Dalton Knecht Discussion: I Just Want To Hoop

Juronimo · Apr 16, 2025 at 5:59 PM

karacha said: ↑

^

Of course. The mentality is usually completely different for those two skillsets -- shooting and lockdown defense. Great shooters (think Steph Curry, Ray Allen) rely heavily on muscle memory, balance, and a calm, repeatable process. Their mental focus is on precision. The best shooters have to be fearless, and more importantly, they need to forget misses quickly, instead of letting the misses affect them too much.

Great defenders (Kawhi, Pippen, Artest) are mentally geared toward creating chaos -- disrupting plays, crowding opponents, getting in passing lanes. They need to be aggressive and physical. Defense is much more reactive. You’re constantly adjusting to the offensive player's moves, reading their eyes, their hip movement, and playing physically without fouling. It’s mentally taxing in a different way, which is why many (but not all) defensive stars don’t have enough energy or rhythm left to also be high-level offensive players.

In a nutshell, I can tell you what I was told when I played semi-pro in Europe as a "cadet" (junior team athlete) ages ago - but I feel this is still true: Shooting is about doing the same (extremely consistent) thing every time. Defense is about adapting constantly. Only the best of the best (Jordan, Bron types) can do both, but once they get older, this isn't true anymore, even for them.

Just to add something about athleticism: raw speed, explosiveness and verticality are amazing skills to have, but they usually don't have anything to do with muscle memory, rhythm and touch. Most people are not particularly blessed with any of those things, let alone height; some are tall, wide, strong and can have some of these characteristics, but it's very rare that you're going to be precise, with great muscle memory, with the mentality that enjoys repetitive work, but also incredibly quick, great leaper, and physically strong. Something has to give.

Again, the best talents, such as LeBron or Kawhi (or Kidd, for example), are also known as hard workers and can improve something -- their shooting ability for example, but this literally takes years, even decades. It's a slow process even with their incredible work ethic. Curry or Drazen Petrovic, or Ray Allen were always great shooters, it came naturally to them.
Click to expand...

ESPN and TNT talking heads could only dream of saying something this insightful. This was a brilliant and masterful.

LTLakerFan · Apr 16, 2025 at 7:39 PM

YES

Log in or Sign up

Dalton Knecht Discussion: I Just Want To Hoop

Juronimo - Lakers Starter -

LTLakerFan - Lakers Legend -

Top Poster Of Month

Share This Page