By CHRIS
PERKINS
FOXSportsFlorida.com Heat
Writer
Jan. 20,
2011
As Heat forward Juwan Howard fired jumpers from near the top of the key a computerized voice in the background gave numbers.
"Forty-one," the voice would say.
Another shot. "42."
Another shot. "41."
Another shot. "43."
The voice belongs to Noah (www.noahbasketball.com). It's a computerized shooting system whose purpose is to help a player find the optimal degree of arc on his shot.
This updated, wall-mounted version of Noah was installed at the Heat's practice court a few days ago. It's contained in a black box and it's complete with a camera and a speaker.
So now a player can shoot the ball, see the result, and then hear Noah say the arc. And after the shooting session the player can walk over to the computer screen and actually see each shot's trajectory.
"We're the first NBA team to have a wall mount where it's on 24-7, and the player can come in and automatically get feedback on the arc as well as the distance of the shot," said Heat assistant coach Keith Askins, the team's Noah guru.
In general, the optimal medium height arc is 45 degrees for an all-net shot. But the ideal arc for a specific player could range from 42 to 45 degrees, according to Askins.
"I've got data where (Hall of Famer) Chris Mullin hit 25 of 25 pro threes between 43 and 44 degrees arc," Askins said.
Noah gives objective feedback with no personal prejudice or agenda. After all, you can claim a coach doesn't like you or doesn't know what he's talking about, but you can't dispute science.
"It was brought in really to give them another voice besides a coach's voice on shooting," Askins said.
The Heat first acquired a floor-model Noah shooting system in 2004 to help 18-year-old swingman Dorell Wright correct that slingshot of a jumper he brought from high school.
"Now everyone sees what Dorell was doing," Askins said of Wright, who is averaging 16.6 points per game (while shooting a lukewarm .428 from the field) for Golden State. Over time Wright developed fundamentally sound NBA form for his shot, and he had a better idea of how it should look and feel.
"Noah was part of it," Askins said of Wright's development, "but it was more important he was willing to work. It took a lot of time to get it where it is today. We've got a couple of guys interested in it and we'll keep it in. Anytime you can get guys to work on their
