Dave Hopla at the Siena Summer Basketball Camp this afternoo

[Deleted]

I was at the Siena summer basketball camp this afternoon and I saw Dave Hopla shooting coach for the NY Knicks.
Boy can this 57 year young man shoot. I looked him up and found this statement why he thinks a lot of players can’t shoot free throws:

While holding shooting demonstrations in the summer of 2007, he made 11,093 of 11,183 shots he took – a 99.19 shooting percentage – and it’s not a coincidence. Hopla consistently shoots at absurd rates because he’s practiced and written down every shooting session since he was 16 years old.
At the aforementioned clinics, Hopla details the importance of hard work and effort that go into shooting on a daily basis.
“They don’t put enough time in,” Hopla told iHoops.com. “Kids play how many AAU games in the summer? When do they go in a gym and make 500 shots in the summertime? They never do it. All they do is play games.
“You’re not going to become a better shooter or a better player just by playing games. It’s not going to happen. You wonder why guys can’t make free throws. They don’t practice them. They play AAU games. They play four games a day on the weekends and they travel from city to city.”
Now in his mid-50′s, Hopla understands the nuances of shooting as well as anybody in the world, which is just one of the reasons the New York Knicks hired him to be their shooting specialist before the season. “

I hope some of the Siena players took notes….lol

[Papi]

If you can't shoot by the time you get to college its to late to learn.

I'd take a shooter over a Slasher 9/10.

[Deleted]

Aug 7, 2014 21:56:34 GMT -5 Papi said:

If you can't shoot by the time you get to college its to late to learn.

I'd take a shooter over a Slasher 9/10.

I agree 100%

[indian82]

I think if somebody puts in the time like Hopla said, they can certainly improve. And you need a good mix of shooters/slashers for a good team to keep the defense honest on both sides. Can't say which I would take - depends what else you have, but you can build around either if they're really good.

[playerparentcoach]

On my way to campus now for Lavon's 3rd shooting session in 3 days with his shooting coach that is here from MD. Hopla impressed everyone yesterday. He inspired Lavon who understands that perfect practice makes perfect.

[Papi]

Aug 8, 2014 6:57:09 GMT -5 indian82 said:

I think if somebody puts in the time like Hopla said, they can certainly improve. And you need a good mix of shooters/slashers for a good team to keep the defense honest on both sides. Can't say which I would take - depends what else you have, but you can build around either if they're really good.

Shooters will stretch the defense and create more space for your slashers with out space they can't create shots if the defense is just packing it in.