In a tight game with two good defensive teams, the hop pivot may get you 5-10 cleaner less contested looks at the basket than if you exclusively use the step pivot. Still it comes down to being able to teach your players both techniques and when to use them. The player should jab step with the foot closest to the foot placed most forward by defender in my opinion. However the offensive player should never jab step with a foot in any manner if it causes them to break their balance. Better the odd foot with balance than a step by the book without balance.
Balance is essentially the multiple choice option for basketball players.
Without balance, you almost always only have one option, to move in the direction you can regain your balance. With most shooters one foot will land slightly ahead of the other on the hop pivot. This is most likely their natural jab step foot. I hope this clears up your thinking on why I teach certain pivots and footwork on the perimeter. The Basketball Highway .