Bender attempting a comeback?

[Scoot McGroot]

OK - field goal percentage does not equal 'shooting.' By 'shooting' I mean jump shooting (like everybody else) - which is more reflected by 3 point percentage. Go ask Larry Bird if Bender can shoot.

Doesn't matter if they can't hit them in a game. And Bender, apparently, never could.


Yeah, he had a sweet stroke, much like Ken Griffey Jr. has the greatest swing I've ever seen. But if you can't succeed like Griffey, doesn't matter how nice it looks, if it doesn't do the job when it counts.

[fienX420]

Good lord. Ignoring Bender's first two seasons (when he should've been in college) and his last two seasons (when he was mangled and managed a combined 9 games), Bender's 3-point percentage was 36.5% which is what I would say is a mark that qualifies an NBA players as a 'good' (jump) shooter. Not great, not elite, but pretty solid. If one feels that that is a mark that is 'bad' as opposed to 'good' then a lot of generally considered 'good' (jump) shooters around the NBA are 'bad' in your eyes.

[Dunthreevy]

Good lord. Ignoring Bender's first two seasons (when he should've been in college) and his last two seasons (when he was mangled and managed a combined 9 games), Bender's 3-point percentage was 36.5% which is what I would say is a mark that qualifies an NBA players as a 'good' (jump) shooter. Not great, not elite, but pretty solid. If one feels that that is a mark that is 'bad' as opposed to 'good' then a lot of generally considered 'good' (jump) shooters around the NBA are 'bad' in your eyes.

Actually last season the league average for team 3PT % was about 36.5%, so at best Bender is an average shooter.

[fienX420]

There ya go. And fair enough. Of course, I would say with all the chuckers out there, coming in at the league average is actually pretty good. And though statistically 'true' - I wouldn't say that CP3, Joe Johnson, Dirk, Turk, Sheed, and Jack were 'below average' 3 point shooters.

[Scoot McGroot]

Well, you can't discount the same numbers on one guy that you advocate on another. If you're arguing it, it's either gotta be one or the other, no gray, or else the argument falls apart.


However, it appears there's gray.

[fienX420]

Not sure what you're saying. I'm saying all of these players are good 3 point shooters. I never said that Bender was a statistically above average 3 point shooter. I said he was a 'good' shooter. I'd say that the statistically 'average for an NBA player' 3 point shooter is usually a 'good' shooter. And come on - they ought to be 'good' - they get paid millions of dollars.

[Scoot McGroot]

Not sure what you're saying. I'm saying all of these players are good 3 point shooters. I never said that Bender was a statistically above average 3 point shooter. I said he was a 'good' shooter. I'd say that the statistically 'average for an NBA player' 3 point shooter is usually a 'good' shooter. And come on - they ought to be 'good' - they get paid millions of dollars.

Statistically average is just that, average. It means that they are roughly middle of the pack in shooting. Average. That's not good, not great, but not bad nor horrible either.

[fienX420]

'Good' is subjective then I suppose. If that is your criteria for good, then so be it. What I'm saying is that the average NBA player is likely a 'good' shooter. Which would make sense since they are the top basketball players in the world. So by my criteria, I feel justified saying that NBA player X is a good shooter when they have a 36% three-point percentage. Especially if they are doing so with sufficient frequency. I'm pretty sure I've been clear on all this previously, so I think you're just trying to argue with me...

Kobe is a career 34% 3 point shooter (35% this past season)... so is Kobe Bryant not a 'good' shooter? I'd say he is. I think most people would.

[Dunthreevy]

'Good' is subjective then I suppose. If that is your criteria for good, then so be it. What I'm saying is that the average NBA player is likely a 'good' shooter. Which would make sense since they are the top basketball players in the world. So by my criteria, I feel justified saying that NBA player X is a good shooter when they have a 36% three-point percentage. Especially if they are doing so with sufficient frequency. I'm pretty sure I've been clear on all this previously, so I think you're just trying to argue with me...

Kobe is a career 34% 3 point shooter (35% this past season)... so is Kobe Bryant not a 'good' shooter? I'd say he is. I think most people would.

I'd say Kobe's an average 3PT shooter and a good shooter overall.

[fienX420]

That's fine. I think I'm viewing the semantics significantly differently. Being 'average' in a group that consists of the top 400 individuals out of pool of 6 billion people...

Back to the original point, I'd say that Bender is an 'NBA-quality' 3 point shooter. So if he could stay healthy, he would likely be welcome somewhere on an NBA roster.

[Miller4ever]

I'd say Kobe's an average 3PT shooter and a good shooter overall.

His percentages aren't amazing, but he's taking them often with a hand in his face. Remember his insane post-Shaq season where he decided to score 40+ points every game? That stretch generally consisted of him draining threes from 35 feet out. I'd say he's a good three-point shooter, and a great shooter overall.

I still hate his guts.

[fienX420]

Agreed. Kobe is sick. And he deserves to be hated.

[Scoot McGroot]

That's fine. I think I'm viewing the semantics significantly differently. Being 'average' in a group that consists of the top 400 individuals out of pool of 6 billion people...

Back to the original point, I'd say that Bender is an 'NBA-quality' 3 point shooter. So if he could stay healthy, he would likely be welcome somewhere on an NBA roster.

Yeah, if you lump in all of humanity, he's a great shooter.

However, that's not who he's competing against if he's trying to make an NBA roster. You're .111 shooting percentage from beyond the arc in your career doesn't impact Jon Bender's 33%. He's competing against fellow NBA caliber players, and apparently, he's statistically average in that regards.



Either way, after seeing the Tinsley thread you started, I really do believe you're just a joke account here to try and rile people up. I should've seen it coming. It's pretty outlandish stuff.

[Dunthreevy]

That's fine. I think I'm viewing the semantics significantly differently. Being 'average' in a group that consists of the top 400 individuals out of pool of 6 billion people...

Back to the original point, I'd say that Bender is an 'NBA-quality' 3 point shooter. So if he could stay healthy, he would likely be welcome somewhere on an NBA roster.

Bringing up that NBA players are better shooters than the average joe sitting on his couch enjoying Mesquite BBQ Frito Lays, doesn't bring any validity to your point. I feel like your fishing for a reason to salvage your original statement when it has been dis-proven with facts.

[fienX420]

Actually, my original statement was that he is 7 foot and can shoot. Which his statistics prove he did so at at least an NBA level. Looking at his relevant playing years, he shot 36.5% on three-pointers. While 36.5% was right about the average for the league this past season, it wasn't average for a player. 36.5% would actually put him in the top 130 players (I excluded players who took only 1 or 2 three-point attempts) in the NBA this past season (so in the top 3rd). The number of players in that group who are 7-footers? Three. His shooting ability would improve the 3-point percentage of approximately half the teams in the NBA. If he could remain healthy (which I clearly stated was the primary 'if'), he could fill a role in the NBA.

[greenway84]

is this bender thing still being discussed. boring........