Navigation Efficiency

[3ball]

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Navigation Efficiency - how did Iverson get from the 3-point line, all the way to the rim in one dribble?

He did it using what I like to call "navigation efficiency", which is taking the maximum number of steps, with the least number of dribbles - this is something players in the 60's were not allowed to do because the ref would call a travel or carry...

In the GIF above of Iverson, he takes 1 dribble and 3 steps - this is standard footwork in the modern eras (post-1980)... but if Iverson had to take an extra dribble here, he would not have generated nearly as much momentum, and the play would not have been as athletic.

In the 60's, to abide by the strict dribbling rules at the time, every player would take an extra dribble in the GIF above (oscar might take several extra dribbles)... This is huge - because when you DON'T take that extra dribble - when you AREN'T slowed down by having to dribble, you are RUNNING, so you can generate better momentum leading up to and on the takeoff.

But when you have to take an extra dribble, it slows you down and you lose momentum and explosion going up for the shot - this is the case with ALL dribbling moves, not just the one above.

This is THE reason why players in the 60's appear less athletic - they simply weren't allowed to do the same moves today's players are allowed to do - if you aren't allowed to do the same moves, how can you make equally athletic plays?... the less stringent travelling and carrying rules that began in the 80's allowed players to be navigation-efficient and that efficiency allows them to gain better momentum leading up to and on the takeoff.

here's another one - jordan does the standard 1-dribble-3-step footwork - if jordan had to take an extra dribble here, he would not have generated the tremendous momentum he did to finish the play as explosively as he did... As you can see here, Jordan gets to RUN when he doesn't have to dribble, which generates more momentum and explosiveness than if was slowed down by having to take extra dribble(s).

[oarabbus]

How did Iverson get from the 3-point line, all the way to the rim in one dribble?

He did it using what I like to call "navigation efficiency", which is taking the maximum number of steps, with the least number of dribbles - this is something players in the 60's did not do very well.

In the 60's, almost every player would take an extra dribble in the GIF above (oscar might take several extra dribbles)... This is huge because when you DON'T take that extra dribble - when you aren't slowed down by having to dribble, you are RUNNING, so you can generate better momentum leading up to and on the takeoff.

But when you have to take an extra dribble, it slows you down and you lose momentum and explosion going up for the shot - this is the case with ALL dribbling moves, not just the one above.

This is THE reason why point guards today are more dunk-capable in more spots - it's not that they are more athletic - it's because they are navigation-efficient and that efficiency allows them to gain better momentum leading up to and on the takeoff.

here's another one - if jordan had to take an extra dribble here, he would not have generated the tremendous momentum he did to finish the play as explosively as he did... As you can see here, Jordan gets to RUN when he doesn't have to dribble, which generates more momentum and explosiveness than if was slowed down by having to take extra dribble(s).

That Jordan dunk

[iznogood]

Were this type of gather was even allowed in the 60s?

[buddha]

it's also called travelling.

[Sarcastic]

Were this type of gather was even allowed in the 60s?

No. Modern players would be called for travel on virtually every play if they played with the rules from the 1960s.

[La Frescobaldi]

Navigation Efficiency

[3ball]

No. Modern players would be called for travel on virtually every play if they played with the rules from the 1960s.

great point.

the rules back then flat-out disallowed the optimal dribbling that we see today.

being able to gather the ball and take more steps per dribble allows players to be more explosive... as detailed in the OP, each dribble slows you down and hinders the gaining of momentum - the more you dribble, the less you can be in a full-out running mode to gain momentum.

(the Jordan GIF in the OP shows the kind of "running mode" i'm talking about - if he takes an extra dribble in that spot as the rules would have FORCED him to in previous eras, he wouldn't have gained the momentum or explosion that he did).

but the things that allow players to achieve maximum momentum today (gathering the ball, carrying and travelling), weren't allowed in the 60's... if they were, you'd see point guards with the same type of handle and explosiveness we see today.

[G0ATbe]

Both plays are just blatant travelling .

[navy]

it's also called travelling.

This.

[3ball]

This.

it's actually not travelling because it's allowed.

[3ball]

Both plays are just blatant travelling .

completely standard though, so really it isn't travelling, because it's allowed in today's game.

in every single game tonight, the one-dribble-three-steps moves shown in the OP will be done literally dozens of times in every game - it is an extremely standard move, even for junior highers.

and that's the whole point - in the 60's, guys weren't allowed to carry, travel or gather the ball like this (these things are LEGAL today), which hurt their explosiveness, because they had to take more dribbles per step... and each extra dribble significantly hampers momentum generation and explosiveness.
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[Killbot]

it's actually not travelling because it's allowed.

[ralph_i_el]

Iverson would dribble and take three steps before the ball bounced back up.

[fragokota]

He actually took 3 steps...

[navy]

it's actually not travelling because it's allowed.

Not called doesnt mean allowed.