NBA Basketball purists, please avert your eyes from this abomination

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I see nothing but a smart play here.

Melo doesn't play above-the-rim; he only has 7 dunks across 71 games this season.

Which begs the question - what could he possibly have done to get up a shot against two bigger, more athletic defenders right on his hip? Duren was all ready to jump and punch his shyt and since Melo is well aware of his own limtiations at the rim, the best course of action was to fake out both defenders and then find an open shot.

I get the critiques around his style of play that he plays too much, but he made the right decision on this possession.

I see your point.
Still, I think you attack the basket there. I would suspect a foul is a more likely outcome than a block.

 

[jdubnyce]

Correct basketball play by a modern era savant

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

I see your point.
Still, I think you attack the basket there. I would suspect a foul is a more likely outcome than a block.

I'd argue 8 out of 10 times that play would've resulted in a block.

It wouldn't have mattered which angle he attacked the rim from because he had two bigger, more athletic defenders on either side of him. He goes left, Duren blocks it, he goes right and Holland II blocks it. It's not like he could've maneuvered to either side of the rim to avoid being blocked like you typically can do if one defender is behind you.

What really counts against him here is because he only averages 2.5 free-throw attempts, he's rarely ever in a position going to the rim where he knows how to draw a foul, and since he pretty much never dunks the ball in traffic, he would've put up some awkward layup trying to avoid contact, rather than playing to draw some kind of contact for a whistle. This is also compounded by him being frail and trying to protect his body, which keep in mind, he's only averaged 35 games over the last three seasons, so even on the 2 out of 10 times he could've drawn a foul, there's a high risk he ends up getting injured.

It's no coincidence his shots at the rim have drastically decreased this season compared to the last three years and I'd imagine it's directive from the team to preserve his body and not take unnecessary contact.

 

[charknicks]

I see your point.
Still, I think you attack the basket there. I would suspect a foul is a more likely outcome than a block.

Fair point. But also, LaMelo is fragile, so a foul (in this case, a foul where these 2 teams dont like each other and have some beef) from a big dude like Duren, and Melo would fall on his ankle or wrist and be out for the playoffs/play in game on Wednesday.

I can see it in most cases to go hard at the basket and get to the line, but he was in a 1 on 2 situation on this play. He made the smart move.

 

[Negro Caesar]

Looked like he was going to go for a layup but almost lost the ball so he didnt attempt it

 

[The God Poster]

I see nothing but a smart play here.

Melo doesn't play above-the-rim; he only has 7 dunks across 71 games this season.

Which begs the question - what could he possibly have done to get up a shot against two bigger, more athletic defenders right on his hip? Duren was all ready to jump and punch his shyt and since Melo is well aware of his own limtiations at the rim, the best course of action was to fake out both defenders and then find an open shot.

I get the critiques around his style of play that he plays too much, but he made the right decision on this possession.

The problem with this post is you’re disregarding the probability of refs calling a foul for any little contact

Two free throw makes(for him) are more guaranteed than the 3

 

[FaTaL]

Can’t blame him from avoiding contact due to his history of injury

 

[Gil Scott-Heroin]

The problem with this post is you’re disregarding the probability of refs calling a foul for any little contact

Two free throw makes(for him) are more guaranteed than the 3

If you bothered to read my corresponding post in this thread, you’d realize I’m not disregarding this element, at all -

I'd argue 8 out of 10 times that play would've resulted in a block.

It wouldn't have mattered which angle he attacked the rim from because he had two bigger, more athletic defenders on either side of him. He goes left, Duren blocks it, he goes right and Holland II blocks it. It's not like he could've maneuvered to either side of the rim to avoid being blocked like you typically can do if one defender is behind you.

What really counts against him here is because he only averages 2.5 free-throw attempts, he's rarely ever in a position going to the rim where he knows how to draw a foul, and since he pretty much never dunks the ball in traffic, he would've put up some awkward layup trying to avoid contact, rather than playing to draw some kind of contact for a whistle. This is also compounded by him being frail and trying to protect his body, which keep in mind, he's only averaged 35 games over the last three seasons, so even on the 2 out of 10 times he could've drawn a foul, there's a high risk he ends up getting injured.

It's no coincidence his shots at the rim have drastically decreased this season compared to the last three years and I'd imagine it's directive from the team to preserve his body and not take unnecessary contact.

 

[mbewane]

I'm not a LaMelo fan at all but he made the right play by not attempting the lay-up with the two athletic defenders right behind him. The three after just happened to be open because other players just trotted back it seems, he took it and made it.

 

[ScoopNScore]

What's more embarrassing is neither of them stayed with him to challenge the 3 and make him pay, so of course he's gonna do what he wants

 

[Long Live The Kane]

Looked like he was going to go for a layup but almost lost the ball so he didnt attempt it

The moment after he stole the ball and glanced and saw Duran in the backcourt he had ZERO intention of finishing at the rim..he hard decelerates at the free throw line to escape to the 3 point line…he likely dunks or gets fouled if he actually pushes

 

[Gritsngravy]

Them hornets colors kinda dope, almost got a bobcats feel to it

 

[NZA]

for him, not bad

 

[KFBF]

That layup would've been ripped out the sky and lamelo would've went flying into the stands

I would have liked to see that.

 

[2Quik4UHoes]

Bam Adebayo scored over 80 points. This sport been dead to me