'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/2wBDAAYEBQYFBAYGBQYHBwYIChAKCgkJChQODwwQFxQYGBcUFhYaHSUfGhsjHBYWICwgIyYnKSopGR8tMC0oMCUoKSj/2wBDAQcHBwoIChMKChMoGhYaKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCgoKCj/wgARCAAHAAoDASIAAhEBAxEB/8QAFgABAQEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAYH/8QAFQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAgP/2gAMAwEAAhADEAAAANmpiR//xAAgEAABAgYDAQAAAAAAAAAAAAACAQMABhITISIEBRVh/9oACAEBAAE/AJ57zwSl15SAG3Obb2q3IkQacfCKHrYPOCqZElSP/8QAFhEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEx/9oACAECAQE/AFT/xAAXEQADAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIR/9oACAEDAQE/AFW00f/Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Luke Kornet is the backup center for the Boston Celtics and has become an internet sensation this season. The 27-year-old has caught the eye of many with his unorthodox method of defending the perimeter.
As we know, the 3-point shot has become the focal point of most NBA offenses. With the game being more perimeter oriented, big men have been forced to defend farther and farther away from the rim.
Like most bigs today, Luke Kornet has found himself in situations where he's had to run out on a shooter to contest a shot. However, the Celtics center has taken a different approach to disrupting shots.
Standing at 7-foot-2, Luke Kornet has the size and length to be a disruptor on defense. That said, when it comes to shooters, he uses his size in a different way.
Instead of running out to the 3-point line to contest, Kornet simply jumps up in place. The move goes by many names, including "The Eclipse" or "The Kornet contest." With his long arms, he still manages to disrupt the shooter's line of sight to the rim.
Luke Kornet is making ways with his unorthodox style of defense
There is no denying that watching Kornet attempt to contest shots from that far away is hilarious. However, it appears that this outside-the-box idea is somewhat effective.
In a recent story for "The Sporting News," Stephen Noh went back and tracked how effective shooters were when going against "The Eclipse." He came to the conclusion that this defensive maneuver is more than disruptive for 3-point shooters:
"Of the 18 eclipses that I was able to track down, shooters were only successful on five attempts. What makes those results even more impressive is that most of these shots were wide open.
"League average on 3-pointers with six or more feet of space was at 38 percent as of Dec. 1. Shooters have hit only 28 percent of those attempts against Kornet's move."
Luke Kornet seems to have stumbled into a defensive breakthrough. Instead of wasting his energy running out beyond the arc, he is using his size to his advantage. Along with disrupting the shooter's line of sight, "The Eclipse" allows him to stay near the basket and contend for rebounds.
The Boston Celtics are already a rather sound team defensively, and now Kornet has found a way to help even more on the outside. While it might seem quirky, there is no denying the effectiveness of "The Eclipse." Other big men around the league might be forced to try this move themselves in the future.
