4.06.2005

Good defense - abysmal offense

Not sure I've had a worse night of shooting in years. Couldn't make anything. It didn't help that a jammed two fingers on my shooting hand in the first game, but even with that I couldn't make shots that I almost always make. My only success was in slashing to the basket, a skill that is relatively new to my repertoire.

Otherwise, I had a very good night for assists, steals and blocked shots. Not quite a quadruple double, but in four game I would guess I had 8 of each.

8 comments:

C.F. Bear said...

Good job Mixdorf for not using the F word in your post. I applaude you and shout your name. You rock!

Pat said...

I guess I was paraphrasing.

My offense fucking sucked ass.

Dan said...

It's hard to focus on other things you're doing well when you're offense is not happening, but the ability to do so would make it a lot easier to enjoy those sorts of games.

You've always been good at blocking shots. My shots, in particular. You're a low-post presence and I like to drive to the rack, so it's bound to happen from time to time. But your blocks per minute of defending me are definitely above those of any other common opponent.

New skill of driving to the hole? When did this come about? You should be getting a step slower-are you actually getting better at this, or do you just attempt it more often? As good as your blocked shots and mid-range set shot are, I've always thought you oversold your fakes a bit. Or a lot.

Pat said...

Definitely not quicker, but I think my ball-handling has continued to improve as a result of having to play point guard in some of our match-ups on Tuesday night.

I also think I've figured out more ways to get could shots at the end of those drives to the basket.

My fakes, such as they are, are not effective away from the basket. I can score close to the hoop on fakes, but away from the hoop not so good.

Although my dribbling has plenty of room for improvement, I have developed a reasonably effective cross-over and am more able to maintain ball control with my left hand.

As far as blocks go, I play with a group of guys where I am in the middle of the pack height-wise. Last night I just sort of figured out one of the new guys that plays with us, and managed to block him fairly often.

I maintain that I am most effective as a small forward.

Dan said...

I do picture you as a small foward, though I think your 2nd best position is center (though a smaller one). Your better stuff:
- Shot blocking.
- Other defensive "hands" things. One of the reasons why you're a pretty good small forward. You can pretty much keep up with people, and if you can't you have pretty good timing and a good reach for defense.
- Good mid-range shot (though, as with any of us, you can be streaky).
- Pretty good "post" moves.

I maintain that only about 1% of big men use the hook shot as often as they could. It's extremely effective, an easy shot to make, and very very hard to block. Everyone uses the drop step (fadeaway), which is a much harder shot to make. Another good move inside, if you can get someone going just a bit on a fake one direction, is the thing where you then use a big pivot step to actually go under & around their arms on the other side and get an easy lay-in. Works a lot better than it sounds like it would. In the NBA, I often see even (relative to competition) slow guys pull this off successfully. Once you get alongside the other person's body and have inside position, all they can do is foul you. Especially (iny your case), if you stick that sweaty ass back at them.

Pat said...

Recently my mid-range shot has been excellent. Last night was a stark contrast.

C.F. Bear said...

Dan and Mixdorf, how would you break down Gibbons and I as basketball players?

Pat said...

We would break you down with relentless defense, crisp passing, and an ability to drive and dish.