Playmaking

I don't understand!

I've always wanted to be a playmaker. Im naturally a scorer, but i prefer assisting to scoring even thou i'm not as good at it.

yesterday, i played my final game in Singapore for the next 4 months (will be in USA) and decided to take it easy to ensure i don't pick up a niggling injury for my trip. Which meant I could try out my playmaking style. And i played brilliantly; i controlled the play for most of my games and clocked in about 6 assists each game (we played to 11). The standard was high too, nearly everyone were players (no noobs). And i only scored open jumpers since i had no inclination to drive and risk injury, especially with the high intensity basketball we were playing. (Near the beginning, i beat my man and drove in but two help defenders came flying into me and bumped into me. I fell, but managed to fall naturally and minimize impact. It was a warning; and i took it. No more driving from then on; only playmaking and open jumpers)

Yes, indeed, i played brilliantly; but i didn't feel that satisfaction i get from scoring 6 or 7 in a game as compared to yesterday, where i scored 2-3 open jumpers and assisted 6-7 points on avg. But if i am to adapt my play to a more social-friendly style, this will be what i have to become. I have to learn to love to assist instead of score. And its a waste if i don't, because even though i don't practice passing (i only practice scoring moves), i realised i have quite a knack for it. Somehow, when i'm not trying to score, passing comes naturally; i dunno how but i am always aware of where all my teammates are, and i have the handling ability to pass to any of them at any point without much adjustment, if it looks like they are in a good position to score.

And i experienced for the first time today what its like to control a game; and how much difference the playmaker can make. Usually if the defence isn't as intense, i'm perfectly happy to take over by scoring 6-7 in an 11 point game. But i realised that you can get an even more crushing victory if you're willing to trust your teammates. I was playing a fouronfour; we lost the first game 11-9 cos while i was finding my teammates in good positions, they weren't hitting their shots. Normally i wld have gotten impatient and started scoring, but since today i had no desire to risk injury, i continued with my playmaking style. We took the second set 11-2. Played a 3rd and final set and it was 11-3 to us. And i really saw the difference between a team with direction (mine, since i was dictating the play) and a headless team (the other). It was a real moment of revelation indeed. And the best part is since i'm doing such a team-play oriented style, when my team wins everyone is happy. If i'm in scoring mode, my team will win also, but they will just be like wow hes imba. But when i do the team-play style, theres a very strong feel-good feeling in the team. I will go to the States and work on this style; they should allow me to do it since i won't be one of the bigger guys there. Hopefully i can improve enough such that in singapore they will let me play in this style also. that'll be fun.

interesting incident: i was dribbling on my mark when another opponent came over to swarm/doubleteam and try to "kiap" me. I immediately realised who the open guy was on my team and faked a jump shot and bulleted a pass to the open man for an open layup. my mark said to the guy who came: no need help!
and i was gonna get annoyed and start driving, but he saved us both (himself, since i was going to score 3 on his head, and me, cos i might have gotten injured doing that. no matter how low the chance, driving and trying to score at the rim has a chance of injury. playmaking has no chance of injury whatsoever) by adding: no need help! his passing too good alrdy!

:)