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**Pioneer10** · 11-06-2006, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hakeem

Robinson did have a back-to-the-basket game, but it wasn't as good as Duncan's. He had a terrific face up game -- got up really quickly on his jumper and had a high release, and had a super-quick first step and smooth spin moves to get layups. He had good range. He got to the line very frequently and was a good foul shooter. His combination of quickness, agility, strength and great hands allowed him to often get good position deep in the paint for easy baskets. And he ran the floor extremely well, which also helped him get easy baskets.

I don't know why all that wouldn't work as well in the playoffs, though. I'm not sure I buy the "left-handed" thing as a major factor. If we could get a hold of playoff box scores, we'd be able to see whether his output tended to decline as each series wore on.

He was very unselfish. The '95 WCF is the only series from which I've seen games recently, and in those he did seem a bit passive, passing up some opportunities to score on isolation plays. But that doesn't explain the decrease in efficiency. He did go up against a lot of good defensive sides, like the Suns three times, the Blazers and the Jazz twice each, and the Rockets (Olajuwon) and Nuggets (Mutombo).

^This is my reflection of his game as well and it's not like he was terrible in the playoffs. He simply just wasn't as exceptional as the regular season.

To me it's the left handed and lack of a post game relative to his outstanding face up abilities that affected him more. But maybe it's a lack of aggresiveness, although I question why he didn't have that problem in the regular season. Like I said I'm would love to revisit some of his playoff series when they're on NBA classis

**Minstrel** · 11-06-2006, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pioneer10

The facts I see is a player in 4 straight prime years where he played a significant amount of game went down each year in efficiency and ppg. You're making it as if Robinson should have scored no points at all if teams and opposing defenders had more time to prepare.

That isn't what I'm saying at all. What I'm saying is that if it were simply a matter of exploiting something as simple as "crowding his left hand," every team would have started doing it.

Quote:

I'm pointing out that you could make his life more difficult which teams apparently were able to do.

Apparently they weren't able to do it, or they'd have done it in every game, not just the playoffs.

Quote:

Getting prepared for one game is extremely difficult compared to the playoffs. Often (back to back or long road trip) you have maybe one practice to play an opponent.

That may be true if we're talking about some very elaborate or sophisticated defensive strategy that takes a while to get acclimated to. "Playing him to drive with his left hand" is neither of those. And it doesn't require every team thinking it up...again, if it were effective (effective to the extent of Robinson's drop-off, not to shut him out completely), other teams would see it done and simply copy it. It doesn't take waiting until the next playoffs to reinvent the wheel.

That's why it isn't a compelling theory, IMO.

**Pioneer10** · 11-06-2006, 07:23 PM

^ Seeing it, planning it, and doing it are different things. That's what makes the playoffs a bit different, you can actually practice it before the series and readjust while preparing to play the same opponent over again. From personal experience, it's very difficult to adjust to playing a left hander even if you see before playing them that they are left handed. It' may or may not be true with regards to Robinson but to me it's definitely not just noting an effective strategy but actually being able to implement it.

**Minstrel** · 11-06-2006, 07:28 PM

I'm not sure how much a left-hander throws professionals, though. I'd be surprised if it were tough for NBA players to get used to.

Also, do we have examples of other left-handers, and how they did in the playoffs?

JPSeraph · 11-07-2006, 01:48 AM

I think it was mostly mental.

kflo · 11-07-2006, 06:17 AM

the spurs had no other legitimate options. opponents were able to key on robinson and make him beat them. they crowded him more in the playoffs, pushed him away from the basket more. they had no other legit #2 guys. in the playoff, the entire spurs teams got exposed. they had noone capable of creating offense - it all centered around robinson. robinson missed the last 14 games of the '92 season, they lose 9 of them, and get swept in the first round. robinson had a ridiculous impact on the team (3rd defensively in '96, last in '97 without dr). but he wasn't capable of carrying them through the entire playoffs, series after series.

Nikos · 11-07-2006, 08:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Minstrel

I'm not sure how much a left-hander throws professionals, though. I'd be surprised if it were tough for NBA players to get used to.

Also, do we have examples of other left-handers, and how they did in the playoffs?

Ginobili has done well in most of his career playoff seasons. He did exceptionally well in 2005 where his PER went from 22 to 25 with increased minutes and Usage Rate. Last playoffs his PER dropped a bit. But in general he has done well.

Nick Van Exel actually did worse in more playoff seasons then better -- but had some good ones peppered in.

Jalen Rose was average in his playoff perofmances. Production probably took a normal drop on par with the average player.

I am sure there are plenty of other leftys but I can't think of any who drastically increased or dropped their production on a consistent basis. At least in terms of a player on the calibur of Drob or even a championship role player.

**Pioneer10** · 11-07-2006, 10:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kflo

the spurs had no other legitimate options. opponents were able to key on robinson and make him beat them. they crowded him more in the playoffs, pushed him away from the basket more. they had no other legit #2 guys. in the playoff, the entire spurs teams got exposed. they had noone capable of creating offense - it all centered around robinson. robinson missed the last 14 games of the '92 season, they lose 9 of them, and get swept in the first round. robinson had a ridiculous impact on the team (3rd defensively in '96, last in '97 without dr). but he wasn't capable of carrying them through the entire playoffs, series after series.

Preparation time then?

Also with the left handers, Ginobili can drive with both hands and since he is a perimeter player he isn't demanded to post up ala Rose or NVE

kflo · 11-07-2006, 10:29 AM

playoff intensity is a factor. guys do try harder, defensively. and teams rely more heavily on their stars. there was also the notion that defenses could get away with more in the playoffs, as the intensity picks up. you get fewer easy baskets, more doubles, and more pressure to take it on your shoulders. drob never had a guy next to him capable of shouldering much burden - cummings was the best he had (and strickland could create as well) and those were his most efficient playoffs.

Nikos · 11-07-2006, 11:43 AM

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