Eric Shapiro
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ericshap.bsky.social
Eric Shapiro
@ericshap.bsky.social
All things 🏀
somehow
October 26, 2025 at 3:30 AM
Maluach's defensive rebounding rate (19.1%) is also low. Despite his length, he doesn’t yet control the glass or rebound outside of his area.

His high center of gravity makes it easier to displace him, and his hands can be inconsistent, especially in traffic.
June 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM
This load time shows up on offense, too.

When he has space, Maluach can elevate for thunderous dunks. But in tight spaces, the extra time he requires to gather limits his attempts.

Maluach often brings the ball well below his waist before powering up to finish:
June 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM
A key limiting factor in Maluach's game is his load time off the floor.

He is almost exclusively a two-foot leaper and requires time to gather.

Watch how many of his block attempts involve a distinct loading motion -- bending his knees and dropping his arms before elevating:
June 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Maluach is enormous -- 7'2 in shoes with a wingspan exceeding 7'6 -- moves well for his size, and showed flashes of elite rim protection at Duke.

Some of his blocks are spectacular:
June 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM
The Khaman Conundrum

Will Maluach be the next great rim protecting big? Or another center with outstanding measurables that doesn’t live up to his pre-draft standing?

Why the film and stats should give us pause 🧵
June 25, 2025 at 7:45 PM
Not to toot my own horn, but correctly predicted the Finals matchup, the Champion, and only missed the Finals MVP’s total playoff points by 6
June 23, 2025 at 3:25 AM
Shai was *rough* defensively in Game 6, including three costly plays in Denver's definitive 10-0 to end the 3Q.

Playing with 4 fouls, poor show-and-recover in ball screen -> Strawther 3

Responsible for two on weak side, rotates to Russ instead of Strawther -> open 3

Falls asleep on Strawther cut
May 16, 2025 at 4:38 AM
I don't think I've ever seen this pick & roll switch before.

After Derrick White 'weaks' the P&R, sending Bridges left, Jrue Holiday switches onto Bridges from the wing.

White then peels out to take Brunson.

Was a read by Jrue or the designed coverage?
May 8, 2025 at 9:38 PM
On the final possession, the Celtics ran the exact same play that created a Tatum dunk 10 seconds prior.

On the second play, Knicks were more physical with Horford screening and Mitchell Robinson was able to contain the drive. Add in some amazing help defense from Bridges & OG.
May 8, 2025 at 1:57 AM
Ty Jerome, by the way. My god. 1/14 from the field. Repeatedly targeted on defense, including getting blown by on the Haliburton drive that led to the final FTs/O rebound and allowing the game-winning Hali three.
May 7, 2025 at 2:40 AM
Underrated big part of that Pistons game was the Knicks were hedging & going under when Detroit used Brunson’s man to screen for Cade

Cunningham had 5-6 walk-in threes off the dribble. Missed them all. Then he got spooked and wasn’t even looking for that shot

Hurt Detroit’s half court O in the 4th
May 2, 2025 at 2:56 AM
If you see people -- and there are many -- asking why Houston would dial up a Sengun iso on Draymond, ask if they criticized the prior two plays where Houston scored on the same inverted P&R.

Payton ID's the play & defends FVV with physicality to avoid the switch. Draymond plays great D from there
April 29, 2025 at 3:12 PM
me, the last two nights
April 27, 2025 at 5:21 AM
It would take 2 minutes to describe everything that’s happening on this possession.

Minnesota trying to keep Gobert out of the action with Luka, pre-switching, the Lakers trying to send up multiple screeners, the Wolves late clock double.

I love the chess-match of basketball
April 23, 2025 at 2:59 AM
April 19, 2025 at 4:38 AM
big, if true
April 1, 2025 at 5:44 PM
buddy foul baits a major fall, two-hand shoves an injured Johni Broome, and pushes Baker-Mazara out of bounds after releasing a pass, all in under 10 seconds
March 30, 2025 at 11:52 PM
Official preview pod!

Everything you could possibly need to know about the Auburn-Michigan matchup: personnel scout, offense, defense, X's and O's, and keys to the game.

Don't just take my word for it -- NH Girl 5 knows what's up!
March 27, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Really nasty set that Auburn runs.

Dribble hand-off, swing, into an empty side Spain P&R with a weak side flare.
March 26, 2025 at 12:32 AM
📽️🍑 How a Subtle Defensive Adjustment Helped Michigan Beat Texas A&M

Sound On 🔊
March 23, 2025 at 6:01 PM
Texas A&M scoring 6 times on "butt screens" in their opening round win vs. Yale
March 22, 2025 at 4:36 PM
UC San Diego is a nightmare to prepare for defensively

I like to think I watch a ton of film and it's really hard to tell what defense they are in play-to-play

This possession has everything. UCSD in their matchup zone, switching on-ball, shape-shifting, trapping the post and maintaining no-middle
March 19, 2025 at 12:25 AM
Illinois aggressively crashed the offensive glass with 4 players on *every shot,* rebounding 49% of its misses.

It wasn’t usually Illinois’ size -- but rather their speed -- that allowed them to get around Michigan's guards & wings and totally dominate the boards
March 3, 2025 at 12:54 AM
Rick Barnes was BEGGING for Tennessee to advance the ball and call a TO and yelling at Zeigler to do so.

Then Mashack just goes and nails the game-winner lol. Amazing
March 1, 2025 at 11:42 PM