.
At 6-8 Berry shot 58% from the field and really should not have passed to anyone as he really was unstopable down low. He too was herky jerky, but it just looked cooler.
I know you are just using Berry as a high end example of why Hamilton should have been more appreciated, but I just happen to hold Berry in a ridiculously high regard.
Agree with your comment - why WOULD you have a guy that econocical pass the ball to anyone (unless they had an absolute layup). Thin about this. Within living memory, Oregon State was once the number 1 team in the country (lost in the dance). Their star was a 6'10 225 lb center who'd averaged 17 pts as a Junior, and returned to post 21 pts a game his senior year. This was all of 3 seasons before Berry played for SJU. His last year hear, Walter averaged 23 pts a game, and shot not 58% from the field but 60% from the field (59.8%) by making 327 of 547 shots. As you note - crazy to have him pass and not shot. But this other guy? I've never figured out WHY his coach (a hall of famer, Ralph Miller) used him as he did. Because Steve Johnson WAS asked to pass out of the post. That Senior year when he averaged 21 pts a game, he took 232 LESS shots from the field than Berry did getting 23. Steve Johnson shot 74.6% from the field. It wasn't a fluke - as a Junior he'd averaged 17 a game shooting 71% from the field.
I know you don't want a player to appear greedy, but how do you NOT have a 75% FG shooter taking every dang shot possible? If only till they defended him down to say, 65% from the field?
? I mean the BEST options he could be passing to would likely be at best 50% shooters!.
Johnson as a fr. hit 159 of 267 (59.6%) for 13.5.
Johnson as a so. hit 197 of 298 (66.1%) for 18.4.
Johnson as a jr. hit 211 of 297 (71.0%) for 17.0.
Johnson as a sr. hit 235 of 315 (74.6%) for 21.0.
His career percentage of 67.8% is the record among guys with 13 or more pts per game .
He was drafted by the Knicks, put up 13 pts as a rookie and 12 as a soph for them - shooting 61.3% and 62.4% from the field.
I know, I know. A bit far afield. Probably the meds kicking in....