The Hook Shot

[jman3134]

I really do not see your point, GuyClinch other than thinking that modern defensive schemes can render any shot ineffective. How is the sky hook any different than any other one on one move that players use today? Face up big men are largely more successful because they possess the quickness to score on the more burly players. What if they did not have to expose the ball and their high dribbling? What if they could turn with one's back to the basket, and hit a shot with single coverage defense? Not every team plays a matchup zone and even if they did, you said it yourself that a defender could easily come from behind and swipe the ball away. If this were true, then isn't it reasonable to assume that a man is open. With solid ball rotation they can avoid getting the shot blocked seeing as the defender has probably lost his man to gamble on stealing the ball on a skyhook. You said it yourself. Not all teams are equipped to play a matchup zone anyway. And, I do not know about you, but I see a lot of open jumpers in the NBA today. I think the focus is on squaring one's basket and coaches might feel that this hurts one's effectiveness at squaring one's body to the basket on a shot. However, with the proper mastery, I think this concern can be removed.

[DelaneyRudd]

The biggest day of any Jr. Jazz player is the meet a player day. A player comes in and teaches the kids skills in basketball. We had Mark Eaton come in and teach us the art of the hook shot. I am 5 foot 8 now, probably 4 foot eleven then. That's why I am not a NBA player while fellow Jr. Jazz player Shawn Bradley made millions!

[tsherkin]

jman said it; the notion that a move such as the skyhook can be rendered ineffective by defenses today is ridiculous.

If you can nullify that shot, you nullify the turnaround fallaway, the baby hook in the lane, the drop-step, the spin... every single post move there is would be canceled out.

Clearly, since that's a load of crap based on the numerous post scorers (and guys who make primary use out of various hook shots like Chris Kaman and Al Jefferson), there is no credence to this theory.

[Rocky5000]

Al Jefferson sky hook wins the game at the buzzer. Takes 2.5 seconds to get off.
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6vjkdSVYzqs

[tsherkin]

That wasn't a skyhook; that was a turnaround, fading hook shot with his shoulders squared to the rim and it was slower than a lot of the hooks Kareem put up because he made that extra turn.

EDIT: The release on that is classic baby hook, but fading. Look at Duncan when he takes a hook in the lane; same vertical alingment, same hand positioning... that's a fadeaway baby hook, not a skyhook.