The Golden State Warriors knew they were getting
a terrific perimeter shooter when they acquired Brandon Rush. But
come on, this terrific? Outside the three-point arc, the
fourth-year swingman has been out of this world almost from the day
he joined the Warriors in late December. But he’s been absolutely
ridiculous of late – Rush has buried 14 of his past 17 attempts the
last seven games, including two huge bombs down the stretch in a
93-90 victory over Sacramento on Tuesday night.
The Golden State Warriors knew they were getting
a terrific perimeter shooter when they acquired Brandon Rush. But
come on, this terrific?
Outside the three-point arc, the fourth-year
swingman has been out of this world almost from the day he joined
the Warriors in late December. But he’s been absolutely ridiculous
of late – Rush has buried 14 of his past 17 attempts the last seven
games, including two huge bombs down the stretch in a 93-90 victory
over Sacramento on Tuesday night.
Rush not only leads the NBA in 3-point
percentage (32 for 54, 59.3 percent), he is on league-record pace.
Only six players have ever shot better than 50 percent for an
entire season – Steve Kerr did it three times with Chicago – and
Chicago’s Kyle Korver holds the league mark for a full campaign (59
for 110, 53.6 percent, with Utah in 2009-10).
The Warriors’ all-time single-season leader is
B.J. Armstrong (47.34 percent in 1995-96).
Only three players in the league are shooting 50
percent or better this season from beyond the 3-point line. Boston
veteran Ray Allen is right behind Rush at 56 percent (42 for 75),
and Atlanta’s Marvin Williams is at 50 percent (23 for 46).
It remains to be seen how long it will last, but
Rush won’t overthink it. He’s just going to ride it.
“I’m just catching fire right now,” he said.
“Everything is pretty much dropping in.”
He’s dropping them in at the right time, too.
Rush scored 15 of his season-high 20 points against the Kings in
the fourth quarter when coach Mark Jackson elected to go with his
subs for almost all of the final 12 minutes.
Rush shot a respectable 40.2 percent from
3-point range in his first three seasons with the Indiana Pacers,
including a best of 41.7 percent last year. So why the huge jump
this year?
“I’d say I’m getting more consistent looks,” he
said. “Guys are looking for me all the time on breaks and set
plays. Plus, my minutes have been pretty consistent. It’s real nice
to know when you’re playing time is going to come.”
Jackson said he has been impressed with more
than just the outside scoring from Rush.
“I think people are getting caught up in his
shooting, but he’s also been an outstanding rebounder and defender
for us, and he’s had a calming effect on our offense,” the coach
said. “He was bad in the first half (Tuesday night). He made
mistakes and had breakdowns probably for the first time since he’s
been here. But when I put him in in the third quarter, I just said
to him, ‘OK, make it right.’ And he did. He’s been great since
we’ve had him.”
The Warriors acquired Rush from Indiana on
Dec. 19 – just a few days before the start of the lockout-delayed
season – for forward Lou Amundson, and at this point, it’s one of
the steals of the year. Amundson is averaging just short of 8.9
minutes and 2.5 points for the Pacers, and suffice it to say he
hasn’t made a single 3-pointer (he hasn’t made one in his six-year
NBA career, attempting just two).
Rush, meanwhile, is averaging 25.2 minutes, 9.8
points and 3.6 rebounds. He had six rebounds Tuesday night, lending
credence to his being more than a one-dimensional player.
But suddenly, on a team loaded with players who
can shoot from long distance, Rush is the certifiable top marksman.
He admitted he wasn’t a good shooter coming out of Kansas even
though he shot 44 percent from the college 3-point line, so he’s
come a long way.
“It just comes from practice and continuing to
work on it,” he said. “And I always try to keep it simple.”
The Warriors often have some wild 3-point
shooting drills in practice involving Rush, Stephen Curry, Nate
Robinson, Dorell Wright and rookie Klay Thompson. In a typical
drill, the team’s long-range shooters fire from five spots beyond
the arc, shooting as many as 25 shots in a minute from each
station.
“Me and Klay win most of the time,” Rush said.
“Klay is actually the best shooter in the gym, hands down.”
That said, if a member of the Warriors is
invited to participate in the Three-Point Shootout the NBA All-Star
Weekend activities this year, Rush wants to be the guy.
“Definitely . . . I really want to go,” he said.
“I want to represent this team.”
He’s already representing them quite well in the
regular season.
