Block Every Shot

The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe that you might block every shot.

1. Shawn 8.12.08 / 3pm

   I don’t think Jamal Crawford attempts the most difficult shots, that would be Kobe. Nobody attempts more 22 foot baseline fadeaways or takes on three defenders and spins and spins and takes a fading 2 footer off the glass. As much as I’m not a fan of his, to his credit he makes a bunch of them.

   Next would be Gilbert Arenas and J.R. Smith, mainly because they attempt so many threes from 5 feet beyond the three point line. Both seem like they have so much confidence that they can hit whatever and go on a streak that they jack up shots.

   Baron Davis fits into the top 5 as well for all the deep stepback jumpers and long distance shots he attempts.

   Crawford’s sort of a poor man’s Arenas in that he attempts a lot of jumpers, often without trying to look for a better shot but with less ability to drive to the hoop and finish and less ability to get to the line. I don’t think of his game as unconventional though. You can break his game down to shooting threes, pull up mid-rangers and floaters, nothing that stands out as too rare.

   The same with Pierce for his offensive game. He’s so well rounded and has every skill in the book but the hesitation moves, getting fouls by pulling up your arms under the defender’s, all those are traditional tricks of the trade. What’s unconventional about him is that for a great offensive player, he also does the things of a hustle role player. I don’t think any elite perimeter player gives up his body and take as many charges as he does and he’s also always diving on the floor. I can’t think of too many instances of guys who can score over 25 points a game positioning themselves before the charge circle ready to take on the collision.

   The most unconventional offensive player would have to be Antwan Jamison. There’s nobody who uses so many different release points as he does.
2. cold money 8.13.08 / 12am

   I really have to pay more attention to Jamison’s game! I always saw him as a smooth, fundamentally skilled post-up guy inside, and a set shooter from outside – not unique in any way. I’ll keep an eye out in the future.

   You are bang on about Pierce. I’d say his offensive game is more awkward than unconventional. I love it when he looks like he’s losing control of his dribble while driving, only to come through and score. The moves he pulls off in spite of his lack of athleticism are impressive.

   Kobe and Gilbert are so talented and work so hard on their games that their difficult shots often end up looking easier than they are. This might be a trap of underappreciation I’m falling into, but for these two guys, I think those shots have actually become easier to make than they would be for most players. If it’s not a hard shot for them individually, I don’t want to consider it a hard shot comparatively.

   While Baron is definitely near the top of this list, I wouldn’t include Smith. J.R. doesn’t drive enough, and while he does shoot from far, far away, he’s usually wide open when he does.

   Your comment on Crawford outlines the exact reasons why I have him at the top. He’s not talented enough to execute the shots he imagines. He makes the game unnecessarily difficult for himself when he tries to. That’s why I see him as unconventional, most players learn to make the game easier for themselves by the time they get near the middle of their careers.
3. Robin 8.13.08 / 1am

   I’ve been saying this about Crawford for years! Very skilled and incredible to watch, but sort of an inherently streaky and low percentage scorer. He should get a patent on that behind the back crossover move.
4. The 10-man rotation, starring D-Wade, lost in pronunciation | TOP NBA VIDEO.com 8.21.08 / 2am

   [...] Doctors. I link to this type of list every two weeks or so, but here: the 10 hottest NBA WAGs.8th: Block Every Shot. It’s true: Jamal Crawford does fire up a lot of shots with a high degree of difficulty.9th: [...]

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