What I would like to know, is what happened to the great art of shooting the basketball? When I watch the Nba, I mostly see just, great dunks, flying hanging jumpers, or nifty passes. What I do not see, is the lost art of shooting the basketball. What ever happened to the Larry Birds of the world? The old day Reggie Millers, Jeff Hornaceks, and Glen Rices. Has the Nba become to much of a street ball game? Is there to much dependency on being able to jump 30 inches off the ground? In my opinion, yes. Don't get me wrong, we have some of good shooters in the Nba, like Peja Stojakovic and Michael Redd. But none really seem to jump out at me like in the old days. Its seemed like the Fred Hoiberg's and Wesley Persons of the world would be conisdered great players back in the day. But now, are just mere specs in the Nba. What the Nba needs, is a Larry Bird or Reggie Miller type player in the league. Someone who can shoot it your face and sink it with no problem. When you think of the great Gaurds in the league, you immediatly think of Kobe Bryant, Tracy Mcgrdady, and Vince Carter's of the world. All of which have monster verticals(Vince does not have 50 JwilltheFreak) and are amazing dunkers. What I am wondering, is would Larry Bird even be considered a great player now a days? Or would he be overshaddowed by the roaring crowds that love to see the dunks. Or is it just the fact that there are no shooters in the Nba? Those are my questions to you... what do you all think about it? Prophecy.
Dirk is considered modern-day larry bird..he gets his attention for his great shooting. Same goes with peja and redd (like you mentioned). i think you are right though, there is a lack of good shooting in the nba, maybe that could be the reason for all of the low scoring games? but remember, just shooting doesnt get fans into the seats like it might have, highlight-reel dunks and layups are what (most) nba fans want to see. p.s. - by saying "most", someone will probably tell me that they would rather see great shooters, blah blah blah. look at the AND 1 mixtapes, millions of dollars a year because they found good players who just happen to dribble and dunk better than most of us can imagine.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting WhiteManCanJump:</div><div class="quote_post">Dirk is considered modern-day larry bird..he gets his attention for his great shooting. Same goes with peja and redd (like you mentioned).</div> I really hate this comparison, because they play nothing alike. White shaggy-haired guys that can shoot, that's all they have in common. Please don't compare these two players.
Larry Bird was a type of player we may never see again, but if you look at his shooting ability Peja comes really close imho. But yes, the game has changed a lot over the last 15 years. It has become faster and the introduction of th zone defense has changed a lot. A lot of players depend on their athletic abilities, and most of the fans come to the game to see the thunderdunks, so that's what they get. If you look a little bit further you will find those pure shooters, but a fact is that none of them has the extra's Larry Bird had...
i never said that I consider dirk a modern day larry bird, i just made the statement because lots of people DO think that.
the best way to break a zone defence is to dump it into the big man and when the d collapses, kick it out to the open shooter....
Yes, but youve seen that its affected alott of people. One by the name of Tracy Mcgrady. Also, possibly Jalen Rose who is shooting around 30% from the field.
that's true... but with the zone defense they're playing in the NBA you need a big man who can pass the ball... like Vlade (see the connection with Peja?)
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting magicfrankie:</div><div class="quote_post">that's true... but with the zone defense they're playing in the NBA you need a big man who can pass the ball... like Vlade (see the connection with Peja?)</div> i couldnt agree more. that is one of the reasons brad miller and vlade both are dishing a lot of assists
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting sportsrock37:</div><div class="quote_post">Can't forget Ray Allen as a top shooter in the league.</div> Yes, he slipped my mind. But I love the comment MagicFrankie. Divac has always been one of the best passing centers in the league, that may be part of the reason Peja hasn't been affected much.
Ofcourse it helps that he plays with a center who can pass, but Peja has been working on his shot year after year, with great results... His FG% has gone from .378 in his rookie year to .481 in his 5th season (last year). This season sofar he has been awesome, shooting .523 FG% and .424 from downtown. He's #5 in the league in FG%, the first 4 are post players, who naturally have higher percentage shots.
VERY good topic. And as I think about it, I agree, there are not many pure 3 point shooters around anymore. There are your 3 point shooters like you said, but it doesn't feel like a Bird/Reggie type thing. Of course the zone defense is one of the things like some people listed, but most of all I don't think anyone looks for that anymore. IMO the game is more fast pace, and different personality's in the league now. Some really do just want to be flashy and dunk, and that's what people pay for, excitement.
How can the zone defense be affecting shooters negatively? If anything the shooters in the league should be salivating over the fact that there is a zone defense.
Because in zone, it isnt like man to man, if oyu set picks, the defense doesn't even have to move. Each player has their own spot to gaurd and if you gaurd that spot, it would be hard for a player to be open for a three or any shot. That is unless you can create your own shots.
What you describe affects SCORERS, not necessarily shooters. Really all of this is a matter of teams not setting up affective zone busting plays. There is too much standing around on the perimeter just reversing the ball side to side. You have to get guys flashing through to the elbow, guys cutting trying to find open spots in the zone, etc. The zone defense doesn't just allow open shots around the three point line, a lot of the times there are open spots in the mid-range area. Teams just need to use more effective ways of exploiting those areas.
Also another way would be to split the gaurds. If they are in a 2-3 zone, th Pg needs to drive to the middle. If they commit, you swing it to the gaurds, if they dont, you take it to the hole.
here's an interview with Reggie Miller: http://www.usatoday.com/sports/bask...ut-miller_x.htm ---------------------------------- Q: There are only a dozen players shooting 50% or better this year. What's the state of shooting in the NBA? A: It's way down, because no one knows how to shoot anymore. This league is all about crossovers and dunks. Shooting is a lost art. When I came in, every team had a great shooting guard. From Rolando Blackman, Ricky Pierce, Sidney Moncrief, Alvin Robertson, Randy Wittman, Ron Harper, Eddie Johnson. Now it's more about off-the-dribble dunks and crossovers. Q: Do you see good shooting ever coming back? A: The more you have kids coming out of high school, no, because fundamentals are lost. They are coming to the NBA being expected to learn on the go. You're not learning jump stops and you're not learning pivots and you're not learning coming off screens or proper foot position and shooting technique. ---------------------------------
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting The Prophecy:</div><div class="quote_post">Also another way would be to split the gaurds. If they are in a 2-3 zone, th Pg needs to drive to the middle. If they commit, you swing it to the gaurds, if they dont, you take it to the hole.</div> That is the #1 way to beat a 2-3 zone. If you can split the top two defenders then you have just broken the zone and you should have a wide open oppurtunity to score whether it be a kickout or a mid-range jumpshot. Another way is to split the forward and guard on the wing. By splitting them you force the center to commit and your post player is wide open as a result of that. Back on the original topic, I agree that shooting is a "lost art". Back in the day, to win you had to be able to shoot the ball. Now days you have to be able to jump. The game has turned for the worse I think. The closest thing to a Larry Bird type shooter today would have to be Peja or Ray Allen. I however do not think there will ever be a true "Larry Bird". Basketball is getting more and more "street-ish". Thank god College Basketball hasn't changed into what the NBA has. That is true basketball, fundamental basketball.
