The Breakdown on Livingston

Coaches usually say there are three categories that comprise a basketball player: athleticism/size, skill, attitude/mental game. Rarely do you find a player who tops out in all three categories. Those players are considered the great ones. Shaun Livingston is a player that is close to topping out in all three.

For a point guard, it is hard to beat 6-foot-6 at the point guard position. Two point guards who come to mind with that type of height are Magic Johnson and LeBron James. Finding the open man is a whole lot easier when you can see over the defense. Starting the fast break is a whole lot easier when you do not have to wait on the outlet and can rebound the ball yourself. And when teammates are in trouble with the ball, a 6-foot-6 target is much easier to find. Need to get the ball in against the press? Throw it up to the point guard.

Livingston does, however, need to get stronger. That will certainly come with time. But despite his slender frame, Livingston is far from a soft player. He does not avoid contact, and he has such balance and a feel for the game, he is able to absorb the contact while holding his ground and then spin the opposite direction away from the contact. Then his speed and quickness takes over and he separates from his defender. If defenders avoid his body, he has the height to shoot over them.

On the defensive end, he has the combination of quickness and size to guard three different positions, play on the bottom of the zone if necessary, and wreak havoc with his wingspan.

In regards to skill, it is difficult to find a weakness in Livingston’s game. His handle is tight going either direction. His head is always up, scanning for the open man. When defenders play him tight, he shakes them with a masterful hesitation move. When defenders body up to him, he turns his back to them and spins off the contact as described above.

He can make all the passes, and most importantly, is always ready and willing to deliver it. He is also willing and able to score the ball. Finishing at the rim is not a problem. But what he does best, however, is pull up for the mid-range jumper. He can pull up on a dime for a quick jumper with good elevation or shoot it accurately off a hop back dribble. His most lethal move, though, is a deceptive off rhythm move where he brings the ball up as if setting up a hesitation move. Then, just as he is beginning to bring the ball back to the floor as if attacking the basket, he slightly side steps the defender and scoops up the ball into his jump shot.

Now, the weaker aspect of Livingston’s ability to score would be his catch and shoot from behind the arc. His game is so rhythm based, he shoots better off the rhythm off the dribble. Without the dribble and with his somewhat unorthodox shooting motion, he is not automatic yet from three. Nonetheless, he shoots the ball well enough and passes the ball well enough, the defense has to respect him on the arc. And he does have range out to the NBA three-point line.

As special as all his physical attributes are, Livingston’s mental game sets him so far above the competition. He just wants to win, and he is not satisfied unless his team wins with him. He could score as many points as he wants on any given night, but he is on the court to compete as a team leader. So he does whatever it takes.

Watching him play, you would swear that he is a son of a coach. He has such a feel for the rhythm of the game. Whether it is the momentum of his defender, the flow of the weak side defenders, a teammate’s need for a shot, or the importance of exerting his dominance on the court, Livingston feels it. It is this feel for the game and the ability take advantage of this feel that makes it a pleasure to watch Livingston play.