When I started analyzing how I play basketball, I realized something deeper than just instinct. Every move I make—whether I shoot, pass, or drive—is influenced not only by experience but also by a kind of quick mental calculation.

I don’t just react randomly. I compare the current situation with similar ones I’ve faced before and choose what has the highest chance of working.

---

🧠 My Personal “Decision Formula”

Over time, I began to think of my decisions almost like a scoring system.

Let’s say I’m holding the ball near the three-point line. I have three options:

• Shoot
• Pass
• Drive

Instead of guessing, my mind evaluates each option using past situations.

Example (how I think numerically):

From memory, I might estimate:

• Shooting success rate in this situation: 60%
• Passing success (teammate scores): 75%
• Driving success (getting past defender): 50%

Now I mentally compare:

• Shoot → 0.60
• Pass → 0.75
• Drive → 0.50

👉 The highest value wins → I pass.

I don’t consciously calculate like a computer, but my brain has learned these probabilities through repetition.

---

📊 How I Compare Similar Situations

What really matters is how similar the current situation is to past ones.

I quickly evaluate factors like:

• Distance from the basket
• Defender pressure
• My position on the court
• Teammate positioning

Then I “measure” how close this situation is to previous ones.

Simple way to think about it:

If I imagine each situation as numbers:

• Distance to basket = 6 meters
• Defender distance = 1 meter
• Angle = 30 degrees

I compare it to past situations like:

• Situation A → (5.5, 1.2, 25)
• Situation B → (7, 0.8, 40)

The closer the numbers, the more relevant the experience.

So I rely more on situations that are “closer” to the current one.

---

🎯 Using Multiple Past Experiences

I don’t rely on just one memory. I look at several similar situations.

For example:

• Last 5 similar plays:
  • 3 successful passes
  • 1 successful shot
  • 1 failed drive

So I think:

• Passing worked 3 out of 5 times → 60%
• Shooting worked 1 out of 5 times → 20%
• Driving worked 1 out of 5 times → 20%

👉 Again, passing is the best option.

---

⚖️ Why Balance Matters

If I only look at one past experience, I might make a bad decision.

But if I try to remember too many situations, I slow down.

So I naturally focus on a small group of the most similar experiences—just enough to guide me without overthinking.

---

⚡ Speed and Practice

Basketball is fast. I don’t have time to do real calculations during a game.

That’s why practice is essential.

The more I repeat situations:

• The faster I recognize patterns
• The quicker I estimate outcomes
• The more accurate my decisions become

Eventually, these “calculations” feel automatic.

---

🔍 Patterns Behind the Numbers

As I gained experience, I started noticing patterns:

• Close defenders reduce shooting success
• Open teammates increase scoring chances
• Certain angles improve shot accuracy

These patterns shape the numbers in my head and make my decisions smarter over time.

---

🎯 Final Thoughts

For me, basketball is not just instinct—it’s experience combined with quick mental comparisons.

Every time I make a decision, I’m:

• Comparing similar past situations
• Estimating success rates
• Choosing the best option based on those estimates

I’m not just playing the game—I’m constantly calculating, learning, and improving with every move.