Dave Hopla's Impact on Shooting %

[C Court]

I know a lot of you wondered why the Raptors let shooting coach Dave Hopla move on to Washington and wished he was back in Toronto.

According to Doug Smith's blog, Hopla's impact on shooting percentages in Toronto and Washington are not significant:

RAPTORS:
Last year, Toronto shot 46.3% from the field and 77.8% from the line
This year, Toronto is shooting 45.7% and 81.0% from the line.


WIZARDS:
Last year, Washington shot 45.0% from the field and 76.5% from the line
This year, Washington is shooting 44.9% and 79.5% from the line.

Based on these FG and FT percentages, it appears that Hopla's impact is not as significant as some might assume.

[Platapie]

Though to be fair, their shot % hasn't gone down whilst losing one of their best shooters and someone who opens up the floor for a lot of other players. In addition, last year he was able to teach our team, so the effect would be whether they forgot what he taught them or not.

Not saying you're wrong, those %'s are indeed not very meaningful and the Raptors have been shooting out of their mind lately, but not sure these #'s entirely disprove it.

[Mascot]

It wouldnt be significant like that, it would be significant on an individual player basis. since starters pretty much should be able to maintain....i bet if u check just bench players theres a difference.

[God's Point]

Meh.... players come, players go. Stats are as useful as you want to make them.

I am not discrediting your conclusion that Hopla's impact is not as significant as some might assume, however, I am discrediting your method of analysis.

Gilbert, shooting 41.8% last year doesn't play on the team this year (apart from 8 games). Instead some of his shots are taken from Caron Butler who is shooting at a higher percentage this year.

As for the Raptors numbers, you replace Morris Peterson with Jason Kapono. One is a horrible shooter and one is a sharp shooter.

Also your method of analysis doesn't take into consideration jump shots only with regards to fg%. With guys like Carlos Delfino who struggle around the basket, and Bosh who is rather impressive around the basket, skew the numbers in either direction.

Stats are just numbers.

[C Court]

Interesting that in today's paper Chris Bosh credits his torrid shooting percentage on off-season shooting work he did with Jay Triano, not Dave Hopla.

I suppose the point is that if Dave Hopla's shooting secrets were so valuable (as some here believe), he'd be in high demand across the NBA and he's not.

[C Court]

Meh.... players come, players go. Stats are as useful as you want to make them.

I am not discrediting your conclusion that Hopla's impact is not as significant as some might assume, however, I am discrediting your method of analysis.

Gilbert, shooting 41.8% last year doesn't play on the team this year (apart from 8 games). Instead some of his shots are taken from Caron Butler who is shooting at a higher percentage this year.

As for the Raptors numbers, you replace Morris Peterson with Jason Kapono. One is a horrible shooter and one is a sharp shooter.

Also your method of analysis doesn't take into consideration jump shots only with regards to fg%. With guys like Carlos Delfino who struggle around the basket, and Bosh who is rather impressive around the basket, skew the numbers in either direction.

Stats are just numbers.

They're not my numbers. I'm just posting numbers from Nothing But Internet.

[bling_singh]

I guess the washingpost article paints a different story based on its focus and emphasis....notably how the shooting percentages of Haywood or Blatche and Caron Butler have increased with his arrival.

I also wonder how shooting percentages in Toronto fared from one half of the season into the next. Given the intercontinental cocktail that was the Raptors of last season. We really pulled it together in January onwards. Garbo's and Bargnani both improved tremendously. Once the chemisty was there, how did the Raps play with Hopla there....that's not really fair I know, but we're not really flying under the radar anymore (were we in the 2nd half?).

However the improvements of Blatche and Butler and the obvious drop in percentages must mean there are others on the roster shooting much worse...and it might have to do with who Hopla has focused on while he's there. Not that all credit is due to him....sometimes it just clicks into the player's head.

But if it took Bosh 18 months to alter his shot (while Hopla was there) and he's a relatively cerebral player, who's to know how long it would take for others who may play on instinct.

This may be a poor example, but it took Tiger Woods around 2 years to change up his swing and during that time he wasn't the "Tiger" that the PGA wanted him to be, his development hampered by reverting to his old swing which is easier said than done....but once he changed it up he was back to his old winning ways. Perhaps transitioning/adjusting shots has much of the same effect on players. I'm no pro, so I'm just talking out of my ass here.

