Post by shorty on Mar 18, 2014 14:55:30 GMT
What is the "Chuck"
The "chuck" term has been growing since it's introduction to this league by somerandomguy two seasons ago. While the Heat GM never gave his version of what he thinks the word means, one can infer some things by the context of how he uses the term, and by the makeup of the Miami Heat roster. I'm sure there are others who are semi-confused by the word, and not every one will have the same definition of it. So asking around the league, here were some of the responses:
"To be a good chucker is simply shoot the ball with no thought of the correct play. "
- itnas123
"The art of 'the chuck' is when a player thinks their personal talent and hard work at shooting will pay off more so than that of their teammates."
- apokolypz
The two responses were similar in describing what chucking is, and how to be a good chucker. Some common agreed upon factors for proper "chucking" includes:
- Being a good shooter/scorer
- Believing one is always the best option when it's time to score
- A fearless approach to the game where no spot on the floor is off limits to one's scorch-earth shooting capabilities
- Believing that no amount of shots is enough, and that the world is at one's feet.
- Generally being a one-man rain making army.
- Being happy when one's teammate is injured because it means more shot attempts for the healthy players, AKA, the chucker.
Some players are labeled "chuckers," and the phrase "the chuck" is simply taking the essence of the word, and solidifying it as a basketball style of play. To be a follower of the "chuck" is to adopt the essence of the word and to commit and entire team's philosophy to not only encourage chucking, but to embrace it fully. In order to build a chuck team, here are some general team comp ideas:
- A big man whose sole purpose is to play defense and rebound.
- Another big man who has range and can spread the floor. They will need help from the other big man to pick up some of the rebounding efforts.
- Having elite scorers who can hit shots from range, and who are not afraid to shoot as many as they want.
- Good ball-handling is a plus since that would help create better chucking opportunities for oneself and for one's teammates. But most importantly, for one's self.
- Beat teams by outscoring them, not outrebounding or playing better D. Executing the offense > playing D or rebounding.
With this in mind, upon further analyzing the Miami Heat GM's comments and their team's transactions, it would appear that they have adopted an outside chucking mentality. Trading Wade for Michael Redd, and obtaining a PF who can shoot from deep has certainly backed up this theory.
So Which Teams Follow the School of the Chuck and are Good at it?
Orlando Magic
The Orlando Magic have been one of the better offensive teams in the league the past few seasons, and they have featured a lineup of dual-chuckers who can score inside and outside. They are one of the better 3point shooting teams in the league, have always been top 10 in team PPG, and they are 4th in 3ptFGA per game AND 3pt FGM per game. They say a team's offensive focus is largely determined by the players they have in the forward spots, and the Magic's main options are their dual chuckers at SF and PF. The team is 2nd in FT% at 75.9%, which shows the elite FT shooting of the team overall.
The Magic feature centers who do nothing but play defense and rebound (they try anyway), lethal dual chuckers at PF and SF. Their SG isn't a premier 3 point shooter, however Francis is an impact player who can score at will and who has demonstrated a fearlessness to score and put up big numbers. The Magic PG Alvin Williams has been a stable of the franchise and he's traditionally kept his TOs down while being efficient and distributing the ball well to the team's lineup of star chuckers.
33.9MPG/21.5PPG/10.4RPG/3.5APG/1.8TOPG - 46.4%FG/90.2%FT/40.2% 3ptFG
Any team whose PF shoots 90% from the FT line and 40+% from 3 land will be a prominent chucking team, but the Magic have taken this to another level with Dirk Nowitzki who has shown the ability to drop 35+ points on any given night with his unique brand of big man chucking. When Steve Francis was injured for a week earlier in the season, Dirk responded by scoring a career high 46 points, and dropping 30+ in 3 other games IN THE SAME SIM. Dirk has exceptional handles for a big man, and he's shown the ability to create for himself and for his chuckmate Tmac. He rebounds too. Check. Check. And Check on the list of chuck qualities.
