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Reading: Tracy McGrady Explains How To Bait Your Defender And How To Get Open Shots
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > Tracy McGrady Explains How To Bait Your Defender And How To Get Open Shots

Tracy McGrady Explains How To Bait Your Defender And How To Get Open Shots

Tracy McGrady shares his strategies for baiting defenders and getting open shots, offering valuable insights from his career as one of the NBA's premier scorers.

Vishwesha Kumar
Jul 9, 2024
7 Min Read
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Credit: Fadeaway World

Tracy McGrady recently took to Instagram to explain his strategies for baiting defenders and getting open shots, sharing insights from his illustrious career as one of the NBA’s premier scorers. In one of his explanations, McGrady described his approach in transition situations: 

“If I’m coming down in transition, right, and I see my defender in front of me, if he’s not coming up, he’s going back, instead of backpedaling, I’m going to rise up. If I’m not comfortable shooting the three, how do I get him to come closer to me, right? Because he’s backing up as I’m coming at him.”

“So I’m coming down, right? He’s giving me that space. I act like I’m going into my shot. This right here is going to bring him forward because he’s thinking I’m going to shoot. So I’m coming here, but I’m not going to shoot.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C9DebJSy28J

McGrady’s tactic involves a hesitation move where he fakes a shot to force the defender to close out quickly. This move exploits the defender’s momentum, allowing McGrady to burst past him for a more comfortable shot. If the defender is backpedaling and McGrady is comfortable with the deep shot, he can simply rise up and take the three-pointer.

McGrady also discussed how to create space when operating in the corner, an area with limited room for maneuvering: 

“And you can do this move anywhere on the court, right? But here in the corner, it’s like, you don’t really have many options because this is a defender too. Can’t really move that much. So how do I get him leaning?” 

“Then you got another defender there. So I want to get him leaning so I can get this shot off in the corner. So what I like to do is see how he’s playing me. I want to do two moves in one.” 

“So I want to jab, right, so it’s like boom at the same time, right. Instead of jab stepping, come set, then shoot, I want to here, right. So, seeing it, there we go. Money. It’s quite simple, right.”

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C9F9UA3ydlg

These techniques highlight McGrady’s scoring prowess and understanding of the game. Known for his scoring ability, T-Mac was a two-time NBA scoring champion and a seven-time All-Star. Despite injuries cutting his career short, his ability to score under pressure remains legendary, epitomized by his unforgettable 13 points in 35 seconds performance.

McGrady’s insights not only reflect his talent but also provide valuable lessons for players looking to improve their offensive game by mastering the art of creating space and taking advantage of defensive missteps.


Tracy McGrady Rates Fans’ Jump Shot Techniques 

Tracy McGrady also took to Instagram to rate the jump shot techniques of various fans, offering his expert analysis and feedback. As a seven-time NBA All-Star and one of the most prolific scorers of his era, McGrady’s insights are invaluable for aspiring basketball players. The first clip featured a fan with a two-handed jump shot. McGrady noted: 

“We got good results on it. He shot that with two hands. That was wicked, two hands. But he got the follow-through on it, good arc. I mean, hey, Reggie Miller didn’t have the greatest shot, but it went in.” 

McGrady’s point about Reggie Miller highlights that while Miller’s form was unconventional, he remains one of the greatest shooters in NBA history. This implies that while aesthetics matter, the effectiveness of a shot is ultimately what counts.

Next up was a fan with a more conventional jump shot. McGrady commented:

“Yes, that’s not bad. Not bad at all. He got good form, good followthrough, buckets. Not so bad.” 

This fan’s shot had a nice follow-through and solid form, suggesting they might have played basketball at a competitive level, possibly in high school. McGrady’s approval indicates that this fan’s technique was fundamentally sound and effective.

The third fan’s technique reminded McGrady of Kevin Durant. He observed: 

“Not bad at all. He got a little bit of that KD in him. How KD used to shoot. He used to come like this from the left side up. Hey, the results is that he made it, so that wasn’t bad.” 

Durant’s early shooting form involved bringing the ball up from the left side, a technique he refined over the years. Despite its initial unconventional look, Durant’s shot has always been highly effective, showcasing that a player’s unique style can still lead to excellent results.

The fourth fan attempted a fadeaway mid-range shot, drawing comparisons to both Durant and Dirk Nowitzki from McGrady: 

“That’s a little bit of KD right there. And Dirk, one leg fadeaway. Off that back leg. I’m sure he’d get that from KD or Dirk.” 

Both Durant and Nowitzki are known for their fadeaway shots, with Dirk’s one-legged fadeaway being particularly iconic. This fan’s emulation of such a difficult shot indicates a high level of skill and an understanding of advanced shooting techniques.

https://www.instagram.com/p/p:C9LI30YSbEV

McGrady’s engagement with fans’ jump shots not only provided personalized feedback but also highlighted that while form and aesthetics can vary widely, the key to a successful shot lies in its effectiveness. His comparisons to NBA greats like Reggie Miller, Kevin Durant, and Dirk Nowitzki serve as a reminder that mastering one’s unique style can lead to success on the court.

Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We really appreciate your support. 

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Thank you for being a valued reader of Fadeaway World. If you liked this article, please consider following us on Google News. We appreciate your support.

TAGGED:Dirk NowitzkiKevin DurantReggie MillerTracy McGrady
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ByVishwesha Kumar
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Vishwesha Kumar is a staff writer for Fadeaway World from Bengaluru, India. Graduating with a Bachelor of Technology from PES University in 2020, Vishwesha leverages his analytical skills to enhance his sports journalism, particularly in basketball. His experience includes writing over 3000 articles across respected publications such as Essentially Sports and Sportskeeda, which have established him as a prolific figure in the sports writing community.Vishwesha’s love for basketball was ignited by watching LeBron James, inspiring him to delve deeply into the nuances of the game. This personal passion translates into his writing, allowing him to connect with readers through relatable narratives and insightful analyses. He holds a unique and controversial opinion that Russell Westbrook is often underrated rather than overrated. Despite Westbrook's flaws, Vishwesha believes that his triple-double achievements and relentless athleticism are often downplayed, making him one of the most unique and electrifying players in NBA history, even if his style of play can sometimes be polarizing. 
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