the star finally takes a shot?

All the audience is sitting there thinking, "if the camera cuts to the ball going in the hoop, we know he didn't really shoot that."

Same with stunt doubles. To wit:

EXT. HOOP COURT - DAY

CLOSE ON Johnny Hoop Star

as he takes the ball out, starting his dribble at half court. Denzel chooses to play off him, maybe force him left. Johnny drives him back to the top of the key, where

DENZEL swipes at the ball. Johnny pulls back.

CUT TO:

WIDE SHOT

Johnny (or at least we assume its him, but it's too far to see his face) goes into his killer crossover.

CUT TO:

CLOSE UP of Johnny's face. He's working up a sweat from all the frantic dribbling, that we can't see in this shot.

CUT TO:

CLOSE ON Johnny's hands, dribbling between the legs, behind the back, everywhere but up high, so we can't see his face.

CUT TO:

MEDIUM SHOT of Johnny drabbling past Denzel, thanks to all the fancy dribbling his stunt double did. He makes the easy lay up (on the third take).

It's that sort of thing Spike wanted to avoid. I just think he should have found a better acting hoop player. What would have been cool would have been having an open casting call for college athletes to actually audition for the role, with hoop tryouts as well as acting tryouts.

I agreed with Spike trying to get someone with hoop skills, but I know someone had to be able to act better than Ray.

RED
Ora et labora

RED
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