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原文網址 － http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/62611/the-layup-masters

Is being good at the layup as simple as getting to the rim? There’s rarely a distinction made between a player’s ability to get in layup range versus his ability to actually sink it. Perhaps that’s because “a layup” is also a metaphor for something easy, like a “gimme” putt in golf. 

熟練上籃和打進籃下一樣簡單嗎？分別球員能打進籃框旁的能力和真正能把球放進籃框的能力是少見的。可能是因為「上籃」是簡單的代名詞，就像是高爾夫的「gimme（譯按：休閒高爾夫球賽時，球離洞口不遠就直接算進洞，不用再推了的球）」。

Whoever popularized the metaphor probably never tried to score over NBA giants, I’d hazard. 

我大膽假設宣傳這個說法的人可能沒有嘗試在NBA的巨人們前上籃得分。

The layup also gets no respect because it doesn’t demand respect. Unlike the dunk, the layup fails to seize an arena’s attention with a sudden lightning bolt at the hoop. Instead, it takes an indirect route off the backboard before meandering along the rim, waffling on whether to finally be a basket already. 

上籃也不受到尊重，因為它不需要被尊重。不像雷霆萬鈞的灌籃般，上籃無法抓住球場的注意力。反而是用個經過籃板的曲折路徑，在成為計分板上的分數前還在籃框上逗留。

Incredible dunks look super intentional, as though a player’s life depended on forcing the ball through the rim at that moment. Incredible layups look accidental, as though a fouled Dwyane Wade thought “Why not?” while flinging the ball in the backboard’s general direction. 

驚人的灌籃看起來是絕對蓄意的，如同球員在那一刻把生命都用在把球灌進去般。而驚人的上籃看起來是充滿意外的，就像Dwyane Wade被犯規後往籃板一拋時還想著「何不就唬爛一下？」。

So the layup commutes between “you’re open and should always make it” and “you weren’t looking at the rim, that was total luck.” It’s hard to get recognition for being good at something when both the routine and the spectacular are so easily dismissed. 

所以上籃介於「你有空檔應該投進」和「你壓根都沒看籃框，唬爛進的」。當基本功夫和精彩表現兩者都輕易的被忽略時，是很難認定一個人是否真正擅長於上籃。

Well, no one is dismissing the mighty layup in these parts. The shortest bank shot is indeed a skill -- and an important one. Here are some players who, according to Basketball-Reference.com, have mastered the ancient art, along with some guys who could stand to do better. 

這個嘛～沒人會在這邊忽略偉大的上籃。最短距離的擦板得分絕對是個重要的技巧。這邊是根據BBR整理出幾位熟練這個古老藝術的球員，同時也列出幾位應該要增進此項技巧之球員。

THE BEST 

優質組

LeBron James 
Made 70 percent of layups, attempted 357 

在357次上籃出手中命中70%。

When LeBron stole Game 1 from Indiana with an off-hand layup, there was far less marveling at his steely reserve than there was criticism of Frank Vogel for letting it happen. 

當Lebron用非慣用手上籃將G1勝利從溜馬隊手中偷走時，對於他鋼鐵般轉身的驚嘆聲遠少於對讓這件事發生的Frank Vogel（譯按：溜馬總教練）的批評聲。

An open layup is a high percentage shot for anyone, but it says something that LeBron is comfortable with his off hand in a high-pressure moment like that. His ambidexterity is the foundation of his short-range arsenal. 

對任何人來說空檔上籃是個高命中率的出手，但這透露出Lebron在關鍵時刻能舒服的用非慣用手出手。靈活的雙手是他近距離進攻武器的基礎。

Not only is LeBron better at getting to the rim than everyone else but he might be more accurate once there than everyone else, as well. Last season, LeBron shot 70 percent on layups. He attempted at least 200 layups more than anyone with a better layup conversion rate. 

LeBron不單單比任何人都會切入籃下，同時比任何人都更能在籃下將球準確放進。上季，LeBron上籃命中率是70%。他比別人至少多200次上籃出手同時有更佳的進球率。

The aforementioned ambidexterity allows LeBron to explore any angle at any time. A favorite tactic of his is to shield the defender with his back while banking a no-look lefty. It’s a bit like a reverse lay-in that doesn’t finish on the other side of the hoop. 

上述的靈活雙手讓LeBron在任何時間任何角度都能出手。一個他喜愛的戰術便是利用他的背檔開防守者，然後來個不看籃框的左手擦板。這就有點像是個同邊的反手上籃。

Isaiah Thomas 
Made 67 percent of layups, attempted 151 

在151次上籃出手中命中67%。

Pound-for-pound (Copyright: Allen Iverson) the best layupper around. At a tiny 5-9 in socks, Thomas shouldn’t be able to hit 67.1 percent on these shots. He has had a lifetime of practice against taller players, though. 

