My Top 5 Best "Tough Shot-Makers"

When people bring up who the "best scorers" are, what they really mean is best "tough shot-makers". They don't bring up the high volume, more efficient basketball players like Shaq, LeBron, Hakeem, Giannis, and Kareem because to them, the way they score isn't difficult to do. I beg to differ, but that's discussion for another day, I suppose.

So in honor of your criteria of ✌🏿best scorers✌🏿, I will list the 5 best "tough shot-makers" that I've watched and why I feel that way.

1. Steph Curry

6'3 not as athletic as most players who are guarding him but still finds ways to create space and get contested shots off. And he's also pretty efficient in doing do with this high level of difficulty. In 2015/16, Curry averaged 30ppg on 50% from the field and 45% from 3. That's never been done before and rightfully so, earned him a unanimous MVP award.

2. Michael Jordan

6'6 super athletic but was also a technician with creating space and evading defenders, even while in mid-air. He's one of the few guards to average 50% from the field for his career, at his size. MJ, in his career with the Bulls, averaged 31ppg on 50% from the field. 

3. Kevin Durant

6'10 with a 7'5 wing span. Sure, he has the ability to tower over players and shoot jumpers over them, but he does most of his work from the perimeter and high post area with an array of post moves, and crossover pull-up jumpers. Players his size are too slow, and players with his speed and agility are too small. Only a small % of his buckets come from the paint. Kevin Durant for his career averages 27ppg on 49% from the field and 38% from 3.

4. Dwayne Wade 

this might surprise some, but at 6'3, Dwayne Wade has found ways to get shots up at a high rate all while not using the perimeter as much as his peers. Flash had 4 seasons where he shot 50% or better from the field, averaging 23ppg during those seasons, two of which where he was the primary scorer for his team.

5. Kobe Bryant 

Kobe, a descendant of MJ, wasn't as athletic as him. Because of this, he was more of a technician. He's had the best footwork I've seen from a player of his size and maybe only second to Hakeem overall. His ability to create enough space to shoot jumpshots from the mid-range/perimeter can't go unnoticed. Kobe is a career 45% shooter from the field, which is why he's not higher on my list of tough shot makers. However, he deserved to be on this list. When post-MJ generation fans shoot balled up pieces of paper into trash receptacles, it's his name we utter. 

Honorable mentions:

Allen Iverson

Dirk nowitzki

Carmelo Anthony

Tracy McGrady

Vince Carter

Ray Allen

Derrick Rose

1/23/20 NBA: Mavs at Blazers

The Blazers will be avenging a loss from a week ago to this same Mavericks team. And they are in Portland, a place where they have won at least the last three versus the Mavericks.

I don't know what's going to happen in this next game, what I do know is a lot of the same people who just won on Lakers are coming back up to the window to put money on the Mavericks. Also, I know there are thousands of people with Lakers and Mavericks on a moneyline parlay. 

I'll take my chances here, keep the points. 

Sports, A Bridge To Success

   The ability to play sports and actually be good at it, is a blessing. A lot of people, especially in the black community have negative views of our kids being relegated to playing sports and not becoming doctors or lawyers. I'm with them on one thing, I believe we can definately use more skilled individuals in the black commuity and the thing is, sports can be the bridge to these things. 

Sports in particular give people an advantage that many other professions simply do not. That's the ability to get paid well and retire early. Former NFL player Luke Kuechly retired at age 28 after 8 seasons. He has his entire life ahead of him to begin the next phase. Granted, many players do retire early due to health issues, it doesn't have to be this way. For instance, Calvin Johnson could have continued his career but decided to hang it up after 9 seasons at age 31. 

I think it's time that professional athletes really start looking at sports as a bridge to something else instead of that being the end all/be all. Too many athletes are burning through money with the belief that they'll be able to continue playing forever. I'm of the mindset that an athlete shouldn't be focused on business ventures or building a family while playing. Focus can become very difficult to manage while you have to remain dedicated to being the best athlete you can be. Instead, use sports to get scholarships to the best programs that you're able to. And if you're lucky enough to get drafted, use those next 10 years to focus on being the most valuable player that you can be, and then get out while you're still healthy and can begin the next phase of your life, and begin investing in yourself, including a family. 

