For the past like 8-10 yrs, the general agreement was pretty much Iverson. With iverson pretty much washed up, who, in the NBA, do you think has the best crossovers/moves? For me, it's a toss up between Wade and Deron Williams. Wade's pull back dribble is so deadly; the way defenders like Snow and OJ Mayo just flys out of the picture is almost comical. Williams's between the legs crossever (the one that Tim hardaway likes to do) is also effective. That move gets everyone in the league. He made rafer look like he was standing in cement during the playoffs.
Steve Francis I don't care how washed up he is. He made people just look ridiculously stupid. Iverson's crossover may have been more effective, but with a crossover I want flash, and Steve has it
Wade. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/t7r3MZJlAF4&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/t7r3MZJlAF4&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/8urOPQg7O4s&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/8urOPQg7O4s&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> and theres more too.
another one... <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/tv-2bK_v7NY&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/tv-2bK_v7NY&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> I was watching a couple other Wade crossover compilations. I don't think anyone in the NBA can split defenders like he can.
It has to be Wade. He does it with ease. Francis at his prime was unbelievable. It is a pity how his career ended.
yea he may have made mayo look like a fool but it was more poor defense and rotation than a sick cross. he not only ran in to his teammate, whoever's fault that may be but if you look closely he MAY have also gotten tripped up by dwade
Wade might possibly have the best, but I'd give some consideration to Jamal Crawford also. <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/whKAx7hZ1Fw&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/whKAx7hZ1Fw&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object> My favorite: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Crs-QT1DERo&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Crs-QT1DERo&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
i love watching this...in HD! <object width="853" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/vAA8mLz8aJ0&hl=en&fs=1&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/vAA8mLz8aJ0&hl=en&fs=1&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="853" height="505"></embed></object>
Most crossovers that cause defenders to fall are for that reason. Even his crossover in that Utah game looks like the players might have been tripped.
Since we're breaking out the youtube videos <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/X9_PCtGn6bk&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/X9_PCtGn6bk&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
rose, he's just so quick... miller didn't even trip over rose's feet like most wade defenders trip over's wade's feet.
+1 for jamal crawford, wade has a great crossover and so does chris paul, but the streetball flavor on jamal's moves just make them more appealing to me personally.
Not that he's quite up there with the rest of these guys, but figure I'll give AB a little love too with a youtube clip: <object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/CDHtZS7ufFI&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/CDHtZS7ufFI&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object>
Deron Williams FTW! <object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/OB8HcwkMLFg&hl=en&fs=1&"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/OB8HcwkMLFg&hl=en&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>
I don't think the change in consensus is due to him being washed up. It's because that particular form of crossover was outlawed around 2000ish (?). Iverson's move, the wide crossover where the initial fake has the arm fully extended almost to waist length, was probably the most popular, widely used move in the league for a 5 year period. It's still the most oft used move in pickup games. Then the league banned the move when purist geezers b****ed that it was actually carrying/palming. Watch any crossover highlight video compilation - you can see the sudden shift in nature in the highlights from the late 90's early 00's to the latter half of this decade. The early highlights are all characterized by the likes of Francis, Iverson, Marbury, and Kobe doing exclusively wide crossovers. The recent highlights are either Wade-esque pull-backs or shorter crosses without full extension. I remember the funny thing about the year they first instituted the ban was that every single game, you could count on Steve, Cat, or Moochie to get called for at least one violation. If you want to go even further back, pre-96, the crossover was exclusively a 'between the legs' move, obviously most notoriously done by Tim Hardaway. Going even further back, did Michael Jordan popularize the whole concept of the crossover? I always say that this one of the things that he pioneered but never gets credit for. Obviously there was Magic as well. Going back to the 80's, it's funny to watch because guys essentially made their moves in a straight line in one direction. It's such a sharp contrast from today because you basically had to beat your guy in one burst whereas today, hardly any move to the basket is ever made with the initial burst - it's off the counter fake. Finishing this thought though, correct me if I'm wrong, but I do feel that Jordan was the first guy to really bring out the change of direction moves. He was definitely the first non-pg in NBA history to have legitimate handles - another thing that gets overlooked. It would be fun to see guys like Wade, Deron, CP3, and Derrick Rose playing in the league before the ban was instituted. Anyone that watched the All-Star game last year, CP3 in particular could have been even more fun to watch if not so restricted by the rules. And there you have it, folks. A three paragraph history of the crossover dribble. I have now met my self-imposed quota for words posted/day and will log off in embarrassment.
Steve Francis in his prime and like many others have said in this thread Jamal Crawford just has some style to it that shake and bake gets everyone.
