I love how everyone talks about how we should get "easy" baskets like dunks and layups instead of shoot jumpers. How pray tell is it easy to get dunks and layups? I'm sure if it was easy, we'd do it all game. Like when people say Aldridge should get in the post for easy scores. If it was easy, he'd do it. Jump shots are the easiest scores you can get. Requires very little energy and if you're behind the line, you get an extra point for it. Two pointers in the post are too much work. Why bother?
The closer they are to the hoop the easier the shot is... I couldn't care less if he expends a lot of energy while trying to get close to the basket. Every player should be giving 100% of his energy every game.
It seems pretty simple to me. Batum was jacked up at the start of the season, wanting to live up to his new contract and silence all the skeptics after his bad PR summer, but now he has reverted back to his normal mode of play. The only real difference is, he's a bigger, more confident part of the offense this year. Same player, though.
This is the point. Batum doesn't seem to know what an 18 foot jumper is. He likes to camp out at the 3 point line. That brand of basketball seems lame. Maybe it's Stotts, but Batum has always taken more 3's than 2's. I'd rather see my SG or PG do that.
Eh, I'd much rather take a shot from 5' further out if it's worth 50% more. The 18' shot is the least effective shot in the game. Use it occasionally, but if you're shooting long jumpers then go for the one that gives you a 50% increase on your investment. That said, I'd much rather see the majority of our shots coming from within 7' of the hoop.