Step Back Jumpers

[isucyfan]

So, I love the step back jumper move. It creates enough space to get off a shot even when closely guarded. But, as I watch college basketball around the country, it seems that those shots rarely go in. THT has shot a ton of them, and I don't remember him making many at all. Sure, James Harden makes a living at it, but is it a good shot in college?

Am I wrong that this is a low percentage shot? Or am I showing my age, and really just shouting, "Get off my lawn?" Any metrics out there about this? Have I asked enough questions in this post?

 

[pulse]

It’s simple, it depends who’s shooting them.

 

[Doc]

So, I love the step back jumper move. It creates enough space to get off a shot even when closely guarded. But, as I watch college basketball around the country, it seems that those shots rarely go in. THT has shot a ton of them, and I don't remember him making many at all. Sure, James Harden makes a living at it, but is it a good shot in college?

Am I wrong that this is a low percentage shot? Or am I showing my age, and really just shouting, "Get off my lawn?" Any metrics out there about this? Have I asked enough questions in this post?

It’s a shot you go to when the defense is good and the shot clock is low. There are times when the ability to get off a 35% shot is a good thing. It’s not a great shot, but it’s a skill that gives you the ability to win bad possessions.

 

[isucyfan]

That's a good way to think of it. I guess I would rather see two dribbles toward the basket and a shot going into the defender in a low shot clock scenario. Chance of getting fouled there.

 

[Doc]

That's a good way to think of it. I guess I would rather see two dribbles toward the basket and a shot going into the defender in a low shot clock scenario. Chance of getting fouled there.

Yeah, but bigs have gotten so good at not fouling on foolish drives (Lard excepted) that you don’t get fouls anymore. The game has changed drastically because of D’antoni and Golden State and a lot of the things we thought we knew have changed.

 

[isucyfan]

It seems like the drive option gives you a shorter shot, plus a foul chance (however small that is) as opposed to a longer shot with less of a foul chance. You can make the argument that the shot is more open, though.

With all of the metrics tracked these days, I would love to see the numbers on this.

 

[madguy30]

It's bad when the shooter has spent 10 seconds dribbling around for no reason before forcing the shot while 4 guys are running around for no reason too.

Any shot in rhythm of some sort is going to be better for general success.

 

[CloneFan4]

Laugh out loud, I was just thinking that THT watches too much James Harden

 

[Prone2Clone]

You probably don't like quarterbacks throwing off their back foot, either.

 

[Frak]

Should be limited to the end of the shot clock. There are better shots if you have time.

 

[isucyfan]

Obviously. They should take a couple of steps forward to increase the chance of contact to try and get to the foul line. Football 101.

 

[isucy86]

I have less of an issue with the step back jumper than fade away jumper. It seems to me a guy with a good step back has his body under control and he still bounces up vertically.

I would agree with some of the discussion that people tend to look at analytics in isolation- especially the effective shooting % and criticism of long 2's.

I would love to see shooting % from whether it be 3 pt, long 2, 15 ft or in paint netted by what happens after the miss. For example, do missed long 3's result in more run out baskets.

Also I would be curious if foul shots are included in the 2 or 3 point shooting % to come up with an effective shooting %.

 

[Knownothing]

THT just dies it when it’s not needed . It’s a nice play near the end of the shot clock but we can pass it and get better shots

 

[State43]

This teams habit of shooting those and long jumpers one step inside the 3 point line make me crazy. That is pickup ball **** and low % options and we do it all the time. It’s one thing if the shot clock is low but this is often with half the time still open.

 

[I-stateTheTruth]

The step back is definitely a lower percentage shot that an uncontested shot because to your eye, the basket is moving when you do it. But it's effective in creating space so that you're not as tightly guarded. Kids practice it a lot now and with enough reps, they can get the shooting percentage up for these. It didn't exist for my generation and I wouldn't even know how to teach it.

I think THT does them quite a bit and you could argue that it's not always needed. If and when he gets that shot under control, it will be a great weapon for him. He seems like he's close to "perfecting" the shot.