My respect for Bazemore just went up. He's a thinker on defense and doesn't make excuses for himself.
I think Harden's ability to keep his dribble alive and be patient is very underrated. It's what separated Nash, Stockton, and CP3 from other point guards. The fact that Harden has this skill and can finish in the top 5 percent of NBA players is what makes the best offensive player of all time. He just waits until he has an opening and he doesn't need much.
Thinker? What he said wrt being able to contest the step back better is bs. I hope he was just joking about using spin for better recovery. He’s just spinning so he doesn’t fall down The only reason you spin on defense is because you’re overcommitted one way, and likely wrong-footed. Spinning around sometimes works for Center Fielders in baseball, rarely works for Cornerbacks in football, but never works in basketball, hand grenades or guarding Messi,,,
I suspect the moments he spaces out on defense is to analyze plays moments before. The simulations end when he has the ball in his hands.
I respect Bazemore for calling it like it is and prioritizing giving highest props to James. That doesn't mean I still don't want people to make a few gifs of him a la the Neymar roll.
Don’t just leave your stuff to twitter!! Going to echo rockbox... People talk about how much James dribbles, but there is a reason why. He will pick that precise moment to attack the defender when he’s most vulnerable.
Assassin mode - Activated And Kent is full of sh**, he just got the Wesley Johnson treatment and is now trying to cover up for fu**in up.
The most amazing athlete of our generation for sure. Some of the stuff he does makes you scratch your head. He has more head scratchers in one season than pretty much every other legendary player has in a life time.
That's exactly what he said "Either that or fall"... you literally took what he said and spit it back out.
He also said, had Harden done a step-back, he would have been OK for “a solid contest.” And, instead he drove. But regardless, I don’t think you can spin against anyone, much less an assassin. My point is less about Harden and more about whether Bazemore can ever justify spinning-around defense. Lulz I mean, I think he’s having fun here, but that’s why I said, I hope he’s joking that spinning around would have allowed any type of “solid contest” against anyone. My contention is with any of 100 NBA players, the moment you spin around, it’s already over, whatever your original intentions were. Do you not agree?
I dont think it's that deep. I think he says he had to choose in that moment, to either fall or spin and chose the lesser evil. He falls he has nothing and even more shame. The over exaggeration on why he chose to spin is to sell this idea he was coherent and in control. He got burned, admitted to it, but like most of us with our egos, tried to downplay it some. I respect his opinion and reflection on it. White lies and all
Well, last post there I was going out of my way to emphasize that I'm trying to address a general question. I don't think anyone can ever spin around in basketball v 100s of competent scorers, and there is a lot in Bazemore's comment that makes him appear to be saying that there are possible uses of it. Maybe against DMo and JLin, but not real NBA scorers. If anyone disagrees with me here (as I'm trying to find out), THEN we got an interesting, general basketball discussion for the Dish...and I'll start a poll there. So, you're saying he's spinning his spin defense? "had Harden done that [a step back], I'd be in position for a solid contest." uh, no, Champ...you wouldn't. You spin; you lose; against anyone.
