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Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:14 am
by 70sFan
Bob Cousy is known for his passing skills and most reels contains only flashy passes. I decided to make a highlight video about Cousy's circus shots. I hope that you'll enjoy it!

Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 11:26 am
by Ill News
Thanks for this! That was quite something to watch.
Most people (aka casuals) might scoff at this highlight video, but most of Cousy's moves were pretty advanced for his era (which really was just the beginning of basketball). And he did some pretty insane shots for a point guard. A post-up into a sky hook, what? A running hook shot that he banks in? A one-legged push shot from close to the three-point line today???
Fun stuff. Thanks for sharing.
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 12:56 pm
by 70sFan
Ill News wrote:Thanks for this! That was quite something to watch.
Most people (aka casuals) might scoff at this highlight video, but most of Cousy's moves were pretty advanced for his era (which really was just the beginning of basketball). And he did some pretty insane shots for a point guard. A post-up into a sky hook, what? A running hook shot that he banks in? A one-legged push shot from close to the three-point line today???
Fun stuff. Thanks for sharing.
Most of these shots are tough to make regadless of era. I'm glad you like it, thank you for nice words

Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 1:08 pm
by fianchetto
A legend. Thanks again 70sFan!
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 1:22 pm
by ropjhk
In the early early days of basketball players would routinely make all sorts of crazy shots. The FG% may not have been the greatest, but you gotta remember that the jump shot didn't start to become popularized until the 50s. It's interesting to trace the history of the game and the innovations that happened at each stage.
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 1:28 pm
by GreatWhiteStiff
This video is great, I kind of feel some of these moves would work even better today especially if able to be used by someone bigger/more athletic. I'm thinking like a derrick rose, or something. I don't know, I'm just rambling. Like the unique highlights.
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 2:37 pm
by Curmudgeon
I'm not sure why the hook shot has gone out of favor. It's unstoppable when taken off the dribble.
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 2:45 pm
by Canada_7
That shot at 0:25. Wow. Looked like he was just trolling the guy that was defending him

.
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 2:47 pm
by flipside21
I seriously think there must be a place for the hook shot in the modern game ... no idea why it never shows up - you’d think one player would perfect it somewhere.
Not sure about 25 foot layups though..
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 2:52 pm
by birdlives_ma
This is sick, thanks 70sFan! Cooz's impact on the game can't be overstated. One of the first guys with STYLE
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 3:09 pm
by dhsilv2
GreatWhiteStiff wrote:This video is great, I kind of feel some of these moves would work even better today especially if able to be used by someone bigger/more athletic. I'm thinking like a derrick rose, or something. I don't know, I'm just rambling. Like the unique highlights.
I'd argue we do see some of these today, but lets remember taking these shots is why he was a 37.5% shooter. Though as others said, a lot of this is the evolution of the game. Some of it because it wasn't like Cousy could play above the rim (not that everyone today can).
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 4:05 pm
by Perishable517
Watching this helped me realize that he was on a level higher than his peers. He was almost a cheat code back then with his moves and control.
I always love your videos.
Side nore, lately, on FB marketplace, I've been seeing folk selling basketball cards from the early 70s. It is taking everything I have to not start collecting (again).
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RealGM mobile app
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 4:07 pm
by Curmudgeon
Folks should also remember that Cousy did it in an era when you were not allowed to palm the ball. Most of today's great crossovers would have been great turnovers in those days.
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 4:13 pm
by xdrta+
Cousy is still with us, he turned 92 a few weeks ago. As I recall he was playing golf well into his eighties, when he had back surgery.
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 4:16 pm
by Scuall
I always loved this, Bob Cousy unscripted just lime Jimmy Chitwood...
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 4:32 pm
by ballup
Curmudgeon wrote:I'm not sure why the hook shot has gone out of favor. It's unstoppable when taken off the dribble.
Because kids emulate the stars they watched growing up. Hook shots are moves for bigs and over time, the biggest stars to fame have changed to the perimeter. Everyone wanted to be like Jodran, then AI, then Kobe, then Steph. More kids grew up with guard like skill sets instead of specializations. Then there's the European influx of players who further pushed the boundaries of NBA bigs.
There just isn't a big appeal to hook shots. They don't look as pretty as a stepback or a fadeaway.
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Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 4:50 pm
by 70sFan
ballup wrote:Curmudgeon wrote:I'm not sure why the hook shot has gone out of favor. It's unstoppable when taken off the dribble.
Because kids emulate the stars they watched growing up. Hook shots are moves for bigs and over time, the biggest stars to fame have changed to the perimeter. Everyone wanted to be like Jodran, then AI, then Kobe, then Steph. More kids grew up with guard like skill sets instead of specializations. Then there's the European influx of players who further pushed the boundaries of NBA bigs.
There just isn't a big appeal to hook shots. They don't look as pretty as a stepback or a fadeaway.
Sent from my Pixel 3a using Tapatalk
To be honest, good old-fashioned hookshot looks prettier than any kind of jumpshot to me

Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 6:25 pm
by Baski
Great video on an NBA legend.
I can't help but think that this video gives an idea as to why his FG% was so low. Is that a fair assumption?
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 6:26 pm
by Hal14
That shot at the :24 mark is awesome, and he made it look so easy.
Insane control of the ball, even when charging really hard towards the rim. Both him and Russell clearly were exceptional at handling the ball and shooting it with either hand. And back then it was very hard to alternate between dribbling with left and right hand without being called for a carry, yet he still did it extremely well. Cous is posting up and scoring on guards who are bigger than him, and he's pulling up and hitting shots which would be 3-pointers today...he was ahead of his time for sure and extremely skilled.
Re: Bob Cousy - Circus Shots Artist (INSANE SHOTS)
Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2020 6:34 pm
by 70sFan
Baski wrote:Great video on an NBA legend.
I can't help but think that this video gives an idea as to why his FG% was so low. Is that a fair assumption?
I think it is, Cousy rarely shot easy shots. His shooting selection is questionable to say the least.