What I like the most about KD is how he learned to play off the ball. He doesn't dribble the ball to death to score. He can give it away,find an opening,pop out,get the ball and then score. Or he can just bring the ball down the court and score on isos. Best scoring forward ever. At the end of the clock,in theory at least you can try to make LeBron a shooter so he doesn't kill you. He can be a great shooter but he's not known as a great shooter. With KD there is nothing to take away. Iso 3 ? Got it. Catch and shoot 3 ? Got it . Any kind of mid range shot,guarded or not ? Easy ? Drive to the basket and lay it over somebody ? Easy. Floater ? Yes. Dunk it on somebody ? Also got it. And he also turned himself into a good passer. Seriously nothing to take away...
@@BenlshTracker I think right now Harden is paying the price for playing that ball-dominat style in Houston. That takes a huge toll. Plus he let himself go last season,then rushed himself into shape. You put all that together and injuries start to pile up. Kyrie on other hand was always a risk factor and KD had to know that. I understand that they are boys and Kyire is insane level of talent but he also just struggles with injuries even though he does take care of his body. And he's also a very stubborn individual. He demanded a trade from Cavaliers for no clear reason. He didn't want to be in the shade of LeBron ? I'm not sure. Went to Boston and that situation also didn't work out. He didn't like being a leader ? What was the problem ? Goes to Brooklyn and even without covid and injuries he would still just go away for 2 weeks. You put it all together and is not so strange that Nets are ''falling apart ''. And most people areound them are eather old,older or don't have the expirence...
@@full6330name I don't entirely blame harden still trying to adjust. because it was also partially houston's fault for being an absolute shit team and only having one guy on the team who desperately trying to avoid a blowout loss at the very least. because harden in okc was a good playmaker as well. this team also sucks in the pick and roll which harden has done for so long. The 3 or layup mentality from houston is going to be a habit thats going to be hard to fix but i believe he can do it. and like you said kyrie was always a risk factor.
Might also argue that it helps with durability too. Less attempts against a big in the paint and hits taken, probably increases durability. Might help lower variance in shots as players get tired since they're shooting closer to the hoop.
@@slashbxe2832 I love KD but at this rate his back may break before his achilles. Good thing Kyrie can return for around 20 road games for the remainder of the season. And James please step up you're nowhere to be seen for the vast majority of the previous 20+ games.
yeah i love this moment when he is finding this rhythm and shoot many points its so effective, KD the best, DeMar is also fantastic, Kawhi Leonard is good too.
Can we talk about demar went from being an underperformer in the clutch to arguably being the clutchest? Like I feel like this is something we need to talk about lmao what massive improvement
He was never an “underperformer” in the clutch, that’s just narratives. Jimmy high roller has a video which shows that demar’s clutch field goal percentage is higher than Kobe, Jordan, and many other “clutch” players
@@kunle9 well he averaged 27 being the man and it’s gonna be hard to be the only one scoring when you’re on teams like he was on the raptors and spurs for once demar has help
the amount of research and footage you must've gone through for a sub-8-minute video is insane. that side by side derozan/mj alone must've taken so long to make. huge kudos to you, thank you as always for the insanely high quality of your content
I used to be a diehard basketball fan and don't really watch games anymore. But I still appreciate these videos. I feel like the kid in class who is nodding along with the teacher but is trying to decipher all the stats and numbers.
Derozan was killing it from the midrange with the Spurs also. he's just getting more recognition because of the bigger Chicago market, and I'm glad he is. He was snubbed of a few All-Star nominations in San Antonio
Would imagine there\s less variance in mid range accuracy from game to game vs 3pt shooting. Which may help your team win more consistently from game to game.
Yeah, that's a great point, and makes perfect sense. Just because a three has a higher expected number of points doesn't mean it is the optimal choice to win more games. Let's say instead of playing a game of basketball, a team can choose to take one shot for a million points. If they miss it, they get 0 points for the game. Let's say they have a shooter that gets it in 1/2 the time. Then the expected number of points by going with this option is 500 000, much higher than just playing a regular game. Yet they can only win half their games against a rec centre team.
Shaq made a similar point about player consistency and how point averages don't capture how "good" a player is at scoring because it doesn't demonstrate consistency. A player scoring 30 in multiple 20 point blowouts isn't as valuable as a player scoring say 22-25 consistently in many close games.
@@timzhang2631 this is why I have durant as a better player than curry. he's more consistently dominant game in and game out. less outliers with him. since curry is a small guard who relies on hitting insane shots its not feasible for him too be as consistently dominant as a 7 foot Demi god.
