Following your shot

[dead247]

So I remember being hassled on this point as far back as 4th grade b-ball. My buddy's Dad who coached us used to harp on this when we were all standing around with our hands in our pockets.

Seriously though, I think it's a valid point. So many players nowadays tend to freeze their stance when they shoot and it does seem like wasted effort (after all, holding your form when shooting doesn't actually help the bucket chances). Unless you're Steph Curry, you really have no business assuming your shot will land so why not go for the potential rebound and extended possesion? The only pro who I remember doing this consistently in recent memory is Jason Kidd. Is this a useful lost move that's been forgotten?

 

[PDXFonz]

No, most players are talented enough to get the rebound and closer to the basket than the shooter, so it often makes more sense to get back and play transition defense than it does to crash the boards. Chances are the players in/around the paint are going to make it to the rebound before the shooter, and with most capable of making an outlet pass to an open player it doesn't make much sense to let your opponent beat you down the court and get cherry picked points.

It is successful when you know the ball is going to bounce into a gap in the opponents coverage and thus you can be the first one to it. This just isn't often the case.

 

[BonesJones]

If you think about following your shot that means you're thinking that your shot will be a miss, meaning you'll miss more shots.

Following your own shot will lead to inconsistencies with the follow through because it isn't being held, leading to more misses as well.

 

[H.C.]

While following your shot if you are taking it from 10ft or really even 15 ft and in is wise.
It's not as wise when you're out shooting even a high school/college three.
As most college & NBA defenses run the scheme, shooter is the first one back.
There are exceptions, as well as other schemes ran. But generally that's the rule.

Your father hammered that in when you were in the 4th grade for two reasons.
Most 4th graders will take bad shots on the first shot attempt.
And
Most 4th graders when they get a defensive rebound, are looking to find their point guard. Not push the ball.

Personally though when I help coach a local kids team during the winter. I except them all to rebound, then push the ball. Not look for the designated point guard.
Leads to turnovers, but the kids have more fun because it also leads to layups. And generally a W

 

[dead247]

Good points.

It is successful when you know the ball is going to bounce into a gap in the opponents coverage and thus you can be the first one to it. This just isn't often the case.

I honestly feel like I see this quite often, but maybe it's just me.

Still, in the pros I see a lot of long range jumpers that players don't seem confident of and thus they do something like bend their knees or tilt while they watch the ball misfire as if they know it's not a good shot (cough - Aminu - cough). I don't necessarily think guys assume their shots won't drain, but so many of them seem to do this and then the missed shot easily gets rebounded by the defense. I understand getting back to defend, but if you have good team D then that shouldn't be a big concern. I dunno, but it's something that I've wondered about for a while.

 

[Mediocre Man]

It depends on your scheme. Standing is unacceptable. Either follow or retreat. On my teams my wings retreat and my shooter follows. However, having the shooter retreat is a good strategy as well. Standing and looking should gets you a seat on the bench next to the coach

 

[Rastapopoulos]

If you think about following your shot that means you're thinking that your shot will be a miss, meaning you'll miss more shots.

I think NBA players are good enough so that they can shoot the shot AND THEN decide to follow it.

 

[TBpup]

^^^ Thanks for the painful memories.

 

[blue9]

Rebounds on missed 3-pointers often bounce out of the reach of the big guys in the paint - it would certainly make sense to "follow" your 3-point attempt by taking up position in no-mans-land for those long rebounds. Also, there's NO excuse for not following a 3-pointer when shot from the corner - you're going to be the last one back on defense in that situation anyway.

 

[Minstrel]

According to what I've read from Zach Lowe, Fonzthecpt is right--most teams value getting back in transition defense over chasing offensive rebounds. Gregg Popovich started that with the Spurs and most of the league has followed suit. Some teams with a particularly gifted offensive rebounder will empower that one guy to go after offensive rebounds when he thinks he's got a shot (like a baseball team empowering a particularly gifted base-stealer to go after the extra base when he thinks he has a good opportunity, even if the team itself doesn't believe in trying to steal bases) but, in general, teams prefer to cut off transition chances for their opponents more than going after (usually low probability) chances for extra possessions.

 

[speeds]

Following is what I was taught as a kid. The shooter is supposed to know where the rebound will go. Might be something that works at a low level better than a high one.

 

[dviss1]

There's a way to follow through AND follow your shot.

 

[dead247]

If you think about following your shot that means you're thinking that your shot will be a miss, meaning you'll miss more shots.

Following your own shot will lead to inconsistencies with the follow through because it isn't being held, leading to more misses as well.

I agree to an extent, but I guess I'm thinking more about players who don't shoot a good %. Even for those that do shoot well, there's a lot of instances where they know the shot is off and so they do the bent knee stance or similar. Those are the times where I think following might pay off.

 

[BonesJones]

It depends on your scheme. Standing is unacceptable. Either follow or retreat. On my teams my wings retreat and my shooter follows. However, having the shooter retreat is a good strategy as well. Standing and looking should gets you a seat on the bench next to the coach

Why? Shooters should be worried about the shot only, because worrying about having to run to the rim or back on D will mess with their shot and focus during their shooting motion.

