Why the midrange game is still valuable

[Marchesk]

This Thinking Basketball video explains how midrange jumpers can still be of value in the 3 point analytics era. Basically, if you have a good midrange shooter, they will force the defense to adjust, opening up the floor for your three point shooters and lanes to the hoop. The prime example given is how DeRozan helped the Spurs have the third best offense this past season. Durant as the best midrange shooter (55%) and Kawhi's midrange impact in the playoffs are also mentioned.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZZry6Aed3k


https://i.postimg.cc/7h3f09hS/metagame-value-midrange.png

[Kblaze8855]

I maintain that its primary value is making the best shot in a bad situation. A play breaks down. A big shot vs a set D that knows your star is taking it.

Theres a reason almost all game winner compilation videos are 90% midrange pullups.....










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^

Those are the shots you ALWAYS have.

Granted....when someone like Lillard can take a stepback 38 footer to end a series....it throws in an extra thing to consider. You always have that shot too. But im not putting as much faith in a good shooter making a contested shot from up the street as I would a Dirk/KD/Kobe/Jordan/Bird/Whoever who can raise up at 16 feet time and time again.

[Marchesk]

I maintain that its primary value is making the best shot in a bad situation. A play breaks down. A big shot vs a set D that knows your star is taking it.

That too. Which is why it drives me crazy to see players take a highly contested fall away three at the end of the game when they're down 1 or 2 points, instead of looking for a better 2 point shoot.

[FireDavidKahn]

That's literally the entire point of defenses these days and has been for years. Defend the paint and 3's and force teams to take mid/long range 2's. Easier said than done but that is almost what all defenses try to do nowadays.

The issue is that there are just so few players that are legitimately good enough mid/long range shooters to counteract this. That's one reason why Kawhi is just so damn effective, teams just don't have an answer for that. For his career he shoots 46.9% from 10-16' and 46.8% from 16>3PT...that's 33.4% of his shots. Those percentages are about as elite as you can get and even more impressive when you consider the volume. A true triple threat.

Derozan kinda fits this method although he isn't nearly as elite as Kawhi. Career 42.5% from 10-16 and 38.3% from 16 >3PT and 50.5% of his shots come from there...Which is mostly why Derozan is fools gold. Decent shooter from those ranges but not even close to good enough to be taking over half your shots from that range.

[3ball]

.
From Nylon Calculas



The difference between many good and great teams — and, indeed, many good and great players — is what they do in the last five seconds of the shot clock when the plan breaks down. Even the most prepared teams will run into those situations, particularly against great defenses. The deeper a team gets in the 24-second shot clock, the more difficult it becomes for that team to find layup and three-point opportunities, and the ability to knock down the mid-range jumper thus becomes king.

https://the-cauldron.com/lost-art-the-mid-range-jumper-64b64fa0f081


Not having good mid-range game is one of the biggest knocks you can have on your game

[Haymaker]

I maintain that its primary value is making the best shot in a bad situation. A play breaks down. A big shot vs a set D that knows your star is taking it.

Theres a reason almost all game winner compilation videos are 90% midrange pullups.....










https://thumbs.gfycat.com/DarkEnchantingBillygoat-size_restricted.gif


https://thumbs.gfycat.com/MelodicPortlyAnura-size_restricted.gif


https://thumbs.gfycat.com/ScaredVapidHoverfly-size_restricted.gif












^

Those are the shots you ALWAYS have.

Granted....when someone like Lillard can take a stepback 38 footer to end a series....it throws in an extra thing to consider. You always have that shot too. But im not putting as much faith in a good shooter making a contested shot from up the street as I would a Dirk/KD/Kobe/Jordan/Bird/Whoever who can raise up at 16 feet time and time again.

Like Harden said about CP3's midrange shot: "It's like a layup for him". If you shoot it at a high clip, by all means shoot it.

[FKAri]

I maintain that its primary value is making the best shot in a bad situation. A play breaks down. A big shot vs a set D that knows your star is taking it.

Theres a reason almost all game winner compilation videos are 90% midrange pullups.....










https://thumbs.gfycat.com/DarkEnchantingBillygoat-size_restricted.gif


https://thumbs.gfycat.com/MelodicPortlyAnura-size_restricted.gif


https://thumbs.gfycat.com/ScaredVapidHoverfly-size_restricted.gif












^

Those are the shots you ALWAYS have.

Granted....when someone like Lillard can take a stepback 38 footer to end a series....it throws in an extra thing to consider. You always have that shot too. But im not putting as much faith in a good shooter making a contested shot from up the street as I would a Dirk/KD/Kobe/Jordan/Bird/Whoever who can raise up at 16 feet time and time again.
True. 30 footers are also shots you always have but the mid range is the least volatile shot you always have.

[PickernRoller]

Of course it's valuable. If you limit yourself to certain areas, you're easy to prepare for, no matter how good of a specialist you're at the rim or the 3 pt arc.

Scoring versatility is king.

[Im so nba'd out]

After watching Kawhi daddy dick us in the playoffs from the mid-range. I can believe it

watching video now

[StrongLurk]

Being able to make shots is always valuable.

[fourkicks44]

This Thinking Basketball video explains how midrange jumpers can still be of value in the 3 point analytics era. Basically, if you have a good midrange shooter, they will force the defense to adjust, opening up the floor for your three point shooters and lanes to the hoop. The prime example given is how DeRozan helped the Spurs have the third best offense this past season. Durant as the best midrange shooter (55%) and Kawhi's midrange impact in the playoffs are also mentioned.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lZZry6Aed3k


https://i.postimg.cc/7h3f09hS/metagame-value-midrange.png

Ironic when the biggest shot of his career was the a baseline 3, falling out of bounds, over the most imposing big man in the league, that bounced on the rim 4 times.

[NBAGOAT]

I have no problem with going for a 30 footer if they’re down by 2 in closing seconds, there’s value in going for win. If you’re down 1 or tied, yea go for the midrange. Even spot up guys should be ok taking 23 footers, the extra point doesn’t matter.

In general seems like some analytic focused teams have decided to settle for long 3s instead of the midrange. It makes sense for two reasons as it’s also a shot defenses will concede and a pump fake dribble pull up is a popular move for shooters and catching it that far allows guys to pull up behind the 3 pt line still.

some teams have a designated guy who gets the green light to shoot long 3s. Thinking Eric Gordon and Brook Lopez specifically(two most 3pt heavy teams in the league). Risky as it’s pretty high variance, but it can be worth it if you make over 30% like Gordon and brook can when only pretty good midrange scorers can shoot 45%. Ofc if you have kd or kawhi, might not be worth it.