God Shammgod rises to his feet before the Dallas MavericksHe smiles big on the bench as he discusses dribbling.
This is specifically the case when it happened just a few hours prior to an Oct. 7 home-preseason game. Luka Doncic‘s dribbling.
Shammgod, a Mavericks Player Development Coach who is so well-respected for his ballhandling brilliance. a popular move is named after him, shows Doncic’s simple evolution to be the league’s best isolation scorer.
Shammgod uses his right foot to jab, then rocks to his left to launch a jumper. He darts back and forth to his right, placing the ball on his floor and imitating Doncic’s drive to basket. These moments make the court feel like Doncic’s canvas, which Jason Kidd, Mavs’ coach, described as a young Picasso.
Shammgod, a New York City legend considers Doncic’s approach to graffiti artists who come across blank walls.
Shammgod states that “Luka’s imagination” is just “on a whole different level.”
It’s absurd to think that draft prospect with so little explosiveness was questioned by skeptics. Doncic, a European teenager, was an extraordinary success story. He became the youngest ever MVP in Europe’s second best league before the 2018 draft. Many executives and scouts wondered if Doncic could become a superstar in the NBA.
Four seasons later and Doncic is still a perennial NBA MVP favorite. It’s partly because Doncic is not only a one-on-1 wunderkind but also the league’s premier isolation weapon, with one of the deepest stashes of tricks.
According to Second Spectrum tracking, Doncic isolated on 1,027 plays in the league last season. These possessions were second in the league, with the Mavericks scoring an average of 1.098 points. This was only one shy of the record for 43 players who had at least 300 isolations. Miami Heat Star Jimmy Butler (1.108).
Kidd says that sometimes coaches want to run all the plays. Kidd has often surrounded Doncic using 3-point threats and five-out offenses in order to allow him to play. “But it’s not about giving him the ball, but giving him enough time to be creative.”
Doncic is a creative combination of strength, skill, strength and footwork that has made him a rare scorer capable to create efficient shots at all levels.
Doncic and the Mavs are about to open their 2022/23 season on Wednesday against the Toronto Raptors. Phoenix Suns (10 p.m. ET on ESPNLet’s now dive into the iso weapons that make the 23-year-old star one of most difficult covers in the league.
The stepback: The fabric of his being’
Rick Carlisle, a former Mavs coach, tried unsuccessfully to persuade Doncic, a rookie, to stop relying on 3-pointers from stepback.
“He may shoot an inch-long stepback from 30-foots and it might not go in. Coach: ‘I don’t wish to see it anymore! Devin Harris, an ex guard for Dallas, stated this early in 2018-19. “And he might shoot six more. … And he will make ’em.”
Step-back 3. These are the most important buckets in Doncic’s career. In a comeback victory over the ‘Unknowns’, Doncic capped his rookie season with a 11-0 clutch run. Houston Rockets With a go-ahead step-back 3 Over center Clint CapelaDoncic was able to change direction quickly, while simultaneously slamming the brakes.
Doncic’s Game 4 buzzer-beater — a rare Mike Breen “BANG! BANG!” moment This completed a 43 point triple-double. It was a step-back 3. He started from the sweet spot on the left side wing. He then set it up by moving between his legs to his left before crossing over and rising high. LA Clippers Guard Reggie Jackson. Doncic has twice defeated the Boston Celtics Last-second step back 3s starting at the same spot.
NBA Advanced Stats data indicates that Doncic has attempted 1,139 steps-back threes over his career, including the playoffs. He has attempted 37.2% of these shots (39.6% in the last season), which is much better than his catch and shoot efficiency.
“You want it so that every dribbling movement he makes is a part” [step-back] Shammgod believes package is his favorite shot.” “He can do any of these moves and get to the stepback.”
Doncic’s game has many similarities. Philadelphia 76ers Guard James HardenHe was one of the best isolation scorers of his time with the Rockets, and his step-back three was perhaps the most powerful offensive weapon in the league. Both are big-framed, athletic guards who have dazzling ballhandling skills. They can also stop and suddenly dart backwards and maintain balance.
Doncic, like Harden, hunts for his stepsback. Doncic especially loves a switch against someone who is concerned about getting beat off their dribble. Doncic can drive if a defender puts importance on taking away his stepback.
Doncic said that it was never the same decision after he viewed clips of Harden sent by Shammgod at an early stage in his career. There are many factors. You have to think about who is protecting you and whether or not the shot is going in. There are many things to think about before making a decision.
