By Paul Casey Gotham
Survey question: Who are the three best shooting guards currently playing in the NBA?
Take your time in answering – there is nor rush.
While you are thinking it over, here are a couple of ideas to consider.
There are guys who can hit shots, and there are shooters.
Guys like Brad Miller can knock down shots from time to time – one cannot question that fact. Of course the rarity of this occurring touches off an awkward neanderthal-like celebration that lies somewhere between – I have never been in a spot like this before; I don’t know how to act. And – I am not sure I will ever pull that one off again, so I better enjoy this while I can.
Chris Mullin and Reggie Miller provide examples of a shooting guard. Mullin showed true bravado. After releasing his shot, he displayed so much confidence in its result that he would return to defense while the ball floated in mid-air toward its target. This head start in defensive transition helped the St. John’s alum make up for his lack of foot speed.
Despite his gangly and awkward appearance opposing defenses had to account for Miller on every possession.
Shooting guards play a specific and important role to the success of any championship-contending team. They are the guys moving off the ball. Often times they can be seen creating an arc as they glide along the baseline moving from one side of the floor to the other.
Their’s is a life lived moving off screens shoulder-to-shoulder and hip-to-hip – doing whatever it takes to create space between them and the defender. Then as he moves in the direction of the ball, the shooting guard must make that quintessential finesse move of catching the ball, maintaining balance with feet underneath torso, square to the basket, and gently release the sphere toward the rim.
Shooting guards can create their own shot. But that is not a shooting guard’s role though. A shooting guard must ready himself when opportunity comes.
Like Steve Kerr and John Paxson a shooting guard must provide a compliment to the team. Working as geometricians Kerr and Paxson deftly opened the floor and made lanes while MJ drove to the basket. Yes, Jordan hit shots from the outside. That just wasn’t his primary role.
When a team trails by three with only one possession remaining, the shooting guard is the one teammates work to get open. In the huddle coaches draw up plays for the shooting guard. Sure the coach will discuss a second and third option; that is a requirement.
But the shooting guard is the first option.
In the opposing huddle, players scheme to keep the ball out of the shooting guard’s hand.
Still thinking?
Irony exists to this answer.
The three best shooting guards in the NBA come from a college known more for its defensive prowess. Jim Calhoun’s reputation is one of rebounding and defense. Despite playing one of the tougher schedules, year after year Calhoun’s Huskies rank high in defensive statistical categories shuch as rebounding margin, field goal percentage defense, and points allowed.
But when it comes down to a final possession, and a team needs to hit a three, who is more prepared in the NBA to take that shot than former UConn Huskies Ray Allen, Ben Gordon, and Richard Hamilton.
In game 4 of their opening-round series Allen and Gordon made NBA fans giddy as they traded punches like world-class middleweights. Shot after shot the Husky alums knocked down.
The Celtics and Bulls treated all to the finest of first-round playoff matchups. Allen and Gordon showed why they are shooting guards as Eastern Conference semi-final series required seven overtimes periods.
Meanwhile Hamilton’s Piston’s limped from the playoffs. After an impressive run of six consecutive conference championships Detroit exited after the first round. It was Hamilton who played the role of shooting guard for those Piston teams of the last decade.
Now Hamilton might find himself playing the role of hired gun as Joe Dumars may need to dismantle his team.
Gordon figures to wear a new uniform next year. Hamilton’s future is unclear. Allen seems to have found a home in Boston. Whereever they play, it matters not. They are three best shooting guards in the NBA.
Excellent read; enjoyed it.
If we’re talking about shooting guards, then we have to talk about the multi-facted position that is the 2-spot. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it sounds like the emphasis is on shooting guards. If so, I can’t think of too many others in the NBA who could challenge these three.
Ray Allen – best at moving without the ball. Last night he used one guy as a screen three times on one possession and completely left Ben Gordon in the dust. I saw him play at Cleveland this year and there is no one with a quicker release who is more efficient than him.
Richard Hamilton – I agree with you if this is 2004. Very similar game to Ray Allen before Allen started having ankle problems with the Bucks.
Ben Gordon – He THINKS he is a shooting guard. The guy is much better when he utilizes his quickness and actually shows guys he will go to the hoop. He settles way too much and a lot of times, he can only create shots off the dribble. His movements in the Celtics series were East-to-West. But if we’re saying that he is a great shooter, then maybe. Still, his field goal % was atrocious and his decision making in the clutch wa something like this: “They’ll pass to me, I’ll dribble around, I’ll shoot.”
To be honest, I’d rather have a guy like Jason Terry late in a game. I think Brandan Roy might have eclipsed Ben Gordon this year. Great shooter? Not as good as Gordon when he’s on. But a great shooting guard whose game goes beyond hitting the jumper over somebody.
Agree with Reynell – great article Casey.
What has been impressive about this stretch by Ray Allen is that he is doing it without Kevin Garnett and a true inside presence on the Celtics. Sure Kendrick Perkins and Glen “Big Baby” Davis in the post – but who are you going to dare to beat you?
It has been fun watching Allen constantly get open and like Rey said – use his teammates to get open. His release is so quick and his jump shot should be studied by any young basketball player.
Rey
While Hamilton’s (notice I used his last name) scoring average this year dropped slightly from ’05-06 (20.1 to 18.3) it is still above his career mark of 17.9. IF – and the operative word is if – Dumars breaks up the Pistons, teams will be lining up for Hamilton’s services. That’s Richard Hamilton – not to be confused with Ray Allen…or Josh Hamilton the baseball player…or Luis Pujols for that matter.