SkywalkerAC wrote:I don't know, I guess it's the way KA can push it out in front with those long strides that makes it look so different, smooth, yet effective. Steve Nash comes to mind as a guy that looks so smooth pushing hard off that back foot and past guys to the rim, rather hurky-jerkeying with the ball, though Paul Pierce can do that as well, which is maybe where this comparison comes from. And more than likely Anderson would be well-advised to add more and more Pierce-esque craftiness to his dribble-game.
Bottomline, I do think there is something special in Anderson's handle, but it's largely that ability to get his head past his defenders' hips using those long strides to get into the lane. In the NBA he'll have to tighten it up, dribble more defensively and less, but he should be fine.
But Steve Nash changes speed extremely well, he can go full speed out of triple threat then stop on a dime to a complete stop and with his man's momentum going forward trying to recover he'll accelerate past them using their own momentum against them with a quick plyo step which is why he's so tough to defend. Same with other less explosive ball-handlers like CP3 and James Harden who are always playing at different gears. Anderson is incredibly strong, so he's able to bully guys when he drives and combined with his long strides he can go to spots, but a lot of his touch shots is awkward because he doesn't separate well on the second step. I think that his strength is going to be nullified where defenders are now able to match his strength and he won't have the advantage of bullying defenders.
He protects and shields the ball well because he's got a wide frame, but as a ball-handler he rarely looks to put pressure on the defense by being in attack mode. If he's the primary ball-handler and he's only protecting the ball that's not a great playmaker. Watch his inside-out dribble at 3:24:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5EoxHiXIqfQ[/youtube]
He's not going to sell move at all to a defender without using his entire body to make his defender think he's going to make a crossover a la CP3. He's not very bouncy or shifty with the ball.
