Looks like Reke has a shooting coach?

[ParniValjak]

Yeah, taken a step further, Reke has improved his FT shooting each year:
09-10 .748
10-11 .771
11-12 .800

And furthermore, this year its actually become rather remarkable. By month:
Dec: .481
Jan: .846
Feb: .860
Mar: .850


Meaning that after he chased out the gremlins who had infected his form after Christmas, he's now become an 85% FT shooter. You subtract those 4 games in Decemeber and you are talking about a guy hovering around Top 20 in the league and shooting them at a higher percentage than Kevin Durant or Kobe Bryant. Which is also, btw, a great sign going forward for the jumper as it means its form not touch, and likely lower body not upper body.

One of Tyreke's great assets is the ability to draw contact and go to the line where he converts at 80% for the season. Except our dumb coach thought he would move him to SF. Take a look at Tyreke's free throw attempt per game before and after the positional change.

 

[Spike]

One of Tyreke's great assets is the ability to draw contact and go to the line where he converts at 80% for the season. Except our dumb coach thought he would move him to SF. Take a look at Tyreke's free throw attempt per game before and after the positional change.

But look at how much better he is at moving without the ball!
Seriously though, I'd do the research, but I'm on my phone. I'll bet the data supports what we already know...he's not getting to the line as frequently because when he goes by his defender at the SF position, interior help is ready. When he drives by from the guard position, help has to shift from further away or come up to meet him, causing more defensive contact. It's all related.

 

[bajaden]

Of course it's not common. Tyreke has an UNCOMMENLY lousy jump shot. Forget the conventional. He needs to think outside the box of common and get desperate about fixing his shooting. If that means he is perceived as "odd" then so be it. It's not about PR. It's about improving his jump shot. That means looking at doing the unorthodox, not the run of the mill. I can't even begin to convey the dissapointment I have in the GM, the previous coaches, Tyreke himself, his brothers, his entourage and whoever else has been involved in his decision making. His third year has been an abject failure of improvement. Bringing in a shooting coach for a couple of weeks is a tune up. That's for a guy who actually has a jump shot who wants to work out the kinks. We're talking about a guy who needs a total rebuild. He sure as heck better start to take radical measures to improve his jump shot or like I've said before, he's going to be one gigantic WHAT IF?

Look, I think you ought to at least give him credit for doing something to help correct the problem. Is if a perfect situation? No! But its very difficult during a season to change things. Not enough time to practice, and probably even more difficult to get a shooting coach to commit to follow you around for the rest of the season. I'm sure he has other commitments. Your putting Tyreke in a dammed if you do and dammed if you don't situation. If he had done nothing, you'd criticize him for doing nothing. Now that he's actually doing something, your criticizing for not doing it sooner, or not doing enough. Lighten up a little. Nothings going to really change until the offseason when he has the time to put in every day.

Now if he doesn't do that, I'll join you in criticizing him.

 

[spudfan]

IF the improvement is so obvious, then why continue to criticize the original problem? If a student gets a D, works hard and pulls his grade up to a B isn't it unfair to continue to judge him based on the old grade?

Some posters around here (speaking in general terms only) continue to point to the D as if it somehow is more valid than the B, if you follow my train of thought.

I am criticizing the original problem (poor form) because although it has translated into improvements from the line, that same form hasn't converted to a better looking jump shot. I would say the farther away/more difficult the shot the more exasperated small problems in technique become. So to me, if he can continue improve the FT form, the jump shot will also get better. But for now the improvements are good enough to see a change from the line, but not yet good enough to translate into improvements from range.

I agree with you on the second part about people pointing to the d vs the b. I see them as connected instead separate in regards to the ft/jumper form.

 

[spudfan]

The best part of Reke's improving FT stroke is that its all happening by magic, since we know that Reke is lazy and just likes to sit at home playing video games. Do you know how incredibly lucky we are? How many other teams can say they have a young might-be star who is actually magical? Who knows what could happen next. Maybe he will suddenly grow to be 7 feet tall, or sprout wings and be able to just fly over people and dunk. The future is bright. And imagine what might happen if he actually ever showed up to practice?

As for Reke's constant detractors, all they have to do to gain legitimacy on this subject is to start questioning Durant and Kobe's FT strokes too.

I am getting a bit of sarcasm overload here so I am trying to read between the lines... Are you saying I can't criticize his form because it's something he is working on?