[God's Point]

-= original quote snipped =-



They're not my numbers. I'm just posting numbers from Nothing But Internet.

Well then, we all know Doug Smith isn't the brightest bulb in the tool-shed.

It still holds that using those numbers alone does not paint the full picture.

Cheers

[The_Hater]

I've always believe that the Hopla thing has been overblown.

If Hoopla can come in and improve the shooting flaws of one player on the roster, that's a positive but most of these guys aren't going to change much at this point in their careers and at the end of the day, nothing beats practice.

[miller31time]

Brendan Haywood has worked with Hopla extensively. Needless to say, his ft% has gone from 54.8% to 73.3% (the largest free throw shooting improvement in the NBA this year). He has also developed, this year, a consistent mid-range jump shot. He doesn't take many, but if left open, he will hit it - something he wouldn't even take in past seasons.

Butler has hit an NBA-season high 71 (IIRC) straight free throws and is nearing in on the NBA all-time record.

The team shooting percentages aren't as good as last year but the reason for this is very simple - no Gilbert.

Sure, Arenas doesn't shoot a shy-high fg% but the pace he sets (which was 5th last year, down to 20 this year w/o Gil) creates tons of open shots for Butler, Jamison and company. Just looking at Gilbert and his individual %'s is rather shortsighted, IMO. This is why the Wizards this season have the NBA's 12th most efficient offense, compared to last year when (with a healthy Arenas) we ranked 3rd, prior to his injury at the end of the season with about 10 games left.

Hopla's effect has been tremendous for the Wizards this year (along with Randy Ayers, but that's a different story).

[Hendrix]

I did notice quite a bit of imporovment in Anthony Parker last year after ha came in. Parker was a good mid range shooter, but seemed like he had a hard time shooting from the nba 3pt range when he came over from europe. He was shooting bad from 3, but then he ended the season as one of the leaders in 3pt%, and was invited to the Allstar game 3pt shootout. Things seemed to turn around for him, and Garbo as soon as Hopla came in from what I remember.

[C Court]

I've always believe that the Hopla thing has been overblown.

If Hoopla can come in and improve the shooting flaws of one player on the roster, that's a positive but most of these guys aren't going to change much at this point in their careers and at the end of the day, nothing beats practice.

I agree.

I don't think that Dave Hopla is the only one who can coach solid shooting technques. A lot of guys know what to do. Its a matter of repetitive practice.

Where Hopla should have a more positive impact is at the FT line.

However, a lot of what Hopla taeches is somewhat thrown out the window when you've got a hand in your face, you're forced into making an off balance shot or with lay-ups/dunks/put-backs.

[cdel00]

I know a lot of you wondered why the Raptors let shooting coach Dave Hopla move on to Washington and wished he was back in Toronto.

According to Doug Smith's blog, Hopla's impact on shooting percentages in Toronto and Washington are not significant:

RAPTORS:
Last year, Toronto shot 46.3% from the field and 77.8% from the line
This year, Toronto is shooting 45.7% and 81.0% from the line.


WIZARDS:
Last year, Washington shot 45.0% from the field and 76.5% from the line
This year, Washington is shooting 44.9% and 79.5% from the line.

Based on these FG and FT percentages, it appears that Hopla's impact is not as significant as some might assume.

Moon would benefit from Hoopla cleaning up his form, same with Delfino (even though he has been on fire lately).

Bosh still uses the FT technique Dave helped Bosh develop and thats the main reason why the Raps are 81% from the line.

[YogiStewart]

I sent Jose Calderon an email last week with a few questions. One of my questions asked whom or what he credits for his improved shooting compared to his shooting in his rookie season (anyone remember his 3-PT%? something like 11%).

he said that he credits Hopla.

Hopla definitely makes a difference. I just wonder how much he can do for a team over the long term vs short term.

[kmatrixg]

-= original quote snipped =-



Well then, we all know Doug Smith isn't the brightest bulb in the tool-shed.

It still holds that using those numbers alone does not paint the full picture.

Cheers

Shouldn't that be like, the sharpest axe or the widest hoe in the tool shed...just wondering.