stevemcqueen1 wrote:Nivek wrote:I feel like I'm looking into one of those bent mirrors. Wall is NOT a more versatile scorer because he takes (and misses) lots of 2pt jumpers. They're bad shots -- first because they're low-yield shots, second because they're exactly what the defense wants him to do, and third because he doesn't shoot them well. If Wall focused his offensive game on drives and threes, he'd be more efficient, the team would be more efficient, and Wall would probably be the elite player some folks imagine he already is.
And this is where I disagree. Stat guys like you and PIF are treating efficiency as the end, when it's really a means to an end. The end is scoring the basket. And you can still win by scoring more baskets than the other team less efficiently. You can not win if you score less baskets than them, no matter how efficiently they come.
I read statements that 2 pt jumpers are bad shots all the time, and it's just a decontextualized platitude that doesn't really mean much. The quality of a shot always depends on the situation it comes in. Sometimes 2 pt jumpers are the BEST shots because the best shot is an open shot. An open mid range jumper is a better shot than a contested three or layup.
If you want to be a top ten usage player like Wall and you're not LeBron James, then you have to do more than shoot threes and drive the basket. Otherwise NBA defense WILL stop you and you will be a much lower usage player and your team's offense will run through a different player. If Kyle Lowry was his team's first option and using the amount of possessions that Wall uses, then his efficiency would drop too because he would HAVE to take mid range jumpers, among other things. Because teams would defend him easily by going over ball screens, playing up on him on the perimeter, and packing the paint inside. An offense built around Lowry as that kind of option would suck. Our offense doesn't suck, because Wall is a superior scorer, passer, and ball handler.
I generally agree. But its one of those types of conversations that hard to pin down because there are so many factors.
But you are right to bring up dynamics like...
1) Is the player a first option in the offense where he is higher usage player.
2) What are the other options on the team. What is the teams offensive progression and the progression of other players.
3) Who is the coach and what are the goals of the offense.
For a PG, SG, SF who is a true #1 stud, you want them to be able to do it all. Not just drive and 3 pt shots. You want a mid range option. I think most would agree with that. Its just a matter of at what point is that a good option and with what frequency. Is it your first option. Well then that is bad option unless you are a Rip Hamilton type SG. If its just part of your progression, then its ok.
Its all about balance. Knowing what to do an when. So for example. If Walls first 2-3 shots are mid range off the dribble instead of drives, I tend to think that is bad. Specially when Beal is also a long 2 shooter. I would rather Wall drive and score or get fouled or drive and dish as his first scoring attempts.
Since Beal is much more effective at catch and shoot and so are Webster and TA, that makes Wall doing it even less desirable. Wall is the one player on the team that actually has handles and can drive. That's what makes the long 2 or the dribble mid range 2 less a good options for Wall. Its because the team needs him to drive or drive and dish way more then take long or mid range 2s. They have enough other players already doing that.
So for Wall with this teams make up, drive, drive and dish, 3 pt catch and shot should be 90% of what he does. Then you get his off the dribble he has to create his own shot move when the clock is under 7 and he need to make something up from the elbow. That's when he should shoot the mid range 2.
What this team needs to focus on is offensive efficiency. Seems to me Randy has to much of an open policy when it comes to shots. They are far from a SA type system where players know their spots and their shots. Parker is not launching a lot of 3s. Its not what he does or what the offense wants from him. He is instead probing the defense to get closer to the basket for drives and floaters. That's what the offense needs from him.
We would do well to define our offense that way.
And with Nene out there, this offense should actually be a sick machine. Nene can run the offense from the post. He is basically a P/PF. He can read all the options, hit cutters or drive. Between Wall and Nene, we should be able to run a very efficient offense with Beal, TA and Webster spotting up and moving the ball around the perimeter for wide open 3s. There is no need for Beal to be dribbling around like he does and very little need for Wall taking more then 1 or 2 mid range 2s off the dribble. Specially when you work in the transition pts they get.