換算成一樣等級（專利：Allen Iverson）來比較最佳的上籃好手。非裸腳量僅五呎九吋的Thomas照理不該有67.1%的上籃命中。他肯定花了一輩子時間來練習如何面對高個。

Thomas hasn’t mastered any one thing in particular. He just has the full layup repertoire. He’ll switch hands when it suits him. He’ll loft it high off the glass like Steve Nash. He’ll shield off contact with his back while scooping the ball forward. He has the up-and-under down. 

Thomas並沒有精通其他特別的技巧，他單純擁有全套上籃技能。他在應該的時候會換手上籃、他可以像Steve Nash一樣高擦板上籃、他能用背來阻擋火鍋並同時向前拋球、他也會假投真切。

Seriously, watch this guy at the rim. Better yet, record this guy at the rim, pause right before the layup happens and appreciate how impossible the feat looks. Water can’t find a way through cracks the way a Thomas layup can. 

認真的說，來看這傢伙上籃，甚至能錄下來更好，並在上籃發生前暫停，好好欣賞他的十八般武藝。Thomas的上籃比起流水穿石還來的刁鑽。

Tony Parker 
Made 67 percent of layups, attempted 331 

在331次上籃出手中命中67%。

This is the defining Parker trait and always has been. There’s also a striking quirk to his game. Although Parker can use his left hand if the situation requires, he prefers to use his right, even on the left side of the backboard. I’d say the signature Tony layup is a right-handed scoop on the left side of the rim. That is, if the signature Tony layup isn’t an overhand try in which he’s leaning backward on an invisible recliner. 

上籃一直是Parker決定性的特質。同時在比賽中他也有個怪癖。雖然在需要的時候Parker能用左手上籃，但他更喜歡用右手，即使他在籃板左側也是如此。我會說Tony的招牌上籃是籃框左側的右手拋投，但更精確說，他的招牌上籃是靠著隱形人的過肩上籃。

Marcus Thornton 
Made 70 percent of layups, attempted 156 

在156次上籃出手中命中70%。

Look, I’d be lying if I said I could fully explain Thornton’s layup skill, but he’s been great two years running (69.3 percent on layups last season). He isn’t especially fluid with his moves, but he’s good with either hand. Thornton also doesn’t force anything around the rim. Most of his lay-ins come off assists. 

若說我能完全解釋Thornton的上籃技巧那我就是在騙人，但他兩年來上籃都很棒（上季的上籃有69.3%命中率）。他的動作並不特別流暢，但雙手都很靈巧。同時Thornton在籃下時並不會強求，多數的上籃進球都來自於別人助攻。

THE WORST 

劣質組

Brandon Jennings 
Made 50 percent of layups, attempted 281 

在281次上籃出手中命中50%。

Kevin Costner’s “back, and to the left” line creeps into my head whenever Jennings drives. Detroit’s new starting point guard has a tendency to lean backward off balance while flinging lefty prayers. Hopefully Jennings learned something from former teammate Beno Udrih, who shoots contested layups quite well. 

當Jennings切入時，Kevin Costner的名句「向後，然後往左靠」（譯按：電影誰殺了甘迺迪的名句）不斷的在我腦中浮現。底特律活塞隊的新先發控衛用左手亂拋時有向後不平衡傾斜的習慣。希望Jennings向前隊友Beno Udrih學些東西，因為Beno的非空檔上籃頗優秀。

Carmelo Anthony 
Made 50 percent of layups, attempted 335 

在335次上籃出手中命中50%。

He’s even worse at contested layups when you consider how often he’s rebounding his misses for easy putbacks. But those putbacks might answer the question of why Anthony is so mediocre near the basket. Melo loves chasing his own shot, and the first try might be a careless prelude to the chase. He’s also not especially adept at using his left hand and thus forces a lot of action with his right. 

當你考慮到他多常投丟一些輕鬆的補籃又自投自搶，就知道他對於非空檔上籃的把握度更差。而這些補籃就是Anthony在籃框附近能力多麼普通的答案。Melo喜歡衝搶自己投出去的球，而第一投可能就是為了衝搶隨意出手。他也不是很習慣使用他的左手，所以常常用右手勉強出手。

Dion Waiters 
Made 50 percent of layups, attempted 245 

在245次上籃出手中命中50%。

He’s the right-handed Jennings, although there’s more hope for Waiters going forward, I’d say. He’s stronger than Jennings (eventually my “Strongta Ellis” nickname will get off the ground, I just know it), taller than Jennings and younger than Jennings. I’m banking (OK, I’ll stop) on an improved Waiters near the rim. 

