Dwights Jumpshot?

[UCFJayBird]

happyfoosball, thethief is 6'10" I believe, and he was recently in the NBDL (though I think that experience was soured because of that team's management yanking him around). Thief is huge, so he knows what he's talking about.

And I don't know if this was said or not (only read the 1st and 4th page), but Dwight shoots hundreds of FTs every day, and he makes an insane clip in practice. He has said he'll make 60 in a row in practice. He doesn't understand why it's different in game, i think it's just getting that confidence in game, getting comfortable with it, and keeping at it.

I think one day Dwight WILL average 75% from the line. And I think he'll get a jumpshot, but I don't think he'll ever be a player that relies on that jumpshot, it will be a secondary move for when players back off him.

[craig01]

Some people are more naturally able to apply fundamentals to shooting.

Some are not.

I've taught many dozens of kids shooting fundamentals, and some are able to pick it up, while others are not. Athleticism in this case does not apply.

Howard's jump shot is still flat at the point of release. Although he was hitting a few 3's during pregame warm ups, his release is still too far out front.

Sometimes he corrects this at the line, and othre times he overcompensates his release and loses his engine (legs) mechanics there instead.

The problem Howard has likely dates back to playground days. It will be very difficult for him to ever correct it to the point where the jump shot becomes an efficient part of his arsenal.

JMO.

[Happyfoosball]

happyfoosball, thethief is 6'10" I believe, and he was recently in the NBDL (though I think that experience was soured because of that team's management yanking him around). Thief is huge, so he knows what he's talking about.

And I don't know if this was said or not (only read the 1st and 4th page), but Dwight shoots hundreds of FTs every day, and he makes an insane clip in practice. He has said he'll make 60 in a row in practice. He doesn't understand why it's different in game, i think it's just getting that confidence in game, getting comfortable with it, and keeping at it.

I think one day Dwight WILL average 75% from the line. And I think he'll get a jumpshot, but I don't think he'll ever be a player that relies on that jumpshot, it will be a secondary move for when players back off him.

So do I. But a big part of why he doesn't shoot them so well in the game is probably because he's tired from doing so much down low. And also, obviously some people are natural shooters and some are not. I just don't believe that shooting is the hardest thing to learn in basketball. Mabye it is for most people but for me it's probably the easiest thing. Shooting is just repetition and form. The more people do it, the better they are at it.

[craig01]

Bad form in a jump shot is akin to having bad form/mechanics in a golf swing.

Doesn't mean it can't be done, but the odds are safer that the better form/mechanics has a more successful path to consistency.

Howard is in a struggle to eliminate a lifetime of bad mechanics. The fix doesn't happen overnight, and he'll likely always revert at times to old ways during physical stress in game situations.

[magicman123]

jumpshot is not "crucial" at all IMO...not at all...maybe eventually being able to bank it in off the baseline, but his hook and his drop need the work really...with those he can take the guy left or right after he faces them up and he can complete.

1) Dribbling/Controlling the ball
2) Passing
3) FT's
4) Touch
5) Utilizing proper maneuver against defense

i agree, dwight is hardly polished on offense and still putting up 22pts..if he works on what you mentioned, and later on develope the jumper, the skys the limit for him

[j-ragg]

Some people are more naturally able to apply fundamentals to shooting.

Some are not.

I've taught many dozens of kids shooting fundamentals, and some are able to pick it up, while others are not. Athleticism in this case does not apply.

Howard's jump shot is still flat at the point of release. Although he was hitting a few 3's during pregame warm ups, his release is still too far out front.

Sometimes he corrects this at the line, and othre times he overcompensates his release and loses his engine (legs) mechanics there instead.

The problem Howard has likely dates back to playground days. It will be very difficult for him to ever correct it to the point where the jump shot becomes an efficient part of his arsenal.

JMO.

Tim Duncan has pretty awful mechanics on his jump shot then by your standards. He doesn't seem to struggle too bad with it.

I watch him in pre-game all the time. He nails the 10-15 foot jump shot with consistency by himself.

This year it seems like he's got a lot more arc on it, not nearly as flat. I could careless where he shoots it from his body, everyone has different release points.

[theTHIEF]

-= original quote snipped =-



So do I. But a big part of why he doesn't shoot them so well in the game is probably because he's tired from doing so much down low. And also, obviously some people are natural shooters and some are not. I just don't believe that shooting is the hardest thing to learn in basketball. Mabye it is for most people but for me it's probably the easiest thing. Shooting is just repetition and form. The more people do it, the better they are at it.

well you just arent 6'11 270lbs of wrecking machine and you arent out benching 300+lbs everyday. shooting, for shooters is about repitition and form, that is correct, for pickup game guys, it's the same thing, for guys who play in the NBA who arent natual shooters, it's a whole different thing...

firstly: ever hear that thing "all players in the NBA can dunk, not all of them do it in games"? well it's basically the same thing here, any player in the NBA can lock himself in the gym and shoot the ball well, it's a whole lot different when it's go time, competition adds a completely different element to it, especially if there is contention...

secondly: as stated above, Dwight is a large man, with tons of power, shooting demands finnese, no matter what the shot looks like, the touch is still required, it's often hard to turn that off...

now i am a natural shooter, i played the 1 and 2 for the first parts of my early career before growing and being forced to play the 5/4. shooting came natural to me, and over the last 15 years i have worked on it continuously and have been able to maintain a very nice shot, but that's because i've always done it...

and i'm a shade over 6'10", but you can round up if you like...