If I am to take the last shot in a basketbal game...?

Question

Should I feel pressured a lot by team to make it, or if I miss it, should I also blame it on them for not being better in the game?

Answer 1

First of all, win or lose, blaming your teammates for "not being better" is a great way to destroy team unity and morale, which usually leads to losing and makes the team no fun at all. Also, that implies that you are only taking one shot during the game. Couldn't you have played better also? Blaming the team after you miss the last shot is a huge mistake. They'll hate you for it, quite frankly (the blaming, not the miss). So as you can see, this really isn't a situation where anyone should be blamed for anything.

As far as pressure, of course your team wants you to make it. Why wouldn't they? However, since they are also basketball players, they should understand that you can't "make" a shot happen, you can only try to get a good look at the basket and take the best shot that you can. Once the ball is in the air, Fate is in control, not you. They should (and usually do) understand that if you tried your best and missed then it just wasn't meant to be.

Ultimately, pressure is something that comes from within yourself. You asked if you should "feel" pressured. Pressure is a feeling, an emotional response. Feelings come from inside of you and no one can put a feeling in you if you are emotionally strong and balanced. So I ask YOU: Should you feel pressured? Or, more to my point, DO you feel pressured? You do if you let it happen to you.

Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods and other successful athletes past and present have faced what we think is enormous pressure but they see it as a challenge. They're not afraid to fail, they see it as an opportunity to achieve success. They're much more willing to risk missing the shot or putt than they are willing to pass up the chance to make them. Most people won't even TRY to take the last shot in a tie or close game, let alone think about making it, because they LET the pressure affect them.

Some people are born with the ability to block out pressure and some develop it over time and experience and others avoid pressure wherever they can and never learn to handle it. Learning to handle pressure isn't fun and it involves failures (that's failureS, with an S) but the more you put yourself to the test, the more success you will experience.

You have to have faith in your abilities and also understand that failure might happen but it won't kill you. If you don't have the courage to take the last shot, you'll NEVER hit it because you won't ever take it. You can't let something that's mostly out of your control, a basketball shot, affect your composure. Your concerns should be about getting a good look at the basket and taking a good shot. After that, either celebrate with your team if you win or accept their support if you lose. That's what a team should do instead of blaming each other.

Answer 2

you would feel more pressured, but you shouldn't do so.
because pressure would make you nervous and you might miss the shot you usually would make.
So if you are to take the shot, be relaxed, at least at the moment you released the ball, try to treat it like the regular shots!

You shouldn't blame it on your team or yourself if the shot is missed, because everyone tried, you tried your best, everyone have missed the buzzer-beaters, Kobe, Jordan... you name it. Everyone would miss a shot, and it's the whole team's fault that you may have lost the team, so, don't blame any one. You had a nice game, instead of blaming it on anyone, learn from the mistakes you made and try to win the next game!

By the way, when you make the shot, it's an amazing feeling!

Answer 3

The fact your even asking this question says one thing. you shouldn't be the one taking the shot. you have to have thick skin to put the game in your hands and take that last shot. If you win, you win as a team. If you lose, you have to be the better man and take respobsibility for the entire team. That's why leaders take the last shot. They want the last shot. Win or lose, it's in their hands. They don't make excuses for missing. And a true leader will miss many more game winners then he will ever hit. But being willing to step to the freaking plate and take that shot is what greatness is all about.

Answer 4

You definitely should not worry about it. Every good coach would tell you just to play without thinking and have fun. It seems as if when you dont think about it so much, you have better results. People are always good at what they do when they are having a good time doing it.

Answer 5

you win as a team and you lose as a team. any coach will say that. but no dont feel a ton of pressure.

Answer 6

the mere fact that you thinking these thoughts shows your not a pressure player. pass the ball to someone with some confidence.

Answer 7

Don't worry about it it is the teams and coaches fault for every win and every loss