35.3MPG/26.6PPG/5.6RPG/3.8APG/1.8TOPG - 46.6% FG/44.3% 3PtFG
And one mustn't forget Tracy McGrady. In 2003-2004 season, McGrady scored 32.5PPG on near 50% shooting and 40% from 3, and lead a Magic squad without any other gifted scorers in the lineup. Playing alongside Dirk at SF, McGrady is the other lethal dual-chucker on the team. Being a dual-scorer has it's chucking advantages because it allows for more effective and dynamic chucking opportunities. Tmac obviously has no problem creating shots for himself, and he's willing to shoot the ball as much as he can get it.
This season the Magic have shown a desire to move away from the Chuck by trading away a prominent chucker in Jerry Stackhouse for Steve Francis. However this move is not enough to knock them off the list of elite Chuck Teams because Francis is a player who has shown the ability to score at will, create his own shots, score efficiently, and rebound, which is always a plus for a SG. Francis also helps contribute to the exceptional ball handling of the Magic who is on pace to lead the league in least TOPG for the third straight season.
School of Chuck Rating: +4
+ Talented dual chucking
+ PF is impact player with range, rebounds, keeps TOs low, not afraid to chuck
+ Very good team ball handling. Leads the league in least TOPG.
+ Team shoots 40% from 3
+ Center is only for defense and rebounding
+ PG shoots well, dishes the ball well to team's chuckers, and keeps TOs low
+ Amongst league leaders in FG attempts
- Lackluster rebounding
- Team FG% can be higher
- SG only shoots 32% from 3.
Miami Heat
The Miami Heat GM somerandomguy1 was the one who coined the phrase "the chuck," and his team posses many qualities that embrace the School of Chuck's philosophy. The Heat have adopted the outside chucking mentality, and they are 2nd in the league in 3pt shooting % at 42.3% behind the Sacramento Kings. They are 2nd in 3ptFGA and 3ptFGM per game behind the Denver Nuggets. They are 4th in team FG% at 46%. When you look at the team statistics and the players on that roster, it's clear that this team is built for chucking. Emeka Okafor fulfills the defense/rebounding role that every good chucking team needs while newcomer Rasheed Wallace helps the team stretch the floor. Rashard Lewis is shooting the ball with scorching efficiency, and Michael Redd has embraced a lesser role on this Heat team by providing efficient scoring himself. The effective rebounding, low TOPG, and shooting percentages of Michael Redd coupled with his past master chuck history makes him a very great addition to this Heat team. Deron Williams has the playmaking ability to feed the team's chuckers and to keep everyone happy. Dwill's own scoring hasn't been superb this season, but he's still shooting over 40% from deep.
The forward spots of the Heat are effective chuckers, and the two featured chuckers from the Heat are:
33.7MPG/23.5PPG/5.5RPG/1.5APG/1.6TOPG/47.9% FG/ 45.1% 3ptFG
Shard's low APG shows a willingness to shoot the ball whenever it reaches his handles. Those 1.5 assists a game probably come from being triple teamed, or accidentally shooting an airball and the stat people are too kind to count it as a miss, and instead gives it as an assist.
35.1MPG/17.1PPG/3.3RPG/8.8APG/2.5TOPG - 43.4% FG/40.4% 3ptFG
Deron Williams' stats probably can be better if he was given full chucking reins. But everyone knows that every good race horse needs someone to rein and guide him/her. Dwill sets up the offense so the chuckers can chuck, and every chucking team needs that. Dwill is still young so those 2.5TOPG can be excused. The Heat are chucking from deep very efficiently and Dwill is largely responsible for managing that on the court.
School of Chuck Rating: +5
+ Okafor is a defense/rebounding player
+ Has a dynamic PG who can playmaker and distribute to chuckers
+ SF and PF are both adept at hitting 3s
+ Team is one of the best in the league at attempting FGs and making them
+ Team is one of the best at attempting 3s and making them
+ Team's bench is good at shooting and chucking
+ Talented dual chucking
- Team's rebounding needs work
- Team Ball handling could be better. TOPG is in middling territory
Denver Nuggets
The Denver Nuggets were a pretty great team last season, however this season they exploded out of the gates offensively. The Nuggets lead the league in PPG, and are 2nd in FGAPG and FGMPG. They flat out lead the league in 3PA and 3PM per game, and they shoot a scorching 42.1% from deep. They keep the turnovers low, and they are middling in terms of APG which shows their player's abilities to embrace the chuck and not do silly things such as passing it up. Unlike the Magic and the Heat, the Nuggets actually break even in terms of rebounding, which is a plus to have. The Nugget's defense is middling like the two previously mentioned chucking teams, but their offense and the rebounding help bridge the gap and make them one of the most dangerous chucking teams out there. They lead the league in team FT%, which demonstrates the shooting ability of the team. Also, take a look at the number of dual-chuckers the team has. Their PG has a B- inside lol.