 

[JB_kings]

As has been mentioned, most of Reke's problems are likely in the legs. He rarely steps into the shot and actually fades away which front rims most of his shots. When his free throws were off at the beginning of the season he was actually back on his heels from the line. Identifying corrections are not the hard part. It's building the new habits and confidence in the shot. That takes a lot of practice. If the shooting coach is a good one, he won't try to fix all his flaws in a few days time unless the player is complete garbage with his form. Reke is not complete garbage.

He just needs to jack up about 500 perimeter shots twice a day during the offseason stepping into the shooting motion. Maybe even work on adding more arc to give him greater confidence that he won't get his shot blocked. Perhaps at some point early in his playing career he got swatted a lot and decided he better shoot fade away shots to create space. But while the season is going on, he can work on maybe only taking open shots and just getting his feet set with some good balance. Chances are he will be left open a lot and dared to shoot anyway.

 

[mac]

I am getting a bit of sarcasm overload here so I am trying to read between the lines... Are you saying I can't criticize his form because it's something he is working on?

No he's saying that criticizing an 85% ft shooter's FT shooting form is a little silly

 

[UK_King]

Sometimes i just read through a thread and think why are we arguing about this.

this is one of them threads.

 

[bajaden]

He looked like a sissy although I wouldn't have said that to his face.

Are you talking about Rick Barry or Wilt Chamberlin?

 

[bajaden]

Any complaints about his FT form are just criticizing him to stick to the script? Hardly. I'll agree that some people who are criticizing his FT form are the normal guys who hate on him, but don't group all of us into that category. As you show in one of your posts his percentage has been getting better and better, that shows there was (and still is) improvement which logically would say some of the criticism is deserved.

So instead of praising him for his improvement, we should be critical of him for not improving enough? You ever heard of rewarding effort...

 

[The_Jamal]

Tyreke needs to just abandon the 3pt shot and follow the Dwayne model of success. Reke has taken 87 3s this year and made 19 of them while Wade has taken 28 and made 6 this year. Give Reke 59 more attacks to the basket to create or for lay-ups, or 10-15 jump shots and our team probably has a few more wins as a result and Tyreke would likely have been in the all-star conversation this season.

 

[Glenn]

Tyreke needs to just abandon the 3pt shot and follow the Dwayne model of success. Reke has taken 87 3s this year and made 19 of them while Wade has taken 28 and made 6 this year. Give Reke 59 more attacks to the basket to create or for lay-ups, or 10-15 jump shots and our team probably has a few more wins as a result and Tyreke would likely have been in the all-star conversation this season.

I'd go with this but some have been deliberate draw and kick shots with Tyreke standing behind the three point line. In other words, he was doing what the coach told him to do. Makes no sense unless Smart is just experimenting.

 

[The_Jamal]

I'd go with this but some have been deliberate draw and kick shots with Tyreke standing behind the three point line. In other words, he was doing what the coach told him to do. Makes no sense unless Smart is just experimenting.

It's an incredibly dumb coaching move then if that's true. Tyreke shooting 3s at a 21% clip are a big waste of possessions.

 

[Glenn]

It's an incredibly dumb coaching move then if that's true. Tyreke shooting 3s at a 21% clip are a big waste of possessions.

I saw it once but as I don't follow Tyreke but watch the game, I suspect I missed at least one more. In any case, one draw and kick is one too many. I think Tyreke is changing his game but I don't know if it is because he is out of position or what. I don't think him playing SF is a solution to anything. I long for the time when we can discuss anything but Tyreke.

 

[bajaden]

I saw it once but as I don't follow Tyreke but watch the game, I suspect I missed at least one more. In any case, one draw and kick is one too many. I think Tyreke is changing his game but I don't know if it is because he is out of position or what. I don't think him playing SF is a solution to anything. I long for the time when we can discuss anything but Tyreke.

I've said it many times. All he needs to do is develop a good midrange game. A stop and pop, like Wade. He can still set up outside the three, but when he gets the ball, let his man run at him, fake him into the air and then drive toward the basket. If they close off his lane, he stops and pops. Thats what Wade does. About the only time Wade shoots a three, is when the clock is running down, or he's wide open and they have a big lead.

 

[Bricklayer]

I'd go with this but some have been deliberate draw and kick shots with Tyreke standing behind the three point line. In other words, he was doing what the coach told him to do. Makes no sense unless Smart is just experimenting.

