01-03-2020, 01:41 PM
(01-03-2020, 12:20 PM)fifteenth Wrote:(01-03-2020, 12:07 PM)Thukydides Wrote: I said it in another thread. I identify two triggers, that make Luka shoot those threes: 1) He feels, he´s hot. 2) He is gassed.
You're missing a third trigger that, when capitalized upon, I back completely.
Luka uses the 3 off the dribble as a viable weapon that opens up his driving game. If the defender sags too far or hedges in other ways to defend the drive, Luka shoots the 3. He scores at a decent clip on that shot and so it brings the defender back up on him on subsequent possessions so that Luka can blow him and get into the lane.
When Luka shoots the 3 off the dribble when triggered by a sagging or hedging defender it is absolutely the right play.
Fans are kind of double minded about this. We criticize Ben Simmons for his inability to punish sagging defenders and then call Luka's 3s off the dribble "hero ball".
This forum historically has mistakenly criticized Barea for the same thing. The best pnr ball handlers make this read and punish defenders for sagging and hedging, and end up with more opportunities to drive because if it.
fif. There is no difference between being afraid to shoot and a primary ball handler always thinking of himself as the first option. In the end both will doom you.
I understand the need for Luka to keep defenses honest. I also think he is a much better shooter than his percentages indicate mainly because he takes quite a few bad shots. I have also always argued just against efficiency because too many players are scared to take the big shot using the excuse of efficiency.
So I am definitely not opposed to Luka shooting. What I am opposed to is in the clutch continuing to dribble mainly to look primarily for a long shot. KD’s biggest shot as a Warrior was dribbling down and taking a cold blooded 3. We all live for moments like those. However if you do that predominantly in the clutch then you are not playing team basketball. Have to be more judicious.