The Crack on the Stone

We all hate the shot blockers protecting the rim, they’re those that turn our potential poster moments to their personal block party. They will always be the last man to beat on the defensive end altering your sweet looking shot attempt for a high percentage field goal. Manning the middle serving as the anchor on the defense is how we see them, that big bad man with a wide wingspan responsible for imposing on every wingman’s mind that scoring is never that easy. Hell yeah! But as they say, “there are a million ways on how to kill a cat,” which is very applicable even to those fearsome and perceived impenetrable shot blockers in the NBA. I ain’t got time to give you 1 million moves to beat Serge Ibaka, Birdman Andersen, Mt. Mutombo, and KG which is why I’ll have to narrow it down to 1. One move to get past these feisty defenders?! Yes, my friend and it’s not to wait until he’s bedridden – that’s silly. Well, in this edition or should I say in this only edition I’m dedicating it to the little man: point guards and shooting guards. 

Now boys take note. Never attack like you’re on a one-on-one situation unless if you have ups like MJ or Vince Carter. Well, if that’s the case you can take your exit now because this so high school for you. Remember, always play as team player. Get your team mates involved, if they have a better shot than yours, don’t be a schmuck, pass the ball, a lay-up or a dunk no matter how emphatic it is will only count as 2 points. It is important to use screens, curls, and more importantly, make yourself comfortable with the old but gold pick and roll. Google it! 

Now, to your most awaited part. What I’m about to teach is you how to beat a big man if the defense switched assignments momentarily or, as rampant nowadays, cross matched. 

1. Make a quick move be it a crossover or any hesitation move like the jab step to get him out balanced. If he loses his ankle and falls to the floor, cheers buddy, but if not, attack him on the side where he has to double time on getting back to protect your driving lane.

2. I assume you’re on your way to the shaded area now while he is at your tail ready for some nasty chase down. Once you’re close to the rim, step on the gas a little bit more to allow you to get a step ahead making him think that you’re up for a blow by. 

3. And lastly, fake it like you mean it. It’s every shot blocker’s weak spot – they fall for the fake. I say again, they fall for the fake. Once he’s up in the mid-air jerkily reacting how he got fooled and in the middle of nowhere, I suggest you avoid that “everything but the basket” to be on the Sportscenter and not on Shaqtin’ a Fool.

Here’s how they do it:

That's a young Steph Curry showing his moves on the Birdman.

Another one, this time, in the Finals.

 

 Ah... Just listen to Mark Jackson on this.

Lastly, Knee Wade... yah I mean that.

Enjoy while it last. That's the flash before a cold series against the Spurs.

Okay, I guess you boys are ready. Bear in mind that to become a successful scorer you need to be unpredictable in your approach. Practice those J's, post them up, move without the ball, and fake some shots. Open those eyes for possible shooters or cutters while you're driving and if that time comes, send that big fella to school now that you know the crack on the stone.

The Flu, The Flash, and The Worse Way to get 'ROB'bed

Game 5's all about momentum shift. On a  2-3-2 format, this is the game the either sends you home via 4-1 or prolonging the anxiety via 3-2. Game five is the last home game of the lower seeded team in the NBA finals so this game is a deciding one for the series and for the past few NBA championships we, basketball fans, have witnessed game five is as good as advertised.

Let's take a look back at game 5 performances of the ages.

1. Michael Jordan (1997)

"That was probably the most difficult thing I've ever done" - Michael Jordan

In front of a 19, 911 anxious crowd, being diagnosed with stomach virus, and Utah winning two straight games, his airness gave the basketball world a performance with no excuse.  Tim Grover, Jordan's athletic trainer, claimed that MJ's sickness was brought by a food poisoning because of the pizza he ate a night before the game. You can read the story here. MJ was told by his trainer that there is no way he can play for game 5 due to the fact that he can even barely sit up. With the series tied at 2-2 and the Bulls' fate unclear as their leader's presence remains questionable hours before tip-off, Jordan, visibly weak and pale carried the Bulls to win the game putting them in command of the series 3-2.  Forever remembered as "the flu game", Michael Jordan, just gave the Utah Jazz' fans one more reason to hate him. Playing with flu-like symptoms or, we should say being food poisoned, yet providing 38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and 1 block all in a jam packed 44 minutes of action add insults to injury. Witness the flu game here.

2. Dwayne Wade (2006)

Wade torched the Mavs with 43 points and setting an NBA Finals record of 21 free throws made in a single game.

Before the Big 3, "the flash" was already a force to be reckoned with in the NBA. His first NBA Finals appearance was, up to date, the most highly adored performance of all-time. Topping the ESPN's Greatest Finals Performance defeating Michael Jordan on the race; 2006' NBA Finals was a series to remember because of this man and game 5 of that series out-shined all his other games. He was clearly very unstoppable at that time that the only way to minimize his damage was to send to him to the stripe - Wade then attempted 25 free throws on that game alone. Mark Cuban, Mavs' team owner, was fined with a head shaking 250,000 dollars for "acts of misconduct" on this game due to controversial fouls and questionable officiating he violently questioned. Judge it for yourself, watch as "the flash" rolled his way to his first championship ring here.

3. Robert Horry (2005)

'Big Shot Rob' does it again!

12 lead changes and 18 ties, Spur-Pistons series came down to the wire. Game was so close that even 48 minutes of basketball isn't enough so they proceeded to overtime. Disregarding Duncan and Manu's stats because we are always expecting them to deliver big numbers, Robert Horry was more like the story of the game. Providing 21 points off the bench with a 5-out-6 shooting beyond the arc, and more importantly, the late game winning jumper were Horry's contributions. Watch as the Pistons got robbed here. How's that for a Horry's scale, eh?