Shooter vs. Slasher

[baller4life315]

Which type of player would you rather be?

Would you rather be a dynamic, flashy slasher type that cuts to the basket, gets in the lane and takes a lot of punishment with usually a shorter career or would you rather be primarily a shooter that obviously works the perimeter game, takes less physical punishment and typically lasts in the NBA much longer?

With the "slasher" mold you usually risk losing effectiveness as your athleticism wears. Just ask the Shawn Kemp's, Desmond Mason's and Steve Francis's of the world.

With the "shooter" mold you're usually unable to or weak at taking over games when it counts the most. Somebody like Ray Allen could play til he's 40 if he wanted but as you saw in the playoffs and before in his career, he typically wilts down the stretch and falls victim to the streaky, hit-or-miss nature of being primarily a shooter.

With the "slasher" mold you're always capable of improving your jumper. You can teach better form on a jumpshot. You can't teach an explosive first step or 40-inch vertical.

Those a few examples of what i'm talking about. Any thoughts?

[sTeKcOr22]

Easy.

I would rather be a slasher.

[durvasa]

With the "shooter" mold you're usually unable to or weak at taking over games when it counts the most. Somebody like Ray Allen could play til he's 40 if he wanted but as you saw in the playoffs and before in his career, he typically wilts down the stretch and falls victim to the streaky, hit-or-miss nature of being primarily a shooter.

Maybe not so much last year, but I think you underrate Ray Allen here. In his prime, he was a very good all-around scorer. Reminiscent of Brandon Roy, with a purer jump shot.

[radapharoah]

Maybe not so much last year, but I think you underrate Ray Allen here. In his prime, he was a very good all-around scorer. Reminiscent of Brandon Roy, with a purer jump shot.
i think you overrate him....roy plays point for portland, no one ever thinks of jesus shuttlesworth as a point

[durvasa]

i think you overrate him....roy plays point for portland, no one ever thinks of jesus shuttlesworth as a point

I was referring to Allen's all around scoring ability, though I do think he has been an underrated ball-handler as well. A very solid all-around offensive guard. He's not just a glorified Michael Redd.

[baller4life315]

Maybe not so much last year, but I think you underrate Ray Allen here. In his prime, he was a very good all-around scorer. Reminiscent of Brandon Roy, with a purer jump shot.

He's a very good all-around player in terms of fundamental skills but even in his prime was still mainly a perimeter oriented player. That's all i'm saying.

There are players that catch the ball, take a power step then dare anybody to stop them on the way to the basket. He's not one of those guys.

[Lima Time]

I would rather be a shooter. Less chance of injury since I'm standing outside waiting for a pass. Slashers can get hurt on any play that they drive. Plus shooters are always wanted. You can never have enough shooters on a team.

[tmacyaokobe01]

a slasher.

[Rocket River]

Let's see . . . .Ultimate shooters:
Dale Ellis [I would love to have his shot .. coming off a pick no one was deadlier . .well not to the rockets]
Steve Kerr

I prefer to be slasher
they make more money . . more highlights and
most important to me just seem to have more fun with the game

shooters get excited . .couple of fist pumps etc
but Slashers seems to be more into the game . . more adreniline
just seem to have more fun

Rocket River
:)

[eMat]

I would much rather be a slasher than a shooter because I hate shooters. Especially the ones that are 'centers' or 'power (:rolleyes: ) forwards'.

Above all, I love to play in the post however (probably because I'm a center in a point guard's body :D ).

[Illmatic]

I would much rather be a slasher than a shooter because I hate shooters. Especially the ones that are 'centers' or 'power (:rolleyes: ) forwards'.

Above all, I love to play in the post however (probably because I'm a center in a point guard's body :D ).

are you B Diddy

[ShadyMcGrady]

That's not fair. If you say you can always teach a better jumpshot to a slasher, you have to say that a deadly jumpshooter can always get space to drive.

