2014 Antoine Walker Persistence Award

It's a travesty that the NBA never added a 4 point line during Walker's career.

 

Ha, very interesting. J-Smoove even changed his name to John out of shame at his percentages.

Poll: If Gordon Hayward was on your team, would you be okay with Hayward chucking up such a vast amount of threes at such a brutally bad percentage given that opening night, he was a three-year vet with a 40% career three point average?

 

And a couch for him to sit in while he shot them.

 

I followed the Hawks closely for many, many years and I can assure you that this award should be named after Josh Smith.

If you could have heard the chorus of "ugh's", "no's" and groans anytime Smith chucked up a three pointer or long two. Truly comical.

 

regardless of being a chucker...who didn't enjoy walking walker/pierce boston era? they were a fun team.

 

antoine walker - ncaa champion, nba champion, 3-time all-star

 

NBA LIVE 99 baby!

 

Singly toine's shimmy made them a fun team.



Couldn't find a gif

 

I like this award so much I checked out the past winners. It's interesting how the nature of 3-point shooting shifted in a way that it went from bit players winning the award to superstars who aren't great jump shooters stumbling into it because it's 'expected' for a perimeter scorer to fire away when open.

Also, White Chocolate really had a chokehold on this category in his prime.

The '80s

Spoiler

1980: Mike Newlin
1981: Michael Ray Richardson
1982: Michael Ray Richardson
1983: Allen Leavell
1984: Michael Cooper
1985: Gus Williams
1986: Mike Evans
1987: Leon Wood
1988: Derek Harper
1989: Chuck Person

The '90s

Spoiler

1990: Chris Morris
1991: Michael Adams
1992: Michael Adams
1993: John Starks
1994: Vernon Maxwell
1995: Vernon Maxwell
1996: Vernon Maxwell
1997: Gary Payton
1998: Isaiah Rider
1999: Jason Williams

The 21st century
2000: Jason Williams
2001: Jason Williams
2002: Jason Williams
2003: Antoine Walker
2004: Baron Davis
2005: Antoine Walker
2006: Donyell Marshall
2007: Jamal Crawford
2008: Lebron James
2009: Nate Robinson
2010: Andre Iguodala
2011: Rudy Fernandez
2012: Kobe Bryant
2013: Kobe Bryant

 

Found one:

 

1) People need to understand that a 32.5% in 3 pointers is the same as having a 49% 2 point FG%, which while not optimal, is not that bad.

2) If you have a PF that can shoot 3s, it opens up the floor for the other 4 players.

3) If Josh Smith is shooting 32.5% from 3, you absolutely tell him to shoot at least one 3 per game to make it easier on offense for his teammates.

 

Uhhhh what about when Josh Smith is shooting 23%?

 

Hayward keeps chucking away.. And people said he was better than Parsons.. Lolol

 

Josh is just not that good of a three-point shooter. He actually gets a lot of open looks because of the inside tandem of Drummond and Monroe.

 

If you're taking 9 3s a game to only make 3 of them, that's pretty bad considering a few of those shots could have went to higher % shots.

But if you're jacking up 3s at a ridiculous rate (like the guy who's name is emblazoned on this award), you're not opening up the floor for anyone. A shooter like Dirk and Kevin Love keeps defenses honest and opens it up because they shoot at a respectable rate. Guys like Josh Smith and Walker has their defender sagging off of them, waiting to get a rebound.

How is Josh Smith shooting 3s making it easier for his team? The only thing his teammates can expect is to get ready to grab the offensive rebound 77% of the time (considering he's shooting at 23%). If your teammates know that for every 4 shots you take that you're going to miss 3 of them, that makes it easier for said teammates to NOT want to pass you the ball.