The least efficient shot in basketball is the long two-point jumper. It goes without saying that the further a player is from the basket, the less likely said player is to make a shot. But there’s a certain threshold called the three-point line that boosts the value of said shot, making threes more worth one’s while than long twos.
Thunder Vs. Hornets: David West Defies Nature As New Orleans Edges Oklahoma City 91-89
David West knows all that, and he doesn't care, because he's been hitting long two-pointers in the NBA for almost a decade. He hit four straight at the end of the New Orleans Hornets' Monday night game against the Oklahoma City Thunder to give his team a 91-89 victory.
The final, fatal heave from West ripped through the net with just 0.5 seconds left. Don’t be alarmed by the giant David West head at the end of the clip.
Needless to say, that shot has a remarkable degree of difficulty, not just because Serge Ibaka defends it well, and not just because of the distance, and not just because of how off-balance West is when he releases the ball, and not just because the game clock is winding down. Because of all of those things. What a shot!
I dare say that Hornets coach Monty Williams would not have entrusted West with the possession had the power forward not just hit three long jumpers, in the process pulling Ibaka (a fine shotblocker) away from the basket. New Orleans wouldn't even have had the opportunity to take a two for the win had Thunder stars Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook not each missed shots inside of a minute remaining with the score tied at 89-89. OKC's final chance prior to West's shot expired when Chris Paul stole the ball from Nick Collison.
It was Paul's third steal to go with two from each of West and Trevor Ariza, who worked to limit Durant, the NBA's leading scorer to 22 points on 7-18 shooting. The Thunder shot well against the stout New Orleans defense, but coughed up 17 turnovers, nine of them on steals. The Hornets had just 10 turnovers.
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