You're telling me you wouldn't bite on a Ray Allen/Reggie Miller/etc. pump fake? If you don't, you'll get burned. Teach a shooter basic ball handling and he will get around his opponents all day.

It goes either way. I guess if you *had* to be one, I'd probably choose shooter. Personally, I think it's easier to guard a slasher rather than a shooter. Simply because, you can give yourself ample space if the guy can't shoot, and if you still get burned, it's easier to help on (and double) a slasher rather than a shooter.

A deadly shooter will have suckas jumping all day. Just ask me. Just kidding I'm not deadly, i'm decent though. :D

[Red1Rocket]

If I could dunk like rudy gay, id be a slasher.

[plutoblue11]

Does shooter list include people, like Reggie Miller, Larry Bird, Rick Barry, Joe Dumars, Rex Chapman, Jeff Hornacek, and even Irk?


If I can be that good, I'll say a shooter.


F all of that dunking, if you can find a good dead eye shooter....you can have someone who is very valuable in crunch time and tense moments in playoffs.

[mrm32]

Slasher. More opportunities to get to the free throw line and get the other team in foul trouble. :cool:

[rockbox]

Shooters have longer careers.

[Carl Herrera]

All else being equal (for example, equal defense), a good shooter with below average slashing ability has a easier time contributing to team success than a good slasher with below average shooting ability.

If your shooting ability is below average, you'd have to be a hell of a slasher to make up for the fact that defense can leave you alone and use your man to help on yoru teammates. On the other hand, a shooter with below average slashing ability has to always be accounted for.

[pmac]

slashers: Kobe, MJ, Dr. J, Dominique, Kemp

shooters: Barry, Allen, Kerr, Bird, Dirk,

hmm...I'm going with the slashers.

[warmshizzle]

Kobe and mj are shooters too.

If your a shooter its far easier to contribute to a teamm and be valued then being a slasher.

[SkipToMyLou22]

Well generally IRL I play a more sort of slasher-type role than shooter. But that's really only because I prefer driving and cutting, etc compared to just taking jumpers most of the time (lol and now my jumper is like just average, if not below). Not that there's anything wrong with shooting though lol.

But really in the end I think shooters contribute more to the team. Though both are sort of important I guess, shooters have more options I suppose.

[tinywang]

I like to be a slasher but my physical physique is just too weak to do anything against bigger guys.

Gonna have to go with shooter since I like jaying over people's faces.

[bmthint]

Kobe and mj are shooters too.


which is exactly why they were/are still dominant. they can beat u from the outside with a j or pump and drive. i would like to throw t mac into that list just because he still can beat defenders with that jab step then pop the midrange j on em

[Shroopy2]

Slashing generally takes athleticism. So to be considered an "athlete" I guess I'd choose slasher.

But if we're considering this game
http://bp0.blogger.com/_2RrhdyJFL5g/RexpYr4s6BI/AAAAAAAAAJU/fBYMQZHBlFg/s320/drjlarrybird.jpg
ALWAYS go with the shooter ;)


Personally, I think it's easier to guard a slasher rather than a shooter.
In my days of playing ball, maybe it was my approach to defense dont know why it was, but the times I remember having the most problems was with outside shooters.

I was generally athletic enough to stay in front of slashers and dribble penetrators in pick-up ball. Just dont be too lazy on D and be physically into it.

Shooters know they are shooters, and know how to create space by pushing off you for the catch and shoot, running to different areas on the floor, they know how to use screens which you gotta fight through and exhaust energy...If they make one shot, then you have to honor it and sets themselves up for other possibilities. They add more cerebral element with the physical, and if you're not thinking you'll get burned.

