RealGM

but was below average in every other area and was 5'8 would he be in the NBA

He would easily be the GOAT if that percentage is within a game.

Yes but only for end of game situations. He would get destroyed on defense. However your offense could basically play 4 on 4 with him camping out at half court.

This is a bit obscure but SLAM magazine ran a piece last decade on some guy in pick-up games with NBa players who was hitting halfcourt shots constantly and dominating them. Wish I could remember anything more than that.

Let's forget the ridicoulusness of the idea for a moment. Elite shooters are shooting 40% from the 3-point line (!), and you have a guy who's shooting 70% from basically anywhere. This guy would easily be the GOAT, because there is no defense against that, it would mean you'd have to double this guy hard full court, but then he just lobs the ball, and you have 4 against 3 fast break all game long.

Goat player. His other deficiencies mean nothing.

No, if he is 5'8" and has below average speed, stamina, quickness, vertical, ball handling, etc. he would never be open enough to take a shot. He would be amazing until other teams realize how to defend him.

after one game of seeing him, he'd be full court pressed and never be able to get a shot off ever

What would be the point of him shooting that percentage from half court? It's not like you get any more points the further from the 3pt line you get.

EGarrett wrote:This is a bit obscure but SLAM magazine ran a piece last decade on some guy in pick-up games with NBa players who was hitting halfcourt shots constantly and dominating them. Wish I could remember anything more than that.

I actually was coming in here thinking that this post was about that guy. I have the magazine somewhere, but not gonna dig through my stuff for it

Honestly, we have our standards set a bit too low. If anyone is getting paid a few million dollars to play a game, they should probably be able to do this.

(I don't understand how basketball can be someone's entire life, and they can't consistently knock down an 18ft jumpshot.)

Miasma wrote:What would be the point of him shooting that percentage from half court? It's not like you get any more points the further from the 3pt line you get.

Destroy defenses

Miasma wrote:What would be the point of him shooting that percentage from half court? It's not like you get any more points the further from the 3pt line you get.

The point is that they would have to double him right away, and the PF could just stop before crossing the half court, and pass the ball back to him, for a 70% three point shot. It wouldn't matter if he's unathletic, really, because they could easily make him open with screens after the inbound. The other team would have to agressively double him right away, but then again, it's a 4 on 3 fastbreak on most posessions. That would be GOAT impact, even if he doesn't attempt a shot all game.

Miasma wrote:What would be the point of him shooting that percentage from half court? It's not like you get any more points the further from the 3pt line you get.

Because that would create some serious spacing. If this hypothetical player was savvy enough to pass out of doubles he would be the Goat.

So you'd basically play 4 on 4 offensively, and 5 on 4 defensively?

Because then I'd just keep one player back there to stay on him. He'd give up ridiculous amounts of fast break layups, and even in a set defense, he'd be a terrible defender and get burned.

Stephen Colbert wrote:No, if he is 5'8" and has below average speed, stamina, quickness, vertical, ball handling, etc. he would never be open enough to take a shot. He would be amazing until other teams realize how to defend him.

This. Wide open, Kapono Novak , Korver and several more will make 70% of their 3s but...

If he played next to elite scorers maybe... Like on the same team as LeBron, or Kobe, or Wade, or Durant... He might get open from time to time... If he didn't have at least one team mate that demanded doubles from time to time, forget it...

If you plunked a guy like that on a contender, he might have a place in the NBA.

But I agree that the novelty would be very short lived and the league would adapt quickly to stifle him.

Plus, for how many seasons could anybody maintain those kind of averages from that distance? Jump shooting takes a tole on your body too.

I think some of you aren't thinking this through. If he's too short and slow and can't handle the ball, it won't matter how good he can shoot, because he'll never get a clear look. Teams won't have to double him, they would just stick a single man on him and tell the defender, "Don't worry about help defense. Don't do anything but guard this guy. Never leave him open."

Screens won't work because the defense would just switch.

Now, that's not to say he wouldn't score or provide us with some entertainment, but I don't think it's the panacea y'all are making it out to be.

Look at how hard a Ray Allen or Reggie Miller had to work to find open looks throughout their careers. My guess is they make 7 out of 10 of their 3 pointers in practice. But they can't maintain that over multiple games because teams don't leave them that much space. They are constantly in motion, constantly running around double screens, constantly making cuts, and more often than not they still don't get a wide open look. They're forced to elevate over the defender and shoot blindly with a hand in their face. And that's with the benefit of a 24 second shot clock. Y'all are talking about trying to run backcourt sets for a some average Joe in 8 seconds or less.

He would pretty much be GOAT. No one has ever shot 70% from three and if he did it there would be no questions that he would have the biggest impact on the game.

That's what they call stretching the defense.

Guy would be GOAT role player.