Over at Rebkell, there's a discussion of turnovers and the (possible) impact of playing (or not playing) pickup games. In an example of nice timing, Rethinking Basketball posted an article from the LA Times on women and pick up basketball.

From the article, "The male moral dilemma: How do you play hoops against a woman?":

Brian Shaw, a Lakers assistant coach, knows the problem only too well after scrimmaging with the Sparks last summer. The former Lakers guard, who retired in 2003, said he was looking to stay in shape by hitting a few baskets. Instead, he hit the dilemma.

"When playing against females you have to get over the initial holding back," he said. "After they hit you a few times and do some of the same stuff that guys do, you forget you're playing against girls.

"The first night we played them, we lost. The second night, we played harder and we won. When it comes down to it, it's just basketball."