By Josh Cohen
Oct. 4, 2015
Andrew Nicholson is one of very few players in the NBA today with a reliable jump hook shot. He has an excellent spin move, especially toward the baseline, and he stretches his arm out so far that it’s nearly impossible to block his shot. Nicholson isn’t the best at backing down his opponent and sometimes he dribbles into double teams. However, when he moves quickly in the post, he’s extremely difficult to contain. WATCH:
Nicholson’s AND-1 frequency on post-up shots was 2.6 percent last season and he had no AND-1s in pick-and-roll plays. Against the Hornets on Saturday, Drew had an impressive AND-1 while rolling to the basket. He’s clearly bulked up over the last couple of years and seems strong enough to handle contact at the rim. WATCH:
After shooting only 32 percent from 3-point range in each of the past two seasons, Nicholson seems to be improved from beyond the arc. He shot 48 percent (10-for-21) from downtown in the FIBA Americas tournament this past summer and drilled two of his three triples in Saturday’s preseason game. Nicholson is confident in pick-and-pop situations, especially when his defender (like Al Jefferson in play featured below) is not accustomed to guarding players on the perimeter. WATCH:
Using a shot fake is critical for Nicholson and his development. He has such outstanding footwork and a soft touch around the basket that he easily can fool defenders. Again, when he goes to work quickly in the post, he can outsmart his opponents. WATCH:
Nicholson’s minutes were limited last season because he hasn’t yet become a dependable defender. While he’s not likely to ever be an elite shot-blocker, Drew can be more valuable on the defensive end if he can learn to draw charges and avoid unnecessary fouls. In the play featured below, Nicholson would have been better off stepping up and establishing position to try and take a charge rather than sliding his feet to try and block Jeremy Lin’s driving shot attempt. WATCH: