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Defender Beware: Moves That Make You Go
Whoa!
 by Marvin Lee
The Dish
Oh how I wish I could hear Chick say that line,"He
faked him into the popcorn machine...with butter and salt all over."
Chick Hearn, one of the greatest announcer of all time, was probably the
only one that could put into words the types of moves players do today.
I've compiled a list of the the top 15 that would probably brought out
Chick phrases that would top his already un-toppable catchphrases. Feel
free to email me omissions I've made.
1. Allen Iverson - hitch crossover: Right to
left, left to right, it doesn’t matter. He has that little hitch and
stutter that freezes almost any defender guarding him straight up. I list
it as the number one move because he makes defenders look stupid. He’s
able to shoot it right after or use the step to explode to the basket.
2. Shaquille O’Neal - power step:
Is it really a move, or just pure power? Well, I consider it a move.
He’s able to jump stop into the lane to set up the baby hook or short
jumper. It’s also effective as a drop step when the defender is
anticipating the move toward the lane. No one in the NBA can stop this
move when he uses it properly.
3. Kevin Garnett - fadeaway, step back:
He’s 6’11, but he might as well be 8’0 with the length of those
arms. With his lengthy frame to his advantage, his fadeaway might be the
hardest shot to block. He’s able to power dribble then step back, and
shoot straight up or fade. It’s a shot that he’s able to take against
any defender, and when he’s on, you just better hope there’s some ice
courtside. .
4. Steve Francis - fake cross (inside-out):
Francis uses the crossover so much that this move was inevitable. In fact
his crossover is just as good, but he’s one of the few people to use the
inside out dribble effectively. The move is most impressive in the open
floor, where the defender thinks he’s going to power cross to get the
step, but then goes inside out and dusts him.
5. Stephon Marbury - power cross, power
jump stop: Sometimes it’s one in the same move. Nothing really
special about the cross because most anyone can do it, but explosiveness
with the move gets him the step allotting him room to get to the basket.
Usually he’s among traffic and uses the power jump stop so he’s
able to two-foot takeoff and finish among the skyscrapers.
6. Tracy McGrady - crossover: He uses the
crossover in a similar fashion to Stephon Marbury, except his is lower,
and sometimes pulls off his left to right cross in Iverson hitch fashion.
His length, as well as his ability to pull move, has opened many lanes to
the basket for him.
7. Gary Payton - spin move: Payton’s getting
old, but his old tricks still fool most everybody out there. I could
possibly add jawing and talking trash here, but I guess I should give
Payton’s basketball ability the credit. Probably most effective in the
post, and if the refs let him get away with the hook he does with it
sometimes, it’s unstoppable. Payton’s also able to do this at any
other places on the floor, and uses the spin effectively with
“hesitation”.
8. Kobe Bryant - left to right between the legs:
Kobe’s not utilizing it as much this season, but when he does utilize
it, it usually gets him the step. Kobe doesn’t really juke the defender,
but even when the defender is expecting it he has trouble stopping it.
He’s also able to vary the ways he does it, standing totally erect or
hunched over. This also helps him vary the pace to keep his defender
off-balance.
9. Chris Webber - baby hook: On the nights
Webber is able to make it without taking a dribble, the defender might as
well just walk off the court. But even if he does need a few dribble to
back his man down and set up for the shot, it’s still one of the best
moves out there because it’s so difficult to block.
10. Baron Davis - right to left crossover: Another
one of those crossovers that might sometimes juke, but usually used to
power into the first step. Also effective at the inside out dribble, but
most times it’s the cross that sets up B. Diddy. Very, very similar to
Stephon in terms of using the crossover and the power jump stop.
11. Jamal Mashburn - fadeaway: Somewhat
similar to Kevin Garnett’s except he’s not as long. He doesn’t get
that much air in his jump either, but his height and the position he plays
helps the shot, usually posting shorter defenders. He also has tremendous
range, sometimes posting from near the three-point throw line.
12. Rasheed Wallace - sweeping jump shot: One
of the more unique shots in basketball because he uses the shot in a
manner that resembles a sweeping hook shot. With 6’11 height and length
that adds to it, rarely do defenders obstruct Wallaces line of sight. The
sweeping across the lane also gives him rhythm to set up the shot, and he
shoots it from both low-post blocks.
13. Sam Cassell, spin move: Might as well
change his name to Payton because that’s what his game most resembles.
His spin move also looks like Payton’s and uses it in the post in almost
the same style too. He also talks trash like Payton too, so there’s not
much to add about this move.
14. Dirk Nowitzki, pump fake: One very
fundamental move, but one that Nowitzki uses efficiently. Since he’s
able to shoot from most any position, all he needs is the slight
hesitation from the defender to get his shot off.
15. Gilbert Arenas, up and over: Not quite
sure what to call it, but it’s the motion he does when he picks up the
dribble and goes for either a running floater or layup. I like it because
it helps him split defenders and avoid strips. It’s move many other
players should add to their arsenal.
Honorable Mentions
Kobe Bryant, pump fake: Very good at getting
the defender in the air, and then drawing the foul with it.
Tim Duncan, bank: I’m very iffy about
calling this one a move, but it seems that he uses it as effectively as
one. It’s not really something that frees up a shot, but he’s able to
use it with any shot, and makes it enough to give defenders headaches
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