In todays NBA, how important is Mid-Range Jumpers

[mozichrome]

Was reading Grantland today and an article on TJ Warren and midrange jumpers was on there
googled an old article from this season


The midrange jumper is widely considered the worst shot in basketball. The rate of total shots that NBA teams took from the most inefficient spot on the court dropped to 26.8% this year from 31.5% five years ago as many have determined that the midrange is a dead zone. Basketball wonks agree that teams should concentrate their shots around the rim or behind the three-point line based on simple math: The area near the basket yielded 1.22 points per attempt this year and threes resulted in 1.09 points per attempt, according to NBA statistics. The midrange produced 0.79 points per attempt.

During the 2013-14 regular season, 78 NBA players attempted at least 150 shots between four and 16 feet. Only two made more than half of their attempts: Dwyane Wade and Dirk Nowitzki.

No team has taken a more extreme stance against the midrange jumper than the Rockets. They attempted 29.4% of their shots there in 2011-12, but that figure fell to 14.6% in 2012-13, with the addition of James Harden, and dipped even more to 11.1% this season with the acquisition of Dwight Howard. Both rates were the lowest in the NBA.

 

[Frump]

I miss the midrange game the fact that the NBA has turned into a 3 point shooting contest is disappointing

 

[ChemicalBk]

Floaters are but thats pretty much it lol unless ur Wade,LMA,Dirk or Melo

 

[*Hulks Up*]

It's crazy how there aren't any consistent mid range shooter or even at the elbow shooters in the league anymore. Rip Hamilton all Piston stanning aside was the last guard to have a great mid range game. Now it seems big men are expected to have more of a mid range game than guards are. Durant, Bosh and Lebron are probably the best currently with Curry and Kyle Krver being borderline great at it. Every team in the 90's had a Rifleman, Dale Ellis or Steve Kerr coming off the bench or starting.

 

[duncanthetall]

I saw that too. Good article. I fukk with Grantland. Their NFL trade value article was entertaining as well.

 

[Swiggy]

I think utilizing every part of the floor within a shooting range is pretty important, today's game or otherwise.

 

[MooseMouthMthafuga]

History repeats itself..it'll come back.

TJ Warren might be a sign.Might seem wild, but I think he already has the purest midrange game in the league..AS A ROOKIE.

If anybody can bring it back, it'll be him.I'm excited to see how he does

 

[Malta]

The mid-range game is fine, it's just migrated to the PF spot.

Damn near every PF prospect now the first thing people wonder is "Can they develop a jumper?", most if not all the best PFs in the league can hit an 15-19 footer.

 

[Taadow]

It must be highly important, because we discussed this in another thread recently.

 

[h2o_proof]

It's cyclical, the problem is the game was starting to slow down because everybody ain't Dirk, too many SGs and SFs were trying to rely on post game. What needs to come back is the old school Calvin Murphy, Isaiah Thomas types that could stop and pop mid-range, that's where it's most valuable.

 

[L&HH]

I think it will comeback. Basically what will happen is, defenses will adjust and stop defending the midrange which will then cause offenses to readjust and expose this hole in the defense.

 

[RicanHavok]

The Triangle creates a lot of pockets for mid-range shots so I'm sure the Knicks will see a significant uptick there.



Yea...that's all I care about

 

[The War Report]

The grantland article is talking about the inner mid range and only 2 players shot 50% from there -- Dirk and D Wade. That shyt ain't never coming back.

 

[Youngdev]

Dirk, Lamarcus, Melo and a few others feast on midrange jumpers every night

 

[Walt]

Self-fulfilling prophecy, really. Small Fowards and Shooting Guards had strong midrange games at one point, but as teams moved to exploit the 3 pointer and PFs with jumpers became the norm, SFs and SGs were encouraged to change their approach and strategy. You work on the midrange less, your midrange is going to produce worse results. My favorite players to watch from a technical standpoint are the 6'4 to 6'6 midrange geniuses from the 80s. Amazing sense of how to work all spots on the court.