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By Alex Byington Sports Writer
TUSCALOOSA — Much like in the mid-1990s arcade game “NBA Jam,” there are times John Petty can’t help but throw up a “heat check” 3-point try, no matter how questionable the shot selection might be.
“It’s real difficult,” Petty said Tuesday. “When I make two or three in a row, I gotta get a ‘heat check,’ so I really have to take that bad shot then, just to go for it.”
While Alabama’s sharpshooting freshman admits he still tests the limits of his range, Petty’s on-court growth and maturity — especially with regard to shot selection — have allowed him to develop into a more well-rounded player.
“Let’s give him credit for maturing and getting better,” Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said, “and whatever minutes he plays, whether it’s 24 and he’s hot from 3 or he’s not hot from 3, he’s (still) matured a lot. … He’s (also) playing better inside the 3-point line, really becoming a better passer … and he’s taken a step in the right direction defensively.”
It’s that sort of all-around player that Alabama needs from Petty, especially as it prepares to hit the road for five of its last nine games.
But first, Petty and the Crimson Tide (14-7, 5-3 SEC) must close out a nearly month-long homestand as struggling Missouri (13-8, 3-5 SEC), visits Tuscaloosa for an 8 p.m. tip today in what will be Alabama’s fifth home game in its last seven contests.
“We’re all-in on Missouri,” Johnson said. “You can’t prepare for five games or four games at one time, there’s too much that goes into one game. It’s 20-hour days, and its all-in on that team, and we’re always working on our own team.”
For Johnson, that includes some one-on-one instruction with younger players like Petty, with whom he met several times in an effort to help the free-shooting Huntsville native better understand what constitutes a good shot.
“He calls those shots a breakdown on offense, and it can ruin the momentum,” Petty said of poor shot selection. “So (with) me being more mature and growing at the next level … and knowing which shots to take, where is my window, and just trying to think the game through more.”
As the owner of two of Alabama’s top three 3-point shooting performances of all time, including the record-breaking 10 of 13 showing against Alabama A&M earlier this season, Petty’s shot has never been the issue.
It’s more about when and in what situations he should take those shots.
After producing 10 or more field goal tries in 10 of Alabama's first 13 games, including averaging 10 3-point tries through the first two weeks, Petty has eclipsed that threshold just twice in Alabama’s last seven games,. The first came when Petty was 8 of 13 from 3-point range and scored 27 points against Auburn.
“I think he’s doing a good job of knowing when to shoot, and when not to,” sophomore point guard Dazon Ingram said.
Petty also experienced a check of his ego when he was relegated to the bench for two games after back-to-back road losses to at the start of SEC play.
In losses at Vanderbilt and Georgia, Petty was 1 of 10 from 3-point range. In the next two games off the bench, he was 5 of 13 from beyond the arc and responded with eight 3-pointers in his return to the starting lineup against Auburn.
Since then, Petty has shown much better shot selection, including 3 of 4 in Saturday’s upset of No. 12 Oklahoma.
“You look at his maturity, he took good shots (against Oklahoma, and) when he needed to pass, he passed,” Johnson said.
During his praise of Petty's play against the Sooners, Johnson also referenced Petty’s noticeable sulking episode while on the bench during a second half comeback against Louisiana Tech, when Petty finished with season-lows in points (2) and minutes (19).
“He didn’t finish the game (versus Oklahoma), but you saw — compared to maybe earlier in the season — you saw his attitude on the bench (was much better),” Johnson added.
Asked about his coach’s comments, Petty said it’s all part of his maturation, along with some motivation.
“It’s just me growing up,” Petty said, “and the things (coach Johnson) has pushed me and challenged me on, I’m just taking the challenge and doing it.”
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“It’s real difficult,” Petty said Tuesday. “When I make two or three in a row, I gotta get a ‘heat check,’ so I really have to take that bad shot then, just to go for it.”
While Alabama’s sharpshooting freshman admits he still tests the limits of his range, Petty’s on-court growth and maturity — especially with regard to shot selection — have allowed him to develop into a more well-rounded player.
“Let’s give him credit for maturing and getting better,” Alabama head coach Avery Johnson said, “and whatever minutes he plays, whether it’s 24 and he’s hot from 3 or he’s not hot from 3, he’s (still) matured a lot. … He’s (also) playing better inside the 3-point line, really becoming a better passer … and he’s taken a step in the right direction defensively.”
It’s that sort of all-around player that Alabama needs from Petty, especially as it prepares to hit the road for five of its last nine games.
But first, Petty and the Crimson Tide (14-7, 5-3 SEC) must close out a nearly month-long homestand as struggling Missouri (13-8, 3-5 SEC), visits Tuscaloosa for an 8 p.m. tip today in what will be Alabama’s fifth home game in its last seven contests.
“We’re all-in on Missouri,” Johnson said. “You can’t prepare for five games or four games at one time, there’s too much that goes into one game. It’s 20-hour days, and its all-in on that team, and we’re always working on our own team.”
For Johnson, that includes some one-on-one instruction with younger players like Petty, with whom he met several times in an effort to help the free-shooting Huntsville native better understand what constitutes a good shot.
“He calls those shots a breakdown on offense, and it can ruin the momentum,” Petty said of poor shot selection. “So (with) me being more mature and growing at the next level … and knowing which shots to take, where is my window, and just trying to think the game through more.”
As the owner of two of Alabama’s top three 3-point shooting performances of all time, including the record-breaking 10 of 13 showing against Alabama A&M earlier this season, Petty’s shot has never been the issue.
It’s more about when and in what situations he should take those shots.
After producing 10 or more field goal tries in 10 of Alabama's first 13 games, including averaging 10 3-point tries through the first two weeks, Petty has eclipsed that threshold just twice in Alabama’s last seven games,. The first came when Petty was 8 of 13 from 3-point range and scored 27 points against Auburn.
“I think he’s doing a good job of knowing when to shoot, and when not to,” sophomore point guard Dazon Ingram said.
Petty also experienced a check of his ego when he was relegated to the bench for two games after back-to-back road losses to at the start of SEC play.
In losses at Vanderbilt and Georgia, Petty was 1 of 10 from 3-point range. In the next two games off the bench, he was 5 of 13 from beyond the arc and responded with eight 3-pointers in his return to the starting lineup against Auburn.
Since then, Petty has shown much better shot selection, including 3 of 4 in Saturday’s upset of No. 12 Oklahoma.
“You look at his maturity, he took good shots (against Oklahoma, and) when he needed to pass, he passed,” Johnson said.
During his praise of Petty's play against the Sooners, Johnson also referenced Petty’s noticeable sulking episode while on the bench during a second half comeback against Louisiana Tech, when Petty finished with season-lows in points (2) and minutes (19).
“He didn’t finish the game (versus Oklahoma), but you saw — compared to maybe earlier in the season — you saw his attitude on the bench (was much better),” Johnson added.
Asked about his coach’s comments, Petty said it’s all part of his maturation, along with some motivation.
“It’s just me growing up,” Petty said, “and the things (coach Johnson) has pushed me and challenged me on, I’m just taking the challenge and doing it.”
Decatur Daily—Continue reading...
