Joe Vancil

Point Guard

Offensive Game:

There are really two parts to my game anymore - I'm either a passer, or I'm a spot-up shooter.  My drive has gone south on me, and as a result, I've gotten lazy about making strong cuts.  If I don't have the ball, I'm spotting up at the top of the key, posting on the elbow, or setting a pick.

As a shooter, I'll take the shot from 3-point range, where I'm somewhat streaky.  It'll almost certainly be on a spot-up.  In the event I drive, it's likely that I go with a baby-hook for the finish.  My left baby-hook is better than my right one.

As a guard, I'm not fast - in fact, I'm dreadfully slow.  I protect the ball with spin-moves and hand changes, since I'm ambidextrous.  I love to throw long passes ahead.

As a passer, I'm somewhat turnover-prone; believing that I can get the pass where it needs to be, I'll throw the difficult or risky pass.  I play  with the idea that my teammates are always looking for me to pass - even when they aren't.

Posting on the elbow - either elbow - I'll do one of several things: 

• pass to cutter down the lane
• pass fake to cutter around the outside for a drive to the interior
• pass fake to cutter around the outside for a free-throw line jumper
• pass to cutter around the outside and set a potentially illegal screen for him
• pass fake to cutter around the outside, inside turn, drive or shot fake, re-find cutter
• drop-step to the outside for a spin-move and drive to the goal

I've been nice and listed them in my current order of preference.

I'm a point guard.  If you're on my team, you'll get the ball some time, regardless of who you are, how good a player you are, or how good a person you are.  Alone, I'm nothing offensively.  With a team, I'm in my element.

 Defensive Game:

I'm slow of foot, but quick of hand.  The biggest mistake most people make against me is underestimating my hand-speed.  As a result, I'm a steal guard.

Over the years, as I've gained weight and gotten slower, I've had to play more and more forwards.  For those who like to post-up, I play them physically, leaning into them, hooking their feet, and forcing the turn I want.  Those who leverage height against me will fare well - those who challenge my hands will fare poorly.

Most of the time, I'm playing a help defensive game.  I'm aware to the weak side of the court, and will leave my man to stop the primary threat in most cases - even if I'm leaving to cover the primary threat's second option.  I love to trap and to attack blind-side.

Generally speaking, I'm the cover-man for the fast break.  It's a role I really enjoy, as my primary weapon is to apply deception to mask which player I'm covering.

The Mental Game:

This is a tale of two Joe's - one that is engaged in the game, and another that isn't.

The one that is engaged in the game is playing his offensive game, and contributing defensively.  I'm working on a team that plays a team game, and I'm feeding off of that.  I'm aware of the situation and the score, and most likely, I'm playing point guard, although if there's a team-aware point guard running the offense, I might be deferring to him.  I'm looking for the back-breaking shot when it's kicked out, but I'm aware to the inside and to the back-breaking shot on the opposite side.  Defensively, I'm active and aware - generally running hard and working hard, even if I'm getting beaten.  One way of telling that this is mode I'm in is that I'm passing up open shots in close.

The one that isn't engaged is probably not being used in the offensive game at all, and hasn't been in some time.  I've played the elbow, and been looked off every time.  I've gone to the outside, spotted up, and even though I'm open, no one ever finds me.  At this point, I've even tried posting my man up, worked hard for inside position, and yet can't seem to get the ball.  And when I've set picks, people use them as fakes to go the other way.  And I'm not playing point guard on the offensive end - someone else has taken that role.

The latter version probably hasn't scored yet, and I'm probably looking for my own shot - despite the fact I cannot generate one.  And if I'm tired, I'll pick and choose when I run back defensively.

The difference between the two is involvement.  I can help a team with my passing, my picking, and my spot-up shooting.  If I'm being asked to help in those ways, I'm in the top mode.  If I'm being looked off by the point guard and am completely uninvolved offensively, I have a tendency to shut down.

At my best:

...I'm a deceptive but slow point guard finding my teammates with pin-point passes, knocking down an open jumper and unwilling to shoot a guarded one, and a disruptive pest on the defensive end.

At my worst:

...I'm a turnover-prone player looking for my own shot, and you'll get whatever I decide to give you defensively - because what's the point? - I'm just the guy evening out the numbers.

Strategy for playing with me:

Either let me run point, or if you're a point, then use me on the elbow.  I'm a passer, and I have to touch the ball to pass.  Make sure to get me a shot or two early, and don't take the shots away from me if I'm hot.  Be alert for the pass - especially when I'm driving or when I have the opportunity to throw the long pass.  If you're a cutter, you're my hero, so make your cuts and I'll get you the ball - not EVERY time, but a lot.  Defensively, be aware of my tendency to rotate.  And if you're going to gripe at me about a turnover - especially if I've not touched the ball in a while - you'd better be playing a pass-first, team-oriented game, because you're going to see the ball only about one more time from me if you're not.

Strategy for playing against me:

Deny me the ball, but not at the expense of giving up points to one of my teammates.  Keep high pressure on me while I'm dribbling.  Run me off of any spot I'm setting up at - especially if my teammates are looking for me.  Unless I'm looking at a wide open jumper from at least the free-throw line or a hook or baby hook down the lane or a sweeping hook across the lane, force me to take the shot, because I'm looking to pass in almost any situation other than those - and will probably freeze up if forced to shoot.  If you want to leave me to help the middle, make sure you're ready to recover back if my teammates are aware of me.  Stay alert to back-cuts from my teammates while I have the ball.  And expect a few long passes.

Make sure to challenge me directly instead of passing off if you're coming at me on a fast break, and exploit my tendency to rotate on defense by finding my man for open jumpers.  Avoid bringing the ball near my hands.

Run me at all times;  you're probably faster than me.

Comparable Pro:  John Crotty

Last updated:  June 18, 2008