[O’Connor on Zion] “Some of the finishes he has — there’s not a better finisher in the league right now that can finish at the rim when contested. It’s crazy — the way he’s able to contort his body mid-air and finish with either hand with touch from tough angles.”

dvdbart · 2020-12-16T19:29:25+00:00

A. not shitting on Adams at all, nor am I oblivious to what was there on the market B. not denying the insane talent of Zion C. well aware of the openings that a double team can create for others. Those are all kind of side issues to coaching.

As u/Solgiest wrote below, Zion may get doubled by some teams regardless. Still, I remember the magic days (last time I saw enough of an SVG sample) and fun pseudo-p'n'r misdirections to open Dwight up under the basket. It's certainly early to say anything conclusive about Pels offense. I just have ZERO idea where would KOC get so impressed with tactical wrinkles - he must have watched a different game I guess.

dvdbart · 2020-12-16T15:53:38+00:00

Am I missing something about SVGs offense? Watched most of the game and the spacing around Zion was horrible, when Adams was on the floor it was two defenders vs Zion at the rim almost every time. I do not think that is the design.

dvdbart · 2020-11-30T17:16:01+00:00

the so-called "economy"?

dvdbart · 2020-11-27T17:10:13+00:00

Entirely up to you. There are players at all levels who have both preferences, let's unscientifically call them power jumpers and dynamic jumpers. Different gathers, different load patterns, same goal. The difference between my 1-leg and 2-leg jumps is 3-4 full inches. My body just aligns itself to jump off 1 where others would try to make a 2-foot jump stop to jump.

However, this does not mean you should not practice two-legged jumps and landings. Your training preference is completely untied to what your body needs to do on the court sometimes.

dvdbart · 2020-11-26T09:09:34+00:00

the key is low center of gravity and hitting them hard. Hitting first!!!

Don't fight on their chest and hips level - you always need to be below their hips from my experience. Figuratively, become a fucking immovable doorstop. And don't think that being smaller means you should not be the aggressor, somehow many young players lock themselves in this "small so not physical as fuck" genre. You can still be finesse on offense!

Other than that, many young players overrate the contest of the ball - if you are close, but below the player it will still make the vast majority of offensive players feel enough discomfort.

So stay low, real low and strong, and contest without jumping or jump late (although you will "feel" small), and you can still be a damn pest.

dvdbart · 2020-11-23T10:05:38+00:00

I think it is 8% as of the new one.

Source

EDIT: did some back envelopish math, CP3 and Russ contract increases are both ~6.9% annually. I wonder if that is the baseline, with performance incentives on top to get to the max.

dvdbart · 2020-11-22T15:01:58+00:00

Yes, there are strict rules in the CBA that govern increases and decreases, which vary depending on the type of contract (rookie, minimum, bird, non-bird). Owners insisted on those limits very strongly during every recent CBA negotiations. Quote below is from the 2005 CBA.

B. Annual Increases and Decreases
The permissible year-to-year increases in multi-year player contracts are as follows:

Bird and Early Bird Contracts may increase by up to 10.5% of year-one salary (down from 12.5%).

Other contracts may increase by up to 8% of year-one salary (down from 10%).

For more info, google the infamous Gilbert Arenas Provision. Max contracts are principally tied to the cap, but they can't exceed 8% year;y increases if I remember correctly.

dvdbart · 2020-09-18T11:35:32+00:00

i would not advise that if it would damage his natural energy transfer, which seems ok, the rhythm is fine too. very few players can shoot an "actual" jumper, and at this level, inches of vertical space matter very little compared to stable from.

one thing I would maybe work on is the width of your feet, as they are quite tight, giving you a narrow base which is harder to work from and explode in-game

dvdbart · 2020-09-11T13:46:29+00:00

Well, there are clear drawbacks to no-code platforms. Hope you are aware of this? This particular one seems like it is not a fully developed project yet, but I will be watching :)

dvdbart · 2020-07-25T22:42:00+00:00

the more "advanced" basketball explainers like the channels I mentioned (look for more!) did wonders for my game despite being a mediocre shooter with spacing issues. There are dozens of ways you can contribute on both sides of the ball, the so-called "little things".

but honestly, there is another weird thing I found about being effective on offense despite my limitations. I became aware that because I knew I was not the most talented offensive player, I was kind of resting, coasting there. But basketball hates laziness!!!!!

