New theory on Steve's field goal %

Steve has one of those shots that as soon as it leaves his hand, you have a pretty good idea if its going in or not.

When he's in rhthym, and shoots off the pick or the crossover, he has a really effective jump shot.

It becomes especially effective when he's moving to his left.

He's not effective when he's gotta shoot running jumpers, stop and pops, or when he forces it (then again, who is effective when they're taking a forced shot).

He is driving in a lot less this season, which could be due to a combination of things:
1. Guys like Yao and Cato play close to the basket, so their defenders clog the lanes.
2. Steve has had more trust in JJ and Mobely as spot up shooters, so he often dishes it out to them for a wide open shot before he draws contact (now, whether they make the shot or not is a whole nother story).
3. Defenses are geared to cut-off Steve's penetration, forcing him to beat them over the top.

He does still draw his fair share of foul calls when he plays aggressively... of course, this could lead to more turnovers, but I'd be willing to take the TO's as long as Steve continues is 18+ ppg.

Its when he scores around 14 ppg on horrible shooting, combined with many turnovers, that we normally lose the game.

 

These are excellent points. I personally think that Steve is suffering from a re-tooled shot. In golf, if a player changes his/her swing for more accuracy, distance, etc, it can take them a year or more to recover from just a slight mechanical change.

Since he was probably in high school, Steve has developed shooting habits that he has kept until now. JVG is asking him to take fewer dribbles before he shoots, take set shots and take shots off the screen and roll going to his right. JVG is also asking Steve to take shots from areas on the floor where Steve just isn't that comfortable yet. If a guy really likes shooting from the elbow and you ask him to start firing it up from the baseline, he will struggle.

As Nick pointed out, he is best going to his left - common for right handed shooters. As a result of the changes he's had to make to his shot and the position on the floor when shooting, his percentage has gone down. Early in the season, he was shooting a high percentage while still basically playing his game. As the season has progressed, he's altered his shot selection and his overall game to accommodate more scoring from other players on the team.

IMO, he is just now beginning to find his rhythm within that system and we are seeing the results in improved field goal percentage and better quality shots overall.

 

What the **** does golf have to do with anything...anyhow...yea you make a great point and i totally agree with you...his shooting is worse this season because he's taking tougher shots...but honestly im fine with the way he's shooting now, he's still money from 14-15 feet, where he takes a lot of shots...

 

Also, usually 3 or 4 of his shots are shots while the shot clock or game clock are winding down, so he is generally forced into a wild shot to beat the buzzer. However, it is his fault in the first place that the team is in that position (regarding beating 24sec shot clock) since he is the point guard. But you usually notice that most of the half court desperation shots to beat the half or whatever or done by him.

 

Actually..when he is totally wide open and receives a pass..he sets and shoots perfectly. He can make a wide open 3. That is if he has time...so not stop and pop...

Today he shot pretty well.

 

The analogy works. When a shooter changes the mechanics or positioning of his shot, it takes him time to adjust. The same is true in any sport like golfers, tennis players or hitters with their swing, pitchers with their delivery and/or quarterbacks with their throwing motion.

 

Nick is right on the money with his assesment of Steve's shot. I think his troubles this year are the result of bad habits finally catching up with him. Like the fact he doesn't shoot a set-shot or a pull-up. He can only hit off the crossover.

 

That might be a good theory, except that he is also shooting a career low FT% and 3pt%. So his perimeter shooting really IS worse than last season.

 

I think yall forgot to mention that SF has also been forced to play better D this year. All those running from side to side will tire anyone down. Cat's FG% hasnt suffered as much simpily because he is a much more spot-up shooter than SF, who needs to use his cross-over to beat his man to get his shot off.

 

The next thing Steve needs to do to add to his offensive game is get that running jumper to go down. Just driving in the lane, deciding to shoot about halfway in the lane instead of just straight on attacking the basket, just kind of lobbing the ball up in the air of extended 7 footers, and watching it gracefully fall in the hoop. That one running lob really did wonders for Marburys game. In addition he really worked on his midrange jumper a ton without needing to create space off the dribble nearly as much as Francis. If Francis could do those two things, his % would definitely improve. As it is now, I'm just happy to see that his midrange jumper has improved atleast judging from last game. It really opens up the offense a lot when he's a high % under control scoring threat. It sounds so weird saying that since Francis is such a good scorer, but this year since his FG % has been down, he's also been a liability in some games this season, just as much if not more then Cato since he handles the ball so much and takes many more shots. But I've bought in that it's just him adjusting to the offensive system, and am more concerned with his turnovers then anything. His offense will come around and the Rockets will improve because of it.

 

I find it weird that Steve takes about the same types of shots in the big TV games as he normally takes, but they fall with more consistency on the large stage. Maybe focus has something to do with it.

 

I don't think it's Stevie, Yao plays more aggressive on national TV against good team that play man to man which allows Stevie to do his thing.

 

I am pretty much of a Steve fan, but it seems to me that he is missing a lot of very short shots and lay-ups. Bassically the gimmies.

 

why is SF shooting so poorly this year?

he's a good but not great outside shooter. teams are clogging the lane and forcing him to take the long outside shot.


two things he can do to raise his FG%
1. be the first one down on fastbreak. when get the ball, take it to the basket like Iverson

2. use yao to get free from defender. pass yao the ball and cut to the basket or tell the big man to set him a good screen.

 

I think basically he is just forcing his game too much instead of flowing with it. He always over dribbles and then gets forced to put up a ridculous or a low percentage shot.

He needs to stop playing like he has something to proove to other players and himself, and just play as a member of the team instead as an individual.

 

I wonder what his percentage would be if he did not take those 2 or 3 offensive possesions where he dribbles and tries to beat the clock......and almost NEVER does.

DD