Nice read on Isiah Cousins in the Oklahoman

[NickZepp]

There are a lot of NBA long range shooters with muskcles so I'm not sure if the theory holds. To name a few - James Harden, Derek Fisher, Stephen Marbury, Derrick Rose, Darren Williams, John Wall, Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, Vinnie Johnson, Joe Dumars, Ray Allen, Ben Gorden, Eric Gordon, Xavier Henry, Jarrett Jack, JR Smith.

The best of these guys bolded is Kobe Bryant with 33.6% 3 point shooting. Bunch of these guys have shot in the 20s from 3.

 

[SilliSooner]

The best of these guys bolded is Kobe Bryant with 33.6% 3 point shooting. Bunch of these guys have shot in the 20s from 3.

I'm offering a rebuttal to the proposal that weight training adversely affects the shooting touch.

Each of the last few years James Harden has improved his strength and his shooting. The three point line isn't the only indicator of a good touch. Ibaka's marked improvement on his 17' foot shot while his guns become even more ripped should be proof enough.

Derrick Rose (one of guys bolded) is a prime example. He's added muscle each of the years he's been in the league and... his 3-point shooting has risen 50 % (22 % to 33 %) while his FT shooting percentage has climbed to 86 %.

Ray Allen has become more muscular and he still has the sweetest stroke in the league.

Another example was Michael Jordan. Yes, his career 3 point ave was 33 % but during his first years (which he lacked muscularity) his 3 pt percentages were putrid (under 17 % in each of first four years). It was only after he bulked to 220 that his behind-the-line shots really started improving. Here was a guy whose 3 pt percentage was 13 % in his first two years climbed to a 43 % year during one of his last two years in Chicago.

When I mention Derek Fisher or Deron Williams, I'm just pointing these guys are husky, both weigh 210 #, some more cut than others but they still have touch. Fish was a career 40% three point shooter. Williams a career 36 %. Both are over 80 % FT shooters.

I don't think Grooms is any more pumped than Fish or Eric Gordon or Dumars and that it might be shortsighted to blame his shooting skills or lack thereof on weight training.

 

[brettromar]

All really good points on lifting and shooting. This is a good discussion with a lot of guys adding good points.

Here is my take.

I don't think lifting affects your shot unless you lift before you shoot or practice like one poster mentioned or you get so big you lose range of motion.

The lifting before shooting in my opinion is the biggest mistake people can make. The reason is, no matter how tired you get in a game, your muscles are never as fatigued as they are when you just lifted. That is why a guy that tries to shoot right after lifting usually shoots about 2 feet short. They then attempt to 'throw' the ball at the goal to get it there. This creates bad habits and improper muscle memory. To be a great shooter, you have to repeat the same shot over and over. If you lift then shoot, you are not going to repeat that shot and cause bad habits because you have to force it up there.

The range of motion is simple. It just doesn't allow you to get under the ball correctly and makes a shooter become a flick guy. I think Blake is a flick guy but not sure it is because of his size.

 

[skyvue]

Here is my take.

And which brettromar are you?

 

[brettromar]

And which brettromar are you?

The one that knows a little bit about shooting.

 

[campbest]

All really good points on lifting and shooting. This is a good discussion with a lot of guys adding good points.

Here is my take.

I don't think lifting affects your shot unless you lift before you shoot or practice like one poster mentioned or you get so big you lose range of motion.

The lifting before shooting in my opinion is the biggest mistake people can make. The reason is, no matter how tired you get in a game, your muscles are never as fatigued as they are when you just lifted. That is why a guy that tries to shoot right after lifting usually shoots about 2 feet short. They then attempt to 'throw' the ball at the goal to get it there. This creates bad habits and improper muscle memory. To be a great shooter, you have to repeat the same shot over and over. If you lift then shoot, you are not going to repeat that shot and cause bad habits because you have to force it up there.

The range of motion is simple. It just doesn't allow you to get under the ball correctly and makes a shooter become a flick guy. I think Blake is a flick guy but not sure it is because of his size.

Really don't disagree with any of this, but I still maintain A LOT has to do with natural body type. Not everyone's body reacts the same to weight training. Anyone who has been around team sports that require weight training understand that some athletes' bodies explode more than other.

To just look at someone on TV and say, "he is really muscular, must lift a lot of weights" is very inaccurate.