他是右手版Jennings，雖然我認為他更有希望進步。他比Jennings來的強壯（我剛得知我稱呼他「Strongta Ellis」這個綽號將會正式啟用（譯按：此綽號改編於Monta Ellis這個名字，表示是更強壯的Ellis））、比他來的高也比他更年輕。所以我賭Waiters上籃技巧將會進步。

Ramon Sessions 
Made 49 percent of layups, attempted 290 

在290次上籃出手中命中46%。

Sessions was among the worst perimeter player on layups last season, but he hasn’t been this bad in the past. Last season could be a fluke -- or the result of a once-quick point guard slowing down. I’ve noticed he tends to go right when the path is blocked off. 

上季Sessions是外線球員中上籃表現最差的球員之一，但他以前並沒有這麼糟。所以上一季可能只是個意外，或是一個速度型控衛慢下來的結果。我發現即使路線被擋住了，他還是習慣右邊切入。

Omer Asik 
Made 48 percent of layups, attempted 145 

在145次上籃出手中命中48%。

I stayed away from listing big men because so many of their “layups” are really post moves or strained putbacks, but Asik deserves a mention. He converted 94.6 percent of his dunks, nearly 47 better than he managed on layups. From 3-10 feet, he shot 27.4 percent. 

我盡量把大個子從這份名單排除掉，因為他們多數的「上籃」其實是低位單打和被影響的補籃，不過Asik值得一提。他灌籃成功率高達94.6%，優於他的上籃能力多達47%。在三到十呎的投籃中，他只有27.4%命中率。

Few players better demonstrate the difference between grip and other kinds of fine motor skills. Asik is good at dunking; he has no issue putting his clamps on the rock and tomahawking it through the hoop. Once his hands try a more delicate layup, though, the ball flies off the window as if Asik’s playing handball. 

很少有球員能像Asik一樣充分顯示了抓緊球灌籃和其他技巧的是有很大不同的。Asik是個灌籃高手；對於將球牢牢抓緊砸向籃框他一點問題也沒有。但當他手要作出較為精細的上籃動作時，球就往籃板奶油掉，像是他在打手球一樣。

Ricky Rubio 
Made 45 percent of layups, attempted 164 

在164次上籃出手中命中45%。

I don’t want to judge too harshly, as Rubio was coming back from an ACL tear. This is his second season of poor finishing, though (48.4 percent on layups in his rookie year). It’s curious that Rubio struggles like this because he’s so well coordinated and so well aware of angles when it comes to passing. Perhaps the problem is his running balance. On drives, Rubio often staggers as if he’s in an invisible potato sack race. 

因為Rubio才從前十字韌帶撕裂傷後復出，我並不想對他太嚴苛。不過這也是他第二季上籃表現不佳了（新人球季上籃命中率48.4%）。Rubio上籃攻力這麼差著實令人匪解，畢竟他無論面對各種角度的傳球都是如此精湛。或許問題在於他跑步時的平衡。在切入時，Rubio常常步履蹣跚像在跑麻袋跑步比賽（譯按：下半身套著馬鈴薯袋的跑步競賽）。

IN THE MIDDLE 

中庸組

Russell Westbrook 
Made 58 percent of layups, attempted 478 

在478次上籃出手中命中58%。

Westbrook might be the player whose facility at making layups simply means he gets to the rim a bunch. That’s not entirely fair, though, because Westbrook can and does finish with either hand. 

Westbrook是個熟練的上籃者，簡單來說是他切進籃下次數實在太多。不過這樣說並不完全公平，畢竟他的確雙手都可以上籃。

You just wouldn’t expect the dynamic point guard to be a whole 12 percent worse on layups than LeBron, given Westbrook’s elite speed and hops. It appears, from the video clips, as if Westbrook flies into the lane with more desire than strategy, willing the ball toward what might be the hoop. That’s nitpicking because, even if Westbrook is only OK at converting layup attempts, it matters more that he is creating so many of them.

 由於Westbrook擁有頂尖的速度和跳躍力，你很難去想像這個爆發力十足的控衛居然低於LeBron的上籃命中率多達12%。從影片來看，Westbrook像是腦充血般衝進去籃下，將球送向可能是籃框的地方。但這只是吹毛求疵而已，就算他的上籃命中率普普，他能創造一堆上籃機會更為重要。