Shooting guard: Difference between revisions
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[[Michael Jordan]], perhaps the best-known basketball player in history, was a shooting guard, and helped define the role of the modern position. That said, his skills, especially his ability to cut to the basket, were features that made him as much of a small forward as a shooting guard. [[Reggie Miller]], on the other hand, is a more classic display of what the shooting guard position prototypically demands: lankier than Jordan, he moved very well off screens without the ball, and was a deadly jump-shooter with a lightning-quick release. Other famous shooting guards of the past include [[Clyde Drexler]], [[Jerry West]], [[Mitch Richmond]], [[Bill Sharman]], [[Sam Jones (basketball)|Sam Jones]], [[Earl Monroe]], [[Pete Maravich]], and [[John Havlicek]]. Notable shooting guards who are currently active include [[Kobe Bryant]], [[Dwyane Wade]], [[Tracy McGrady]] (although he plays the small forward more often), [[Ray Allen]], [[Vince Carter]], [[Jason Richardson]], [[Diana Taurasi]], [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]], [[Manu Ginobili]], [[Michael Redd]] and [[Paul Pierce]]. |
[[Michael Jordan]], perhaps the best-known basketball player in history, was a shooting guard, and helped define the role of the modern position. That said, his skills, especially his ability to cut to the basket, were features that made him as much of a small forward as a shooting guard. [[Reggie Miller]], on the other hand, is a more classic display of what the shooting guard position prototypically demands: lankier than Jordan, he moved very well off screens without the ball, and was a deadly jump-shooter with a lightning-quick release. Other famous shooting guards of the past include [[Clyde Drexler]], [[Jerry West]], [[Mitch Richmond]], [[Bill Sharman]], [[Sam Jones (basketball)|Sam Jones]], [[Earl Monroe]], [[Pete Maravich]], and [[John Havlicek]]. Notable shooting guards who are currently active include [[Kobe Bryant]], [[Dwyane Wade]], [[Tracy McGrady]] (although he plays the small forward more often), [[Ray Allen]], [[Vince Carter]], [[Jason Richardson]], [[Diana Taurasi]], [[Richard Hamilton (basketball)|Richard Hamilton]], [[Manu Ginobili]], [[Michael Redd]] and [[Paul Pierce]]. |
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Revision as of 10:54, 6 March 2006
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A shooting guard (SG) is one of five traditional positions on a basketball team. They are often shorter, leaner, and quicker than forwards, and are frequently called upon to create a high volume of shots on offense and guard the opponent's best perimeter player on defense. Shooting guards are also known as "2-guards" (or simply "2's"), and "off guards", since they play off the ball on offense. Some teams ask their shooting guards to bring up the ball as well; these players are known colloquially as "combo guards". A player who can switch between playing shooting guard and small forward is known as a swingman.
While shooting guards are sometimes the best jump-shooters on the floor (hence the "shooting" part of the position name), most can also drive to the basket well. Many bigger shooting guards can also play small forward. A shooting guard should be a good ballhandler and be able to pass reasonably well, though passing should not be high on his or her list of priorities. Most shooting guards focus primarily on scoring, allowing the point guard to worry about distributing the ball. Most shooting guards in the professional game are between 6 ft 2 in (1.88 m), such as Ben Gordon, and 6 ft 9 in (2.06 m), such as Tracy McGrady. They weigh from 190 to 240 lb (86 to 109 kg).
Michael Jordan, perhaps the best-known basketball player in history, was a shooting guard, and helped define the role of the modern position. That said, his skills, especially his ability to cut to the basket, were features that made him as much of a small forward as a shooting guard. Reggie Miller, on the other hand, is a more classic display of what the shooting guard position prototypically demands: lankier than Jordan, he moved very well off screens without the ball, and was a deadly jump-shooter with a lightning-quick release. Other famous shooting guards of the past include Clyde Drexler, Jerry West, Mitch Richmond, Bill Sharman, Sam Jones, Earl Monroe, Pete Maravich, and John Havlicek. Notable shooting guards who are currently active include Kobe Bryant, Dwyane Wade, Tracy McGrady (although he plays the small forward more often), Ray Allen, Vince Carter, Jason Richardson, Diana Taurasi, Richard Hamilton, Manu Ginobili, Michael Redd and Paul Pierce.