But if the lane is shut off and continually attacking it results in bad misses and turnovers, then the defense has won. Kobe, Lebron and Jordan improved their outside shot. It is a necessity. It doesn't mean they became passive, it means they could be aggressive in more than one way.
Yes, I agree Reke improving his jumper is a necessity. My biggest knock on Reke isn't his lack of a jumper though, but that if that final step to the basket is taken away, or he's driving in and sees help coming over, he hasn't added a single shot he can go to when that final step or two is taken away.
Whether it's a soft kiss off glass from the angle, a teardrop, a floater, a little pullup 10-12 footer, whatever it is, he needs to add at least something he can got to in that 5-12 ft range. And given he can get to that spot on the floor easier than just about anyone in the game, it's even more important for him.
But Petrie and Smart with his lineups have done Reke no favors either when he is attacking the paint. We all see Reke kickout and set guys up numerous times from that same 5-12ft range, and they brick at one of the worst rates in the league, and has been the worst for most of the year. Surrounding Reke/Cuz with shooters will considerably help open both attacking and passing lanes for them, and for Reke even without a jumper. Notice when Rondo, who's a terrible shooter gets into the paint, he has more opportunities than a guy like Reke because the guys he's playing with demand the defense stay honest. Like Rondo, when the defense sags off because they don't respect the jumper, he can still get into the paint pretty much when he wants. Difference is with Rondo guys aren't running over to help and clog the paint because of Bostons shooters. If they help at all, Rondo finds the open man. When they don't, he's getting a clearer path to the hoop than Reke usually does.
Some(not saying you) act as if not having a jumper is all that what is killing Reke. It hurts him, no doubt. But what hurts just as much is this roster, lineups, spacing and complete lack of a system. Put Reke on Bos now, and without any improvement in his jumper he's getting easier looks at the rim, more attacking and passing lanes because of the surroundings, offense ran in Bos, and his asts would shoot up. This doesn't excuse his lack of a jumper or more importantly in my mind a midrange game, but this organization has done him no favors, and even without that jumper he could and should be much more effective.
Not related, but anyone see MT's recent tweets, or I should say re-tweets? Apparently on NBATV he was ranked as the #5 SG in the league, and he keeps retweeting tweets about that. Maybe nothing wrong with that per se, but comes across as selfish to me, and enjoying pointing out his own statistical achievements in a public forum while the team has played like absolute s*** rubs me the wrong way. If Reke was doing that his rookie year, and retweeting comparisons to the other 20/5/5 guys while the team sucked, fans would have blasted him for just being concerned with his numbers and putting himself before the team. Not the first time MT has done this either. To be honest, I follow a number of NBA players on twitter, and I don't remember seeing any others retweeting tweets of fans praising them. And this isn't one or two from MT, but he's retweeted 5+ tweets singing his praise. Haven;t seen that from another player, especially on a cellar dweller.
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