The Pelicans and Gentry want Anthony Davis to Develop into a 3 pt Shooter

[D.o.s.]

I think when you say it is unfortunate a people of a certain age, which isn't actually very long ago, aren't dead yet... yeah....

Personally I don't care, but it was an all around ignorant post, disrespectful, and in my opinion not in line with the rules of the forums.  But I'm just an old guy of 43, what do I know.

Clearly not very much about the effectiveness of the three point shot. 

[celticsclay]

Dos has been on his best behavior for a while. This must be a throw back wednesday or something. You should see the stuff he used to write! Would make a grown man blush.

[GreenFaith1819]

I'll go crawl back into my 80's hole, Back to the Future Style.

I'll leave you young heads alone as I drift off to some old tunes.

Too bad, Shaq, Hakeem, Kareem ain't walking through that door.

[D.o.s.]

Dos has been on his best behavior for a while. This must be a throw back wednesday or something. You should see the stuff he used to write! Would make a grown man blush.

[PhoSita]

This to me is like arguing that a QB, who has the ability to both pass and be a threat on the run, shouldn't ever leave the pocket because he's a great passer and he should just stick with what he's really good at.  Because everybody knows that there's no such thing as complementary skills.


These must be the same people who loved Rondo because he was really good at passing and hey, passing is what a point guard is for, right?  No sense in worrying about any other part of his game.


The great benefit of having a superstar on your team is that they can do tons of different things well and make it so everybody else on the team has to do less in order to succeed.

Why would you intentionally limit your star if he has the ability to do pretty much anything he wants on the floor?

This is different than saying AD should have the green light to just launch from the perimeter.  But that's not the situation.  All we've heard is that they're having AD practice his outside shot, presumably so he can punish opponents for ever leaving him even if he's out on the perimeter.

Obviously, AD should play to his strengths.  But the ability to shoot from outside opens up opportunities to do the things he's really good at.  If the opponent has to worry about AD popping out to the three point line on a pick and roll instead of rolling to the rim, that opens up more possibilities for AD and his teammates.

Not to mention, AD has the ball-handling and speed to viciously attack closeouts, so if he catches the ball on the three point line and the opponent has to rush out to potentially contest, he can attack and get an open lane to the basket.

There's really no downside unless AD falls in love with the outside shot like Josh Smith.  I don't see that happening.

LeBron was once a poor outside shooter.  He's always been a phenomenal finisher in the paint.  Was it bad for LeBron's game that he developed an outside shot?


Going back to my earlier point: which would you rather have, a superstar who's really good at playing on the inside, a superstar who's really good at playing on the perimeter, or a superstar who's really good EVERYWHERE?

[Greenbean]

Is the 3 pt shot really the future of the league and the way basketball is played though? Is featuring a team of perimeter shooters a more evolved form of basketball as opposed to featuring post play and working inside out?

I think it might have to do with the skill sets of the current crop of stars, and the lack of scoring skills in todays big men. I thinks its just cyclical to be honest. Look at baseball. Is the brand of baseball you see now, more of a speed/small ball game actually more evolved? Or is it because the stars cant just walk and hit bombs now because the steroid era is over? In fact, this kind of baseball is old school.

Just to note, I am not saying Davis shouldnt work on this shot at least enough to be dangerous. I just question the philosophy to emphasise this in his game and the Pelicans offense.

[Greenbean]

This to me is like arguing that a QB, who has the ability to both pass and be a threat on the run, shouldn't ever leave the pocket because he's a great passer and he should just stick with what he's really good at.  Because everybody knows that there's no such thing as complementary skills.


These must be the same people who loved Rondo because he was really good at passing and hey, passing is what a point guard is for, right?  No sense in worrying about any other part of his game.


The great benefit of having a superstar on your team is that they can do tons of different things well and make it so everybody else on the team has to do less in order to succeed.

Why would you intentionally limit your star if he has the ability to do pretty much anything he wants on the floor?

This is different than saying AD should have the green light to just launch from the perimeter.  But that's not the situation.  All we've heard is that they're having AD practice his outside shot, presumably so he can punish opponents for ever leaving him even if he's out on the perimeter.

