June 17, 2014

There's a lot going on here.

In the three years prior to this, Giffey was billed as a shooter, and played as a shooter, without being all that consistent of one. From game to game, from half to half, from minute to minute, he was highly inconsistent, and it affected his confidence to the point he became a chronic overpasser. A shooter who wouldn't shoot. An er.

This year, though, Giffey got all his confidence back and then some. His three point percentage that had oscillated from 32% as a freshman, 42% as a sophomore down to a mere 29% as a junior shot right up to 48.3%, amongst the nation's leaders, and on a much higher volume of attempts. Attempting only slightly over one three pointer every twenty minutes of action last season, Giffey's new found confidence more than doubled that ratio - suddenly a very awkward and frustrating player became a frighteningly efficient knock-down shooter.

That is about it for Giffey's offensive game. He almost never handles the ball, either catching to shoot or catching it to move it on. Very rarely he will turn in for a right handed floater in the lane, but it is very rare. For the most part, Giffey catches and shoots. He is a lot better at this than he was catching and not shooting. Giffey has also much improved at knowing how to get open for looks, his movement off the ball much improved to include baseline weaves, double backs, and the like. Defensively, Giffey has good size for the wing positions, and plays tough. He is not hugely fast, but he plays hard and anticipates well, somewhat exposable in isolation situations but not through a lack of trying.

If you want a three and D player, then, here is a three and D player. However, the NBA requires a higher standard of athleticism, and a higher volume of scoring, in its three and D specialists. So Europe it is. Giffey is a logical fit back in his homeland of Germany, and he is plenty good enough for the Bundesliga. It seems like a logical unison.

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