Raja Bell, another similar example. He used to only be a midrange jump shooter…he transformed his shot to the point where he become a very good 3 point shooter. The list goes on and on.

Fast forward 8-10 years…now he is a very reliable 3 point shooter, has an excellent midrange game, and defenses have to cover him behind the line or he’ll bury it. That was the first one I thought of off the top of my head…there are probably 30 others.

JJG…ANYONE can improve ANYTHING in basketball. If you have work ethic, and practice repetitively, you will get better. This goes for anything from shooting form, to big man footwork, to dribbling, to pick setting, to defense, to quickness.

I know personally, I didn’t used to be able to dribble with my left hand. After getting pissed at myself for this, I then spent a whole summer not using my right hand, and only my left. To this day, my left hand is still the strong hand in dribbling because of the one summer of practice I put in. Just a silly example, but why would it be any different for shooting? Working/practicing on a part of the game + repetition = improvement.

Obviously guys like Korver, Kapono, Carroll, Redd, Ray, etc have a gift at shooting. It’s probably in the genes or something they practiced when they were younger…but they are definitely the top of the pecking order, just like Kidd has a natural feel for passing and ball movement at a higher level then most people in the league. Is it possible to take any guy and improve to that level? No. But improving a weak part of the game to make a strength…ANYONE can do. I don’t see how you can argue this.

Your position on a lack of good screening and good screen usage is right on. One reason for a diminishment in these areas is the perceived lack of performance “sizzle”/cred by current era players and, also, the degree of actual focus, patience and hard work those important movements require.

A screener must be willing and able to anticipate, set up with feet shoulder width apart, stand square, be stationary, take tough hits and roll to the basket through proper footwork, with eyes towards ball, arms ready to catch.

A shooter must read the position of his defender, set him up with cunning for the interference, time his cut according to ball position and passer readiness, come tight off the pick, curl, catch, pivot towards hoop, flex knees, comfortable jump and quick fingertip release (if open).

Your notion of you “have to have something to work with” carries validity. With respect to that, Iggy, though athletic, has trouble with body balance and poised equilibrium on his jump shot. Will that arrive, along with the elimination of other mechanical flaws, is the question. Videotape is a start; but regular, productive execution is the product of both natural gifts and hearty commitment (i.e. Calvin Murphy, Larry Bird, Jeff Hornacek, Dell Curry, Reggie Miller).

Just something to keep in mind.