I would agree with both statements: 1) if he can;t improve it significantly he should jsut set it aside ala Wade; and 2) right now though we have peoiple intentionaly kicking it to him in spots where it looks like we've intentionally put him. That is just youth and inexperience of the players and possibly the coaching staff. You have to know your top personnel and design a system to maximize their strengths.

 

[Glenn]

I would agree with both statements: 1) if he can;t improve it significantly he should jsut set it aside ala Wade; and 2) right now though we have peoiple intentionaly kicking it to him in spots where it looks like we've intentionally put him. That is just youth and inexperience of the players and possibly the coaching staff. You have to know your top personnel and design a system to maximize their strengths.

I KNOW THEIR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES! Why don't they. That's why I was wondering if Smart was experimenting. BTW, the threes missed. SHOCK!!

 

[spudfan]

So instead of praising him for his improvement, we should be critical of him for not improving enough? You ever heard of rewarding effort...

I don't see why you can't do both. Being a homer or a hater aren't the only two options. There are those of us who see and acknowledge the improvement while also recognizing opportunity for further improvement.

 

[spudfan]

As has been mentioned, most of Reke's problems are likely in the legs. He rarely steps into the shot and actually fades away which front rims most of his shots. When his free throws were off at the beginning of the season he was actually back on his heels from the line. Identifying corrections are not the hard part. It's building the new habits and confidence in the shot. That takes a lot of practice. If the shooting coach is a good one, he won't try to fix all his flaws in a few days time unless the player is complete garbage with his form. Reke is not complete garbage.

He just needs to jack up about 500 perimeter shots twice a day during the offseason stepping into the shooting motion. Maybe even work on adding more arc to give him greater confidence that he won't get his shot blocked. Perhaps at some point early in his playing career he got swatted a lot and decided he better shoot fade away shots to create space. But while the season is going on, he can work on maybe only taking open shots and just getting his feet set with some good balance. Chances are he will be left open a lot and dared to shoot anyway.

I agree with your assessment. His release/stroke have always looked great to me, just the leg/hip position throw off the balance and the further out you are the more noticeable it becomes.

 

[Gary]

I KNOW THEIR STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES! Why don't they. That's why I was wondering if Smart was experimenting. BTW, the threes missed. SHOCK!!

Yah I wonder why he's camping out there sometimes too, and why his teammates actually pass it to him when he's out there. If I was his teammate I would only pass it to him f I see that he's moving to the basket, not standing around out there. Unless of course we are swinging it around to a corner to get a 3pt shot from either Thomas, Thornton or Garcia.

 

[BMiller52]

Yah I wonder why he's camping out there sometimes too, and why his teammates actually pass it to him when he's out there. If I was his teammate I would only pass it to him f I see that he's moving to the basket, not standing around out there. Unless of course we are swinging it around to a corner to get a 3pt shot from either Thomas, Thornton or Garcia.

Well yeah and everyone can say we should have him do what Wade does but Wade is more explosive and finishes through contact better. IMO Reke needs to become more of a complete player in a Kobe type of way, or similar to how Brandon Roy was before his knees deteriorated. He needs to keep working on his jumpshot.

 

[rainmaker]

In reference to shooting, Reke's chiropractor just tweeted

He's been working hard at the gym putting in extra shots with a private coach. Shooting all night. No sleep.

 

[ElRey]

Well yeah and everyone can say we should have him do what Wade does but Wade is more explosive and finishes through contact better. IMO Reke needs to become more of a complete player in a Kobe type of way, or similar to how Brandon Roy was before his knees deteriorated. He needs to keep working on his jumpshot.

Reke absolutely needs to develop a jumpshot in order to get to superstar status, since Tyreke is not an explosive athlete like Wade. But even Wade is a very good mid-range shooter.

 

[ElRey]

In reference to shooting, Reke's chiropractor just tweeted

He's been working hard at the gym putting in extra shots with a private coach. Shooting all night. No sleep.

Can you give link please? thanks

 

[kingjatt]

If D. Rose can do it Tyreke surely can too

 

[The_Jamal]

If D. Rose can do it Tyreke surely can too

People need to stop trying to compare the two. They aren't the same player and have totally different games. Reke and our coaching staff need to realize he simply isn't going to be an effective 3 pt shooter and work on him getting an elite mid-range game to go with his ability to penetrate. Wade has made a HoF career out of doing exactly that, so it's not like Reke can't be effective doing so

 

[Kingster]

Amazing isn't it!

