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Game winning shot vs. game winning layup

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:05 am
by T-Mac for MVP
Situation: game tied up; shot clock off winding down in the 4th; 2 options: best player (possibly) going for a game winning shot or a game winning layup.

So is it better to go for a game winning layup or a game winning shot? Going for a game winning layup gives the player a better chance (or maybe only chance) to get fouled and go to the free throw line where he only has to make 1 of 2 free throws to win. But how many refs are willing to put a player on the line to win the game on the free throw line in such a situation?


Ex. shot: Kobe, Pierce
Ex. layup: Lebron, G. Arenas

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:08 am
by _BBIB_
The Lebron game winning layup is unstoppable

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:10 am
by T-Mac for MVP
Oh I guess there is a 3rd option: game winning assist ala McGrady and possibly a few others but let's not go there.

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 1:22 am
by OhMyBosh
Considering the piss-poor percentages on game winners by Kobe and other shooters, I say layup.

No one is going to stop LeBron from getting a layup.

Re: Game winning shot vs. game winning layup

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 2:59 am
by JordansBulls
T-Mac for MVP wrote:Situation: game tied up; shot clock off winding down in the 4th; 2 options: best player (possibly) going for a game winning shot or a game winning layup.

So is it better to go for a game winning layup or a game winning shot? Going for a game winning layup gives the player a better chance (or maybe only chance) to get fouled and go to the free throw line where he only has to make 1 of 2 free throws to win. But how many refs are willing to put a player on the line to win the game on the free throw line in such a situation?


Ex. shot: Kobe, Pierce
Ex. layup: Lebron, G. Arenas


Does the team play defense?

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:35 am
by Basileus777
Going for the layup is better, but its not always possible.

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 4:50 am
by TMACFORMVP
You obviously take the layup if you have the chance to do so. In a tie game, you always want the highest percentage shot possible.

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:11 am
by dockingsched
does anyone other than lebron get game winning layups?

you have to have his physical presence to be able to get by your man and fight through the contact. you aren't getting a foul call. anyone other than lebron is asking to get pushed around with a no call.

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 5:12 am
by Joseph17
Basileus777 wrote:Going for the layup is better, but its not always possible.

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:41 am
by sh00n
_BBIB_ wrote:The Lebron game winning layup is unstoppable

Anyone's game winning layup would be unstoppable if they were allowed 5 steps, too.

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 9:49 am
by Jemini80
depends on what you mean by shot...if you mean perimeter shot, then no. But, if you mean someone driving to the basket, then pulling up from about 8 feet and shooting, then i might take certain shooters over a lay-up where i know my man will get hacked and no foul would be called.

The Lebron lay-up is stoppable, it just requires team defense which doesn't exist in this modern league.

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:04 am
by NO-KG-AI
Why you would ever take a shot over a layup given the choice is beyond me.

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 6:15 pm
by Hard2dhole
NO-KG-AI wrote:Why you would ever take a shot over a layup given the choice is beyond me.

Agreed. higher percentage shot with greater chance of a foul for a 2nd chance or a possible 3 point play. No to mention most refs swallow thier whistles in the lasy play of a game.

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 8:11 pm
by Kabookalu
It depends on the type of player taking the shot or lay up. I doubt the refs are going to call a foul on the lay up, and it's REALLY hard to convert on an And1, like that controversial Memphis vs. Lakers game earlier in the season. If it's Lebron, I don't want him taking jumpers no matter what.

Posted: Mon Mar 31, 2008 11:03 pm
by 6and33areGOD
Do I have timeouts? Do I get to pick my player? Most instances I'd take the lay-up, but not all. For example, if I have a timeout and Ray Allen on my I might wait till about 2 secs left, then I might call time and set up double screen off the inbounds for a mid-range jumper.

You always take a lay-up given the chance. But having watched Paul Pierce for years, a lot of times at the end of the game he can't get an open lane for a solid layup. If I have Lebron on my team, different story, muscle through the lane for a layup.

+1 for the game-winning assist. I'm of the opinion if you have a good point guard, the ball's in his hands at the end of the game. My favorite game end of game play for the Celts is Rondo above the three point line in the middle, Pierce at the top of the key for a pick and pop, Garnett baseline at about 15 feet and ray on a wing (Perkins somehwere he can't get in the way). Rondo can either finish himself, or he has 3 legitimate options in their sweet spots to get the ball to.

All in all, layup if its available. For last second shots, it usually isn't.

Posted: Tue Apr 1, 2008 10:06 am
by Young_Star11
Layup has a higher percentage. You'll get a call if there's contact regardless.