This is an asset EVERYONE is basically dropping on Dunleavy but seemingly no one else Could someone define this for me. Is everyone else Basketball stupid? Who else has basketball smarts? Rocket River
Let's put it this way: Not Cat Mobley. One person that I believe does have them is...well...er...Joh...um...John Stockton. Boy I hate that, but I think it's true.
Basketball smarts is knowing exactly what to do when the game is on the line. Someone like Larry Bird, Michael Jordan later in his career, and yes even John Stockton. The Cat definitely has no basketball smarts at this period in his career but it is uncommon in young players.
Basically stuff like not allowing yourself to get trapped into the corners by defenders. Knowing when the shot clock goes down. Knowing your defensive assignments on rotation. Finding the open man. Finding ways to get open away from the ball. It's not really smarts, but awareness. It seemed like no Rockets player would ever be at the right place at the right time. We surrendered WAY too many wide open shots because one of our defenders didn't know/bother to rotate. We committed a ton of turnovers/wasted timeouts by having a guard dribble near the corners of the court, only to be trapped by taller defenders. You could probably count 20-30 times a game in which the shot clock forces the Rockets to attempt a bad shot, just to avoid the shot clock violation. I also can't remember how many times we would have an open shooter/cutter yet, one of our guards either doesn't see his open teammate, or doesn't want to pass. Contrary to what I just said, we don't really get open too often anyway.
Just watch John Stockton. Never was known as a "great athlete", is 40 years old, yet he still goes out there and takes care of business. I think he is the smartest player of our generation, and am willing to bet among the top 3 most intelligent players of all time.......but that's just me.
I asked my,too,what Dunleavy does,that he has "Basketball smartness".It seems that he's in the rigt place,at the rigt time! Kidrock 8 has,i think,the right points for that"
I am finding it difficult to define "basketball smarts" Most of the answers here are good ones - especially kidrock8's. The only thing I can add is that often it is important for a player to play within their skill level and not force action beyond their abilities. Steve Francis and Cuttino Mobely are very athletic but they have not yet exhibited the ability to view their individual movement in terms of "efficiency" or economy of movement and incorporating themselves into what 4 other players are (or should be) doing. Basketball is like music - it has rhythm, tempo, flow and improvisation. In musical improvisation, it is often said "less is more". Perhaps Cat and Steve should listen to more Miles Davis.
Another phrase that gets thrown around is "coach's son". Kirk Hinrich will be drafted next year in the mid 1st round just because he is a "coach's son" type player. Dunleavy has skills along with the court awareness. You have to remember that part of it too.
