Jose Juan Barea, Grant Hill and Shane Battier – NBA’s street smart free agents this summer
Basketball is not all about colourful displays involving sweet alley oops and powerful one handed dunks. It is a game that employs intelligence more than just raw and entertaining game play. Unfortunately, intelligent plays or
for that matter intelligent players do not receive the kind of credit that is given to the hard hitting plays on the highlight reel.
Examples of intelligent game play include predicting future plays, identifying and exploiting loopholes in air tight defences, maintaining the flow of the game etc. These things constitute the fundamentals of this game and many
players lack these basics. Yet, the recognition always goes hand in hand with flamboyancy.
As for those, who use their creativity to produce unseen magic on the court, credit and recognition seem like distant words; yet they exist. Three of the most intelligent players in the current league include the likes of Jose
Juan Barea of the Dallas Mavericks, Grant Hill of the Phoenix Suns and Shane Battier of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Jose Juan Barea had a magnificent post season last time around as he consistently came off the bench and produced game winning performances. He averaged 8.9 points per game and 3.4 assists per game. But his real contribution was
his intelligent and creative play.
Not only is he a quick-on-the-feet type of player, he knows how to use his short height to his advantage. He is not like the common point guard in the league, however, his creative game play and the ability to dismantle defences
on his own, is what makes him a classy act.
Grant Hill ,on the other hand, is still playing the game at the age of 38 and has proved time and time again that he was one of the most versatile and creative players to have set foot on the floor. Over the years he has performed
in all kinds of roles. From guarding Kobe Bryant, to setting up assisting sprees, to taking charge like a boss; Hill has been there and done that.
Hill was by no means a superstar and that is exactly what his role denied him, however, he was the go to man for his team and he used to take things in his own hands as and when possible. Most of his contribution never got recognized
as he used to busy doing the dirty work.
Last but not the least, Shane Battier of the Grizzlies has also been an exciting player to watch, primarily because of his ability to read minds in defence. Kobe Bryant will testify to that as Battier seems to know just the right
formula to shut down Kobe’s game. He has done it many a times. Not only that but he has been an excellent defensive player, who fills his role very well and hardly ever makes bad plays.
Hence, intelligence is definitely underrated in basketball nowadays as it has turned into a sport of highlights. However, players like Barea, Hill and Battier will continue to appease fans who understand the true nature of the
game.
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article do not represent Bettor.com’s editorial policy.
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