Andre Iguodala’s Game-Winner Vs. LA
Granted, Andre Iguodala’s game-winner against the Lakers was a great shot. But is that really the shot the Sixers should be taking down two with less than five seconds? Iguodala was 0-6 from beyond the arc up to that point, and it wasn’t as though he needed to pull right away because of the clock. He had enough time and enough space to attack the rim. But sometimes, it’s better to be lucky than smart.
March 18th, 2009 at 8:32 am
that's whats up says:
can’t knock a game winner
March 18th, 2009 at 9:13 am
ERIC says:
It was terrible defense.. Ariza just let Iggy dribble down the 6.5 seconds and pull-up for 3. He didnt force him to drive OR foul him (Lakers still at 1 foul to give).
March 18th, 2009 at 9:14 am
that dude says:
iggy said on the interview post-game ” dre said we go for the win, we aint gonna win in hir if it will go to overtime”
pretty heads up call by ande miller, knowing that u r on the road so go for the win
March 18th, 2009 at 9:28 am
FIRE KATZ says:
nice try to sound smart, but really you could’ve just went with “heres the vid.”
March 18th, 2009 at 9:30 am
Chris says:
Leave it to one of these Kobe-jock-riding sportswriters to question the judgment of a guy trying to step up and lead his team to victory in a huge road win.
If Iggy goes for the win it’s not smart. If it’s LeBron or Kobe or Wade this same guy would be singing their praises.
March 18th, 2009 at 9:48 am
Dennis Castro says:
Yea, that wasn’t the play DiLeo had in mind, but Dre Dala said he’s taking a 3 to win the game, so DiLeo went with it.
I would say that was a good call. You don’t want to give Kobe extra time to kill you on his homecourt. Especially considering he only played 33 mins to that point, so you know he was still fresh.
March 18th, 2009 at 9:49 am
E$ says:
It’s the NBA, Big players hit Big shots
March 18th, 2009 at 10:14 am
Kudabeen says:
Hopefully that gives Dre I even more confidence at the free throw line…
The shot won the game…nuff said…
Also He probably was locked in shooting in somebodies face after having it done to him…no credit for gamesmanship??
March 18th, 2009 at 10:18 am
Young C says:
You gotta also mention Donyell Marshall. If it wasn’t for his threes in the fourth quarter, that last shot never would have happened. He saved the day once again
March 18th, 2009 at 10:29 am
SHUT UP KATZ says:
Katz… you must have been started dime… cuz if you were hired they would have fired you by now…
guess that is the perks of being the boss
March 18th, 2009 at 10:50 am
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
As a coach, I cant believe they didn’t foul him while he was dribbling. Mental mistake
March 18th, 2009 at 11:02 am
Haqq says:
Katz, what a hater… Iggy is a clutch player – regardless of how he played. Kobe was @ 11pts does that mean they wouldn’t of give him the rock at the end when they needed a clutch shot.
March 18th, 2009 at 11:18 am
Andrew Katz says:
Haqq,
Are you really comparing Kobe to Iguodala in a late-game situation?
I’m not saying that AI shouldn’t take that shot. I just think that you don’t want a guy who shoots 29% from three taking a contested one-dribble pull-up from 24-feet to win the game, when you could have had that same dude go strong to the rack.
- AK
March 18th, 2009 at 11:47 am
CDouble says:
Had that been Ray Allen who went 0-6 before that shot the article would have been the exact opposite, talking about how clutch RA is and how you can’t hold down a pure shooter.
March 18th, 2009 at 11:50 am
Andrew Katz says:
CDouble,
Of course it would have. But it wasn’t Ray Allen. It was Andre Iguodala, a really good slasher who struggles a lot from three.
- AK
March 18th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Max says:
@Andrew Katz: If the Sixers were going to go for the win, they needed a good enough slasher who could make the defense respect the drive. I thought it was the right play because Igoudala took the shot from the place on the floor where he’s most effective making threes (particularly on the road, where he shoots more threes). The Lakers scouted it poorly by not putting any pressure on him or fouling — it was very poorly defended, and the shot was very reasonable.
