Slumps Are FRUSTRATING, Aren’t They?
Being in a slump for a basketball player feels like being stuck in a deep hole with seemingly no way out.
A slump in one area of your game can affect other areas of your game as well.
Every time you step on the court, you expect to play poorly… Every shot you take, you expect the shot o be a brick or an airball… Every time you guard an opposing player, you expect to be embarrassed and beaten to the hole… Every pass, you second guess.
Not only do slumps cause apprehension or panic on the court, slumps can cause overwhelming fear; fear of mistakes, fear being kept out of the starting lineup, fear that the slump will continue, fear of being judged by your teammates, coaches, parents or spectators. The fear can become so great, that some players secretly don’t want to see any game-time action.
What is the root cause of slumps?
First, slumps may have a physical component. Sometimes, reworking technique, injury, lack of playing time, missed practices, over training or tiredness can throw off your shot, affecting shot efficiency.
Physical components may affect your basketball game but are not the “cause” of a slump. It is your mental reaction to lackluster performance that can open the flood gates, causing frustration, self-criticism, over-thinking and over-analysis. Mental factors can cause one or two bad games to become 5, 6, 7 or more.
How the Mind Affects Slumps
A slump starts with noticing some misses “I haven’t shot well the past two games,” then generalizing to future games, “I’ve lost my touch lately; I probably won’t be able to sink anything this game”. Soon, if you say it long enough and loud enough to yourself, you will convince yourself that you can’t hit a shot. Like the say goes, “Whether you think you can or think you can’t, you’re right.” At this point, you will shy away from shooting, not look for opportunities to get open, or second-guess yourself.
Now, you are playing tense. Your breathing becomes shallow, making you feel more anxious, your muscles tighten and your mind is cluttered with negativity. Your mental state is completely interfering with your ability to make shots.
NBA Slumps
In the 2019-20 basketball season, the Minnesota Timberwolves suffered through a 13-game mid-season winless slump. That is a significant slump that can affect the mindset of even the best players. Timberwolves head coach Ryan Saunders preached to his team to keep steadfast in their preparation and keep taking their shots. Eventually the tide will turn.
“These losses hurt. They do, and I understand that. We just got to keep pounding the rock. Eventually it breaks. You just keep pounding the rock and that’s not an empty line because if you just keep staying with it, keep being diligent in your preparation and do things the right away, eventually good things will come.”
Understanding the root cause of slumps can help you deal with performance dips and lessen the amount of time you remain stuck in a slump.
Exercise: Staying Focused on What Matters
Instead of lamenting the past or worrying about the future, focus on what you can do now.
Identify 3 things that you can do to keep your mind immersed in the present, for example, going all out in practice, adopting a consistent pre-game routine and being a lock down defender.
Know that good things will come if you keep grinding.