 

[BonesJones]

I agree to an extent, but I guess I'm thinking more about players who don't shoot a good %. Even for those that do shoot well, there's a lot of instances where they know the shot is off and so they do the bent knee stance or similar. Those are the times where I think following might pay off.

You'd be suprised how often the bent knees your talking about ate the result of the shooter knowing the shot is about to come up short and tweaks his body while the ball is rolling off their fingers in order to compensate and make the shot.

 

[BonesJones]

I think NBA players are good enough so that they can shoot the shot AND THEN decide to follow it.

I disagree. You should be 100% confident the ball is going in. If you follow it, that means you're not 100% confident it will go in, and confidence is a big part of shooting.

 

[Mediocre Man]

Why? Shooters should be worried about the shot only, because worrying about having to run to the rim or back on D will mess with their shot and focus during their shooting motion.

This isn't meant to be combative, so please don't take it that way, but did you play organized basketball in high school or past?

The shot is done long before following or retreating

 

[BonesJones]

This isn't meant to be combative, so please don't take it that way, but did you play organized basketball in high school or past?

The shot is done long before following or retreating

I played college basketball.

 

[Mediocre Man]

I played college basketball.

Ok, so you know this. Once the shot is released, the shot is over. This gives the shooter about a second to follow or retreat, giving him the advantage or his defender, or the other teams attempt to push the ball

 

[BonesJones]

Ok, so you know this. Once the shot is released, the shot is over. This gives the shooter about a second to follow or retreat, giving him the advantage or his defender, or the other teams attempt to push the ball

In theory, yes. But that leads to not holding the following through throughout the shot which means that it'll probably be short-armed. If you're confident your gonna make it there will be no need to follow it up. If your following it up then you're not shooting with enough confidence.

 

[PtldPlatypus]

In theory, yes. But that leads to not holding the following through throughout the shot which means that it'll probably be short-armed. If you're confident your gonna make it there will be no need to follow it up. If your following it up then you're not shooting with enough confidence.

Are you telling me that you can't tell the instant you let your shot go if it felt right, looks right, and is likely to go in?

 

[BonesJones]

Are you telling me that you can't tell the instant you let your shot go if it felt right, looks right, and is likely to go in?

95% of my 3s feel good.

I also don't miss long because I have a soft touch with good backspin and a high arc. So even if I miss short, I'm not gonna get the rebound.

 

[Mediocre Man]

In theory, yes. But that leads to not holding the following through throughout the shot which means that it'll probably be short-armed. If you're confident your gonna make it there will be no need to follow it up. If your following it up then you're not shooting with enough confidence.

Which is why my shooters retreat.

I also think there is some simple miscommunication here. Some people may be thinking shoot and immediately follow. That's not what I'm saying.

 

[dead247]

So @BonesJones r u still at Columbia college?

 

[BonesJones]

So @BonesJones r u still at Columbia college?

No. I didn't play my Sophomore year because I didn't want to live in Tri Cities, I found myself a girlfriend in Vancouver, and my knees kinda went to shit.

The team had 2 players return and went from 4th in a 33 team league to last. The coach was a player's coach and I probably would've gotten the shots to score 15-20ppg for the shitty team, and earn a scholarship somewhere, but I didn't go back.

Now I'm 20 pounds heavier and am player local men's league. I may try to play at a school in Portland the season after next (2018-2019), but I think I'd be a Junior since I took two years off after my freshmen season (I think athletes can only play in a 5-year window). I also don't know how my college benefits transfer to an Oregon school.

 

[theprunetang]

So I remember being hassled on this point as far back as 4th grade b-ball. My buddy's Dad who coached us used to harp on this when we were all standing around with our hands in our pockets.

Seriously though, I think it's a valid point. So many players nowadays tend to freeze their stance when they shoot and it does seem like wasted effort (after all, holding your form when shooting doesn't actually help the bucket chances). Unless you're Steph Curry, you really have no business assuming your shot will land so why not go for the potential rebound and extended possesion? The only pro who I remember doing this consistently in recent memory is Jason Kidd. Is this a useful lost move that's been forgotten?

I follow all of my shots with a beer-back.

 

[dead247]

I follow all of my shots with a beer-back.

Just don't puke and it's all good bro

 

[dead247]

No. I didn't play my Sophomore year because I didn't want to live in Tri Cities, I found myself a girlfriend in Vancouver, and my knees kinda went to shit.

The team had 2 players return and went from 4th in a 33 team league to last. The coach was a player's coach and I probably would've gotten the shots to score 15-20ppg for the shitty team, and earn a scholarship somewhere, but I didn't go back.

Now I'm 20 pounds heavier and am player local men's league. I may try to play at a school in Portland the season after next (2018-2019), but I think I'd be a Junior since I took two years off after my freshmen season (I think athletes can only play in a 5-year window). I also don't know how my college benefits transfer to an Oregon school.

Well best wishes in whatever lies ahead for you.

 

[riverman]

I disagree. You should be 100% confident the ball is going in. If you follow it, that means you're not 100% confident it will go in, and confidence is a big part of shooting.

Doesn't apply to shot clock pressure though....CJ has a tendency to follow his shot sometimes. Stotts does not value offense rebounds over transition defense...for a poor defender, it's probably not as important.

 

[riverman]

95% of my 3s feel good.

yeah....those last call gals that are 3s try a lot harder to please...the 10s don't have to