Watching the Raptors 106-105 win over the Lakers on Sunday it is clear that there are two sides to the team. There is the meek Dr. Jekyll, who settles for outside shots and may not always box out, and the aggressive Mr. Hyde, who gets to the line and contests opponents’ shots. Dr. Jekyll may shoot early in the shot clock or out of the team offence whereas Mr. Hyde is more focus and resolute. More importantly, Mr. Hyde seems to come out on the winning end more than his daytime alter-ego.
Why do they need to wait until halftime to drink the magical potion? Why wait until the middle of the game to play a zone against the Milwaukee Bucks? Why wait until the fourth quarter to decide to trap the ball screen for Kobe Bryant? Why not drink the potion before the game and tear up the opposition like it’s back in turn of the century England? The team claims to be tough but their attitude is truly a strange case.
They prove what any basketball team needs to know: you must take quality shots and you must force the opponent into poor quality possessions. You cannot turn over the ball and you cannot shoot from the outside without first looking to attack inside. You must box out to curtail second-chance points and close out to contest all shooters. It’s not too difficult in theory but proves to be much harder to execute. Successful offensive and defensive play necessitates team play to optimize chances.
Kobe possesses so many skills that he can get a high-quality shot (for him) at almost every time. Chris Bosh possesses a number of skills but doesn’t always put them to work. Andrea Bargnani may be Il Mago but perhaps he gained that name because he disappears on so many fadeaway jumpshots. Kobe trains as hard as anyone in the league and will go through a brick wall to win. Others are not willing to work as hard for quality shots.
What is your basketball identity? A player may utilize a unique combination of skills relative to another but still be successful because they get more quality shots than their opposition. Ball pressure, trapping the ballhandler, blocking shots, tipping passes, helping, rebounding, dribble penetration, screening and rolling, catching and shooting, passing to the open man, cutting. Quality every day in practice leads to quality shots in games.