Lamar Patterson - Lamar is finally getting a little NBA draft love. Draft Express has him going #55 overall to the Clippers. Also David Titus of Grantland put Pitt at #12 in his power rankings. That's nice, but what's really interesting is that Titus says Lamar has the greatest jump shot he's ever seen.
"I know that Pitt’s best win this season was a close loss at Syracuse, I know the Panthers scored 43 points in a game against Cincinnati in December, and I know that on a neutral court Oklahoma State would probably beat them eight out of 10 times. But Pitt is getting the Cowboys’ spot in the most powerful power rankings in college basketball this week. Why? Two reasons: (1) Marcus Smart’s flopping has reached critical mass and this is my way of protesting his shenanigans, and (2) I can’t go another week without writing about Lamar Patterson’s jumper.
Let me be up front: I would make sweet, sweet love to Patterson’s jump shot. Patterson is a fifth-year senior who has been a solid 3-point shooter his entire career, so I’m not sure why I haven’t noticed his jumper’s flawlessness until this season. But now that I have, it’s like the clouds parted and angels started singing Enya songs. Actually, as someone who prides himself on his rainmaking abilities, watching Patterson shoot a basketball for the first time was more like Patrick Bateman looking at his colleagues’ business cards. Look at that subtle elbow placement. … The tasteful way he squares his shoulders. Oh my god — it even has a perfect off-hand and follow-through.
Ray Allen is the best shooter in the history of basketball and he’s often praised for having perfect shooting form. Well, Lamar Patterson makes Ray Allen look like Shawn Marion or Bill Cartwright. Compared to shooting icons like Larry Bird and Reggie Miller, Allen’s form is a thing of beauty, but he still uses his left thumb to help push the ball and he often puts so much emphasis on a quick release that his shot resembles a catapult. Patterson has an aesthetically perfect jump shot. He squares his body, he keeps his elbow in, he loads his shot just above his right eye, and his left hand remains so obnoxiously still during the follow-through that it’s borderline taunting. Every youth basketball coach in America should show their players slow-mo replays of Patterson’s game, specifically that stretch in the second half against Syracuse when he hit three 3s in a little over a minute."
Lamar Patterson > Jesus Shuttlesworth
I am contemplating making this exclusively a Lamar Patterson blog.
This game wasn't really as close as the final score would indicate. Pitt kept making 1-2 free throws down the stretch to let Maryland back in it.
Instead of grades, I just want to point out a few things.
- Lamar had 28 pts 7 assists 7 rebounds and 4 steals. Just wow.
- Young was the only starter not to score in double figures. He only had 2 points.
- Jamel Artis continues to make me think he should start over Young. He had a huge 8 points and 6 rebounds in 16 minutes compared to Young's 2 and 5 in 28 minutes.
That's it for Maryland. Pitt's playing Duke in 20 minutes.
Hail to Pitt,
J.O.
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