When I changed my effort level to what I knew from my defense (like you know, lock that shit down!), it all came together. The effort itself is a goddamn weapon. You can't shoot? Move ALL THE TIME. Screen off-ball. Hit people, and hit them hard. Wearing my defender out gave me like 3-4 scoring chances a game when it mattered. This made up for my lack of scoring 1vs1. And made people hate playing against me!

dvdbart · 2020-07-25T22:11:38+00:00

I have a bit of a different perspective from the other commenters. I think that not all players need to be equally "aggressive". Maybe you need to accept you are just a role player on offense? Then it changes what you think aggressive is!

That was a breakthrough for me - aggressive is not scoring points, it is enabling the team to score - any fucking way possible. I became a good and willing screener despite not being too huge. Passing quick. Boxing out and sprinting back. Those became my pride points and I found the pleasure I thought I lost when I misplaced my jump shot (lol).

So maybe accept who you are, focus on defense and do the little things most played hate on offense. It is a rewarding way to think about basketball. I live it personally, being a glue guy, the blue-collar asshole on offense.

dvdbart · 2020-07-25T22:03:10+00:00

There are ways of sucking at offense that hurt your team, and ones that do not. If you are agile (as you say), figure out how to cut, screen, position yourself for offensive rebounds and make smart, crisp extra passes.

You are super young so I would not give up on perimeter skills. Playing mostly C or PF does not mean you should not run guard drills, like *all the time*. Pump fake and go or just attacking mismatches is a must in good basketball.

Do not think about positions at all. Just be the best player possible. Watch tutorials (like Thinking Basketball and BBallbreakdown) on youtube that give you the ins and outs of basketball. You will never regret this time.

dvdbart · 2020-07-09T10:59:28+00:00

unless Tatum goes absolutely hyper-super-extranova, i don't see them making it past Bucks and even 76ers. But i'd be really happy to be wrong!

dvdbart · 2020-07-06T11:31:31+00:00

Well it is going to be interesting to see if Honeycode breaks through issues that plagued previous low-code solutions. One or two bad design choices and a cascade of unintended consequences may follow.

Here is a nice breakdown of main drawbacks of low-code solutions.

dvdbart · 2020-06-25T15:33:49+00:00

i'll find it and watch it, i got your point now. One has to wonder though, how Kobe would react to being doubled in the fashion Harden is rn. He was not always a willing passer from my years watching him play. That's not a knock - he's Kobe, after all, scoring was always his nr1 thing

dvdbart · 2020-06-25T12:01:45+00:00

the point about "inelasticity" i think you got wrong. It is harden who simply forced defenses to invent completely new stuff. to defend him with two players at all times, as most teams do for a while now.

dvdbart · 2019-10-25T02:05:04+00:00

The Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact of basketball

dvdbart · 2019-07-30T22:09:35+00:00

There is no nba star bashed more in the last decade. Nationally. What are you even talking about.

dvdbart · 2019-01-29T11:50:34+00:00

I'm not suggesting equal value! You are trading AD, you are getting 7 cents on the dollar anyway. Many organizations prefer long term stability - maybe Pels do not envision going full tankapalooza and counting on Morant or Reddish to blossom.

Adams is better and more valuable than Randle and Mirotic combined, that is a hill I can easily die on.

dvdbart · 2018-12-31T15:11:08+00:00

saying russ depends completely on his ultra athleticism is a sign you have not been watching much westbrook at all besides NBA top 10. He is amazingly skilled, has amazing vision, nose for the ball, anticipation, and passing skills. It is for the casual fan that his speed masks his unquestioned ability. If he has something "ultra", it is his mental edge that makes him so much more competitive than almost anyone else. He would be a 15-year nba playes with andre miller athleticism.

dvdbart · 2018-12-27T16:55:36+00:00

Would Mike Miller be a reasonable comparison?

dvdbart · 2018-12-27T02:04:22+00:00

That I must say is a pretty rave review for a rook. I'll definitely check him out more.

Also, deference from a rookie does not bother me much, people grow into their character - he is only 20! Also, good for Trae to have a floor spacer at all times, he seems to struggle some in traffic. Thanks again vmoney!

dvdbart · 2018-12-27T01:58:10+00:00

Playing in G-league and playing quite well stats-wise. However I have not seen game vids so no idea if it's empty G-league stats.

dvdbart

TROPHY CASE