The addition of Mehmet Okur has expanded their offensive range and adds valuable dual-chucking ability to their SF and PF spots. Meanwhile, their center Erick Dampier cleans the glass and defends. Their frontcourt has the look of a chucking team, and when you look at their perimeter players, that's when the eyes pop. Melo has been one of the premier followers of the Chuck since he's been in the league. His top 5 PPG scoring + his great percentages + his rebounding makes him perhaps the best SF chucker in the league. Did I mention he's a dual chucker? Stephon Marbury has been a glass cannon in the mile-high city this season, however what the past and current has shown us is that Marbury doesn't give a rip. Put him at PG or SG, and the guy will gun til he drops. Literally. Since he is primarly a SG now, this article will cover Marbury as a SG. His percentages simply put, are insane. His rebounding isn't great, and a true chucker at SG should not dish out 4APG, but Marbury plays a lot of minutes and so his assists and TOPG are not an issue. Devin Harris is similar to Deron Williams on the Heat, and he's there to facilitate the ball and to make sure the team is chucking well. Every good chucking team needs a PG like that, and Harris delivers. The Nugget's bench have good shooters, tho not necessarily good chuckers. It's not enough to hurt their chuck status tho, and their bench's efficiency helps make them a lethal shooting team. Their teams' two key Chuck followers are:
38.6MPG/27PPG/7.3RPG/3.0APG/2.0TOPG - 46.6% FG/84.5%FT/44.1% 3PT
Melo has a good case for being the chuck king. He rebounds, doesn't pass, shoots the ball really really well, has a great inside to expand his chuck game, and keeps TOs low. Bravo Melo.
37.7MPG/22.5PPG/4.0RPG/4.9APG/2.3TOPG/48.4%/82.1%FT/44.4% 3PT
Marbury rests his glass chuck cannon of a body on the bench. Whenever he's healthy enough to get on the court, look out. This guy is ferocious.
School of Chuck Rating: +6
+ Has 3pt shooters at SF and PF
+ Talented dual chuckers
+ Their starting Center rebounds and defends
+ The team keeps TOs low. 3rd in the league in least TOPG
+ Team breaks even for rebounding. Shows decent rebounding/good shooting %s
+ Team leads the league in 3PtA and 3PtM
+ Leads the league in PPG
- Team is middling in terms of team FG%
Kings
The Kings haven't had much hype this season because they had a rough start to the season. With that said, they are 2nd in the league in PPG at 105, and they rely completely on their offense to win games. I say that because they also give up 105ppg and give up the most points per game. The Kings are 3rd and 5th in FGA and FGM, and they are the number one 3 point shooting team in the league. Kings also shoot FTs well which indicates a good shooting team. They don't pass that much either which is good in terms of chucking because the more a player chucks, the more the team fits the chuck philosophy. It's a big knock on them that they don't attempt more 3s however. A team that great at shooting 3s should attempt more shots. Kings break even for rebounding. The Kings are a decent ball handling team, and they are in the middle in terms of team APG, which fits chuck philosophy quite well.
The King's post players are not very good defenders, but they are exceptional rebounders. It's a shame they can't defend better otherwise they'd probably get more boards. Zach Randolph is a traditional inside PF so there's nothing to see here. Their perimeter players however are all great shooters. They have 6 players who contribute important minutes who shoot 40%+ from 3. Peja and Bibby aren't having stellar seasons in terms of what they have put up in the past, but they are still the two pillars of this team.
