guns, but surprisingly, I got beat less cleanly.
- Simple Passes: Looked for the easy pass, the one that keeps the ball moving, rather than forcing a difficult assist. Chest passes, bounce passes. Basic stuff. Making the pass that sets up the next pass.
The Grind and the Realization
Let me tell you, it wasn’t glamorous. Trying to play like Mayberry felt… well, kinda boring sometimes. You don’t get the ‘oohs’ and ‘aahs’ from the sidelines. You’re just doing the job. There were days I got frustrated. My handles weren’t as tight, my feet felt slow, and making the simple pass sometimes felt like admitting defeat, like I couldn’t make the spectacular play.
It reminded me a bit of this job I had years ago. Everyone wanted the big, flashy project wins. The stuff that got noticed by the higher-ups. But the real work, the day-to-day grind that kept things running smoothly? Nobody cared much about that, until something broke. Doing the fundamental stuff, being consistent, it often goes unnoticed. People love the sizzle, not the steak sometimes.
Trying to incorporate Mayberry’s style was like that. It’s about substance. It’s about doing the little things right, consistently. It doesn’t always look amazing, and it takes a lot of unsexy practice. But man, when you actually manage to lock someone down defensively with good footwork, or run the offense smoothly with smart, simple passes, there’s a different kind of satisfaction there. It’s not flashy, but it feels solid. It feels effective. Took me a while, and a whole lot of boring drills, to really appreciate that again.
