faces wont stop the facts. what i said was 100% truth, i know this because i used that same defense vs lower level steph like chuckers when i played a lot of ball back in the day. what always amazed me is how many dudes that could play defense, just couldnt understand the mindset of a chucker. The chucker wants to chuck more than he wants to get a free layup. so therefore, their 3 ball becomes their layup. just like you try to clog the lane on a dwade or bron in their prime to stop the layup fest. you ride steph's shooting arm to keep him from raising up from 3 on you. do not go for any fakes going towards the basket. this means step back 3's should not work vs your defense. because you are not going for the initial step forward(towars the basket). I already know you are trying to create space to chuck. Not on my watch. you better call the refs to hit me with the ticky tack fouls. guys have been taught their entire life. "no layups". They have been taught "NO THREES." This is a new era of analytics and 3's going up like crazy. Steph and klay are the best at this new era. it will take some years before the nba catches up to them with defense and even change their mentality on defense.
again, if all of the analytics is saying spread the floor to get open 3's. What should the defensive analytics be saying? Sit on all shooters. do not collapse when a guy gets into the middle of the floor. the analytics should be focusing not on layups at the rim but carving out a wall so a guy can't get into that floater range without someone all up on his shooting hand.
but thats not the case yes. the offense right now is ahead of the defense. like way ahead.
anyone remember when the zone defense first got into the nba. it was terrible. but i also remembered what happened when the spurs finally figured out how to use it correctly. their defense became super lock down and smothering. especially for teams that were not great at shooting.
the ultimate zone was what Thibs did to kobe when he was with the celtics that year the lakers lossed in the finals.
SUPER ZONE. now this new style of offense has surpassed that super defense.
**to exactly what i said about defending him with your hands to your side or down. you're taught growing up to keep your hands out(most people still dont do that. its to give you a greater chance of tipping the ball if the guy passes it, and to give you quicker reaction to a guys shot or give you a quicker reaction to a guys dribbling. you can track the ball better when your hands/arms are extended. BUt with steph and this super quick shot without jumping really high. you need to have your hands in the read to tip block his shot position. this is before he shoots. you're not going to steal the ball. so why even have your hands down there? prepare for the inevitable...the jumper.
When i saw steph dribbling i was like he's about to shoot that vs okc. everyone keeps saying WOW i didnt think he would shoot that. WHY NOT? the guy is that crazy with the 3 ball. Respect it, fear it. understand it. Its real. stop living in denial. he's liable to chuck from the tip ball circle. did anyone not watch him practicing that very same shot during the allstar game? he hit one or two just like that. did yall forget? "bu but it was the allstar game where they dont play defense."
Did you watch that last second steph shot again, was anyone all up on him? NOPE. so the defense was about as bad on that play as if it was the allstar game, which is why he shot that super far 3 that he knew he could make. he's done that a few weeks ago in the allstar game.
this is what i mean when i say MOST people are not defensive minded. its not just about having the physical tools like a Kawhi L, or butler. but its also bout out thinking the offensive guy. to do that you have to pay attention to detail. i use to lock guys up even on the playground because while i was stretching or lacing my shooes up. i was watching you take shots or do dribble moves or layups before the game would star. even in high school, rec leagues i would watch guys during shoot around when most people are worried about chucking themselves. i was half shooting and mostly watching my opponent. trying to understand their hot spots, their rhythm, timing, etc.
you can slow him down but you have to do the work. you have to do some serious homework.
