Paul Allen

just wondering if anyone can help me out here.

I am looking to get back to playing basketball regularly after having a few minor surgeries, gaining weight, then losing it.

Ive played pickup games at 24hr fitness (3 different locations) and it's just bad. No Defense, no organization, cherry picking, etc. It's just not fun.

Also played some at public parks, but that is pretty much limited to nice weather and weekends. Plus, the skill level varies greatly, from guys who cant dribble to guys who can tomahawk dunk.

I have found two leagues online:
http://www.portlandbasketball.com/
http://www.recbasketball.com/

the first one is $70 for 7 games/7 weeks.
the latter league is $95 for 12 games/11 weeks.

Can anyone recommend/comment on either league?

I know beggars cant be choosers, but both seem to be a lot of money. But I suppose if you want refs, organized games, etc., you have to pay for it.

Other options? Portland Parks, churches, etc.? I live close-in SE Portland and while Im trying to get some game back, I can hang w/ most players. But Im certainly dont make heads turn nor a phenomenal shooter.

Perfection

That'd be good to know too. I'm in Corvallis and it's easy to get a game at OSU right now, but that'll change whenever I finish and likely move to the Portland area.

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Fork

Sounds like you're about as knowledgable as I am in finding pick-up games.

I've heard great things about portlandbasketball.com, but haven't ever played in one of their leagues. I have played in some indoor soccer leagues though, and one of the good things about that is, even though it's spendy to play on a team, we pay $60 for 8-9 games, there are always teams looking for extra players on game nights. I can usually go for my game, then stick around and catch a 2nd game if I'm in the mood. So you get a little more out of it at least.

If you're in close-in SE, I'm sure you've played at Laurelhurst Park. IMO, that's the best game to be had in summertime. I've heard Mt Scott park is good too, but haven't gotten out there yet.

The Montavilla Community Center has an indoor court, but it seems like they don't have a lot of open gym times. Same with the one on Portland Blvd in north Portland. (Rosa Parks now?) I went once and the hoops quality was good, but I think they only have one night a week of open play.

One other option you could check out is the Mittleman Jewish Community Center. I know they have soccer leagues and I -think- I heard that they have or are going to have basketball leagues as well.

Well, that's about all I know. good luck.

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Blazer Freak

ClubSport in tualatin is a pretty good place. I don't know where your located so it might be out of the way, but they have some leagues that are going on now, and the skill level is pretty fair across the board. I'd recommend it.

5 to 7-8ish PM on the weekdays and 10 or 11 AM to 3ish on the weekends there are pickup games where you just come, put your name in and they play you.

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SodaPopinski

There are two obvious jokes here ...


"Ask Greg Oden"


"The WNBA left Portland years ago."



-Pop

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HispanicCausinPanic

NW- Wallace Park
East- Laurelhurst

It's all up to the weather like you said, but Laurelhurst on a nice day, can't be beat.

Ask HAP. I'm sure he's got a couple of nice country clubs he can recommend over in the west hills!

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hoojacks

PSU's got open gym 7-10 on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The people in there vary greatly, from Japanese exchange students playing just for laughs to giant groups of "thugs" that make the place smell like weed and run everyone off the court.

So, it's hit and miss. But really, downtown Portland is a terrible place to play ball, as I've found out. You'd think they would have built ONE covered outdoor hoop, considering it rains 10 out of 12 months of the year. I'm tempted to move back to Beaverton so I can play without getting soaked.

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NateBishop3

I've done Portlandbasketball twice. Decent league. You get put with a few other guys, usually like five or six, and then you go play some organized teams from companies or friends. You get plenty of PT and the refs are ok. It's been a while since I did it though. I've actually been tempted to try them out again.

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ChadWick

Club Sport(Tualatin) is the best place I think. There are pickup games all the time, and I never see cherry picking or sloppy Defense.

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NateBishop3

Club Sport was expensive as hell when I checked on their memberships a few years ago.

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Dan

Don't be mad that they don't allow poor bums like you in there.






In all seriousness though, I don't think Almost in Tigard is the West Hills. Remember, you're talking to someone who drives a 23 year old Volvo.

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deanwoof

24 hour fitness is for scrubs like me - fat, overweight and way out of shape! I can shoot out to 25 feet surprisingly though. YMCA? man i do miss reffing basketball. I'd check out Cascade Athletic Club out in Gresham. Back 7-8 years ago, it was pretty decent. Then again, I was in high school.

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Boob-No-More

I've played in both. I'm currently playing in the recbasketball.com league again after about 4 years off. We originally switched to that one for two reasons - cheaper cost per game, and the refs in the portlandbasketball.com league tended to loose control of the games and let things got out of hand. I'm too old for that kind of crap. My next injury will probably be a career ender. Of course, refs come and go. So, it may be better now, or worse for all I know.

So far, the refs and the other players seem more friendly in the recbasketball.com league. The games are competitive, but nobody with a chip on their shoulder taking cheap shots at opponents in a rec league game (at least not that I've seen). If things do start to go south, they stop the game immediately and send both teams home. I've only seen it once so far on a hard foul with 12 seconds left in the game, but it sent a message that that crap won't be tolerated.

My biggest complaint is the locations. The last time I played in the recbasketball.com league all the games were at the hoop in Beaverton, which is convenient for me. This time around all the games are at Warner Pacific College (68th and Division) and Freight House Sports (off 122nd Ave out by the airport). That's a long drive for a guy from Beaverton. Not sure why they split with the Hoop. Probably money.

BNM