Does anyone wear these while playing basketball? I need a new pair of sneakers and am intrigued by some of the low top pairs Nike has available. I am just concerned with the ankle support. As far as I can tell the biggest advantage is that they are lighter than high tops.
OT: Low top basketball sneakers
- Thread starter NovaHoops2002
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That is what I am trying to figure out - is that what Arci does for example? One guy I play with wears low tops and he doesn't do any ankle supports at all and says he has never had a problem.
I will probably just go with high tops but none of the styles (except ones over $150) are really that great. I can get a pair of older Kobe low tops for under $100.
Ask Ryan Arcidiacono and Daniel Ochefu
I was never able to wear hi-top anything. I bought some hi-top lacrosse cleats in high school and literally had bruises on my ankles from the top of the shoes digging into my leg. If you're going to roll your ankle, you're going to do it whether you wear hi tops or low tops. You'll never be able to tie a sneaker tight enough to actually give you ankle support. Go for the range of motion, you won't be sorry.
If you really are uncoordinated enough to be rolling your ankle on a constant basis or you have some kind of injury that you are trying to protect, then you can get lace-up ankle protectors and wear them under your shoes. These are probably strong enough to actually stop you from rolling your ankle, unlike hi-top basketball shoes.
I was never able to wear hi-top anything. I bought some hi-top lacrosse cleats in high school and literally had bruises on my ankles from the top of the shoes digging into my leg. If you're going to roll your ankle, you're going to do it whether you wear hi tops or low tops. You'll never be able to tie a sneaker tight enough to actually give you ankle support. Go for the range of motion, you won't be sorry.
If you really are uncoordinated enough to be rolling your ankle on a constant basis or you have some kind of injury that you are trying to protect, then you can get lace-up ankle protectors and wear them under your shoes. These are probably strong enough to actually stop you from rolling your ankle, unlike hi-top basketball shoes.
I have no doubt that there are some people that have played a long time wearing low top shoes and managed to avoid injury. That said, I also feel that once you go to a high top shoe, you get accustomed to the support-or at least the feeling of support-that a high top provides.
NickleDimer
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I'm firmly a believer in low tops. Your sneakers aren't stopping you from rolling your ankle unless they're laced up suffocatingly tight to where you're using them as a replacement ankle brace. I'm pretty sure that is backed up by research.
They worked for Kareem and Kobe.
They worked for Kareem and Kobe.
NickleDimer
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The colors/design suck on all the low tops unfortunately. It's either plain black or electric yellow and lime green. Where have you been playing lately, arak?
I play pickup on Wednesday's year round with guys from work at a local gym and on Sunday's (Jan-June) I play in a league made up of teams from the local Armenian churches. I am usually in the bottom 3rd of players when it comes to skill but I can make my mark by running up and down the court since I pretty much have better stamina than most everyone I play with. I am in no way a good ball handler and am a below average shooter. I am most effective on the blocks but in my Armenian league I am forced to play on the wing because there are 2 other guys taller than me (I am 6'3" they are 6'5" and 6'6") and I end up having little impact on the game most of the time. Plus, everyone in that league plays zone which I hate. I have been petitioning the commissioner to ban zone D and force everyone to play man to man. I understand there are going to a handful of guys who are better than everyone and will just take over the games off the dribble, but zone d is not fun to play against. I shoot around at the gym almost everyday so my shot is slowly getting better, but for the most part my impact is made by hustling and grabbing boards for easy put backs. I try and work on my ball handling but it's pretty much a lost cause. I should never be dribbling, ever.
I am sorely in need of new kicks. I have been rocking a pair of a newer version of the Iverson Question's since 2013 and they are starting to fall apart. The sole is coming undone and I get a blister on the bottom of my foot in the same spot on both feet right where that little red circle is.
I used to have 2 pairs of the original Questions from my high school basketball team but I got rid of them years ago - I am still kicking myself over that, I loved those shoes.
NickleDimer
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NickleDimer
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He sounds like a gr8 teammate. Nothing worse than someone that doesn't understand the limitations of their game. He knows what he can do and where he fits in. And when the flow of the game doesn't need him, he just runs around like a mad man and gets a gr8 workout.
I use Nike Dri-fit socks too. The regular white ones are my favorite but they are a little thinner than the Nike Elite ones which are a little pricier. I haven't really noticed a difference between the 2 but I seem to have more problems when I play on Wed because I am usually getting in 4-5 games and there is a lot more running.
NickleDimer
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Try throwing on a pair of dry socks halfway through a long run of pickup games. The moisture and all the stopping and starting are a bad combo.
Bingo. I know my role in both pickup and more league oriented games. I'm not saying that I don't get the ball and chuck it up every once in a while, but usually I play within myself. I also set picks like a mad man but to be honest, I have not yet perfected the roll to the basket. My basketball IQ isn't great (only played 1 year of organized basketball) so sometimes I'll set a pick and my teammate expects me to roll to the basket and I am just standing there with my thumb up my ass. No matter how much I try to tell myself I am going roll to the basket it doesn't always happen. Same thing with crashing the boards. I end up standing around way too often.
NickleDimer
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Don't overdo the ball screens. Lots of ballhandlers don't know how to use a screen anyway.
I used to take a lot of heat for refusing to put the ball back up after grabbing an offensive rebound, but I was such a terrible finisher that I had no problems passing to someone who had a much better chance of scoring points.
NickleDimer
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Jesus. Just go do crossfit if you are afraid to shoot at the rim.
I am super excited for the next type of sneaker thread. Probably coming from the Same Small Group.
NickleDimer
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NickleDimer
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I got the sneakers over the weekend and used them for the first time in my game last night and they worked out well.
My final line for the game 1-1 3 points 2 turnovers and most importantly my team won 39-37. We had a tie game at 37 with about a minute left and possession of the ball. We played keep away until about 10 seconds left and then called a timeout. On the inbound play (side inbound) we got the ball in to a guard who then dumped it down low to out big man who was fouled with 1 second left. He hit both FTs for the win.
My final line for the game 1-1 3 points 2 turnovers and most importantly my team won 39-37. We had a tie game at 37 with about a minute left and possession of the ball. We played keep away until about 10 seconds left and then called a timeout. On the inbound play (side inbound) we got the ball in to a guard who then dumped it down low to out big man who was fouled with 1 second left. He hit both FTs for the win.
NickleDimer
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Playing stall ball in a men's league game is some weak sh*t. Deserving of a flagrant 2.
I was on the bench at the time and I thought it was kind of odd as well. But a W is a W. My team was falling apart, we had a huge lead that was built in the 1st quarter that we slowly leaked away.
NickleDimer
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A W is a W? It's not like your playoff bonuses are on the line. You're playing for nothing but self-respect. And it's hard to say that a team that stalled with a minute long possession to end a game has earned it. Get a shot off in about 30 seconds. Play D. Win the game.
