this post was submitted on 27 Nov 2023
1 points (100.0% liked)
NBA - Main
15 readers
1 users here now
Game analysis, highlights and everything else that is happening in the NBA.
founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
view the rest of the comments
is it better to bounce off each leg (right-to-left; vice versa) in single step bursts like Max does at the start?
noticed he opts for that over sliding his feet over laterally whenever Donovan tries a cross
as the other guy said, Donovan never went in one direction for long enough for Max to have to slide. He did kinda do it towards the end and Max slid his feet once before completely turning his hips to run with him. Like the burst step is for recovery cause while flipping the hips takes time so you have to catch up.
Maybe if Max were a smaller defender with smaller and faster steps he would have slid more before flipping his hips with a following big step to recover.
Offensive players want to attack the defender’s high foot, making them switch their hips - which takes time to do and gives the offensive player a step while the defender is opening their hips to then slide. Max is flipping his hips as Mitchel is trying to gain an advantage - this clip is less about sliding vs stepping, and more about the ability to flip your hips to negate an advantage . Most nba players might be able to flip their hips once but after that they’ll get beat by another change of direction - it’s impressive that Max was able to flip his hips at every change of direction.
Sliding is a bit outdated though; it’s unnatural, you’ll get to any stop faster by stepping sideways.