Doncic does not have to worry about whether or not his head coach approves his shot selection.
Kidd said, “That stepback seems natural.” Kidd says that it is part of his fabric, as it can lead to so many other things.
The Baby Dirk: There’s no escape…no counter move
Deandre Ayton Couldn’t have done better in Game 7 of 2022 Western Conference semifinals against Mavs.
Doncic was forced to give up the ball by Doncic’s Suns center, who blitzed a high pick and roll. Ayton won the battle against Doncic and got the ball back on his left wing.
Ayton was patient while Doncic moved left to right between his legs, once, twice and three times. Ayton was close enough to challenge the stepback. Doncic moved to his right while Doncic was driving to his left, but Ayton remained in front to prevent Doncic reaching the restricted area.
It didn’t really matter.
Doncic lowered the left shoulder to initiate contact. This created space that allowed Doncic to pivot backwards and make a one-legged free throw from the line.
Swish.
Doncic said that Dirk Nowitzki was his rookie season teammate and that he always did it. 6th place on the all time scoring list. “It’s a fadeaway so it’s difficult to block, hard to defend. It just adds to my isolation.”
This is a move Doncic learned between his sophomore and rookie seasons. It adds an escape clause to his isolation game. It is especially poetic when Doncic takes the shot from the right side at home games. There are silhouettes of Nowitzki rising to take the shot on both ends.
Kidd refers Doncic’s one-legged fadeaway to the “Baby Dirk,” while Doncic is among a number of stars who have borrowed the shot form the Mavericks legend. It includes LeBron JamesShammgod also sent Doncic clips by another powerful creator.
Doncic’s one-legged fadeaway is so well-known that defenders are often embarrassed by it. Doncic will sometimes catch them leaning, and then continue to pivot through, sometimes leading into a layup.
Doncic may need to think more creatively to make it big.
“He’s just having a lot of fun with it, which makes it hard for you to defend because it seems you take one move away, and there’s no escape, no other move or counter move,” Mavs power forward/center Maxi KleberA frequent foe during practice. He suddenly finds a way of spinning out and shoots left-handed above his head.
Luka, driver: ‘His slow speed is fast’
Doncic may sometimes use his foot to juggle a basketball during timeouts. This flashback is to his childhood playing in Slovenian soccer. Doncic is a good example of his past in that sport by dribbling with his hands and changing his direction so quickly.
“A lot of” [basketball players] “People who play soccer can be very clever — Steve Nash, for example,” Shammgod states. Shammgod worked with Doncic to make more space in less time. “Luka’s like that. He’s shifty. He has excellent brakes.
“Many people don’t think about it because they get too caught up in the details. You can see all these people on and 1 despite the fact that it’s not a knock on And 1. [mix tapes] They can dribble, but they aren’t able to move anywhere. Now you are stuck in one place.
“Dribbling is all about footwork. The illusion of having hands is only a fantasy.
Shammgod describes Doncic as “quicker that you think” and Doncic often gains a half-step advantage over his opponent by his stepback. It’s very difficult for defenders to recover once that happens.
Kidd said, “He knows how his body works, the angles.”
Shammgod says Harden was also like that. “Once you are on his side, there is nothing you can do. [Doncic] He can score so easily. He’s just too strong.
Doncic is a skilled slut through traffic, displaying his shiftiness and ability to rumble down the lane like an axeman, particularly when he is backing down his defender. Doncic often initiates contact off the dribble, or when he’s going up for finish. He uses his strength to create pockets and space.
Doncic stated that you must use the contact during preseason. “If you use the contact correctly it’s a big benefit, for sure.”
Doncic, who is 6-foot-7 and 240-plus pounds, excels at finishing, despite never being above the rim. Last season, Doncic had seven dunks. This is a number that has declined in each of his years. Doncic converted 69.7% his attempts within five foot of the rim, placing him second among 43 guards with at most 150 buckets. (Gary Payton II(First among those ranked was a explosive leaper who had only 36 unassisted basketballs throughout the season.
Kidd marvels at Doncic’s ability to shift gears to allow traffic to pass him.
Shammgod says that when Shammgod plays, the only thing that he hears in his head is music. “He sees it in slow motion regardless of how fast it’s moving. Because you are moving so fast, his slow is very fast. He’s trying to beat you to the spot. But he isn’t there yet so it’s easier for him to see that you are getting there.
“He’s always in his comfort zone.”