The Art of Trash Talking by Dan Lee Ah yes, the favorite part of the game. One that I enjoy simply because it brings a new flavor into the game of basketball. You know what I am talking, you see players do it all the type on the courts. Eveyone does it in every level whether its in the NBA, college, or in the courts of our favorite playground. It's another element of the game that brings another dimension to the game.

My coach once told me that the game of basketball is 80% mental, if your confidence is down or if you are frustrated you're not gonna make a shot all day. However, if you're on a streak and your cocky as ever things will fall in ever time you release that ball.
so to tip the scale and have a advantage I decided to learn the art of trash talking. It's something that can be a big benefactor once you master it. After several experiments through the years I am gonna be sharing my techniques I use to brought me success. Warning! I am not liable for any damages including fights cause you ticked him off or vice versa. Please do this within your own risk.

Beginners Trash Talk
1)Give condscending compliments to your oppentents
"Nice shot, maybe next time it will go in"
"Good effort, but to bad I got by you"

Jordan is well known to use this technique. Give a compliment to your oppentent but in a conscending tone. In a nutshell, you telling him your better than him but in a way where it's not so obvious.

2)If he makes a mistake make sure to tell him and everyone else
"Dam that was ugly"
"Air ball!!"
"Call the cops! You just got robbed!"

If your oppentent makes a mistake announce it. Make sure you tell him you saw it and humilate him. Also make sure there are people around you when you say it to give it more value. Gary Payton is well known for this technique, you basically embarrassing, frustrating, and making lose his confidence.

Average Trash talkers
1)Tell his teammate to get someone else to guard you cause he sucks!
"You better get someone else to guard me cause your man here can't guard me!"
"Dang, how long will you let your boy get posterized like that"

There are some days where you end up scoring points with ease because your posterizing your defender because he sucks so bad. Tell or yell one of his teammates to get someone else to guard you because your barely breaking a sweat. Hell, tell their coach if they have one!

2)Make him change his game
"That's the only game he has, so just don't sweat it."
"You would think that he would do something else"

Picture this one of the players in the opposite team is draining three pointers and he's on a hot streak. If a player is having success in one aspect of the game, then make a statement where it sounds like that's the only thing in his arsenal. Get inside his head or say it to one of your teammates loud enough for him to hear. Your basically stating that his all around game sucks and he's doing the same moves all day. This will get him to do other things instead of doing his best move.

Advanced Trash Talkers
1) Tell your defender your next move, then do it on him!
"I am gonna drive with my left and lay it on you see if you stop me"
"I am gonna shoot it in your eye and you can't do anything about it"

This is for advanced users. Basically just give him a detail decription on what your next move will be. Then do it on him. It will either get him pissed, scared, or frustrated. Warning: this means you have to pick a move your good at. If you end up missing then you will look like a idoit. So this one can be risky but if successful it's a great feeling!

2)Make fun of one element that he brings to the game.
"My team was making a bet on how many times you would fall this game"
"That's funny you seem to always call fouls when you don't make a basket."

Every player brings a element to the game that people often pick on just to get on his nerves! Picture this: one of the players on the opposition is known to call a lot of fouls. (Don't you hate those types?) Make a sarcastic comment to him about that problem. Your basically making fun of him for doing that throughout the game. Make sure to pick something that will frustrate him. Good examples ever notice how Iverson falls every game? There's players like that where I play and I bust on them for doing that. It's just another way to get inside their heads.

Try some of these techniques and if you happen to have one of your own that I did not list. Send it to me by email to info@idreambox.com be sure to give your name and where you are from. Plus give it a title, two quote examples, and of course a decription of the technique. I'll add it to this page. I am always up to learning new things and I am sure other members would like to read about it too.