Post by NTAMM on Sept 1, 2011 20:17:02 GMT -5
Agree that two-guards don’t need to have great handles. But, that needs to be qualified. Reggie Miller and Allan Houston are two guards that were mentioned. Neither Miller’s nor Houston’s games was predicated on starting out on the perimeter then attacking the rim. Nor did either one’s games involve having to create offense for their teammates.
Miller had a decent handle. He used his handle primarily to create space to get off his (jump) shot. Occasionally, he would take it all the way to the basket and finish at the rim. He attacked the rim just enough so that defender had to respect his ability to take it to the basket. Miller used his handle to aid his jump shooting. He had an exceptionally quick release on his shot. Houston’s life in the NBA was a tale of two careers. At Detroit, his game was more versatile. He played much like his teammate Grant Hill. Playing for the Knicks, Houston generally settled for being a jump shooter. Houston never had a great handle. But, like Miller, it was good enough to create the space Houston needed to get off his shoot.
Again, neither Miller nor Houston had great handles. But, their handles were good enough that they could use them to create the space needed to get off their shots. And if the defender tried to cheat defensively, their handles were good enough that they could blow by their defender, take it to the basket, and finish at the rim. Miller and Houston had what would be considered a two-guard handle. They had enough handle that they were threats to do more than stand around at the three-point line and wait for the defense to collapse on attacking players who would then pass out of the paint. If Miller and Houston did not have a decent handle, their games would have been more like that of an Eddie House – whose lack of handle limits him to standing around the three-point line and hoisting up jump shoots. House needs attacking players, like a Dwayne Wade or a Kobe Bryant, to create his scoring opportunities.
Hollis has demonstrated that his handle is good enough, which if his defender tries to “cheat” Hollis can blow by the defender, attack the basket, and finish at the rim. Hollis is also a good spot up shooter. One of his weaknesses is that he has yet to demonstrate the ability to dribble then pull up and hit the jump shot -- off the dribble. This is something that even lacking a great handle, Miller and Houston could do consistently. In addition, I have not seen Hollis shot well with a hand in his face. Particularly for Miller, he could shoot and score with a hand in his face. Spacing and a quick release were keys for Miller.
It is always good to work on improving one’s handle. Superstar two-guards, like Wade, Bryant, Jordan, and Iverson had handles that were better than many elite point guards. Improving his handle should be a priority for Hollis; but, not the priority. The keys for Hollis is not improving his handle. If he improves in three areas, he will have a long career in the NBA: (1) scoring off the dribble, particularly putting the ball on the floor, then pulling up and making the mid-range or longer distances jump shoot; (2) shooting and scoring with the defender’s hand in Hollis’ face; (3) understanding the mismatches and then posting up shorter and/or smaller guards.
Miller had a decent handle. He used his handle primarily to create space to get off his (jump) shot. Occasionally, he would take it all the way to the basket and finish at the rim. He attacked the rim just enough so that defender had to respect his ability to take it to the basket. Miller used his handle to aid his jump shooting. He had an exceptionally quick release on his shot. Houston’s life in the NBA was a tale of two careers. At Detroit, his game was more versatile. He played much like his teammate Grant Hill. Playing for the Knicks, Houston generally settled for being a jump shooter. Houston never had a great handle. But, like Miller, it was good enough to create the space Houston needed to get off his shoot.
Again, neither Miller nor Houston had great handles. But, their handles were good enough that they could use them to create the space needed to get off their shots. And if the defender tried to cheat defensively, their handles were good enough that they could blow by their defender, take it to the basket, and finish at the rim. Miller and Houston had what would be considered a two-guard handle. They had enough handle that they were threats to do more than stand around at the three-point line and wait for the defense to collapse on attacking players who would then pass out of the paint. If Miller and Houston did not have a decent handle, their games would have been more like that of an Eddie House – whose lack of handle limits him to standing around the three-point line and hoisting up jump shoots. House needs attacking players, like a Dwayne Wade or a Kobe Bryant, to create his scoring opportunities.
Hollis has demonstrated that his handle is good enough, which if his defender tries to “cheat” Hollis can blow by the defender, attack the basket, and finish at the rim. Hollis is also a good spot up shooter. One of his weaknesses is that he has yet to demonstrate the ability to dribble then pull up and hit the jump shot -- off the dribble. This is something that even lacking a great handle, Miller and Houston could do consistently. In addition, I have not seen Hollis shot well with a hand in his face. Particularly for Miller, he could shoot and score with a hand in his face. Spacing and a quick release were keys for Miller.
It is always good to work on improving one’s handle. Superstar two-guards, like Wade, Bryant, Jordan, and Iverson had handles that were better than many elite point guards. Improving his handle should be a priority for Hollis; but, not the priority. The keys for Hollis is not improving his handle. If he improves in three areas, he will have a long career in the NBA: (1) scoring off the dribble, particularly putting the ball on the floor, then pulling up and making the mid-range or longer distances jump shoot; (2) shooting and scoring with the defender’s hand in Hollis’ face; (3) understanding the mismatches and then posting up shorter and/or smaller guards.
