Basketball Shot Selection

Like a lot of other posters I think I have been too critical on this subject. I mean let's face it any shot that goes in is a good shot and any shot that doesn't is a bad shot. We can say we want certain players to take certain kind of shots but there really is no hard fast rule.

A three point shot is not a bad shot. It is who takes it, at what point in the game and does it go in or not. Stringer is not at fault for taking a lot of threes. He is at fault for missing so many of them. In other words does he shoot a high enough percentage to justify taking so many. Up to now the answer has been no. That could change if they start dropping.

Are they good 3's? Are they too far out, is he open, does he rush them? Are they taken too quickly in the shot clock, is it a critical time of the game when we need to try and get a foul? All these are factors that need to be looked at.

Are all shorter shots better than a three. Of course not. A straight in hook shot from 15 feet has a degree of difficulty equal to a three. Again apply the same principals. Has the person shooting shown he can make this type of shot? Is he being double teamed, is he rushing it, do we have a better option if he passes?

And don't get me started about the bunnies under the basket that get missed. How can you miss one that close and easy? Well maybe someone got away with a foul. Perhaps they were too far under the basket? The ball started to slip just when they started to shoot?

So I am saying, maybe, just maybe we should not be quite so hard on the team and Trent on this shot selection thing. But then again maybe the players need to work a little harder on this. I just hope they start going in more frequently because as I said any shot that goes in is a good one.