SHOOTING CAMP
We have arrived at a point in the game of basketball where if you can’t shoot, you can’t play. Much to my dismay, even the biggest guys are out there shooting 3’s (somewhat) effectively. Would I prefer big guys to dominate down low over and over again? Sure, but we can’t always get what we want (right Mick?).
Steph has changed the game forever.
If you can shoot, excellent! If you can’t, well, we are here to help. Guards and wings, this is a no brainer. Shooting the ball effectively opens up your drive to the basket. Simply because your defender has to come out to guard you all the way out. This has always been, and always will be, the case. Bigs? When you shoot the ball effectively out to the 3, you now draw the opposing players big out to the 3. Why does that matter? Wellllllll it means that nobody is there to protect the paint. That’s where your drives and finishes come into play, for you and others. That is why, when you watch today’s NBA, the lane is seemingly wide open – because it is!
Have you noticed over the last 8 + years how players are able to get to the rim with such ease and with such little resistance? This is a by product of the “new game”. If you look at games from not even 10 years ago, there are often 10 guys under the 3 point line. There was much less space to get into the lane and work your magic (it’s one of the reasons the pull up mid range j was so effective, for so many players, for so many years). Today, it looks and feels very crowded. That is because now, if you watch any NBA playoff game, what do you most often see? 4-5 offensive players outside the 3 point line. Defenders now have to guard them all the way out there (you have to guard Steph and Dame at halfcourt for crying out loud). Leaving what…. the paint often wiiiiiiiiiide open. So this is where we are in the current incarnation of basketball. It will change again, as all things do. But until it does, you best learn to shoot the ball my friend….