Most fundamentally sound player?

[maryann8ginger]

Havlicek
/thread

[Dr Aki]

fundamentals = technical skills. shot selection = just a mental skill.

learn to delineate.

on topic. kobe bryant

[ipoopinmypants]

Allen Iverson.
/thread

[juror1]

Star Player: Tim Dunca
Role Player: Jarrett Jack

[J~Rush]

fundamentals = technical skills. shot selection = just a mental skill.

learn to delineate.

on topic. kobe bryant

mental knowledge = part of fundamentals

Learn to aggregate.

[NO-KG-AI]

Kobe's footwork is great, his post game is quite varied. His ball handling is pretty nice, but it's not what I would call a fundamentally perfect ball handling. His shooting form is pretty nice, but his shot is flat a lot and is a big reason why he is streaky methinks.

Duncan's shot isn't t hat fundamentally sound either, and his FT routine is herky jerky as ****.

Chris Paul is really good without being flashy. His ballhandling is low and extremely tight, and he never loses his dribble because of it. He can break out the flash moves but really doesn't. He doesn't get a whole lot of lift on his long ball, and he can be streaky from there.

Kevin Garnett has the full range of post moves, and is a spectacular ball handler with a very simple and fundamental style. He has the full range of post moves, and fantastic footwork, with a full repertoire of hooks, up and unders, dream shakes, tear drops, jumpers, etc, even though he doesn't use t hem enough. Like the others, I Wouldn't call his shot text book, even though it is effective.

All of these guys have excellent defensive fundamentals as well, and can really lock up when they need to. All 4 are strong rebounders for their position and have great timing there. They can all pass extremely well, and are near, or are the top at their position.

I can't find any real flaws in fundamentals when you break down their games, aside from the fact that they don't have the text book shooting form of someone like Ray Allen.

[J~Rush]

. . . aside from the fact that they don't have the text book shooting form of someone like Ray Allen.

Am I the only one who thinks that Ray Allen's jumpshot isn't textbook?

I think someone like Reddick has better form than Allen.

[Bucksfans1and2]

You know something- Paul Pierce actually reminds me a little of Duncan. He isn't the most athletic player. He isn't very quick or fast or the strongest player you'll see. But he is effective. He's good at every aspect of the game. I'd vote for him to be in the discussion.

My brain just exploded. I know it's in context but the phrase, Paul Pierce reminds me of Tim Duncan, just blew my brain apart.

[GhostsOfGil]

wow no mention of nash yet?

[bullsnewdynasty]

BBall lQ is a fundamental, and bad shot selection affects BBall IQ.

[bastillon]

. . . aside from the fact that they don't have the text book shooting form of someone like Ray Allen.

Am I the only one who thinks that Ray Allen's jumpshot isn't textbook?

I think someone like Reddick has better form than Allen.

yeah, Allen's jumpshot is a thing of beauty in its own way. it's pretty far from classic jumpshot though.

Hamilton's jumpshot is textbook.

[phx#7]

Just to add a couple names Grant Hill, KG and Joe Johnson.

[DirtyDez]

K McHale

[Joseph17]

Nash

[lilfishi22]

wow no mention of nash yet?

First page

Nash is an excellent choice. He uses flashy passes and aggressive dribbling a little bit much, but his fundamentals?

Head's always up, even when dribbling. Can shoot the hell out of the ball (FTs, 3s, mid-range, off-balance, wherever). Outstanding passer, great at all of his positional skills (floor general, controlling tempo, etc). He rebounds reasonably well given his size and athletic ability, he plays sound help defense and tries on man D (outclassed athletically as he is, nightly). I mean, find a skill failing in his game, right? Point to a flaw in his game, it's almost certainly due to comparative athletic ability. He busts hump in the gym to be physically fit enough to play, he doesn't give up on games, etc.

Gasol is a good example of late, now that he's not lolly-gagging on the glass (his own admission). Ray Allen is a classic, fundamental 2 with underappreciated ball-handling and passing ability. Pierce is another fine fundamental player.

Dirk, too. Mid-post game, excellent shooter, good passer, decent rebounding fundamentals, etc, etc.

[lilfishi22]

Just to add a couple names Grant Hill, KG and Joe Johnson.

Hill is a great candidate for one of the most fundamentally sound players in the league.

Yao has some nice fundamentals for a big man too. He isn't athletic but uses the hell out of his 7-6 frame with his post play (fade-away, hook etc) and his mid-range shot. Another valuable aspect of Yao's game is his free throw shooting. His form is sound and his career FT% (.832) backs it up. Yao is also quite a good passer out of the double team. Not as good as Duncan or KG, but a good enough passer. His size helps him immensely as a post defender too, he doesn't need to jump when players shot fake, allowing him to just play good straight up D.

[Johnny Firpo]

Yep, Ray Allen's form is definitely not textbook. The most fundementally sound player ever? I guess it's Mr. Fundamentals.

[B2Bhoops]

While shot selection is IQ related I think there is a direct correlation between shot making ability and shot selection. The harder shots a player can make the more likely that player is going to take what most people consider bad shots. These guys truly believe they can make these shots and I don't think that type of confidence is detrimental. That's not to say shot selection should never be held against a player, even kobe at times, but I just don't think it should be held against Kobe on average and in this particular discussion.