The Hook Shot

[The Main Event]

After watching some footage on NBA vault the other night, i began to wonder why NBA bigmen no longer utilize the sky hook. I see hybrid versions of it from time to time but none as effective as the Jabar/Magic hook shot for example. Why don't they practice this move anymore? It basically can't be defended against.

[Kevlo_911]

It's hard.

[The Main Event]

You're right, it is a pretty hard move. But keep in mind that these guys are in the gym taking 100000000 shots a day. If they were to focus a fraction of that time on learning the hook shot there is no doubt that at the very least a couple of guys would get very good at it.

[The Main Event]

I feel like it's because the coaches of today have the idea in their head that any shot taken without your shoulders being squared with the basket is a bad one.

[Frosty]

I never found it hard at all. I just think it isn't as cool as a dunk. Shaq would never even try an under hand FTA because he might look silly (can't blaim him but if you really want to win...)

[tsherkin]

Frosty has it, at least partially.

How many well-schooled big men are there in the league? Offensively, I mean, how many really polished low post scorers are there?

Most of the guys in the league today are too infatuated with being wings rather than big guys, so they shoot a lot of jumpers and drive a lot out of triple-threat, etc. Lots of pick-and-roll mid-range guys, sort of Euro-forwards, so to speak. Not that this is a major criticism, Euro-forwards are valuable for their versatility and such.

But the classic big man is still very effective as a strategic weapon, as much so now as was ever the case. In fact, a guy with a dominant low-post finesse game is actually more likely to be valuable because he gets called for fewer fouls than a power-post player. Kareem would completely eat defenses today, just as he did in his hey-day with Milwaukee.

But really, think about it. You've got to reach to Yao (going alphabetically with Houston) before you hit the first one. After that, Chris Kaman (one of the best players in the league with his off-hand), Al Jefferson, Shaq, Tim Duncan and Carlos Boozer just about cover it.

All of those guys use various kinds of hook shots (less so with Yao, who really just has to turn and shoot a squared up jumper, but even him from time to time against taller defenders).

But the full-on skyhook? That's been gone since Magic retired, I haven't seen anyone use that on anything resembling a regular basis... and I can't even think of the last time I saw it.

It's a great move, pretty much unblockable without a foul and if you focus on using it from two or three spots, it's actually not that hard. If you get set up in the low post on either side, you can bank it in at a fairly high rate of accuracy (like 55-60 percent) and you can go to it at the foul line if you want to because it helps prevent the block, though that angle is harder because it's straight on and the horizontal drift you get if you don't shoot it properly is much more dangerous to your accuracy.

It's a very valuable shot. Coaching, prevailing ideas about big men, the perception of the new generation regarding being a real center versus being a "power forward" or a "small forward" or whatever, that's become a big deal (e.g. guys like Garnett, Rasheed Wallace, etc).

[HarlemHeat37]

I actually wanted to see Timmy do it more this year..it seemed like he wasn't doing it as much in previous years..it came back a little in the playoffs, but not as much as I wanted..actually, it might just have been because of the defensive strategy..he couldn't post Shaq effectively because of his size, so he faced him up more..Chandler played him well and they double teamed him..I noticed when Gasol was single covering him, Duncan went to the hook shot much more than he did in the regular season or the playoffs..left hand and right hand..then he started getting doubled again..

regardless, he went away from it too much this year..same with his bank shot too..

[AKBlazerFan]

Word is Oden has been practicing his jump hook with both hands and is getting pretty good at it.

No word on his sky hook though

[twiggy2]

The hook shot is my shot while hoopin. People who play with me often are afraid of it. My high school coach actually pulled me out of a game for a sky hook I actually made. He called me a hot dog(?), and put me at the end of the bench.

[tsherkin]

The hook shot is my shot while hoopin. People who play with me often are afraid of it. My high school coach actually pulled me out of a game for a sky hook I actually made. He called me a hot dog(?), and put me at the end of the bench.

Me too, especially because of my relative height and arm length.

Your coach was an idiot, FWIW.

As far as Oden and jump hooks...

He'd bloody damn well BETTER be working on his jump hook, it should be his go-to move with a body and athleticism like that.

[The Main Event]

It disgusts me that your coach would pull you from a game for making a sky hook (unless it was a complete wildly fluke shot). It seems that todays basketball world frown upon the sky hook.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=jTOX467D6PY

Aside from the initial clips, tell me why Kareems sky hook couldnt be adopted by ballers similar in stature.

[tsherkin]

Neat video.

[jman3134]

I sort of believe that it is a cyclical thing. Once people get over the Michael Jordan craze of athleticism and court dominance, players may turn back to post fundamentals. It is already becoming more acceptable again to have a 6-7 post player. Look at Leon Powe who put up impressive numbers in the playoffs. There was a good span of time- even when Elton Brand was drafted- where shorter post players who were often bulkier were seen as liabilities. Once the complete post game gains popularity again, the hook shot should come with it.

Tsherkin is spot on in regards to today's bigs. Chris Bosh, KG, Rasheed etc. I could go on.

I have a funny feeling that Greg Oden may bring the power game back. Once that happens, the hook shot will be used as an advantage to some of the longer, more frail post players.

[HarlemHeat37]

I agree..

Yao, Howard, Oden, Bynum..the big man is coming back..

[Jellybeans8]

Bynum has been practicing the sky hook with Kareem

[j-ragg]

We've heard that since his rookie year. Tell Bynum congrats.

[Cevap]

Great thread OP, I've always wondered too. i mean I understand it's harder to learn it (for me at least) but once you get it down, it's money. Unless the defender is 4-5 inches taller, there's no way it's getting blocked

[twiggy2]

It disgusts me that your coach would pull you from a game for making a sky hook (unless it was a complete wildly fluke shot). It seems that todays basketball world frown upon the sky hook. "

This coach despised anyone creating a shot themselves. He thought everything should be opened up by ball movement, and it always resulted to three point shots.

But sad to say playing with teens, people laugh when you pull it out. I tell people its the same as a jump shot squaring your shoulder to the basket. You just line your shoulders to the basket and practice your release. Just like figuring out a finger roll.

[Reks]

It was retired in honor of Magic and Kareem.

[Happyfoosball]

-= original quote snipped =-



Me too, especially because of my relative height and arm length.

Your coach was an idiot, FWIW.

As far as Oden and jump hooks...

He'd bloody damn well BETTER be working on his jump hook, it should be his go-to move with a body and athleticism like that.

My coach did the same thing when I was on the Freshman team. I stopped using it after that because coaches said it wasn't techincally sound. The funny thing was this was only 4 or 5 years after Kareem retired.