Talen Horton-Tucker Discussion: Growing Pains

You’re degenerately optimistic though.

 

If Lonzo 3-4 years later in his lifelong whack shooting motion can completely rebuild it in one year and shoot well from 3 the same year .... fire Penberthy’s a**, throw an under the table Ballmer like deal at the NO shooting coach and have THT shoot quicker, better and actually jump on his J’s. Over the next 2 years, starting next year.

 

With THT’s long arms and big hands and decent hops I would love to see him shoot his J’s like Snake. From over his head, in the air.

 

Lonzo was a good shooter in college... THT was not. It's like you guys ignore all the important variables.

 

But he didn’t shoot well once in the pros with tighter defenses and with where the shot had to crazily come from low on the left side of his face. So last year everyone bit the bullet including him and reworked his whole release point. How he shot in college doesn’t even enter into the equation now. Just saying with the right mechanics coach and actual time to practice and willingness to get better ( kid has said he wants to be great, and NO doubt shooting was brought up in his exit interview) ... it’s not as wild or impossible a task as you make it seem. Penberthy and lack of gym time all year did not help the situation.

 

He's been able to increase his FT%: that's a good sign.

Really hope he can improve his shooting: he's the only non AD/Lebron Laker who has the potential to become an All star.

 

Lonzo has proven success shooting the ball, period. THT doesn't. You don't have any situation of THT ever being a good shooter. Lonzo struggled early in his career and we don't know what happened necessarily. Probably the pressure of being a Lakers with his dad constantly barking up orders saying Lonzo was better than Steph already.. Stuff like that screws with you mentally as a young player especially since Magic put the pressure of having his Lakers jersey retired in the banners. It doesn't surprise me that Lonzo eventually found his shot. It would surprise me if THT becomes a good shooter. Once again, I offer you a wager... $100 donation to Lakersball. Do you think THT can be a 35% shooter next season (which is still way below league average)?

 

35% from 3 “next year” when he’s this early in the journey at 20 years old coming from his difficulties I agree with? No. 2 years from now OK. But if he gets the right coaching and puts in the time on his own time with thousands of extra shots continually, that kind of steady improvement can have him be a much improved shooter by 22, 23, 24 years old .... still with his whole career ahead of him to continue improving.... and some significant level of improvement this coming season. In all areas of his game. He will bust his a** undoubtedly the entire off season, with the knowledge of the increased role he knows is his for the taking.

If 35% is referring to something other than 3s let me know please, and what he shot this year?

 

He shot 28% from three last season. That ain't a huge difference from above 30%.

 

Lebron went from .29 and has been able to get into mid 30's on a bunch of difficult shots. i agree it's a better predictor if they shot well early in their career but shooting can get better with time. You just hope it doesn't take a decade to happen like Jason Kidd.

 

Huge difference. When Kobe was brought up into the league, three point shooting wasn't a huge factor in games. The three point shooting percentages Kobe shot with early in the 00's was actually a very good percentage considering the games were much more low scoring. I mean, just look at the shooting today. Kobe would be considered a bad shooter precisely because he didn't grow up playing this type of game. THT grew up playing in the era of mass three point shooting. It's something he simply would have more time to prepare for than say, Kobe. If Kobe was raised in this era, he would be a much better shooter from the get-go. He wouldn't even have had to spend years to develop it knowing how obsessed he would've been learning to shoot the ball. Kobe would probably average 40 in today's game on high efficiency. THT could very well develop into being a better shooter. But it's one of those things that don't come naturally for some players. DeRozan is a prime example. Just not comfortable shooting it. THT doesn't even need a three point shot. He just needs a solid mid-range. Heck, even a floater would do wonders for his game.

 

another thing about kobe is that his percentage belied his ability. in other words: nobody in their right mind was going to leave him open from three. james harden is a career 36% shooter from three. that's what kuzma shot this year. big difference, though, right?

 

This. He does have that one legged step back copying LeBron and others but not always easy to get off in traffic. But he can’t have a consistent and good mid range J, I think, without while he’s still really young and much younger than Lonzo last year .... reworking his J. Use those long arms to his advantage and shoot well above his head like Kawhi or other shooters, and JUMP some at least. With his handles and jukes he’s always a threat to blow by defenders. In the mid range area he shouldn’t have to always create space by having to always jump backward first. A quick jab step to get the defender moving backward or couple of dribbles, abrupt stop and rise up like Leonard does. So much less energy expended. And relearning a better “jump shot” from mid range easier than doing it from the circle. THT could be a monster against other guards from mid range if he mixed a traditional jumping J with his real threat to go all the way to the rim. That’s what I hope for him anyway. Now he shoots slowly and gets barely any elevation from 3 or anywhere else.

 

It's the reputation of the shooter which counts , not the % ... All Lakers will be left open, besides KCP at times, regardless of their 3pts%

Danny Green was still spacing the floor for us for most of the season despite his bricking ... cause of his reputation in the league as a shooter .

Players need to shoot 37% or better on 5 attempts in multiple seasons to earn this reputation

 

Still at some point in a game and / or the same season if someone is hitting them then the other team has to adjust whether the “reputation” is generally the rule or not. If by some amazing turn of events THT starts knocking down shots next year they would cover him further out, just like this year they started playing him to drive. Would be to his benefit if they didn’t.