I think Kingster lost all credibility (that's assuming he had any to start with) with the his left foot should be in front of his right comment!

Tyreke's free throws have not been a problem this season (other than that patch early in the season where he missed a lot of them but came back the next game and hit the all). His jumpshot when he has his feet set has been solid. It takes time for that to translate into game environment with the defence focused on you and the fatigue that you are playing with. Anyone who says that his shot has not improved since his rookie year known **** all about basketball. If they expected Reke to come out after 2 off-seasons and shoot like Ray Allen, well the expectations are insane. Its not Reke's fault for not meeting those lofty expectations, its the fault of those who set them.

Who gives a shi* about the free throws? That was as aside, a "by the way", not the main thrust of the post. It's amazing how this board can run with something like that. Maybe next time I should as anecdotally post a sentence about whether gum chewers were better free throw shooters than non-gum chewers. Then everybody could post about the pros and cons of Wrigley's spearmint vs juicy fruit, sugar-free vs sugar. Jeez. Unbelievable.

As far as expectations, you bet I have high expectations, I should expect the FO and coaching staff to have high expectations. Maybe some Kings fans have endured losing for so long they just have given up expecting anything but the lowest performance for our young Kings players. That's such a loser's mentallity.

 

[ParniValjak]

Who gives a shi* about the free throws? That was as aside, a "by the way", not the main thrust of the post. It's amazing how this board can run with something like that. Maybe next time I should as anecdotally post a sentence about whether gum chewers were better free throw shooters than non-gum chewers. Then everybody could post about the pros and cons of Wrigley's spearmint vs juicy fruit, sugar-free vs sugar. Jeez. Unbelievable.

As far as expectations, you bet I have high expectations, I should expect the FO and coaching staff to have high expectations. Maybe some Kings fans have endured losing for so long they just have given up expecting anything but the lowest performance for our young Kings players. That's such a loser's mentallity.

Oh please! You know what loser's mentality is...exactly what you are are displaying. Here we have a unique talent that EVERY team in the NBA would love to have on their roster, you constantly we are subjected to you dribble about how Tyreke is crap because he can't shoot, he is a crap defender, he can't pass, he is selfish, he can't finish consistently, he can't dunk, he can't this, he can't that.

The loser's mentality in all this is that you don't appreciate the player we have because he is not sexy enough...in other words he is no Rubio! So spare us the loser's mentality allegations because you are the one that wants to build this team with the type of players that have never won anything in this league in prominent role.

Cousins and Tyreke are absolute untouchables on this team if we are serious about not being perennial losers but you would trade Tyreke for any good player that can shoot and nothing else or pass and nothing else. THAT is the loser's mentality. Its called the tall poppy syndrome! Maybe you should look it up?!

 

[ppine]

I liked the Hammer's post. Magic Johnson was not that great of a shooter when he broke into the league either. His competitive drive was like Bird, MJ, Barkeley and few other people in the NBA. These people were great because they really worked at it. They had the talent, but out worked everyone else. During the All-Star break Barkely challenged DMC to dedicate himself to being great. None of us were too mentally organized when we were 21 or 22 yo. The Kings could have several players on the All-Star team in a few years if they don't panic and trade away their talent like they have for many years.

 

[jcwkings]

I liked the Hammer's post. Magic Johnson was not that great of a shooter when he broke into the league either. His competitive drive was like Bird, MJ, Barkeley and few other people in the NBA. These people were great because they really worked at it. They had the talent, but out worked everyone else. During the All-Star break Barkely challenged DMC to dedicate himself to being great. None of us were too mentally organized when we were 21 or 22 yo. The Kings could have several players on the All-Star team in a few years if they don't panic and trade away their talent like they have for many years.

Magic had probably the greatest court vision and passing ability in the history of the game, he was so talented at getting others involved that it didn't matter that he couldn't shoot. Tyreke on the other hand is best creating for himself, he doesn't have the court vision or awareness to consitently create for others, thus his lack of jumpshot is even more glaring. Opponents know that if they pack the paint, Tyreke doesn't have the ability to hit an open shot, or create for others on a regular basis.