So maybe I'm saying I was just too dumb to play correct D :p

[bmthint]

So maybe I'm saying I was just too dumb to play correct D :p

nah when i played hs balled i hate playin 2 guard cuz not do shooters make u think to guard them... even if u play great d they can just pop it in ure face. pisses me off lol

[warmshizzle]

nah when i played hs balled i hate playin 2 guard cuz not do shooters make u think to guard them... even if u play great d they can just pop it in ure face. pisses me off lol

Yeah slashers aren't that bad since you have help D to clean up for you if you get burned, and outside shooters aren't too bad either unless they have crazy range.

What i hate the most is an outside shooter that has a good jumper. Even if theyre weak at taking it the rim if they have an outside shot and a jumper theyll get to the rim easy if you overplay them and you know if they pull up all you can do is get a hand in his face and hope he misses.

[bmthint]

yea what i hated the most about guarding a shooter is that you cannot control the situation apart from blocking the shot which almost never happens. no matter how good you d a shooter up, they can always just have a beastly shot and hit it. on the other hand slashers can be shut down with good physical d and if they cant get to the basket they are done. i would know <---slasher haha

[warmshizzle]

yeah and athletic slashers are offensive foul prone too.....if your a good flopper :D

[bmthint]

yeah and athletic slashers are offensive foul prone too.....if your a good flopper :D

AKA a member of the Utah Jazz :P

[baller4life315]

Interesting responses. I'm a bit surprised to see 'shooters' killing the 'slashers' the way they are.

[zantabak1111]

shooter. The point of the game is put the ball in the hole, a lot of people think they can turn a slasher into a shooter with hard work but its not always the case. Gerald Wallace, if he could have ever learned how to shoot like Michael Redd would have probably taken over the league, then again if Michael Redd had Geralds athletic ability it would also be game over for the league. Look at Utah in the 90's stockton and hornacek weren't exactly athletic wonders but they held their own against some very athletic duos.

[DaDakota]

Novak was a shooter........just for references of what a shooter is or could be....I chose slasher.

DD

[BucMan55]

D. Wilkins was a slasher.

Dr. J was a slasher.

Bird was a shooter.

Reggie was a shooter.

Jordan, Kobe, and T-Mac are/were both.


I'd take shooter over slasher, but obviously a hybrid who is excellent at both would be a unanimous selection.

[A_3PO]

For those of us who play bball on a regular basis, I betcha "shooter" beats "slasher" by a 5-1 margin. For those who fantasize only, it's probably about even. It ain't no fun getting hit while driving, no matter how good you are. And nothing discourages me more than the other team drilling several outside jumpers in a row. Makes you want to throw your hands up in the air.

[pmac]

If you're going to say that MJ and Kobe are both (shooter and slasher) then you have to say the same for Bird, Miller, and Allen.

MJ was primarily a slasher who had a nice shot to keep you honest. Bird, Miller, and Allen are primarily shooters who got to the rack when people over played them. If we're only talking about 1-dimensional bench type players (or even guys in pick-up games) then yes the shooter wins out.

[eMat]

It ain't no fun getting hit while driving, no matter how good you are.

I'll disagree with you here. I don't mind getting hit at all when driving, especially if I get hit during the shot. I actually like it because for some reason (unless we're talking really hard fouls), I can actually finish better when being hit. I don't know why, I guess I just anticipate contact and am surprised if it doesn't happen.

[BucMan55]

If you're going to say that MJ and Kobe are both (shooter and slasher) then you have to say the same for Bird, Miller, and Allen.

MJ was primarily a slasher who had a nice shot to keep you honest. Bird, Miller, and Allen are primarily shooters who got to the rack when people over played them. If we're only talking about 1-dimensional bench type players (or even guys in pick-up games) then yes the shooter wins out.


Ray Allen isnt going to blow by you from a straight up defensive position. But he sure as heck is going to drill that J in your face. Michael Jordan can EITHER blow by you OR hit the J in your face from a standard defensive position. Thats the difference. Ray Allen uses his shooting ability to create lanes to penetrate with. Same for Reggie or Bird.