As for Iggy missing all his 3s before, one of those was a heave at the end of the second quarter, and the others were from the corner, where he’s not as good.
March 18th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
POPPI GEE...you ain't seen! says:
When you feeling it, you feeling it. Props to Iggy for having the guts to pull that. I ain’t mad at him. You see so many cats last second not doing what they feel and just making a mess of things.
NOW with that said, if he doesn’t hit the shot then he is the dummy of the year possibly lol. Still he did his thing! And he celebrated like it afterwards!
March 18th, 2009 at 12:37 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Mr. Moderator man holla at me and post my ish!
When you feeling it, you feeling it. Props to Iggy for having the guts to pull that. I ain’t mad at him. You see so many cats last second not doing what they feel and just making a mess of things.
NOW with that said, if he doesn’t hit the shot then he is the dummy of the year possibly lol. Still he did his thing!
March 18th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
doc says:
Good play good shot.Dont nobody wanna go to OT in LA.We sent they asses home stop hating dog u should know better Im sure u feel some cats on here hate on u.
March 18th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Frank says:
Lakers made a mistake by not fouling, they had a foul to give and could’ve had the last possession.
But knowing Phil Jax he probably wanted AI2 to take that three, counting on the fact that he would miss… wrong thought…
March 18th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
method526 says:
damn iggy rose up for that shot like he would for a dunk. arc was high too. no way to block that.
March 18th, 2009 at 1:19 pm
weng santos says:
“is that really the shot the Sixers should be taking down two with less than five seconds?”
What, and Kobe calling off a screen and pulling a tough fade from too far out with a guy who actually jumped to challenge the jumper was a better shot?
Please. Every shot is a 50% shot at that moment; it either goes in or it doesn’t. Criticize Kobe for trying to be a hero too early instead of Iggy actually playing the hero’s part.
March 18th, 2009 at 1:52 pm
IG says:
Blame it on the Zen Master and/or assistants. They didn’t mention one foul to give in the timeout.
March 18th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
POPPI GEE says:
Shocked Kobe didn’t do the big balls dance after his shot. That is usally his time lol, then to have someone come down and shoot the game winner cause he did the dance to early lol.
For real I ain’t seen Kobe do that mess in a minute. I think he quit it for good after losing a few when he did do it.
I am laughing right now at Roy Williams spitting game on the sly while giving his conference. Gotta love Coach Williams.
March 18th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Mase says:
@IG
Yes Phil and company did mention to the team loud and clear that they had a foul to give on the previous timeout. Everyone even recalled that after the game when the press asked the coach, the players, etc. IG, why would you make such an assertive statement like that when you’re just presuming?
March 18th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Dime Magazine says:
weng santos,
Actually, that is a much better shot. Kobe takes and makes those shots in the context of a game regularly.
And second of all, anyone who has ever played knows that a player’s decision to pull up and take a shot happens long before the defender gets their hand in his face. Ariza was on AI – he just didn’t jump with him. When Iguodala pulled, Ariza could have gotten off the floor and gotten a hand in his face. Andre doesn’t deserve credit for taking a more “open” shot because Ariza stayed on the ground.
- ak
March 18th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Dennis Castro says:
AK, maybe Ariza didn’t jump on the J because the law of averages says that AI2’s not a very good 3 point shooter but is a good slasher, so Ariza thought AI2 would try and take him off the dribble.
So doesn’t AI get some credit for probably realizing this and pulling up?
Also, according to 82games.com, yes Kobe has 14 game winning shots out of 56 opportunities from the last 6 regular seasons and 5 postseasons for a success rate of .250.
