Do You Finger Roll or Tear Drop?

Written by Jeff Garcia

Tuesday, 02 February 2010 00:00

A few weeks ago, Project Spurs looked at the top five signature moves from former or current Spurs. In that article, we looked at two signature shots from George Gervin and Tony Parker -- The "Finger Roll" and the "Tear Drop."

Both shots frustrated would-be shot blockers, as Gervin and Parker put the ball in the basket with ease.

Either shot is effective in the lane but if you were on the court which shot would you prefer? Are you a "finger roll" or a "tear drop" kind of player?

George Gervin's "Finger Roll"

Before Parker's "tear drop" shot, there was Gervin's "finger roll." With the flick of his wrist, Gervin's shot would sail over the finger tips of defenders and go in the basket. Gervin's finger roll was a high arching shot and it didn't matter if the defender was closely guarding him. Gervin could get the shot off no matter what. It also helped he had the size to score over defenders with the finger roll.

Link

Tony Parker's "Tear Drop" Shot

Parker's shot in the paint is more of a "put shot." As soon as Parker gets into the lane, he anticipates the defender coming at him and pushes the shot into the basket over the defender. Unlike Gervin, Parker needs some space to get the shot off. But unlike Gervin, Parker has speed to break down the defender if the "tear drop" is not an option.

Link

Both are effective shots in the lane but which shot would you go to? If you broke down the defense and saw players like Jabbar in Gervin's time or Shaq in Parker's time coming at you, would you use the finger roll or teardrop? Let us know in the comments.

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Comments (7) Add Comment

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written by SpursFanHenry, February 02, 2010

I'd like Gervin's finger roll, the Iceman! He is so smooth.

@SpursfanHenry
written by Jeff - Co-Founder Project Spurs, February 02, 2010

Indeed but Ice had the height to get the finger roll off. I kind of prefer the tear drop bc seems a shot blocker can get the block on the roll.

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written by T2150, February 02, 2010

"Tear Drop" 9 times out of 10... both shots are extremely difficult to shoot at a high percentage and really require an intrinsic knack to be able to pull of effectively. With a good deal of practice the "Tear Drop" can be developed and somewhat mastered. The "Finger Roll", however is a completely different animal. Something akin to Dangerfield's mythical "Triple Lindy" in BAck to SchoolPrimarily shot for pure aesthetics when one is wide open at point blank range which really undermines the heritage of the shot. In it's purest form it is only attempted against a big by an esoteric magician that has genuinely mastered the ball and can loft it above the defender's outstretched finger tips a la Ice, Drexler and Manu...

@T2 150
written by Jeff - Co-Founder Project Spurs, February 02, 2010

Oh man you had me roling laughing. Never did i expect the triple lindy to be mentioned on this site ever!

I agree. Tear drop would be "easier" but i think height has to do something with it too. Gervin was taller and can body up to get the roll off. TP has to flick the ball w/ some gap /w he and the defender.

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written by -Jason-, February 02, 2010

I'd say finger roll! Because I can do it in games. I still can't make a tear drop it's hard! smilies/grin.gif

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written by AlexC, February 02, 2010

No question, tear drop is better it's harder to block because of the ball trajectory that is why Tony Parker gets a lot of points inside the paint.

But Gervin's finger roll was classic.