Ben “Ultra” Gordon highlights
As I watched the pre-game warm ups between the Celtics and the Bulls last night I noticed that Ben Gordon’s hamstring was in question. That type of injury is tough for a player like Gordon who relies heavily on his ability to burst and rock step off the chop. It brought back a memory I had a while back…
Times ago, at a place where time met pure ball, I had a chance to talk to Ben Gordon. Ben was a rising pro, recently out of Mount Vernon and headed to UCONN to build his game and rep. He came around my projects – Dyckman Houses – after a workout with Dyckman Coach, Evander Ford. In front of the building where I lived, we got to talking about creating space on the chop and the step back move. He asked Ford, “When you step back, what part of your body is the most essential to get the defender frozen?” Coach asked me to show him. I automatically went into triple threat and mimicked the move, showing with the head and shoulders, taking a deep knee-bend and then suddenly stepping back. As I kept doing the move Ben said, “I’m going to work on that.” As I watched him develop throughout the years, not only did he adopt some of the style I showed him but he varied the move standing straight, varying his head and shoulder movements, pausing in between dribbles, and then creating space that causes 3-5 feet of separation from defenders. This is one of the essential skills that has made him into one of the best game-ending threats in the NBA.
My ranking of the top three game ending players.
1. Paul Pierce: I would take him straight up over everyone right now because his chop into his shot is the quickest in the game.
2. Ben Gordon: “Ultra” at the top of the key with the clock running down is a nightmare for any opponent. His step-back and his ability to go left and finish off his jumper makes him very hard to guard.
3. Kobe Bryant: Has crazy reverse pivot pop-lock to the fade away on the perimeter that is hard to guard. Has command of the elbow and the extended elbow which is the critical area for game winning jump shooters.
Honorable Mention: Jamal Crawford and Dwayne Wade.
April 30th, 2009 at 8:45 am
illest says:
You have the wrong Seattle player at Honorable Mention. Id take Brandon Roy over Crawford for the last shot. Gordon hasnt done it long enough in the league to be ahead of Bryant and Pierce. And Ive see Ben hit plenty of game winners.
April 30th, 2009 at 10:37 am
ali says:
love boogie ben. but if i had to pick one person to bring it on home for me at the end of the game, it’s kobe over the truth and BG.
April 30th, 2009 at 11:17 am
illest says:
pierce and bryant are even at the end of games.
April 30th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
sean couch says:
While Roy is a super-duper phenom, he hasn’t been in enough games to bump Crawford, who has done it for several years in my opinion.
April 30th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
illest says:
couch….i agree with that. then you have to put gordon under pierce and bryant.
April 30th, 2009 at 4:25 pm
Sean Couch says:
I know that might cause some static, having Kobe third especially with all the titles but Gordon has just as much finishing ability as Kobe and when I watch the highlights i always see Ben closing out games at the buzzer. Kobe has had more chances in playoff comp than Ben, but put Ben on that Laker team with Shaq and I would bet a piece of cold asphalt he would be just as effective finishing games. I know right now I’m in the minority report but I like “Ultra.”
It would be an interesting story for Dime Mag to pick up.
May 1st, 2009 at 8:32 am
illest says:
Ben didnt finish well last night. I think he will have a big game on Saturday. Its easy to say if Ben had Shaquille or if anyone played with Shaquille. Its not like Bryant has had a lot of playoff moments finishing games if you analyze his career. Really just that Pacers game 4 when Oneal fouled out and that game winner against the Suns. No static except that your criteria for Roy not playing many games should be used for Gordon not playing many games. Ultra is a good name for Gordon as well.
May 1st, 2009 at 1:02 pm
Sean Couch says:
Illest:
Ben is in his 4th year and Brandon is in year 2. I feel during that fourth year your personality as a guard starts to come through. But I respect your point on the criteria.