Back up on Nique or Latrell Sprewell and see how successful they are at shooting over you. Then cheat up on Ray Allen or Reggie Miller and see how successful they are at going by you.

[ShadyMcGrady]

Novak was a shooter........just for references of what a shooter is or could be....I chose slasher.

DD

This is probably the wrong guy, but... ;)

Spanoulis was a slasher. That didn't work out, either. At least Novak kept the streak alive. :D

I kid, I kid.

[orbb]

a (pure) shooter who cant slash is fun to guard. I WANT you to take jump shots all day with my hand in your face. I can cheat on you as hard as I want.

A slasher is a nightmare. Obviously cant leave you wide open for a jumpshot. I cant cheat on D because I'll get burned and probably have to foul

The best players are slashers, and they make the most money too, plus I love taking the body contact and still getting the ball to go in.

so yeah slasher

[wingz0]

Shooter anyday.

It's like whoever said you can D up slashers with good team defense and make him play the game on your terms, but shooters make you play the game on his terms.

Personally, I know that I have the game come easier to me than my mates who are slashers. Once they start zoning and packing the paint to make it impossible to drive, you can just lay off the slasher and dare him to beat you with his shot, and if we're talking good slasher and below average shooter, and that's not a very good offensive option.

On the other hand, even if guys D me up tight after I hit a couple of outside shots, I can still find other ways to get my shot off effectively. Either by faking him into the air and taking a pull-up off the dribble, or jabbing and nailing it in his face, or taking a hard dribble against him then pulling up for the fadeaway.

Shooters just have much more options to beat you with than slashers.

[superfob]

Shooter always wins. Even if you don't touch the ball on offense, you are helping out by keeping your defender honest. Opens the court up for cutters, slashers, or post play.

Novak got cut because he couldn't play a lick of defense, not because of his one dimensional offense.

[Bigmarky]

slasher is generally a higher % do to getting close to the rim

shooters are always on an up or a down depending on the game

slasher = wade avg'ing 20pts a game with 19 from FT's

[Rockets1616]

For those of us who play bball on a regular basis, I betcha "shooter" beats "slasher" by a 5-1 margin. For those who fantasize only, it's probably about even. It ain't no fun getting hit while driving, no matter how good you are. And nothing discourages me more than the other team drilling several outside jumpers in a row. Makes you want to throw your hands up in the air.

Not necessarily, I think you guys are looking at this the wrong way. Basketball is a team sport, so offensively you need a healthy balance of slashers and shooters. One isn't better than the other, it depends on the chemistry within the team and how they interact with another.

Lets take the Lakers starting 5 for example:

Fisher=decent balance, but leans toward a shooter.
Kobe=Both, but his greatness comes cause of his slashing.
Radmonovic=Straight up shooter
Odom=Slasher
Gasol=post, neither

Kobe creates because of his slashing. He gets fouls, points, and kicks it out to his shooters: Radmonovic and Fisher. But the reason he's so damn good is because when defenders start to play off him and give him space, he just lights them up.

Once this happens the opposing coach will most likely move to zone to keep kobe from driving, but when this happens if your team has a good shooter (allen, radmonovic, Okur) they just let them fire away.

So both types of players rely on each other to make themselves and the team better, there is really no one better than the other. The real answer is the one that can do both.

Some will be glorified depending on the team situation, and of course the dumbass media gives the one person all the credit, but thats the reason team chemistry is so important. Who works well with who, and who makes who good.

Basketball is like a science experiment. You have your hypothesis (starting 5), and then you test all the different variables against each other to try and get the perfect formula. Something Isaiah Thomas has miserably failed

[topfive]

<BR>
Who would you rather be?
<BR><BR>
http://images.eonline.com/eol_images/Profiles/20061003/244.blake.robert.100206.jpg
Shooter

<BR><BR>
http://img2.timeinc.net/people/i/2004/04/gallery/scandals/osimpson.jpg
Slasher
<BR><BR>

[Asian Sensation]

http://www.nba.com/media/horry3_627_090512.jpg

or

http://espn.go.com/media/nba/2005/0619/photo/a_horry2_268.jpg

[ShadyMcGrady]

Of course on any team you need shooters, slashers, and post play. And to be a good basketball player (for amateur level, of course), you probably need to have a jumpshot, some handles, some basketball IQ, and a little bit of athleticism.

