12-27-2019, 01:50 PM
A couple of thoughts-
First, is it just me or isn't it obvious that KP needs a big man coach/mentor. Not an old school Barkley or Shaq type but a retired guy with a similar skill set to his. You know, decent handles and agility for his size who could knock down the three and who relied on a fadeaway in the block to compensate for his lack of girth.
Would be even better if the mentor had Mavs connections and went through a similar phase where he had to develop his mid range post up game to compliment his 3 point shooting and driving to the basket skills. And had a set of drills he used to avoid major injuries for, oh say, 21 years in the league.
Second, Rick is right about the stats. Sort of.
Given enough shots over the course of a game 3 pointers provide more points per possession. However, at the ends of games there are not enough shot opportunities (statistical samples) to make use of the advantages of that approach. Threes tend to come in streaks. If the team is cold and the defense toughens over the last 6 or so possesions you're less likely to maintain a 33% chance of scoring threes (two 3's in six possesions or 6 points) than a 50% chance of scoring two's three 2's in six possessions or, again, 6 points).
Plus, you're less likely to get to the free throw line shooting threes.
To win in the playoffs against a good team with the no mid range or post up approach you need elite shooters that are less likely to go cold (GSW), or to be hot for an extended period of games. We have good but not elite shooters and it would be better not to rely on getting lucky and being hot.
So, in my opinion, there is some truth in both what the TNT guys and Rick said. The challenge is how to blend the two philosophies and have KP ready to make the higher percentage, in close shots at the ends of games without disrupting the flow during the other 40 or so minutes.
Kind of like what the obvious candidate to be KP's mentor used to do.
First, is it just me or isn't it obvious that KP needs a big man coach/mentor. Not an old school Barkley or Shaq type but a retired guy with a similar skill set to his. You know, decent handles and agility for his size who could knock down the three and who relied on a fadeaway in the block to compensate for his lack of girth.
Would be even better if the mentor had Mavs connections and went through a similar phase where he had to develop his mid range post up game to compliment his 3 point shooting and driving to the basket skills. And had a set of drills he used to avoid major injuries for, oh say, 21 years in the league.
Second, Rick is right about the stats. Sort of.
Given enough shots over the course of a game 3 pointers provide more points per possession. However, at the ends of games there are not enough shot opportunities (statistical samples) to make use of the advantages of that approach. Threes tend to come in streaks. If the team is cold and the defense toughens over the last 6 or so possesions you're less likely to maintain a 33% chance of scoring threes (two 3's in six possesions or 6 points) than a 50% chance of scoring two's three 2's in six possessions or, again, 6 points).
Plus, you're less likely to get to the free throw line shooting threes.
To win in the playoffs against a good team with the no mid range or post up approach you need elite shooters that are less likely to go cold (GSW), or to be hot for an extended period of games. We have good but not elite shooters and it would be better not to rely on getting lucky and being hot.
So, in my opinion, there is some truth in both what the TNT guys and Rick said. The challenge is how to blend the two philosophies and have KP ready to make the higher percentage, in close shots at the ends of games without disrupting the flow during the other 40 or so minutes.
Kind of like what the obvious candidate to be KP's mentor used to do.