Fantasy Basketball’s Brick Layers: Profiling The Worst Shooters in the NBA
Brandon Jennings’ rookie season will be remembered for his 55 point torching of Golden State in early November and who could forget his role in guiding his team to their first playoff appearance since the ’05-’06 season. What fans may overlook is Jennings’ dismal shooting percentage that placed him 17th in the league in total shot attempts.
Coaches like to avoid the basketball nomenclature of “chucker” when referring to a player who lacks the filter to pass up a contested jump shot though Jennings is in every sense just that—a chucker.
A shooting percentage below 40 percent might as well be considered the Scarlett Letter of the NBA—branding players that can’t pass up a heavily challenged 35-foot jump shot. The bleak 37 percent that Jennings shot places him last among the league’s qualifying shooters.
Jennings showed no signs of developing a sense of shot discretion as the season progressed. In fact, during the first round playoffs against the Hawks he heaved a grotesque 29 percent three point percentage. Had the Milwaukee point guard shot a Derrick Rose-esque 49 percent from the floor I don’t think owner’s and fans would have minded quite as much.
Trevor Ariza will begin the season suiting up for his fifth team in the last six seasons. Does his career 32 percent three-point-percentage or 65.8 percent free-throw-percentage have anything to do with his status as an NBA transient? How about his 39% field-goal-percentage last season? You betcha.
Fans crucified Lakers’ General Manager Mitch Kupchak following their 2009 title when the team acquired problematic forward Ron Artest and let hyper-athletic Ariza accept a contract with the Houston Rockets. Now, the deal looks like sheer brilliance on the Lakers’ behalf as they accurately saw Ariza as a glorified role player, as should anyone hoping for a breakout season from one of the league’s notoriously worst shooters.
Only recently has Los Angeles Clippers’ forward Rasual Butler entered the realm of fantasy basketball relevance. Butler hasn’t helped his cause of late, in particular his totals from last season of 41 percent FG and 34 percent 3PT have helped to cement the Philadelphia native as one of the league’s ugliest shooters.
Similar to Butler, Washington Wizards forward Yi Jianlian has struggled to justify his minutes considering his below average 40 percent from the field and his career 34 percent three-point percentage. Yi will be entering his fourth season in the league and at only 22 he has room to develop. The Wizards will be his third destination in four years, so just maybe Flip Saunders will prove to be the antidote to Jianlian’s shooting woes.
Coaches like to avoid the basketball nomenclature of “chucker” when referring to a player who lacks the filter to pass up a contested jump shot though Jennings is in every sense just that—a chucker.
A shooting percentage below 40 percent might as well be considered the Scarlett Letter of the NBA—branding players that can’t pass up a heavily challenged 35-foot jump shot. The bleak 37 percent that Jennings shot places him last among the league’s qualifying shooters.
Jennings showed no signs of developing a sense of shot discretion as the season progressed. In fact, during the first round playoffs against the Hawks he heaved a grotesque 29 percent three point percentage. Had the Milwaukee point guard shot a Derrick Rose-esque 49 percent from the floor I don’t think owner’s and fans would have minded quite as much.
Trevor Ariza will begin the season suiting up for his fifth team in the last six seasons. Does his career 32 percent three-point-percentage or 65.8 percent free-throw-percentage have anything to do with his status as an NBA transient? How about his 39% field-goal-percentage last season? You betcha.
Fans crucified Lakers’ General Manager Mitch Kupchak following their 2009 title when the team acquired problematic forward Ron Artest and let hyper-athletic Ariza accept a contract with the Houston Rockets. Now, the deal looks like sheer brilliance on the Lakers’ behalf as they accurately saw Ariza as a glorified role player, as should anyone hoping for a breakout season from one of the league’s notoriously worst shooters.
Only recently has Los Angeles Clippers’ forward Rasual Butler entered the realm of fantasy basketball relevance. Butler hasn’t helped his cause of late, in particular his totals from last season of 41 percent FG and 34 percent 3PT have helped to cement the Philadelphia native as one of the league’s ugliest shooters.
Similar to Butler, Washington Wizards forward Yi Jianlian has struggled to justify his minutes considering his below average 40 percent from the field and his career 34 percent three-point percentage. Yi will be entering his fourth season in the league and at only 22 he has room to develop. The Wizards will be his third destination in four years, so just maybe Flip Saunders will prove to be the antidote to Jianlian’s shooting woes.
