this post was submitted on 26 Nov 2023
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There are very few players I can't think of that can get to the basket and finish as effectively as Zion. What is he doing technique-wise that makes it look so easy? The moves leading up to the finish seem different than other players approach to driving, but I can't put my finger on it. Some of his finishes are spectacular, especially working through double teams, but most are very basic drives that just involve a single fake to get the defender moving one way, then slash to the hole.

The part I think is unique is that he pivots and jumps at the basket in both the vertically and horizontally direction, doing it very far and fast. I think he using every bit of extension coupled with his vertical. And adding to that, he is always looking for the rebound after his shot or a block, plus he has great touch and offensive IQ positioning his body making it all very unguardable.

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[–] behlat@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

HIS GIRTH, Dude is a massive block of a human being

[–] 300_yard_drives@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

You can’t strip him. He holds onto the ball harder than anyone I’ve seen and contact doesn’t phase him

[–] OkBake4265@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He’s gna pop a ball one day

[–] BrandinPodziemski@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago
[–] t_O_O_t@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

same reason why you cant stop a running hippo

[–] GoblinTradingGuide@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He is 6’6” and 285 pounds.

[–] abrnst@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He like baby shaq when it comes to power. The dude is explosive and massive.

[–] DustyBlackmon@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He’s fat as fuck and fast somehow

[–] heartlarva@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (6 children)

Big, skilled, athletic and most importantly left handed

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[–] StonkeyKong2021@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He’s the JUGGERNAUT

[–] radracer82@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

he's lebron on the drive + thiccer

[–] syllabic@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

his touch around the rim is amazing

he takes shot angles that most people would never try because it wont go in and it would look awful

[–] Low-iq-haikou@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He’s a physical freak of nature with great balance and coordination

[–] 22chainz@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Hall of fame touch around the rim

[–] Cannon_plodder@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago
[–] drpepper7557@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He's built like an elite defensive end but has the hops and finish of Michael Jordan.

[–] StefonDiggsHS@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He big n fast bro

[–] ArnoldisKing@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago
[–] Gbaby245@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

His girth units.

[–] jagmeetsi@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Is it just me or he looks way slower and just overall worse compared to last year, I mean he was playing like top 5 MVP level last year.

[–] Garthtav@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He’s been out of shape to start the season. But he’s getting his burst back by each game. He’s been posting up a lot more so you’re not seeing the same kind of drives as last year.

That being said he’s still faster than every other power forward out there.

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[–] pearlCatillac@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Trying this interesting AI tool out on some conversations to see how it does. AI analysis of this thread so far (courtesy of LogiCheck):

TL;DR

The comments discuss Zion Williamson's effectiveness in driving and finishing at the basket in basketball, attributing it to his size, athleticism, skill, and unique technique.

The Backstory

Zion Williamson, a professional basketball player, is known for his exceptional ability to drive to the basket and finish effectively. This analysis focuses on the factors contributing to his unique and seemingly unstoppable approach.

LogiCheck

Size and Athleticism: Strong. Multiple comments emphasize Zion's physicality and athleticism as key factors.

Shooting Touch and Finishing Angles: Strong. Acknowledgment of his skill in finding unique angles and touch around the basket.

Footwork and Body Control: Strong. Noted for his exceptional footwork and control, which aids his effectiveness.

Physical Attributes (Height and Weight): Strong. Specific mentions of his height and weight as contributing factors.

Skill and Technique: Strong. Comments suggest his skill level and unique techniques, like pivoting and jumping directionally, are crucial.

Comparisons to Other Players: Speculative. Comparisons to players like Shaq and LeBron are subjective and lack detailed analysis.

Potential Weaknesses

Hasty Generalization: Some comments make broad statements like "He's a physical freak of nature" without specific evidence or detailed analysis.

Appeal to Authority: Comparisons to legendary players like Shaq or LeBron could be seen as an attempt to bolster the argument by association rather than a detailed analysis of Zion's specific skills.

Ad Hominem / Non Sequitur: Comments focusing on Zion's weight ("fat as fuck") do not contribute meaningfully to the discussion of his basketball skills and divert from a logical analysis of his playing style.

Suggested Improvements

Focusing on specific aspects of Zion's play, like detailed analysis of his footwork, body control, and technique, would provide a more robust argument. Avoiding personal comments about his physique and not overly relying on comparisons would strengthen the argument.

Notable Evidence of Bias

Some comments show bias, especially those focusing on Zion's physical appearance rather than his skill or technique.