Obviously, AD should play to his strengths.  But the ability to shoot from outside opens up opportunities to do the things he's really good at.  If the opponent has to worry about AD popping out to the three point line on a pick and roll instead of rolling to the rim, that opens up more possibilities for AD and his teammates.

Not to mention, AD has the ball-handling and speed to viciously attack closeouts, so if he catches the ball on the three point line and the opponent has to rush out to potentially contest, he can attack and get an open lane to the basket.

There's really no downside unless AD falls in love with the outside shot like Josh Smith.  I don't see that happening.



Going back to my earlier point: which would you rather have, a superstar who's really good at playing on the inside, a superstar who's really good at playing on the perimeter, or a superstar who's really good EVERYWHERE?

My take is Id be worried about what you listed as the only downside and only because this is coming from his coach. Otherwise youre right.

[D.o.s.]

Is the 3 pt shot really the future of the league and the way basketball is played though? Is featuring a team of perimeter shooters a more evolved form of basketball as opposed to featuring post play and working inside out?

I think it might have to do with the skill sets of the current crop of stars, and the lack of scoring skills in todays big men. I thinks its just cyclical to be honest. Look at baseball. Is the brand of baseball you see now, more of a speed/small ball game actually more evolved? Or is it because the stars cant just walk and hit bombs now because the steroid era is over? In fact, this kind of baseball is old school.

Just to note, I am not saying Davis shouldnt work on this shot at least enough to be dangerous. I just question the philosophy to emphasise this in his game and the Pelicans offense.

Unless they repeal the Mark Jackson rule the best post-up big the NBA is likely to see in the near future is Al Jefferson.

Furthermore, as it stands Inside-Out play is not as effective as spacing the floor with three point shooters. There is a reason everyone made fun of the way Byron Scott started out the year coaching the Lakers, and it isn't ageism.

[Greenbean]

Is the 3 pt shot really the future of the league and the way basketball is played though? Is featuring a team of perimeter shooters a more evolved form of basketball as opposed to featuring post play and working inside out?

I think it might have to do with the skill sets of the current crop of stars, and the lack of scoring skills in todays big men. I thinks its just cyclical to be honest. Look at baseball. Is the brand of baseball you see now, more of a speed/small ball game actually more evolved? Or is it because the stars cant just walk and hit bombs now because the steroid era is over? In fact, this kind of baseball is old school.

Just to note, I am not saying Davis shouldnt work on this shot at least enough to be dangerous. I just question the philosophy to emphasise this in his game and the Pelicans offense.

Unless they repeal the Mark Jackson rule the best post-up big the NBA is likely to see in the near future is Al Jefferson.

Furthermore, as it stands Inside-Out play is not as effective as spacing the floor with three point shooters. There is a reason everyone made fun of the way Byron Scott started out the year coaching the Lakers, and it isn't ageism.

Maybe.

But maybe if there were more Al Jeffersons in the league. Scratch that Al Jeffersons that could pass like bigs of the past were able to do, then inside out play would work just as well.

Regardless, Im just glad we seem to be past the era where perimiter isolation and iso wing players rule the NBA. Once LeBron filters out anyway. Pace and space is much more beautiful to watch.

[D.o.s.]

You would also have to go back to a time where it was illegal to double team a player without the ball for guys like that to really flourish. And probably go back to the older hand checking rules too.

However, it is no coincidence that an overwhelming number of modern day (i.e. Post-Pistons) NBA championship teams have lead the postseason in three pointers attempted and made the year they won their rings:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2014.html#all_team_stats

[Rondo9]

This to me is like arguing that a QB, who has the ability to both pass and be a threat on the run, shouldn't ever leave the pocket because he's a great passer and he should just stick with what he's really good at.  Because everybody knows that there's no such thing as complementary skills.


These must be the same people who loved Rondo because he was really good at passing and hey, passing is what a point guard is for, right?  No sense in worrying about any other part of his game.


The great benefit of having a superstar on your team is that they can do tons of different things well and make it so everybody else on the team has to do less in order to succeed.

Why would you intentionally limit your star if he has the ability to do pretty much anything he wants on the floor?

