If you have watched any NFL whatsoever over the last two decades, you have undoubtedly heard someone comment that former Patriots coach Bill Belichick always tried to “take away what an opponent does best.” I know I shouldn’t bring up a Boston team when discussing the Los Angeles Lakers, but coach JJ Redick has instilled something similar in his team this season.
I noticed early in that Denver game that the Lakers were doing something to Jokic I had never seen done. And I wondered if other teams took note. Apparently not. Great analysis as usual with one note: Aaron Gordon is 44% from three this year. He's no longer they guy you leave alone, or you pay for it.
And while that's true about Gordon, he's only attempted like 120 triples this season in total -- that's not enough for a stat that stabilizes at roughly 500 attempts to change anyone's mind about a career 32% career three-point shooter.
He is making teams pay, and that's to his credit! Maybe he really is just a better shooter now. But he's not particularly trigger-happy, and teams will keep making that bet for a while, I suspect. We won't know whether that's a wise wager or not until the playoffs
Gordon update: 11-19 from three in 3 games since we last spoke. Yes, 136 attempts is not a huge sample size, but I think opponents might consider a slight adjustment now?
Truly, I don't think so. It is possible that if he's sharing the court with Westbrook or Braun, maybe he's the second guy they help off of instead of the first? But I think teams will take their chances if it means slowing Jokic down.
Now, if he shoots 45% from deep in Games 1and 2 of a series? Maybe that changes things for game 3. teams are much quicker to react to small samples in playoffs
I noticed early in that Denver game that the Lakers were doing something to Jokic I had never seen done. And I wondered if other teams took note. Apparently not. Great analysis as usual with one note: Aaron Gordon is 44% from three this year. He's no longer they guy you leave alone, or you pay for it.
Appreciate you and your comments!
And while that's true about Gordon, he's only attempted like 120 triples this season in total -- that's not enough for a stat that stabilizes at roughly 500 attempts to change anyone's mind about a career 32% career three-point shooter.
He is making teams pay, and that's to his credit! Maybe he really is just a better shooter now. But he's not particularly trigger-happy, and teams will keep making that bet for a while, I suspect. We won't know whether that's a wise wager or not until the playoffs
Gordon update: 11-19 from three in 3 games since we last spoke. Yes, 136 attempts is not a huge sample size, but I think opponents might consider a slight adjustment now?
Truly, I don't think so. It is possible that if he's sharing the court with Westbrook or Braun, maybe he's the second guy they help off of instead of the first? But I think teams will take their chances if it means slowing Jokic down.
Now, if he shoots 45% from deep in Games 1and 2 of a series? Maybe that changes things for game 3. teams are much quicker to react to small samples in playoffs