Why This Matters

Understanding the unique attributes that make a player like Zion effective is important for fans, analysts, and aspiring players. It highlights the diversity of skills and physical attributes that can contribute to success in sports, encouraging a more nuanced appreciation of athletic performance.

Summary

The discussion around Zion Williamson's effectiveness on the basketball court highlights his size, athleticism, and unique skill set as key factors in his ability to drive and finish at the basket. While the comments provide some insight into his physical and technical prowess, they sometimes generalize or focus on irrelevant aspects like his weight. A more detailed analysis of his technique and skill would provide a clearer understanding of what makes his playstyle so effective.

[–] S13pointFIVE@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

His mom's cooking is what makes his drive and layup so unstoppable.

[–] HeJind@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Honestly he really just has an incredibly soft touch.

Him being big and strong makes it hard to stop him from getting to the rim, but the real difficult part is that even if he doesn't get all the way there he can put something up anywhere in the paint and it drops.

He can be falling out of bounds at full speed and still put something high up off the backboard that will drop softly

[–] thatonezorofan@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

A lot of people are gonna say because he's big and athletic and while that has SOME to do with it it's not completely the reason why he's so good at it. The reason why is because he has mastered the art of driving. You don't need to be super fast or strong to be able to drive and get to the basket, it's all about a quick first step, momentum shifting and knowing the correct angles to drive effectively. Some players are elite at this and it's why they get to the basket at will. For example, Luka isn't particularly fast, but he's INCREDIBLY elite at getting to the basket at will because he's perfected the art of changing his momentum and guiding his defender with his body by abusing angles. Another one is LeBron who almost always gets past his defender whenever he drives to the basket. It's not about strength, it's about technique. Zion is elite at this on top of his already incredible athletic ability which helps him as well.

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[–] itscalledabobberbro@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (1 children)

Think of why a bowling ball knocks down bowling pins. It’s moving forward and weighs more.

[–] hotdogflavoredblunt@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

By that logic lofton jr should be all nba lol

[–] jae343@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He can bully you but also somehow can suddenly pirouette like a fucking ballerina around you. How a dude over 300 pounds can move like that is beyond me.

[–] earthgrasshopperlog@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

i think it has to do with his drive, his power. He really tends to stay hungry, and it wouldn't be a stretch to say he devours.

[–] transizzle@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Zion is a generational player. As a fan, it feels criminal that he’s not one of the 3 best players in the league right now. He’s that outrageous.

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[–] bai_lo_sehl_hai@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Force = mass x acceleration

[–] SwimmingGun@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Typically because he’s in street cloths and it’s someone else doing the driving and layups you’ve never heard of

[–] Carne_Asada_Friez@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I honestly think it’s because he’s so wide it’s hard to reach past him without fouling.

[–] LocustUprising@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He’s wide

[–] Ob1toUch1ha@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (2 children)

Everyone is talking about his size, athleticism and touch which are all true. Something else about him is how quick and explosive he is relative to his size. His first step for his size is lighting fast. How quick he can layup a ball up, miss, then jump again to get the offensive rebound and put it back up is maybe the best I’ve ever seen.

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[–] Equivalent-Coconut34@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He’s like an elegant rhino ballerina

[–] hanlong@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He big strong agile and fast with a soft touch around the rim.

[–] koenigsaurus@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Damn, I guess I need to watch more Pels games from reading these comments. I figured he’d be basically geriatric after all the injuries and weight issues he’s had.

[–] Content_Drawing_68@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

JJ Redick talked about this a while back, he said that once Zion drops his shoulder and charges toward the rim, there's basically 0 players in the NBA that can stop him. People kinda just fly off of him. On top of that he has great body control/touch around the rim .

[–] sea_foam_blues@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago
[–] baguhansalupa@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Something something spitting in mouth something

[–] bugeyeswhitedragon@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago
[–] moredrinksplease@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

No team flair for OP?

[–] TreyLyles@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Force = Mass x Acceleration

[–] bukbukbuklao@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

When he drives he’s like pac man with a bunch of blue ghosts in front of him. He will eat them.

[–] waysofthrow@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Freight train with feather fingers

[–] poompachompa@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Hes also insanely flexible for his size. He contorts his body in weird ways to get that ball in. You wouldnt expect a 300 lb guy to move like that

[–] Western-Carpet266@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

He's extremely broad (wider distance if defender is opposite shoulder on him), his timing is unique in that he often springs up early or on the half step and catches defenders out, and finally as mentioned his touch is ridiculous. Add that up and you can't get near him

[–] Wild_Particular4003@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago
[–] royroyroypolly@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Bro is so big and tanky but he's kinda fast, that's why he's tough to stop

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