Automatics: Sure things from the floor
It’s difficult to believe that Corey Maggette led all non-post players in field goal percentage last season shooting a blistering 52 percent and yet another productive season from one of the league’s most underrated players. Maggette has carved out a niche as one of the NBA’s premiere mid-range shooters and should be one of the more coveted and undervalued players this season.
Maggette qualifies at both the small forward and power forward positions so his added versatility only adds to his value. Playing alongside Michael Redd in Milwaukee shouldn’t hurt his production in the least, considering his offensive rebounding ability and Maggette’s above average 83 percent career free throw percentage which will allow him to make the most of every offensive opportunity.
Steve Nash should have his own column declaring the Suns’ guard as one of the all-time best. The Phoenix point guard has shot over 50 percent from the floor for the past six seasons and his career 43 percent three-point percentage ranks him among the likes of NBA sharpshooting legends like Glenn Rice, Steve Kerr, and Dale Ellis.
At 36-years-old Nash will rely on a bevy of outside looks to compensate for the decline in his tendency to attack the basket which is represented in his declining free throw opportunities. Nash should still be considered a premium player for as long as he’s willing to continue shooting.
Nash’s former teammate Dirk Nowitzki has been largely considered one of the league’s premiere marksmen and there’s no reason to believe the seven-foot German forward will slow down.
According to former NBA sharpshooter Tim Legler, Nowitzki should always be one of the game’s most feared shooters for as long as he’s on the floor. “Nowitzki presents problems to defenses other guys don't because he is seven feet tall,” Legler says. “Plus his release is perfect.”
The Mavericks will again utilize Dirk at both forward positions meaning smaller defenders will be assigned to guard him and thus allowing Nowitzki to continue punishing opponents with his marksmanship. 2010-2011 will be just another season that will allow him to compile gaudy offensive numbers on his way to enshrinement in Springfield.
It’s difficult to believe that Corey Maggette led all non-post players in field goal percentage last season shooting a blistering 52 percent and yet another productive season from one of the league’s most underrated players. Maggette has carved out a niche as one of the NBA’s premiere mid-range shooters and should be one of the more coveted and undervalued players this season.
Maggette qualifies at both the small forward and power forward positions so his added versatility only adds to his value. Playing alongside Michael Redd in Milwaukee shouldn’t hurt his production in the least, considering his offensive rebounding ability and Maggette’s above average 83 percent career free throw percentage which will allow him to make the most of every offensive opportunity.
Steve Nash should have his own column declaring the Suns’ guard as one of the all-time best. The Phoenix point guard has shot over 50 percent from the floor for the past six seasons and his career 43 percent three-point percentage ranks him among the likes of NBA sharpshooting legends like Glenn Rice, Steve Kerr, and Dale Ellis.
At 36-years-old Nash will rely on a bevy of outside looks to compensate for the decline in his tendency to attack the basket which is represented in his declining free throw opportunities. Nash should still be considered a premium player for as long as he’s willing to continue shooting.
Nash’s former teammate Dirk Nowitzki has been largely considered one of the league’s premiere marksmen and there’s no reason to believe the seven-foot German forward will slow down.
According to former NBA sharpshooter Tim Legler, Nowitzki should always be one of the game’s most feared shooters for as long as he’s on the floor. “Nowitzki presents problems to defenses other guys don't because he is seven feet tall,” Legler says. “Plus his release is perfect.”
The Mavericks will again utilize Dirk at both forward positions meaning smaller defenders will be assigned to guard him and thus allowing Nowitzki to continue punishing opponents with his marksmanship. 2010-2011 will be just another season that will allow him to compile gaudy offensive numbers on his way to enshrinement in Springfield.
Written exclusively by Conor Gereg. Conor is a lifelong sports fan who can tell you Shawn Kemp’s career field goal percentage or even Jeff Blauser’s home run total but fails to remember where he left his keys.
Folllow us on Twitter @TheFantasyFix
Tags: The Fantasy Fix, Fantasy Basketball Advice, Draft, NBA, FG%, Shooters, Brandon Jennings, Trevor Ariza, Rasual Butler, Derrick Rose, Yi Jianlian, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Corey Maggette
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