36.7MPG/20.5PPG/6.0RPG/4.2APG/2.1TOPG- 43.6%FG/81.1% FT/41.9% 3 point
The 2005 3 point contest winner is having his second straight down year. But even so he is still one of the league's premier shooters, and one can't help but think that a slight DC tweak will put him back on his gunslinging days. Peja should look to shoot more and pass less.
35.6MPG/14.9PPG/3.4RPG/8.1APG/2.8TOPG - 44.2%FG/84%FT/41.5% 3PtFG
Bibby is also having a sort of down year for the Kings, but he's the chuck manager for the Kings, and seeing how important offense is for the Kings, Bibby plays a huge role for them. While it's fine for the chuck manager to pass up some shots in order to help others chuck, Bibby should look to chuck up more shots for himself. He's not a bad shooter himself.
School of Chuck Rating: +2
+ Good team ball handling. 2nd in least TOPG
+ Leads the league in 3 point shooting
+ Team attempts a lot of FGs and makes a lot of FGs
+ Team is completely reliant on offense which is an extreme, but if it leads to more chucking, more the merrier
+ Team rebounds well
- - Inexcusable how they don't shoot more 3s since they are so good at it.
- Not a great dual chucking team.
Rockets
Rockets have been known to be a high scoring, perimeter oriented team for seasons now, and these current rockets are no differents. Rockets are 3rd in PPG, FGM, 3pt%, 3pA, 3pM. They shoot FTs well, and they rebound extremely well. Rockets actually outrebound teams by around 4RPG. They are only 9th in FGA, but they make a blistering 47% of their shots, so they don't really need to shoot more. One knock against them is that they are 5th in passing and turn the ball over a lot. While passing is fine and all, that goes against chuck philosophy. More turnovers = less chucking as well.
Vlad Stephania anchors the defense and rebounding, and is the perfect big man to put on a chuck team. Gortat and Lee are good rebounders and defenders and they are great complementary players on the team. Once you look at the perimeter tho, that's where the chuck happens. Vince Carter is dropping 30PPG on good percentages, and Ray Allen is the best shooter on the planet right now. Ray dishes 5.2 APG and drops 3TOPG which isn't ideal. Ray is such a good shooter that he basically just needs to shoot more and pass less. Set more screen plays for this man! Jameer Nelson continues to be a solid contributor and facilitator for the Rockets. The two key chucksters for the Rockets are unsurprisingly:
39.5MPG/30PPG/5.8RPG/3.0APG/2.0TOPG - 46.3% FG/85.1% FT/38.7% 3Pt
VC is having quite a year offensively. He's always been ferocious scoring the ball and doing it efficiently. This year he has raised his shooting volume to a whole 'nother level. His efficiency has gone down, but in the spirit of the chuck we understand why he did that. His FT shooting is great and while his 3 point shot could use some more work, it's not chucking that's hurting the team so meh. The low TOPG is nice to see and the low APG means he's chucking more and passing less.
39.8MPG/25.3PPG/5.4RPG/5.2APG/3.0TOPG - 51.8%FG/90.8% FT/46.8% 3 Pt
Ray Allen is lighting the earth on fire with his 51/90/47 brand of shooting. As much as anyone can love those percentages, Carter is actually the one more in tuned with the chuck on this team. For such scorching percentages, the chuck would expect Ray ray to pass less, and shoot more. He should be dropping 30ppg and cutting that APG down to 3. The 3 TOPG isn't good, but due to the high number of minutes he plays, that's acceptable. Still, what a shooter!
School of Chuck Rating: +6
+ League leading FG%
+ High team PPG
++ Elite rebounding
+ Amongst league leaders in 3pt%, 3pt attempts, and 3pt made
+ Amongst league leaders in FGM
+ Has two stars who embrace the chuck model.
+ Has a chuck manager at PG in Jameer who can himself shoot, and who facilitates well to the team's other chuckers.
- Team passes too much
- TOPG is not optimal
HM: TrailBlazers
Blazers are 4th in PPG, 1st in FGA and FGM. However they are not on here because their 3 point shooting is poor, and their FG% is just too low to be amongst the best.
