Ryan Dunn - the Real Deal or Beginner's Luck?

[JCSunsfan]

Actually his form was fine, and those misses were on line, just completely the wrong distance. I'm not surprised that was fixable. It's when the mechanics make it impossible to control the ball that you have real trouble.

The wrong coach can mess with players' heads regarding shooting. I suspect that the Virginian head coach is a dork.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

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To be fair, his college percentage isn't really a reliable sample as he only shot about 1 per game. He is for sure a better shooter now, but how much of it is just being allowed and expected to just let it fly?

 

[Pda4976]

He looked really bad at the line in preseason. It’s much more a mental challenge there because you have time to think about it. His college coach certainly put doubt in his mind with threes, Bud has removed that.

 

[JCSunsfan]

To be fair, his college percentage isn't really a reliable sample as he only shot about 1 per game. He is for sure a better shooter now, but how much of it is just being allowed and expected to just let it fly?

If you are shooting one per game in college, there can be no rhythm to that. Now he is shooting in the flow and just letting it go without fear.

 

[Ronin]

Gerald Bourguet

@GeraldBourguet
·
5m

5 games in, Ryan Dunn ranks 3rd among all NBA rookies in scoring (9.4 PPG), 1st in 3-point makes (11), 2nd in 3-point attempts (25), 9th in 3P% (44%), 8th in blocks (2) and 1st in plus/minus (+24).Still super early, but he’s arguably been the best rookie in the NBA so far

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I am a big fan of studying a player's misses to determine their shooting potential. If the misses are often left and right of target you probable have some mechanical flaws in your shot, but if they tend to be mostly long and short that should be fixable as it's just about developing the required feel from that distance. I see no real flaws in his form and he tends to go long and short when he misses.

 

[SunsTzu]

Actually his form was fine, and those misses were on line, just completely the wrong distance. I'm not surprised that was fixable. It's when the mechanics make it impossible to control the ball that you have real trouble.

It was also reported he shot well during the pre-draft process. I think the concern may have been the lack of improvement from his freshman to sophomore year. Some of what I've seen on people who scout college ball was they expected him to shoot better his sophomore year because his form was good, but got down on him not only for not shooting well but for not even attempting to shoot as much as they thought he should.

I understand why he fell, the point I was trying to allude to was the Suns seemed to be more dialed in on how the draft was going to play out than they had in years past. Compare it to when they selected Cam Johnson, who everyone was up in arms about being over drafted and they should have traded back to maximize value.

 

[JCSunsfan]

It was also reported he shot well during the pre-draft process. I think the concern may have been the lack of improvement from his freshman to sophomore year. Some of what I've seen on people who scout college ball was they expected him to shoot better his sophomore year because his form was good, but got down on him not only for not shooting well but for not even attempting to shoot as much as they thought he should.

I understand why he fell, the point I was trying to allude to was the Suns seemed to be more dialed in on how the draft was going to play out than they had in years past. Compare it to when they selected Cam Johnson, who everyone was up in arms about being over drafted and they should have traded back to maximize value.

It’s amazing how actually CARING about the draft can help.

 

[SunsTzu]

He looked really bad at the line in preseason. It’s much more a mental challenge there because you have time to think about it. His college coach certainly put doubt in his mind with threes, Bud has removed that.

I'm not sure if his FT % will see the same type of improvement, as that is mostly mental and it can be difficult to not over think it when you're standing there. I think of Brandon Ingram who struggled at the line in college and his first few years in the league despite being considered a shooter.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

I'm not sure if his FT % will see the same type of improvement, as that is mostly mental and it can be difficult to not over think it when you're standing there. I think of Brandon Ingram who struggled at the line in college and his first few years in the league despite being considered a shooter.

Just need to develop a routine and stick to it and drill the hell out of it in practice. Then it's all about sticking to the routine when you are shooting them in game. Almost every good free throw shooter has the same routine every time.

 

[95pro]

There are several pieces I will give credit to for this. First a split between old and and new ownership; old for the new training facility. New for creating a better environment, and also welcoming Dunn to the organization. Dunn was so enthused to be part of the org and promised Ishbia that he would be in the gym full time.

KD and Book; who wouldn't want to play with these two?

Coaching and the FO, coaches can ruin a players psyche at all levels of basketball. Most do so by promoting the wrong players, it happens a lot! Bud has put him in a spot to succeed and use his skillset accordingly. And the FO for putting a coherent team together this year.

Last is Dunn, he put in the work, that says a lot about his motor. He didn't get the opportunities he is getting now, and his college coach didn't see that he had that something extra in him to become a better player. He's getting more reps than he ever has and it is showing.

 

[Ronin]

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[Phrazbit]

Dunn's next 3 point make will tie his college career total.

 

[ProdigalSun]

There are several pieces I will give credit to for this. First a split between old and and new ownership; old for the new training facility. New for creating a better environment, and also welcoming Dunn to the organization. Dunn was so enthused to be part of the org and promised Ishbia that he would be in the gym full time.

KD and Book; who wouldn't want to play with these two?

Coaching and the FO, coaches can ruin a players psyche at all levels of basketball. Most do so by promoting the wrong players, it happens a lot! Bud has put him in a spot to succeed and use his skillset accordingly. And the FO for putting a coherent team together this year.

Last is Dunn, he put in the work, that says a lot about his motor. He didn't get the opportunities he is getting now, and his college coach didn't see that he had that something extra in him to become a better player. He's getting more reps than he ever has and it is showing.

Agree with all of this. Has there ever been a prospect who similarly was universally scouted as a terrible shooter that has reversed that perception in such a short period of time?

 

[Phrazbit]

Agree with all of this. Has there ever been a prospect who similarly was universally scouted as a terrible shooter that has reversed that perception in such a short period of time?

There are certainly some guys who got off to white hot starts and then cooled off, I can't think of any off the top of my head right now at 3am, but I know it's happened. But, I don't think that is the case here. Dunn, the college player, was scared of shooting, a lock down defender, judged by many to be the best wing defense prospect in years, but an unwilling shooter. He's eager to shoot right now, and he seems to know his spots. I am sure if teams start leaving a defender at home on him, it will get tough, but if we keep up this level of ball movement, and with the other shooters on the roster... good luck trying to stay at home on Ryan Dunn.

 

[Hoop Head]

Dunn wears glasses when he's interviewed coming and going from the training facility. I wonder if he has some vision issues that weren't properly addressed in college. As others have said, he doesn't miss badly or dramatically right or left. Almost all of his misses are too soft with maybe half as many being too hard. Rarely are they off to the side. His mechanics are solid also. I'd be curious if he had some sort of corrective treatment since he's been drafted.

Everything about his defense and on court IQ looks great. Hopefully he keeps it up. He has been playing way above expectations. Hopefully. He keeps it up. It'll be interesting to see what sort of wall he hits considering he's not your average rookie since he played 4 years at Virginia.
zZlLL

 

[CardNots]

Dunn wears glasses when he's interviewed coming and going from the training facility. I wonder if he has some vision issues that weren't properly addressed in college. As others have said, he doesn't miss badly or dramatically right or left. Almost all of his misses are too soft with maybe half as many being too hard. Rarely are they off to the side. His mechanics are solid also. I'd be curious if he had some sort of corrective treatment since he's been drafted.

Everything about his defense and on court IQ looks great. Hopefully he keeps it up. He has been playing way above expectations. Hopefully. He keeps it up. It'll be interesting to see what sort of wall he hits considering he's not your average rookie since he played 4 years at Virginia.
zZlLL

You may be on to something.

I believe this was an issue with another suns player in past days. I can’t remember who exactly.