Increasing number of teams using the floater in between the rim and the 3-point arc

Sport

Increasing number of teams using the floater in between the rim and the 3-point arc

2025-04-07 03:54 Last Updated At：04:12

The 3-point shot has changed basketball, creating a spread out game that in turn opens avenues to the basket.

In between the arc and the rim is a shot that balances the floor and serves as an equalizer for smaller players: the floater.

Also known as the teardrop, the floater has become one of the most effective shots in the game, a high-arcing counter to the long arms of the lane.

“You get into the lane against a shot blocker, it's a quick, deceptive shot — you can't see it coming,” Northern Arizona coach Shane Burcar said while watching Houston's Final Four practice in San Antonio last week.

Monday's national championship game between Florida and Houston will be filled with 3s, dunks, step-backs and the occasional mid-range jumper.

Keep an eye out for the floater.

The smallest players on the court will likely use it the most. For them, getting to the lane often comes with a price, a rejection of ball or body — sometimes both. Even scoring at the rim is no easy task, an effort in shot angles and spin to avoid hands reaching well above the rim.

The floater takes some calculations of its own, a split-second geometry equation of time and space.

The primary: determining whether the rim protector is hanging back or charging out. He hangs back a little, the shot can be a bit flatter. He charges, the teardrop takes its shape, often sailing well above the height of the backboard.

Bank or no bank is another. Most players like the purity of all net, others have no problem banking it in. Sometimes the bank opens organically, a natural product of trying to get the ball over arms stretching 10, 11 feet in the air.

Some players shoot the floater with a flick of the wrist, like a running jump shot. Others do more of a push shot, even from 12 feet out. Get in too close and the push becomes the only option, a way get the shot off while still keeping it out of reach.

Also, running wildly into the lane and throwing up a shot rarely works. The floater requires balance, even for a one-footed, one-handed shot. Keep the body in control and balanced, start the motion with two hands before letting one drop off, and the chances of success will be higher.

And land where you shoot. Nothing ruins a good floater like an offensive foul.

“It’s definitely about repetition,” said Tony Darden, who runs Darden Sports Skills Academy in the Phoenix area. “When I have them in practice, it’s about repping the right way, being on balance when you’re shooting it, just being controlled, landing where you shoot.”

The float game opens up a myriad of possibilities in the lane.

Undersized big men can use it to get shots off quickly over behemoths in the lane, sometimes in the form of a half hook or push shot.

Threat of the floater also creates a dichotomy for potential shot blockers. Because it's a quick shot with a varying arc, timing it for a block can be like trying to swat a balloon that's losing air.

Venturing too far opens up lobs behind the shot blocker or bounce passes to the dunker spot along the baseline. Kickouts to the wings are a possibility, too, should the wings collapse and try to help in the lane.

“If a good guard can utilize that float game to an alley-oop pass or a bounce pass to a layup, now that’s an whole different type of guard,” Burcar said.

Origin of the teardrop is up for debate.

Former San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker was one of the first players to consistently use the shot effectively while winning four NBA championships between 2003 and 2014. He even claims to have invented the shot, perfecting it while trying to score over much bigger players as a kid.

But go back through history and other players had similar shots.

Boston Celtics Hall of Famer Bob Cousy had a version of the floater while playing in the 1950s. Even further back, Stanford's Hank Luisetti was known for his running one-handers.

From a pure elegance standpoint, George Gervin's finger roll may have had the silkiest one-hander in basketball history during the 1970s.

Players such as Stephen Curry, Kyrie Irving and Chris Paul took what Parker nearly perfected and carried it to the next generations of floaters.

Now floaters are floating everywhere.

“Almost every elite guard has like a floater in their package,” said Aden Holloway, Alabama's resident float-game specialist. “Coach (Nate Oats) doesn't really like us shooting it all the time because there’s better shots to get, but depending on the game and the game adjustments, he'll say, yeah, I’m going to need that shot tonight."

Teams in all levels of basketball are finding they need the equalizing floater every night.

AP National Writer Eddie Pells contributed to this story.

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Late Van Dijk goal sees Liverpool move to within six points of the Premier League title

2025-04-14 00:34 Last Updated At：00:41

LIVERPOOL, England (AP) — Virgil van Dijk scored a late winner against West Ham on Sunday to move Liverpool to within six points of the Premier League title.

A 2-1 victory at Anfield means Arne Slot's team needs to win just two more games to be certain of a record-equaling 20th English league title and draw level with Manchester United's total.

“A big relief,” was how the Liverpool manager described Van Dijk's 89th-minute header. “We saved a big set-piece for a very important moment.”

Liverpool had looked like dropping points when Andrew Robinson scored an own-goal in the 86th to level the game at 1-1 after Luis Diaz's first-half opener. But captain Van Dijk rose to head home and ensure the league leader took advantage after second-placed Arsenal slipped up on Saturday by drawing 1-1 with Brentford.

Chelsea came back from 2-0 down against relegation-fighting Ipswich to draw 2-2 and Wolves’ hopes of avoiding the drop were further boosted by a 4-2 win against Tottenham.

Wolves moved above West Ham on goal difference and up to 16th in the standings. Both teams need five more points to be certain of safety.

Liverpool could be crowned champion as early as next Sunday if Arsenal loses to Ipswich earlier that day.

The Merseyside club is 13 points clear at the top of the standings with six rounds to go.

Victory completed a week of celebrations for Liverpool supporters after top scorer Mohamed Salah ended uncertainty over his future by signing a new two-year contract.

He marked that new deal in style by maintaining his outstanding form this season to cross for Diaz's opener in the 18th minute.

It was his 45th goal or assist in the league this season, which set a new record for a 38-game Premier League campaign, according to statistician Opta.

He left the field late on to a standing ovation from the home fans.

West Ham twice came close to equalizing before Roberton's own-goal. Mohammed Kudus hit the bar in the first half and Jarrod Bowen was denied by Alisson when through on goal after the break.

Andre Onana was left out of Manchester United’s squad for the game against Newcastle following his latest high-profile errors for the club.

The Cameroon international was partially at fault for both goals in United’s 2-2 draw with Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday and was not even on the bench for the game at St James' Park.

“Sometimes, you have to push the player to play again, sometimes you have to let him disconnect a little bit,” United head coach Ruben Amorim said. “You have to manage everything, sometimes people just look at the physical aspect but the mental aspect is really, really important.”

It was United's 4,000th game in the English top flight.

Everton, Liverpool, Arsenal and Aston Villa are the only other teams to reach that landmark.

Chelsea’s hopes of qualifying for the Champions League next season were dealt an unexpected blow by Ipswich.

Trailing 2-0 at halftime at Stamford Bridge, an own-goal from Axel Tuanzebe just after the break got Enzo Maresca's team back into the game.

Jadon Sancho leveled in the 79th, but it was still two points dropped for fifth-placed Chelsea, which could have moved above Manchester City in fourth.

Wolves need just five more points to be certain of safety after a 4-2 win against Spurs.

Rayan Ait-Nouri and an own-goal by Djed Spence gave Wolves a 2-0 lead at halftime. Jorgen Strand Larsen and Matheus Cunha scored after the break, with Mathys Tel and Richarlison on target for Spurs.

James Robson is at https://twitter.com/jamesalanrobson

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