In todays NBA, how important is Mid-Range Jumpers

[unit321]

Let's just say for argument's sake, I don't know anything about basketball.
If I were like 6'10" or taller, I would just be like, "Forget the mid-range jumper, pass me the ball when I'm at the net." Then, I would be jamming that ball all the time when I get to the inside and be like, "Eat that homey!"

 

[NYC Rebel]

It's hard to find players that can hit a middie by simply knowing a spot in the floor. You have guys who don't even have to look at the basket but know once they're at a certain spot on the floor to pull up for a shot.

Bernard King was the King of that...

 

[unit321]

Jam.

 

[RicanHavok]

Jam.

I really hope we get to see him like this again.

 

[Hahahaha]

Obviously teams want free throws and 3's but in the playoffs when the refs let teams play a little more and defenses buckle down the mid range game gets much more important.

 

[triplehate]

According to the numbers...Elite mid range guys should still fire them up...everybody else may as well take that step back behind the line

 

[triplehate]

Also. Only big men will actually be open from midrange because the alternative is them rolling directly to the rim.

I'm not leaving a shooting guard or small forward to just stand at the elbow and line up the laces in any defense

 

[DoubleClutch]

Since when did wade have a nice midrange? They must be talking his floater/jump hook

 

[Kd35brah]

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.

Curry IS the best midrange shooter in the NBA. Efficiency wise he is THE best.

 

[Kal El]

Curry IS the best midrange shooter in the NBA. Efficiency wise he is THE best.

Dirk >

 

[AAKing23]

Lamarcus Aldridge is the best by far

Curry IS the best midrange shooter in the NBA. Efficiency wise he is THE best.

Dirk >

 

[#1 pick]

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.

This. The length in the NBA really effect the mid range shot. I seen Korver who is lights out at it but can't make it in the game because defenders are too damn quick and long compared to the defenders our the 80's and 90's. The NBA is just better at the guard spot today than yesterday. It's either guys who can really fit it up or guys who can defend those who can fill it up. The shooters that graced the league heavily in the 80's and 90's no longer exist to a great degree thanks to the Jordan's era.

 

[#1 pick]

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.

I can't agree with this. I seen these guys practice mid range shots and are automatic at them. The length and quickness of the NBA effect their shot more than anything. Guys like Steph Curry are so talented at creating their own offense that the length and quickness doesn't effect their range. T.J. Warren can simply get to the range like a Paul Pierce or Reggie Lewis type. To say well teams are confusing on threes isn't just an analytics thing, it's a better % thing as well due to the defenders we have in the NBA compared to the 80's.

 

[#1 pick]

The biggest change is centers with ZERO post game

While this is also more of a myth, the game changed. No more posting someone up for 20 seconds. The rules in the post made it where you have to have very good to great skill to be truly effective in the post especially in the regular season. In the post-season, they tend to be looser with the rules for bigs and you see how much more effective they are in that setting.

Now, if you want to say guys like Ewing, Robinson, Hakeem, etc where better than the guy today's, that would true but a lot of those guys would have to adjust their game with the NBA gay ass perimeter friendly rules of today's NBA. The rules changed the NBA more than anything. Even more than AAU.

 

[unit321]

Lamarcus Aldridge is the best by far

Steph Curry is 6'3", Aldridge is 6'11". They are both good.
Curry hasn't had to adjust his game as he has always been shorter than average and has faced taller defenders all the time.
Aldridge had to adjust his game for tougher defenses, which turned out to be for the better as his mid-range shot is what makes him a top mid-range jump shooter in the league.