AI2(who wasn’t in the NBA in the 03-04 season), has hit 8 game winning shots out of a possible 22 opportunities, giving him a success rate of .364. He’s also shot a better percentage from the line in those situations than Kobe, but that’s irrelevant to this discussion.
So, yes Kobe’s had more opportunities, but AI2 has done more with less than Kobe has. My point is, try being objective once in a while and just present the facts for what they are.
(Game Winning Shot Opportunity = 24 seconds or less left in the game, team with the ball is either tied or down by 1 to 2 points. )
March 18th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
ur brother says:
iguodala looks like lebron
March 18th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
Dennis Castro says:
Also, remember AI2’s first 2 years in the league, the team was dominated by Iverson, who took most of the shots that would come up in these types of situations.
March 18th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
ur brother says:
iguodala looks like lebron,similar face
March 18th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
LakeShow84 says:
lmao at the stat geeks.. that shot was a bad decision and it went in..
Nuff said..
you cant compare that to Kobe’s shot decisions and you cant compare him to Kobe at all (mister stats up there with %’s).. Kobe hits big shots all day everyday.. Iguodala has trouble even being considered the option to win the game because he is inconsistent.. maybe he only has 22 so far Dennis because they have had better options for perimeter shots.. dont forget he played Allen Iverson and Kyle Korver..
a 24-25 ft 3 with the other teams 2nd best perimeter defender on him?? hey if it falls it falls..
But like i said it was a prayer..
lol i love it..
March 19th, 2009 at 9:29 am
Dennis Castro says:
LakeShowMoron, if you read my post, I said:
“My point is, try being objective once in a while and just present the facts for what they are.”
I wasn’t saying that Iguodala is better than Kobe in the clutch(which even I wouldn’t debate), I’m saying maybe it’s not bad luck based on the numbers to back it up.
And in my next post I mentioned that AI2’s first couple years in the league, the team was dominated by AI, so not sure why you felt like you had to remind me when I was aware of it in the first place.
Stat geek? That ish took me all of 2 mins to put together, so the next time you try and reply, you should learn how to read and interpret.
Idiot.
March 19th, 2009 at 12:06 pm
weng santos says:
AK,
I still say it was the shot they should be taking because Iggy got a good look and his defender didn’t get up high enough to bother him. He also realized that it’s the shot nobody expects him to take, making the Lakers less ready to defend it well.
As for Kobe, sure he makes those on the regular. But he’s also missed a lot of shots like those over his career. Everybody expected him to take that fade, and it was well defended. A bad shot is a bad shot, regardless of who takes it. Just because Kobe gets away with it doesn’t make it a good shot.
Are you honestly telling me that for all his basketball genius, Phil Jackson -aided by Tex Winters- could not draw up a better play than a 1-4 isolation with Kobe taking a bad shot? Time was on their side too; Kobe didn’t need to SETTLE for a fadeaway 20 footer.
They were giving him a back pick for cryin’ out loud. What if he missed that shot trying to go 1 on 5 or waving off the screen or not getting anybody else involved in the play when he had the time to do so? It’s more than about him, you know.
This is exactly why Kobe is hated by so many people- he wants to do it on his own. More than a ballhog, he’s a glory-hog. He needs to be the hero all the time. When he wins it’s just him- all on him, and when he loses it’s the fault of those around him.
October 27th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Ivy says:
just like they say lifes a risk
same goes here IGGY risked the win or loss
and also if you dont recognise IGGY may have a poor shooting percentage but that is all gone once it comes to more important plays which makes him a unpredictable player. Lakers mustv known iggy was poor from the outside so he took a risk and suprised them when he scored.
and above guy i believe KOBE needs a big guy next to him to take a win, he Won 3 NBA championships with SHAQ and now he has GASOL and ODOM and BYNUM which are 3 big guys on the court who can play D and offense.i mean when it comes to putting points on the board KOBE does that easily no questions asked but when it comes to DEF he has GASOL and BYNUM who have that height to easily rebounda and Post Def.