Mavericks’ Parsons has hitch, but shots are falling

As far back as Dallas Mavericks forward Chandler Parsons can remember, he’s always had a low trajectory on the release of his shot where it appears as though he’s shooting it bow-and-arrow style.

And he’s always had that quirky little hitch in his shot.

It’s an unusual set of circumstances that, mechanically, Parsons knows can be corrected.

Coach Rick Carlisle has stepped in to work with the four-year veteran on getting more arc on his shot.

“If you look at my shot it’s pretty much the same shot, same mechanics,” Parsons said. “I know I’ve been playing basketball for my whole life, so I’m not going to change anything drastically.

“But it’s good to see yourself on film having all these new and newer eyes and new coaches that are seeing some different stuff. I’m coachable, I listen, I’ll try it and if it works I’ll stick with it.”

Something has worked lately with Parsons’ shot because he has been very resourceful in the past three games.

▪ Parsons has shot better than 50 percent in just eight games this season, with three coming in the past three games.

▪ Parsons has shot 50 percent or better from 3-point range in only six games this season, with three coming in the past three games.

▪ Parsons has eight 20-plus point scoring games this season, and three of them come in the past three games.

In other words, whatever message Carlisle conveyed to Parsons in regards to the release of his shot, it’s working.

“We’re just working on simple technique things, simple mindset things and things with rhythm,” Carlisle said. “I’m not going to get into details on it. But the fact that he’s working hard at it is the biggest thing.”

Parsons is reaping the benefits of that hard work. Part of the focus is squarely on realizing that the higher the trajectory on his shot, the better chance that shot has at going in the basket.

“I kick my foot out, I fade away, and I shoot it flat. Just doing all those things and shooting the same shot every single time, the higher and the softer the shot’s going to be, so I’m just trying to get it up higher.”

Forward Dirk Nowitzki, who puts a lot of high arc on his shots, hasn’t noticed anything overtly different lately regarding Parsons’ shot.

“He’s always got that little hitch — or whatever you want to call it,” Nowitzki said. “He kind of leans back, but I don’t think he’s doing anything different.

“Sometimes you go through little stretches where nothing seems to go in, and then you go through stretches where you can’t seem to miss. In those stretches where you’re having a tough time, you’ve got to keep fighting, you’ve got to keep stepping into your shots, and you’ve got to make plays for your teammates.”

This story was originally published December 11, 2014 at 9:25 PM with the headline "Mavericks’ Parsons has hitch, but shots are falling."