The Stretch 4 at Duke

[RanDEVILman]

Let me start by saying I am not trying to say there is only one way to play basketball. Next, I know the game has evolved, so the term stretch 4 doesn't really apply to the early 90s. So here goes,

I was watching the 91 title game and I noticed Thomas Hill or Grant Hill was the starter at the 4. They both played it some of the game. This got me to thinking, has K always utilized the undersized, athletic, stretch 4 type. Look at some of his best teams:
91- Hill or Hill
92- Hill or Hill
99- Battier
01- Battier
04- Deng a lot (Shav, who isn't a stretch 4)
15- Justise down the stretch

Maybe it's just the way K plays. Thomas was an undersized, athletic guy in 10 but he wasn't a stretch by any means. Just a thought.

 

[Droptops]

Man that's how we use to hurt teams by having a shooting 4. Oh how I miss the Ryan Kellys

 

[DukeDenver]

It's common knowledge that sneaking some skill into one of your bigs pays off. Having 4 guys who can shoot 3s is deadly in college, if they can all play some D too.

 

[RanDEVILman]

I just thought it was neat that K was doing it in the early 90s when a lot of teams still played 2 bigs. Of course I was a young buck and didn't watch tons of ball then, maybe it was more common than I thought.

 

[Arlene]

That's basically the role that Tatum played this year in several games. Also, Grant Hill played 4 different positions during the '91 and '92 seasons including PG (When Bobby was injured). Another versatile star was Singler, as he also played SF and the stretch 4 when needed.

 

[Dattier]

I don't think undersized when I think of "stretch 4." I think (college) post player w/ shooting range: Ferry, Battier, Luol, Kyle, Kelly, Jabari... Shoot, even Laettner, a bit. Grant and Justise I'd call more combo forwards (again, for college).

But as you implied in the OP, there's more than one way to play and positions aren't that rigid.

There was a period where we were the butt of jokes about how everyone at Duke played the "3." "Stretch 4" is a more recent term. Grant is the first guy I remember referred to as a "point forward." We complain about "small ball" or the lack of a "true ____ " whatever. What it all has to do with is (a) versatility is good, and (b) most teams are unique, imperfect things requiring adjustment and creativity from the drawing board on down.

 

[RanDEVILman]

Agreed Dat, I guess when I was thinking undersized it meant guys that would not really be able to play post at the next level, which none of those guys, including even Lance Thomas, were/are able to do. Now in today's NBA a few of them may get a little time as a small ball 4, but it's still rare. I mean Battier was a true stretch 4 in college, he defended 2 guards in the league.

 

[Dattier]

Oh, it gets even more confusing when you throw in their NBA positions! lol

It is cool to see that versatility in old games played a decade before K ever got credit for it. It's like we fall for the old trope about his military training and discipline translating into something rigid on the court over and over again, and it has never really been the case.

 

[germantondevil]

That's why Coach has never really had an issue with recruiting those players that fill the stretch 4 to a tee. It just so happens they are usually the most athletic player on the floor. But when you add a 1 that can fill it up and penetrate that really opens the floor for that style of offense that Coach runs. Also if we have a low post presence that can draw the defense in,( Ex. Big Oak) why then it just going to rain from everywhere when you have shooters and slashers.

 

[dukedevilz]

Only thing is, Grant didn't really start attempting threes until his senior year - and at that point, he was the primary ball handler.