You mean like Tony Parker who could not shoot a 3 if his life depended on it when he came into the league. He still shoots hardly any 3 pointers and I had him on my fantasy team and he sucked from 3 point range.
How bout Mike James in the Toronto System vs the Rockets and Timberwolves system. Mike James was stellar at Toronto but stunk it up in MN and TX.
I was just answering Durvasa's question, but thanks for your sarcasm... That is true, but it just might be....... DD
The whole idea of JVG reducing V-Span's game to a spot up three point shooter is pretty bad misconception... Try comparing to his stats on the Greek FIBA team: 18/39 from 2, 11/42 from 3 --- FIBA 19/45 from 2, 5/29 from 3 --- JVG (Rockets) Far lower percentage of his shots were threes as a Rocket than they were as a member of the Greek team, a system that he grew up in and developed in. It's also worth noting that his turnover rate was better on the Greek team, averaging 1 per 13.6 minutes, compared to 1 per 9.4 minutes as a Rocket. However, his assist rate was worse on the Greek team, averaging 20.4 minutes per assist on the Greek squad and only 9.7 minutes per assists as a Rocket. So, by the numbers at least, despite JVG "playing V-Span out of position"/"reducing his game"/yada yada yada, V-Span was shooting less threes (read: attacking more) and had a better assist-to-turnover ratio (read: did more play-making) as a JVG Rocket than he does in his natural game... I do agree though, that the system is important to a player's success on a team, and I don't think JVG's offensive system would be particularly beneficial to any player's game. However, a good NBA player is a good NBA player in any system. They may be somewhat better/worse in certain systems, but it isn't a scrub-to-all star transformation... talent and ability always show...
I think if your percentage is league average while shooting that many threes, you're probably a decent 3-point shooter. I'm not saying Alston is an elite shooter, but I wouldn't say he couldn't shoot either. I believe he led the league in 3-pointers made in the 4th quarter (or, at least, was one of the league leaders), and he did it at a very high percentage. Give him some credit.
Yeah... I don't think the 3 feet difference in the three-pt line is enough to change a player's mind about shooting a three or attacking the basket... shooting from 20.5' instead of 23.75' doesn't show any difference in someone's shooting mindset, imo... But I didn't know about the assists being measured differently... how are they measured? Players like Nowitzki and Barbosa (neither really "play makers") seemed to do fine...
Fair enough. If your goal is to be average, then I agree that Alston is the answer. If your goal is to at least compete in the playoffs, or to get to the 2nd round, then you want your leading 3pt shooter to be better than average. I'll give Alston credit for being a mediocre outside shooter (average), and piss poor in every other offensive category. PS. Did you know 4 of the Suns rotation players shoot at a higher 3pt % than Alston? How do you expect us to compete with them? Oh thats rite, Tmac and Yao have to become Kobe and Shaq part 2.
I don't think anyone is saying Rafer is a great player. I'm not even saying that he's the player I want at my starting point next year (although I think he'd be a good backup). But, until I see V-Span perform well in a NBA game, I'm not ready to call him the next savior of the Rockets.
And, I believe most V-Span supporters, myself included. Agree with you 100%. It is not that V-Span is or will be the savior, it is just that we know that Rafer is not it.... Back to the topic at hand: I believe what makes a good NBA player is a combination of things. Assuming they are already a good basketball player.... 1. The Right style or system. 2. Confidence 3. The ability to make mistakes and learn from them. DD
His 3-point shot is ok - could be better, but I can sort of live with it (even though I think he took too many). It's his 2-pt-shooting that I have a problem with. I have seen enough games to really HATE his little "floater" now...it's such a sissy shot, and he almost never makes it.
Not a massive difference but it does make some difference... I don't ever remember him really going for long 3s so the majority of his 3pt shots in europe would be long midrange shots in the NBA.... His 2005 FG% in the euroleague was 53.4% with 36.8% in the euro-3.. BTW the stats you pulled up are from the FIBA WC...Very limited dataset and one where with the exception of the US game , I dont think Span performed very well... Also, he is a relative newcomer to the Greece team which also has 2 elite PGs in Diamantidis and Papaloukas so his role is quite different...You should look at his regular season and euroleague stats... Overall he is a streaky 3pt shooter (with respect to the euro 3pt line) and he doesnt push it if he's not feeling it....Personally I never claimed he never shot 3s but they were taken within the flow of his game rather than "forced" upon him... As far as the second part of that argument, from the fiba statistics manual: "An assist is credited when a pass is made to a teammate who shoots and scores - provided the shooter’s immediate intention, upon receiving the ball, was to shoot and that intention was maintained until the shot was taken. It does not prohibit an assist where the shooter takes time to balance or makes a small play to score, provided the scorer always intended to shoot. A pass to a player in a good scoring position who considers other options before deciding to shoot and score, is not an assist. The score is the result of the action by the shooter alone, not the passer." no dribbling allowed...no pump fakes etc.. Elite PGs in europe average 5 a game. The comparison to NBA PGs averages should tell you what kind of difference we're talking about
And in order to not veer much off the topic. My answers are: 1. Determination/Commitment 2. Knowing your strengths and playing to them 3. Athleticism I assume a knowledge of the fundamentals of the game and your position as obligatory
