Rim attackers still provide offensive value even when their shot is off

[3ball]

.
by forcing every help defender to cheat off their man and protect the rim attack (see Isiah Thomas in the gif below), therefore getting teammates more open and spacing the floor:


http://cdn.makeagif.com/media/7-30-2015/jkrR_v.gif


Curry can't space the floor and get teammates open all by himself like a rim attacker - he needs his entire team shooting 3-pointers WITH him to space the floor.

Curry's lack of rim attack makes him inferior to non-shooting (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12338297&postcount=47) rim-attackers like Westbrook/Lebron, and obviously goat-shooting (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12373019&postcount=26) rim-attackers like Jordan, since they still have a positive offensive impact even when their shot is off, while always playing much better defense as well.
.

[KingPush]

Westbrook>Jordan

[bigkingsfan]

MJ is the ultimate ball hog, you rarely needed to guard his teammates.

[SpaceJam]

Westbrook>Jordan

'16 Russell Westbrook: 1.12 ISBOB

[KingPush]

'16 Russell Westbrook: 1.12 ISBOB™
'88 Michael Jordan: 1.44 ISBOB™

How does it feel to be wrong bro
Wtf does isbob even mean you ****ing nerd

[3ball]

Westbrook>Jordan


Imagine if Westbrook was 3 inches taller, way smarter, could double-pump from the FT line with ease, and shot a full 10 percentage points better, including goat efficiency from midrange (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12373019&postcount=26)?

Westbrook is Jordan's mini-me

[SpaceJam]

Wtf does isbob even mean you ****ing nerd

Numbers don't lie bro

[SouBeachTalents]

1-9

[Marchesk]

If only Westbrook had a better vertical ...

Imagine how scary he would be.

[3ball]

1-9


Jordan made up for his lack of 3-point shooting compared to Curry with far superior midrange (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12373019&postcount=26) efficiency, and far less turnovers - these things gave him superior per possession efficiency (ortg), which is more important than Curry's per-shot efficiency.

Jordan's higher efficiency is remarkable considering he carried a bigger load: he produced a higher proportion of his team's points and assists with far less turnovers, while also carrying a bigger load on defense.

Jordan was superior on both ends, even though Curry's teammates spaced the floor for him, and Jordan's didn't - teams only attempted 5 threes per game when Jordan won his first ring in 1991, compared to 25 attempts per game for today's teams.. Accordingly, his stats would explode in today's spaced-out game.

Just look at Lebron and Westbrook - Jordan has same or better athleticism, but they can't shoot (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12338297&postcount=47), whereas he had goat midrange efficiency, much better than Curry's (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12373019&postcount=26).. Essentially, MJ had Lebron/Westbrook's athleticism combined with Curry's goat shooting ability..

[9erempiree]

Very few rim attackers in today's game. Last guy to do it with an all around offensive repertoire is Kobe Bryant and before that is Michael Jordan.

Lebron can attack but he's more of an attacker than a shooter.

I would say Wade still has it in him with the all around game.

[3ball]

Very few rim attackers in today's game.


2-pointers have always been more contested - certainly, most 2-pointers aren't taken with 4+ feet of room (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?t=406865) like the vast majority of today's 3-pointers.. The tighter contest on 2-point shots is why the eras that shot more 2-pointers produced better players - for example, the 10th place vote-getter for MVP this year was Kyle Lowry, to Shaq in 1996.. Pretty big difference.

Ultimately, the tighter contest on 2-pointers requires refined touch from midrange (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12367120&postcount=12), and the lack of spacing created by 2-point shooting required thread-needle (https://media.giphy.com/media/14dxFSxmv135bG/giphy.gif) passing, quicker instincts (https://media.giphy.com/media/WaFRus5AZcR8c/giphy.gif) and decision-making (https://media.giphy.com/media/xVCegX3kISST6/giphy.gif), and also more sophisticated (https://media.giphy.com/media/xT4uQoN51xmHONisr6/giphy.gif) moves besides ball-domination (such as post (https://media.giphy.com/media/sMEYKXY5vSezK/giphy.gif), triple-threat (https://media.giphy.com/media/xT4uQwXCdJnRJ1PGrS/giphy.gif)).

Otoh, today's players master a much narrower skillset that requires less sophistication - specifically, they master the skills needed to execute screen-roll/drive-and-kick, since that's the preferred method of generating mass volume of 3-point shooting.
.

[9erempiree]

Going to be a few years before we see another...just going at the rim opens up so many opportunities.

http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3692787/kobescores.gif
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2400847/kobewilt.gif
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2458463/kobe2.gif
https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/547c810169bedd524fb2c120/kobe%20bryant%20foul%202%20gif.gif

[9erempiree]

If we are going off teams with elite backcourt play then there are no longer attacking guards. Curry and Klay use deception to get to the basket. Aside from Draymond nobody takes it all the way as they like to swing the ball when the 2nd defender commits. Perhaps by design.

Then you have someone like Derozan who likes to use the long ball to get to the basket too.

[Im Still Ballin]

Numbers don't lie bro
Got him bro

[3ball]

Very few rim attackers in today's game. Last guy to do it with an all around offensive repertoire is Kobe Bryant and before that is Michael Jordan.

Lebron can attack but he's more of an attacker than a shooter.


It's funny because the highlights of OKC/Warriors showed all the big shots were midrange iso pull-ups.. It's clear that late in games when the defense is tightest, more contested isolations and tough midrange shots are needed - but contested midrange was the normal offense in previous eras, so it's funny that now it's reserved more for the toughest parts of the game..

Obviously, Jordan and players in previous eras would thrive in today's clutch, because they were masters of contested midrange - without 3-pointers, they were masters of 2-pointers.

In Jordan's case, he led the league in scoring by shooting 1202 midrange jumpshots at 49% in 1997 - that's utterly insane volume and efficiency - it's the best midrange jumpshooting of all time.. Just think what he'd do in today's game, with more iso room from teammates that are spacing the floor..

[9erempiree]

Going to be a few years before we see another...just going at the rim opens up so many opportunities.

http://cdn2.sbnation.com/assets/3692787/kobescores.gif
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2400847/kobewilt.gif
http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/2458463/kobe2.gif
https://static-ssl.businessinsider.com/image/547c810169bedd524fb2c120/kobe%20bryant%20foul%202%20gif.gif

Can't put a value on attacking players with range.

Durant should attack more.