http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/knicks/post/_/id/2361/fields-currently-test-driving-to-expand-his-game

A bit of the article.

With 8:53 to go in the first quarter against the Mavericks on Wednesday night, Landry Fields did something unusual offensively outside of his usual putback dunk or backdoor layup. He caught the ball on the right wing and as if he was the focal point in the offense, he quickly attacked the lane, absorbed the contact and glided in for the reverse layup using his right hand. It was the kind of the move that helped make Fields a 22 points-per-game scorer at Stanford just a year ago.

While Fields leads all current starting shooting guards in field goal percentage (51.3, which ranks him fourth in the entire league), his 1.8 free throw attempts per game is only better or tied with six others in getting to the charity stripe. They include (in descending order): New Jersey's Anthony Morrow (1.8), Phoenix's Vince Carter (1.7), Oklahoma City's Thabo Sefolosha (1.3), Dallas' DeShawn Stevenson (0.9), Memphis' Sam Young (0.9) and Chicago's Keith Bogans (0.5). No. 6 made it clear that one of his priorities is to penetrate more.

"I’m starting to work on my drives right now and always maintaining that consistent jumper," Fields says. "I'm just trying to be that glue guy -- trying to remain aggressive, and pick and choose where I can be most successful in the offense."

Remarkably, though, he is tied for fifth in the league with the fewest free throw attempts per game while still averaging at least 10 points. The two other players he shares that recognition with are Wizards small forward Rashard Lewis (12.9 ppg) and Trail Blazers small forward Nicolas Batum (11.9 ppg). The guys below Fields in FTA but still at 10 ppg include (from fewest to most): Suns power forward Channing Frye (1.3 FTA, 11.2 ppg), Raptors point guard Jose Calderon (1.4 FTA, 10.3 ppg), Bobcats small forward Boris Diaw (1.5 FTA, 11.3 ppg) and Nuggets small forward Al Harrington (1.7 FTA, 11.9 ppg).

Want more? Here are the players with the fewest number of free throw attempts per game in a single season, while scoring at least 15 points, in NBA history:

1. Dale Ellis -- 1.4 FTA and 15.2 ppg with the San Antonio Spurs in 1993-1994
2. Dell Curry -- 1.6 FTA and 16.3 ppg with the Charlotte Hornets in 1993-1994
3. Dell Curry -- 1.6 FTA and 16.0 ppg with the Charlotte Hornets in 1989-1990
4. Wesley Person -- 1.6 FTA and 15.1 ppg with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2001-2002
5. Peja Stojakovic -- 1.8 FTA and 16.4 ppg with the New Orleans Hornets in 2007-2008
6. Dell Curry -- 2.0 FTA and 15.7 ppg with the Charlotte Hornets in 1991-1992

Source: The Elias Sports Bureau

Fields scoring 10 points per game without consistently being a slasher or sharpshooter, like the four players in the list above, really speaks to his potential. He already has a knack for scoring at close-range with his intangible playmaking without dribbling the ball to the basket. Can you imagine how much better he'd be if he did that more often? This season, he has shown flashes of first-step and breakaway brilliance.

When the Mavericks went on a 26-6 run in the third-quarter, it wasn't only the Knicks' poor rotation defense that got them into trouble, allowing four 3-pointers. Out of the 20 shots the Knicks took in that period, including makes, eight of those (40%) were missed outside jumpers. It is these types of sluggish 12-minute situations that have put their backs against the wall in multiple games this season, and sometimes they're able to grind it out in the fourth quarter -- and sometimes they can't.

TMS wrote:good to hear he's working on trying to drive the ball more into the lane... his ballhandling skills have been a weakness of his from what i've seen... if he can develop that along w/working on a midrange shot, he can be a star.

Agreed. He needs to spend a lot of time doing that over the summer.

He does need to improve his ball handling skills, but it doesn't seem to be as much of a problem driving as opposed to just moving around with the ball. Guess that changes as the lane gets more crowed.

Anyway, will be watching the game tonight and paying more attention to him.

GustavBahler wrote:Fields was driving to the rim when the season started but for whatever reason he pretty much stopped. I don't know if its because of the game plan. I remember hearing about Fields getting in Stat's way and cutting too much. I'm glad it has his attention.

MDA was saying that Fields was slashing to the basket too soon. Driving the ball instead of taking a jumper is always an option in this offense. Gallo is using it more and so should Fields. The reason is that in this offense the wings are at the 3pt line and defenders are often running at them. This gives them an advantage every time. The spread floor is there to allow easy access to the hoop. Amar'e is in the high and mid post and there's no one in the middle of the floor on D. So we should find success going strong to the basket as Gallo has finally learned to do consistently. As i've always said, just cuz you can take the 3 doesn't mean you have to take it. There are options and eventually you hope the players learn to use all of them.