I think the game comes easier to you if you're an athlete, which favors slashers, but I think it's easier to teach someone to slash than it is to teach someone a jumpshot.

Also, each has it's own X-factor. With a shooter, your shot is on or off, but the game is always called the same. If you get touched it's a foul. As a slasher, your "shot" (layup, floater, dunk, or otherwise) is always on, but the way the game can be called (in terms of fouls) varies greatly. Sometimes you get hacked and no call, sometimes they breathe on you and it's a foul.

Where I play, I notice the shooters get a lot more attention than the athletic guys who can slash because if you clog up the paint, the slashers are *usually* neutralized. I also agree that as a shooter, you can affect the game positively just by standing out by your range. Even if you don't touch the ball, if you're a (good) shooter, your man won't dare leave you to double all the way down in the post if you're out by the 3 pt. line.

I am able to blow by guys that I should have no chance of because they are always off balance while watching my jumper. If they jump on the pump fake, I'm gone. If they don't fall for it, I put up the shot immediately. When a shooter hits that shot, there's nothing you can do.

I'd say that is a more likely scenario than a slasher being so good that he can just blow by everyone and get all the finishes he wants at the rim because of it. This is just coming from experience during HS ball, and at local parks, gyms, etc.

Shooters need slashers to collapse the D. Slashers need shooters to spread the floor. They both need post players and post players need them both.

All said, I would rather be a shooter.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

How do we define a player a shooter or a slasher?
I say check www.82games.com!
dirk = 81% jumpers
mcgrady = 80% jumpers
paul = 76% jumpers
kobe = 75% jumpers
ginobili = 74% jumpers
redd = 71% jumpers
b.davis = 67% jumpers
wade = 65% jumpers
lebron = 62% jumpers

Another thing, being able to catch and shoot or doing it off the dribble are very different skills. redd, manu and dirk are the only ones in the list very good at both.

[Precision340]

shooters are more likely to kill their enemies instantly.. slashers have to go up close, a la rafer.. j/k :p

[Dave_78]

Shooter. You play longer thus more $$$

Slashers are washed up by 32 unless they become shooters. Finley and Stackhouse are not still in the league for going down the lane and dunking on people.

[zantabak1111]

I agree with Dave, I cant Gerald Wallace rockin the rim at 38 like Ray Allen will be one day, but then again, old guys cant get the lift sometimes so longevity isnt a given

[Desert Scar]

Flip Murray and Desmond Mason?

or

Eddie Johnson and John Barry?

If you are really only a one tool player you will last a lot longer, and be a more valuable role player, by having that skill being a shooter (e.g., deadeye and quick release).

Someone who can shoot always has to be accounted for by a defender, if you can drive but can't shoot a good team defense can often close you off despite not covering you at the perimeter.

couple of cavouts

I would say this is more true for SFs and guards, may not apply to Cs and PFs to the same degree (you have defense, rebounding and post-up ability being more important assets than driving or shooting--so the question is less meaningfull to them).

Similarly, I would also say this is more true for the NBA. Lower levels of basketball you may not need to be a guard with a good to great shot to be effective. Maybe being a driver is more important because there won't be agile 7 footers around in a playground defense.

[Ryoga Hibiki]

To get away in NBA with being just a slasher you need to be Wade/Lebron/Paul good and be allowed to have the ball in your hand a lot, otherwhise you're out pretty soon unless you bring up other assets.
Guys like Kapono or Korver can have long careers just not being horrible on defence.