If you could coach technique for the Hawks for 5 minutes...

parson · Post #1 » by **parson** » Fri May 13, 2011 3:21 am

... what would you teach?

I hate how Marvelous takes every jumpshot while moving away from the basket. Watch him shoot: he drifts, usually to the left, with almost every shot. He needs to square up and shoot towards the hoop. And a shooting arc is your buddy, Marvelous. Stop with the line drive shots.

Horford needs to work on driving to the basket. His midrange shot threat gives him a step on his defenders, who have to run up when he shoots. With their momentum going forward so powerfully, it's easier for him to make a power move and step past them. And drive through one inch (as my old coach used to say) of the defender, instead of trying to go around him. When YOU initiate contact, you're stronger. If he bumps you 1st...

Smith needs a running jump hook to the left, like Rose going to the right. With his ups, it'd be unblockable and unblockable equals superstar.

In addition to technique, I'd say Joe needs to buy Teague supper every night at the best restaurants until Teague thinks "penetrate and kick out to Joe" in his sleep.

I'm scared to mess with a good thing with Teague, so I'll just say he needs minutes.

Sorry if this post sounds bitter. I'm a teacher at heart, so I guess I just want to grab our guys and take 'em to the gym.

parson · Post #2 » by **parson** » Fri May 13, 2011 3:50 am

And Pop Sy picks up his dribble.

azuresou1 · Post #3 » by **azuresou1** » Fri May 13, 2011 4:57 am

5 minutes is not going to change very long habits.

Marvin - A basic triple threat set of how to pump fake and how to jab step
Horford - Make him watch that mirror scene from Cool Runnings

parson · Post #4 » by **parson** » Fri May 13, 2011 4:18 pm

Well, if I said an hour then the posts would be 12X as long.

Come on, isn't there something that one of our players does that ticks you off because he does it wrong?

azuresou1 · Post #5 » by **azuresou1** » Fri May 13, 2011 4:29 pm

I would actually just make everyone but Josh and Zaza watch that Cool Runnings scene.

Josh gets the scene at the end of Good Will Hunting.
Zaza gets a high school post offense video.

parson · Post #6 » by **parson** » Fri May 13, 2011 4:43 pm

I got upset yesterday and said they should have to face Dave Cowens as coach. Actually, Cowens' game would be perfect for Smith. Cowens was a 6'9" Center who played with power and hops rather than with length. He was also a lefty.

One move I particularly remember is Cowens' jump hook. He'd post up his defender sideways and then throw up his jump hook from the other side. He was muscular enough and jumped well enough that the shot was hard to block.

I've always thought the Smith, posting up on the left block and using the backboard, would be hard to defend with that shot.

clancy · Post #7 » by **clancy** » Fri May 13, 2011 5:32 pm

I'd spend the whole 5 minutes working on passing, cutting, and generally moving without the ball.

Years80HAWKS · Post #8 » by **Years80HAWKS** » Mon May 16, 2011 10:57 pm

It is really unbelievable how players at this highest level can lack such basic things.

I would teach Collins and Pachulia, as long as LD gives his ok, to move near the FT line. Guards then should pass them the ball, so they can distribute to cutting forwards or guards, shoot from there or give the ball back to the guards and offer a screen.
Also the forwards should know how to cut to the basket and offer screens for the other forward. Then guards should pass and cut, look for screens without the ball...
There are so many baskets that can be made just by moving without the ball. But so few players are willing to do so... wait, that was LD's idea...