Rondo and Pierce on NBA's most signature moves list

[RyNye]

So ESPN today had a list of the NBA's most signature moves; that is, unique moves that you only associate with one player. Honestly, it is an incomplete list (how the heck did Dirk Nowitzki's impossible one-leg turn-around fade-away bank shot not make the list?!), but it is still a good one.

click the pretty linky

Both Rondo and Pierce made it. Pierce for his step-back jumper, which is awkward and amazing at the same time. Rondo, surprisingly, not for his fake behind-the-back, but for his stationary ball fakes. I had never thought about it before, but it is true I've never seen a player fake pass as much as he does after picking up the dribble. Old friend Al Jefferson also makes the list for his ugly yet somehow effective jump hook.

A good, quick read. Although, there is one sentence in there that reminds me of how stupid ESPN/sports reporters can be sometimes. Under the paragraph for Tony Parker ...

... Parker sure is a killer finisher around the rim. His great footwork and dexterous finishing helps ...

So Parker is a good finisher, because he is a good finisher! Thanks ESPN. Morons.

[pearljammer10]

I like Howards shoulder tap...That genious. Ill have to take notes and use that on the court next time.

[Galeto]

I love watching Pierce's stepback but I don't think there's anything distinctive or signature about it.  If there is, it's how far he steps back compared to most players.  He's got really loose hips and long legs and he puts them to good use to create space for his stepback. 

I'd put two other moves above his stepback for signature Pierce moves.  One is the pumpfake and lean in on the right side of the floor in which he pivots back with his left leg to lift the defender, leaving him in a corkscrew and non-shooting position before he moves his left leg back to draw contact.  No one else uses that footwork on a pumpfake.  Another is his full body wiggle on his jap step that continually fakes out defenders.  Lot of guys use jab steps but I've yet to see someone employ a full shake like Pierce does to sell it extra hard.  It's very effective and unique.

[Snakehead]

I love watching Pierce's stepback but I don't think there's anything distinctive or signature about it.  If there is, it's how far he steps back compared to most players.  He's got really loose hips and long legs and he puts them to good use to create space for his stepback. 

I'd put two other moves above his stepback for signature Pierce moves.  One is the pumpfake and lean in on the right side of the floor in which he pivots back with his left leg to lift the defender, leaving him in a corkscrew and non-shooting position before he moves his left leg back to draw contact.  No one else uses that footwork on a pumpfake.  Another is his full body wiggle on his jap step that continually fakes out defenders.  Lot of guys use jab steps but I've yet to see someone employ a full shake like Pierce does to sell it extra hard.  It's very effective and unique.

I'd also suggest, when the move was more allowed, Pierce's shot fake to lean in for the and-one foul.  Others did it, but Pierce was the master with his jerky, pivoting, back to the basket style.




Huge omission from this list IMO: Dirk Nowitzki's one foot step back jumper.  Don't recall anyone else ever doing that how he does.

I like Howards shoulder tap...That genious. Ill have to take notes and use that on the court next time.

I thought the exact same thing, going to try it.  I never knew he did that.

[rasta1]

I would think Wade's two step should be on this list

[bfrombleacher]

I would think Wade's two step should be on this list

So should LeBron's 3 or 4 step.

[syfy9]

I would think Wade's two step should be on this list

So should LeBron's 3 or 4 step.

HAHAHAHAHAHA! TP - hilarious!

[Galeto]

Huge omission from this list IMO: Dirk Nowitzki's one foot step back jumper.  Don't recall anyone else ever doing that how he does.

Yeah, how is that not on the list?  That might be the most distinctive move in the NBA since until this past season when Kobe and Durant copied it, nobody else did it.  The guy's name is on the move!

Other signature moves:

Throwing the ball into the hoop and having it called a slam dunk. Blake Griffin, although Dwight did start it in the slam dunk competition.

Chris Paul doing a tennis split step before shooting off the dribble after dribbling for aeons.  I've yet to see anybody else do a split step before launching a shot.

Ginobili's front step stepback jumper.  This is one bizarre move that's in a similar vein as Nowitzki's.  Most guys "step back" with their back foot while angling their bodies.  Ginobili's move involves him facing directly, stepping extra long with his front foot and then pulling the foot back to shoot.  I guess it's like a jab step but with a live dribble which is really hard to execute.  Ginobili mostly does it from the three point line just to make it more difficult.