A man at age 31 hasn't even entered into his prime yet. Many believe these years dont begin until he's reached his mid-late 30's. To retire wealthy before this stage, by itself is an advantage that many of us wish that we can have. So although I do believe sports shouldn't be the only goal our kids should have for their futures, I do believe we shouldn't ignore the advantages that sports create. Let's instead, give our children this understanding of how we can use sports as a bridge to success beyond it.

(POD)NBA: Suns at Knicks

Terrible call yesterday. I should have went with my first mind and kept that game a normal play but oh well, we move on and attempt to make amends.

Today, we have the Phoenix Suns visiting the New York Knicks. The Phoenix Suns have been awful covering spreads as of late. They have dropped the last 5 matchups in those regards, including a loss to the struggling Atlanta Hawks. They did take on this New York Knicks team in Phoenix two weeks ago and happened to cover that game in The mists of a minor streak they were on, and now, they face the same New York team on the road while they are ice Cold against the spread. A bit of a revenge game for the Knicks here and I think they have a chance to win this one out right. Taking the points is a no brainer.

History: Phoenix has won six of the last 10 games in this matchup and covered six of the last 10 but the Knicks average more points in those 10 games then the Phoenix Suns which is odd. Slight lean on the first half Knicks as well. 

Updated record: (2-4) -3.3u

Play: Knicks +2.5 -110 risking 2.2u

NCAAB: Auburn at Alabama

 

The Auburn Tigers are undefeated on the year at 15-0. Their in-state rival Alabama is just 8-7. Alabama, despite sitting at just 8-7, is surprisingly 12-3 ATS on the year. What this tells me is that Alabama is typically an underdog in those games and not expected to win in many of them. Auburn has dominated this matchup as of late ATS, covering 7 of the last 9 games. Both of these teams average around the same amount of points but where Auburn sets itself apart is on the defensive side of the ball, allowing 66 points per game to Alabama's 78.

This will be the National championship game for Alabama so I don't expect this one to start off easy for Auburn. The crowd will be loud and Alabama will be hyped. With that said, I think the expetations here to stay withing 2 are high enough for BAMA, but to win, coming off of a win in their previous game, makes this ML too tempting to pass up. The better team should shine over 40 minutes of the ball game.

The majority of the bets are on Auburn as it stands right now however, the money is pretty even. Of course, this can change with 5 hours to go. I believe if Auburn is going to lose a game, it's not going to be a game we think they have a chance of losing. Auburn definately won't fall asleep in this rivalry game.

Risking 2.5u on Auburn ML -125

1-14-20 Recap

Easy day, 1-0. The Jazz handled the Nets like I expected them to. The Nets did try to make a late run but Donovan Mitchell iced the comeback each time. With that said, I think we will see a lot more of this same Brooklyn team over the next week or so. It's going to get worse before it gets better. Auto-fade list.

I'm using this site mainly for my play of the day plays but if you're interested in the full card, follow the action network page: "the140plussports".

I had one college play today which cashed. Clemson +11 who won outright. Few other small NBA plays on the site as well. 

updated record: (2-3) -0.8 units

NBA: Jazz at Nets(W)

POD: The Jazz visiting Brooklyn tonight has sparked my interest. Mainly because I think that game that BKN had against the Hawks has caused somewhat of an overraction to bet on the Nets. Although most of the tickets seem to be on the Jazz, the money is on BKN. Bottom line is the Nets are going from playing one of the NBA's worst defensive teams who were without their all star point guard, Trae Young, to facing one of the NBA's best defensive teams who has been thriving as of late. Lets not forget how badly the Nets were performing with Kyrie before he began missing games.

Basically, what im saying is, that Nets team that we saw a few days ago against Atlanta isn't the same team we will see today. Utah has owned this matchup recently, winning 8 of the last 10 games and covering 7 of those games. I believe today will be business as usual for the Utah Jazz.

risking 2.2u on the Jazz -3 tonight.