New NBA Wilson Basketball to blame for Dame's struggles?

[sheed30]

I found it interesting that the NBA has changed to the Wilson Basketball after years of using the Spalding balls this season, and many players are complaining about it.

The FG and 3% is the worst league wide in 15 years. Of course it's not the main reason Dame is struggling, but he def isn't the only high profiled player struggling with his shot this year.

Paul George had this to say “Not to make an excuse about the ball, but it’s a different basketball. It doesn’t have the same touch/softness that the Spalding ball had, and you’ll see this year. It’s gonna be a lot of bad misses,” said Clippers forward

I saw this as well: A lot of people are talking about the rule changes resulting in less free throws, but not much has been said about the ball change which has clearly made a HUGE impact. Out of last years All-Stars that have attempted a 3 this season, 17/22 are shooting under 36% from 3.

 

[HailBlazers]

The three point defense hasn't changed much IMO.

 

[Scalma]

I’d buy this theory before the injury one just because of how simple it is.

 

[e_blazer]

I sincerely doubt that the ball is to blame, but if it was, he seems to have gotten used to it. 27 points on 11-23 shooting last night seems pretty decent. His 3 point shot still isn't back to his normal level, but it's heading in the right direction. I'd put more of the blame for his slow start on his ab injury and the amount of change that he's dealing with under Chauncey.

 

[wizenheimer]

Looks to me like he's only struggling with the 3 because his midrange looks fine. His ab injury has got to be bothering him.

* he shot .391 from three last season; shooting .255 this season

* he shot .437 from 16'-3pt last season; shooting .429 this season

* he shot .441 from 10-16' last season; shooting .524 this season

* he shot .359 from 3-10' last season; shooting .308 this season

* he shot .631 at the rim last season; shooting ..528 this season

77.2% of his shots are three's or at the rim. 90% of his shots are from zones he shot much better from last season. The one zone he's shooting better at, 10-16', he's only attempted 38 FGA's so his higher mark there could just be outlier. Considering that grip on the basketball might be most important on three's and around the rim, there is plenty of statistical data supporting the idea the new basketball has some impact here

 

[SheedSoNasty]

Didn’t the NBA try changing the ball years ago and had the same effect until they ultimately decided to go back? Why mess with what works?

 

[AldoTrapani]

God

 

[e_blazer]

Didn’t the NBA try changing the ball years ago and had the same effect until they ultimately decided to go back? Why mess with what works?

Money.

 

[blazerkor]

Didn’t the NBA try changing the ball years ago and had the same effect until they ultimately decided to go back? Why mess with what works?

The Wilson ball they're using now is a lot more similar to the Spalding ball last season. When they changed and then changed back it was a matter of the physical makeup of the ball. They had decided to go with a rubberized, kind of sticky ball like they use in international play... a much bigger difference than this year. Wilson can try to change the way they treat their balls but most likely the players will just get used to this one. The league can't just change back they changed who their contracted partner is.

 

[bobf]

.

God

I don’t think God did it.

 

[AldoTrapani]

.


I don’t think God did it.

Dude sounds corny man. Just play better fuck

 

[blazerfan11]

Luka Doncic is shooting 29.5 percent on three-pointers so far. That's down from 35 percent for last season.

 

[sheed30]

Dude sounds corny man. Just play better fuck

And your consistent troll job got corny a long time ago. Just give it up and be a better poster

 

[Fez Hammersticks]

He’s injured.

This core injury will only linger until they correct it.

 

[sheed30]

Brian Windhorst thinks the new ball could be to blame for Damian Lillard's struggles | NBA Today

 

[Orion Bailey]

Dude sounds corny man. Just play better fuck

dude sounds like a broken record…
Just post better fuck.