Channel: MJ2KALLDAY

Category: Sports

Tags: stephen curryone thingnetsoneforbiddenmichael jordannets midrangenbagoodnba goodmidrangedurant midrangemj2k alldayjxmyhighrollerkevin durantjordan midrangedemar derozanreally goodderozan midrange

Description: In the NBA, players can be really good at one thing, but be forbidden to do it. #NBA Tech Channel- youtube.com/channel/UCaOQ3jU4h-pOzmW7qnMMxSQ On April 12, 1997, Michael Jordan scored 55 points in a playoffs game. Now this isn’t so special for MJ, but there is something about this game which stood out. Jordan only took 1 3 pointer. 42 of his points were 2 point field goals like this and this and this. This was his shot chart. 20 points in the 4th quarter, the rest of his team only scored 54 points. *He’s different.* The midrange. A shot that used to be a staple of the NBA, I know from my childhood, watching Kobe work and take jumpers from anywhere on the court was art, the different footwork, the pumpfakes, the double clutch, the fadeaways. And he wasn’t the only one, there was Tracy McGrady, Pierce, Iso Joe, LeBron, heck Curry used to take more midranges when he came into the league. Guards and ball handlers got to their spots and took the shots defenses gave, or made their own. A lot of this was prompted by Michael Jordan, and players growing up wanting to be like Mike. And then we had Stephen Curry become Stephen Curry. Let’s see the relation of 3 point shots and mid-ranges. Here’s when Curry and Klay got called the Splash Brothers...Here’s when the Warriors won their first chip, and here’s what it was 2 years ago. The 3 pt revolution. This is the first season in 10 years in which the percentage of total field goal attempts from mid-range has went up. Led by Kevin Durant and DeMar Derozan, we are seeing some old school shot making. Except, it’s efficient. DeMar is shooting 49% on midranges with a true shooting percentage of 59.8% despite midranges being 44% of all his shots, Aldridge is shooting 57.6% on midranges, true shooting of 62.1%, even with midranges accounting for 45% of all his shots. For context, Giannis has a true shooting percentage of 60.1 so these guys are being really efficient. Kevin Durant is shooting 55% on midranges. But the analytical era hit. Only the most efficient shot they said. Teams and players became 3 point shooting and layups only, midranges were passed up on, which made this area sorta a non threat. Analytics looked at points per shot and saw that midranges were averaging under 1 while at the hoop and 3s were above 1. And that was it. The league wasn’t always about being the most efficient. Spacing was non existent. Not every shot was available to players had to work harder to get to their spots and take shots that were the best for them. At one point, teams were taking 35-40 midrange shots a night. Shot creators that specialized in midranges. That all changed when 3 pointers led to a championship. But in the clutch, midranges are still king. DeMar leads the league in 4th quarter points, because when the game slows down, you go to your spot or what the team gives you, and most teams give up the midrange. This play by play by DeMar in the 4th quarter is something that would make the analytical heads go crazy. Derozan gets to his spots, shots that he could make, because while 3s are shots that are hard to adjust with defense, the best midrange jumpers can adjust the shot path and releases as they are in the air. For example. Chris Paul’s rip through jump shot. Also we needa stop these CP3 rip throughs, he’s drawin fouls from full court. We see Devin Booker adjusting his shot in mid air to avoid the defender’s hand. And Derozan who has a variety of fakes to get the defender to mistime their jump. All of this is possible with the midrange that isn’t possible with the 3. And oh yeah Kevin Durant doesn’t even have to face the basket when he starts shooting... It’s clear that players have gotten better at shooting 3s, but if you ever have played basketball, the further you can shoot, the easier closer jumpshots get. In fact most times players practice deeper shots to make shots at the 3 point line feel easier. Midranges are should be even easier for players now, especially with an emphasis on shooting. However, players have regularly passed up on this shot. But this year, less and less players are denying how much space they have. Trae is one of them. Trae often finds himself in this position, the elbow free throw line area. There are times where Trae gets all the way to the rim, there are times where he chooses the floater to keep defenses guessing between a lob and a shot, and now more than ever this season, he’s choosing to take midranges at higher rate. His long midrange frequency is now at 18 percent, which is a career high and higher than the 13 percent last year. But the league is still shooting 40% average from midrange, only generating 0.80 points per shot. It’s not efficient and it’s not for everyone, but it is for certain players and situations. With defenses giving that shot up, why not let it fly.