This is different than saying AD should have the green light to just launch from the perimeter.  But that's not the situation.  All we've heard is that they're having AD practice his outside shot, presumably so he can punish opponents for ever leaving him even if he's out on the perimeter.

Obviously, AD should play to his strengths.  But the ability to shoot from outside opens up opportunities to do the things he's really good at.  If the opponent has to worry about AD popping out to the three point line on a pick and roll instead of rolling to the rim, that opens up more possibilities for AD and his teammates.

Not to mention, AD has the ball-handling and speed to viciously attack closeouts, so if he catches the ball on the three point line and the opponent has to rush out to potentially contest, he can attack and get an open lane to the basket.

There's really no downside unless AD falls in love with the outside shot like Josh Smith.  I don't see that happening.

LeBron was once a poor outside shooter.  He's always been a phenomenal finisher in the paint.  Was it bad for LeBron's game that he developed an outside shot?


Going back to my earlier point: which would you rather have, a superstar who's really good at playing on the inside, a superstar who's really good at playing on the perimeter, or a superstar who's really good EVERYWHERE?

Then he should improve his midrange game. Besides Lebron is a perimeter player, so it's more imperative that he should improve his jumpshot.

[danglertx]

You would also have to go back to a time where it was illegal to double team a player without the ball for guys like that to really flourish. And probably go back to the older hand checking rules too.

However, it is no coincidence that an overwhelming number of modern day (i.e. Post-Pistons) NBA championship teams have lead the postseason in three pointers attempted and made the year they won their rings:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2014.html#all_team_stats

I think you've turned this from a debate on if Anthony Davis should be shooting three point shots, to the value of three point shots.  I don't think anyone is saying shooting threes is a bad thing.  The question is, is moving Davis out to the three point line to shoot poor to mediocre from the three point line is a more valuable way of using him.   

If I'm CBS playing the Pels and they want to move AD out to the three point line from 24-50% of the time and let him jack threes, I thank God and take my chances.  Are they trying to space the floor for Tyreke Evans to drive?  I'll take my chances with that.

If you move AD to the three point line he effectively becomes Kelly Olynyk on offense, although probably not as good.  You leave him 15ft in and he is probably the best player in the NBA, with the possible exceptions of Curry, LeBron, and maybe Durant.

Seems silly to me, but if I'm coaching against it, I'm all for it.

[PhoSita]

Besides Lebron is a perimeter player, so it's more imperative that he should improve his jumpshot.

But this is what I'm trying to say:

In today's NBA, there's no such thing as a "perimeter player" and a "paint player."  The best, smartest teams are not beholden to that distinction.

And besides, LeBron came into the league as a guy who scored primarily in the paint and only gradually added expanded his game outwards, so it doesn't make sense to call him a "perimeter player."


Also: how do any of you know he's going to be a mediocre three point shooter?  He's already a very good midrange shooter, and he's supremely talented.

[danglertx]

Besides Lebron is a perimeter player, so it's more imperative that he should improve his jumpshot.

But this is what I'm trying to say:

In today's NBA, there's no such thing as a "perimeter player" and a "paint player."  The best, smartest teams are not beholden to that distinction.

And besides, LeBron came into the league as a guy who scored primarily in the paint and only gradually added expanded his game outwards, so it doesn't make sense to call him a "perimeter player."


Also: how do any of you know he's going to be a mediocre three point shooter?  He's already a very good midrange shooter, and he's supremely talented.

Except that, if Lebron would go post up, or drive the basketball every time, you'd rather have that then him shooting threes, right?  He just won't do it.  Not because he can't, he just doesn't want to.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I don't see the downside. If he can hit it consistently, that will only help give his teammates more room to do their thing. If he's inside they shoot 3s or 15ft+, if he pops outside it will bring the shot blocker/rim protector outside giving his teammates room to attack.

He's going to be so nasty if he can hit it consistently which will only make his teammates have an easier job. The easiest shot for his teammates will be the wide open dunks he's going to create by pulling everyone out. It's not like they can send perimeter players to him, he'd shoot right over them.

I can't wait to see this!