OT: Jeff Van Gundy outlines defensive schemes

[triplet1984]

This is a very cool little feature.

JVG outlines (in audio, alongside a diagram) which defensive schemes work best to shut down or slow down various players:

http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2008 ... 8pl&emc=pl

[Master Shake]

Flip Saunders is probably studying this as we speak.

[nasty daddy]

Interesting indeed.

[Dirtgrain]

Ray Allen is better coming off of screens than Rip Hamilton? I'm not complaining--just wondering.

[m23uza1hem36]

Ray Allen is better coming off of screens than Rip Hamilton? I'm not complaining--just wondering.

No not at all, Richard Hamilton is the best coming off screen's since Reggie Miller retired. No one has done it better; what Ray does is come off screen's when there's a mismatch. Rip likes to shoot over people he has a mismatch on to burn them I guess?

[prophet_of_rage]

Ray is more dangerous because he can come off the high screen and roll at the three point line and let it fly. Rip doesn't have that range. Ray's jumpshot is deeper and purer than Rip's. Rip uses more screens and the midrange game is deadly, but using a screen in the midrange allows a little more help than up top where there's not much in terms of a third rotation. Plus Ray can get to the hoop and finish better than Rip.

[Dirtgrain]

Hamilton is shooting 45.7% from three-point range this year.

Ray Allen is shooting 39.3% from three-point range this year.

Allen is a better ball handler, I think.

[Dirtgrain]

But Allen has taken more than twice as many three-point shots this year.

[Mr. Savage]

Hamilton is shooting 45.7% from three-point range this year.

Ray Allen is shooting 39.3% from three-point range this year.

Allen is a better ball handler, I think.

Ray Allen takes more difficult shots.

[Jackattaq]

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Ray Allen takes more difficult shots.

Then that would lead me to believe that he doesn't take smart shots, taking good shots is essential to playing good basketball, forcing bad shots isn't a good thing. The majority of Rip's 3 pters are due to the fact that he is WIDE OPEN and waiting for the kickout pass. Ray Allen takes his shots off the dribble much more often than Rip does and thus they are probably not the best shots. He needs to move the ball better.

[prophet_of_rage]

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Then that would lead me to believe that he doesn't take smart shots, taking good shots is essential to playing good basketball, forcing bad shots isn't a good thing. The majority of Rip's 3 pters are due to the fact that he is WIDE OPEN and waiting for the kickout pass. Ray Allen takes his shots off the dribble much more often than Rip does and thus they are probably not the best shots. He needs to move the ball better.

You're going to criticise a player for being able to create his own shot? That's ridiculous. How about the defence keys in on him and he takes and makes contested shots. He's shooting 44% and 39 % from 3 and 91 % of his FT.

Watch Ray Allen play. He doesn't take bad shots. He makes and takes difficult shots for ordinary players but the guy has the purest of jumpshots and he can create it whenever he wants.

[beau]

Ray is not having as good of a seson when compared to Rip, but he is still a very good shooter.

What hurts is paying him 18 mill a years for the next two. That is way too much, but considering KG would have never went to Boston without Ray, it was still a good trade in retrospect.

[fleet40]

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You're going to criticise a player for being able to create his own shot? That's ridiculous. How about the defence keys in on him and he takes and makes contested shots. He's shooting 44% and 39 % from 3 and 91 % of his FT.

Watch Ray Allen play. He doesn't take bad shots. He makes and takes difficult shots for ordinary players but the guy has the purest of jumpshots and he can create it whenever he wants.

Here is my opinion: Percentages. Plain and simple. If a scorer/shooter is shooting below 45% he is NOT a good shooter. He may very well be an excellent scorer, but the simple fact is his FG% is not good. Ray Allen shoots a bit under 45% for his career, and he is doing the same now. Its not horrible, but "great Stroke" or not, there have been far better shooters than he. He is a very accomplished scorer though.

And Ray Allen does take bad shots. A bad shot to me is this. You can shoot over people, and you are able to fade away from people. The question is SHOULD you? Is there not a better way to get a shot off? Is it worth shooting below 50%?

[prophet_of_rage]

So Fabricio Oberto is a great shooter/scorer because he shoots 61 per cent. Shaq is a great shooter/scorer because he's at 58 per cent? You can't just look at percentages and say this person is a good shooter or not.

Ray Allen has to create shots and get himself open. He's paid to find a way to score. The defences key on him and trail and lock on him. They don't just let him get his.

Rip is not a better three point shooter because he scores a higher percentage on fewer takes. Rip has a couple sweet spots from the short corners. Rip is my favourite player in the NBA, but he does not have the stroke or shooting ability of Walter Ray Allen. He does not have the options available to him that Allen does. He won't flush on you like Allen can. He won't step back and shoot the three with good form. He does what he does very well which is catch and shoot, put it down for a one-two pullup. It even gets dicey with Rip when he catches on the curl and goes for layups. A lot of those spill off.

[prophet_of_rage]

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Here is my opinion: Percentages. Plain and simple. If a scorer/shooter is shooting below 45% he is NOT a good shooter. He may very well be an excellent scorer, but the simple fact is his FG% is not good. Ray Allen shoots a bit under 45% for his career, and he is doing the same now. Its not horrible, but "great Stroke" or not, there have been far better shooters than he. He is a very accomplished scorer though.

And Ray Allen does take bad shots. A bad shot to me is this. You can shoot over people, and you are able to fade away from people. The question is SHOULD you? Is there not a better way to get a shot off? Is it worth shooting below 50%?

How many guards shoot above 50 per cent? Josh Childress, Ronnie Brewer, Steve Nash, Monta Ellis, Deron WIlliams. Most of these guards live in the lane. Ray is there to spread the offence. He has Pierce going into the lane. He's shooting 14 times a game and 6 of those are from 3. So his 2 pt per centage is much higher than 45 per cent.

[Uncle Mxy]

So Fabricio Oberto is a great shooter/scorer because he shoots 61 per cent. Shaq is a great shooter/scorer because he's at 58 per cent? You can't just look at percentages and say this person is a good shooter or not.

It helps to be REALLY close to the basket when you make the shot.

[prophet_of_rage]

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It helps to be REALLY close to the basket when you make the shot.

Tell that to Fleet who says you just look at percentages to determine who takes good shots and bad shots.