BARANGAY Ginebra coach Tim Cone is no longer surprised with Justin Brownlee’s red-hot four-point shooting night on Wednesday that led to the Game One win over San Miguel in the PBA Governors’ Cup semifinals.
Brownlee shot 5-of-6 from fours and was perfect from that distance until he missed his final shot from that area late in the third quarter. He finished with 33 points on their way to defeating San Miguel, 122-105.
Cone said Brownlee is excited when it comes to practicing the four-point shot, and his work is definitely showing. Even in the quarterfinals, Brownlee went 4-of-10 from fours against Meralco.
“When we are practicing threes, he gets a little bit more excited. When we practice fours, bang bang bang bang,” said Cone of Brownlee.
“He loves that four-point shot,” Cone said.
Even with the additional weapon that has been helping Ginebra pick up wins in the conference, Cone said he is still not a fan of the four pointer because of the tendency of players to work on their outside shots instead of other aspects of the game.
“Just because it favors our team having Justin around and making those fours doesn’t mean I’m a fan of the four-point line. I just believe that the game has evolved into shooting, taking quick shots, taking four points.”
“And people come in, if you watch practice, all they do is shoot threes and shoot fours. And I think that the game is a lot more than that. I think we were evolving into that idea that we are going to be a three or four-point game. And there’s so much more to the game. There’s cutting, screening, the defensive side, the ability to pass,” Cone said.
“Those things are really a big part of the game as well. But with the four-point shot, just my personal opinion, we are putting the pressure on the young kids to come out and just shoot and learn to shoot. And I think the game is more than that. That’s why I don’t agree with it,” said Cone.
Cone, however, said that it doesn’t mean he won’t use the weapon even if he doesn’t agree with it.
“It’s great for our team. Having a guy like Justin around, I think RJ [Abarrientos] can hit those shots as well,” said Cone. “If it’s out there, we are going to use it as a weapon. But it doesn’t mean that I agree with the implementation of it.”
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