Quote Originally Posted by LA Ute View Post
Agreed. Regarding the pull-up jumper, I am thinking that if he has that weapon defenders will be much less able to simply collapse and try to keep him out of the paint. He can pull up and hit a 10-12 footer if they do. It just makes him an even bigger problem for the other team. Would you agree?
What you say is true. And its effectiveness would be unquestioned if you didn't have the 3-point shot. But with the 3, and with how Delon is so good at finishing at the basket (he shot 63 percent from 2, which led the Pac-12), it makes little sense for him to develop a mid-range game unless you knew that was the only shot he could get AND he could never crack 22 percent from 3 (which is what he shot last year). And at 6-5, that 10-12 foot shot should be there every time anyway, but as we all know, not all defenders are created equally, and part of the reason he shot 63 percent from 2 is because guys really cannot defend him straight up. So why help the defense by asking Delon to take lower percentage shots?

Also, it bears repeating: Delon is a master at getting to the line. He had nearly 200 FTAs last year, which from the best information available, might be a single-season record at Utah for a guard (The top 10 in the media guide only goes to Doleac and Nevill, who each had a 215 FTA season; Delon had 193). Shooting more mid-range jumpers takes away from that, and again, bails teams out defensively (fewer fouls, etc.).

The 3-point shot, however, is an obvious difference maker. It's worth 33 percent more than any 2-point shot. We're all familiar with that. Delon and Utah would be best served if he could get his percentage above 30 percent. Now, a lot of those 3s will come late in the clock but it doesn't matter -- if he hits 1-2 of them, it does far more damage to what the defense has to do than if Delon drains 5-6 mid-range jumpers.