@@doldoldo teams dont wanna give up the three because youll find yourself in a huge defecit with the way teams shoot today. and layups are easy 2s(which you dont wanna give up either). but, you gotta give up something, so teams would gladly give up middies(contested of course). hence why mastering the mid is the most important(if youre hot from there, its not much the defense can do because its hard to double these areas on the court). but mastering the mid isnt easy at all
@@hacimdoowlla2730 Yeah, it is literally the hardest spot to score consistently because the variation of the range. Mad props to the god of middy like Jordan, Kobe, Dirk, and KD
Lolol the block at 0:06 where Durant gets zero ball and 100% hand hahah. In all seriousness great video! Love how much game footage you work into these analyses which makes it so fun
crazy that KD tore his achilles as a 26/6/5 player and came back after as a 30/8/6 a game player and has put the nets first in the conference. people were talking like if KD could come back 80% of what he was, the nets have a chance, but he’s arguably a better player than he’s ever been before
I think he's been at this level ever since 2015. He was just in different situations and wasn't ask to do all this. You have to remember he played with curry and Klay for three years of his prime. And he was injured one year. We are lucky Harden became a role player and kyrie didn't play because that means KD need to take more of the weight upon himself. If they were both playing KD would probably play the same way he did in Golden state
To add it also helps with the spacing too. The threat of the dynamic shot creator who can make those difficult shots closer to the rim can also open up the role players who have mastered the more 'efficient' shots playing off ball. Thankfully if their jumpers aren't going in because they are cold, their mistakes aren't going to be as bad to cover up. So you just give their touches to the better shot creator who can actually buy a tough bucket with their midrange.
DeMar and KD grew up when mid-range was normal. The league is all about 3 point shooting and guarding the 3 point line. This generation isn't used to guarding players with the mid bag
Sigh. But for the vast majority (keep in mind these guys haven't won ANYTHING lately), theses days, it is not. True point of the video is not emploring players to start shooting sub 40% shot you don't get fouled on, worth a point less than one just a few feet away.
I love love love breakdowns. I grew up with football but you and other RUclipsrs have really helped me see the little stuff. Keep up the phenomenal work.
Not only has he shot 53% from midrange but he's done it on 281 attempts in only 27 games. That would put him on pace for 853 midrange shots in a season which is way more than anyone else on the list at 0:59
"No reliable stat ever said the mid-range was inefficient they just said the mid-range was inefficient for weak shooter." That's what the anti-analytics always ignored about mid range data and it's pissing me off. Perfect example for that is Andrew Wiggins his time in Minny his known as an inefficient chucker and Minny fans dreaded when takes long twos. And as his time in GSW goes on he has become one of the premier 3&D players.
exactly, shaun livingston absolutely refused to take threes and pretty much only ever took midrange jumpers and i never had any issues with that. why? cuz he was good at it. on the other hand, i wouldve been livid if he had chucked up threes instead of taking those turnaround middies. just cuz sth is technically speaking the "least efficient" way to score dsnt mean its actually a bad shot. it all depends on what ur actually good at and this is also what the league has been missing by trying to copy what the warriors did. yes more spacing is good but ur personnel actually fucking matters
@@diablejambe3460 It's also really underrated h Shaun's play disrupted the hell out of defenses. Run like mad chasing Steph Curry for 8 minutes and then suddenly you got this talk ass stick figure bringing the pace to a near halt, abusing your PG on the block threw it for possessions straight. Shaun checks back out and it's off to the races again. Players like that can destroy the other teams defensive rhythm without disrupting his own team's offensive rhythm. He was like the yin to Nick Van Excel's yang.
@@mitchellholcomb1561 exactly dude. by just sticking to what hes good at, he not only upped his own efficiency, but made things much more difficult for opposing teams to defend cuz they dont care about the midrange game now unless ur a superstar player. this is also why it bugs me when he is left out of that warriors group alongside steph, klay, dray and iggy. dude was super instrumental to what they did with his basketball iq, defensive ability and general calmness and being able to always make the right play without forcing anything. god i miss watching him. that backing defender down the baseline turnaround midrange j was such a beauty.
@@diablejambe3460 couldn't agree more. My younger brother was saying the other day that Shaun Livingston couldn't shoot (forgive him he's a 2k player) and I had to pull him up for it. Shaun was as masterful a roleplayer as there has ever been with his post play and mid level jumper.
I appreciate you putting up so much content lately, Ben! Your channel has been so educational. I'm just an nba fan who doesn't fully understand/play basketball, and I learn a ton from you. Thanks so much
This is how I've always played video games. Try for the layup/dunk, kick for the open 3, and when that's covered, get an open pull up midrange J. Glad to see there is analytical support.
DeRozan is the shinning example of how advanced stats have somewhat ruined basketball. While everyone else in the league is worried about trying to recreate The Warriors Dynasty, DeRozan has just been over here for a decade being like “ya’ll need someone to make a shot or what?” The most valuable shot in basketball, particularly late in games, is the shot that goes in.
Preach they tried to change his shot profile in Toronto but he stuck to his game. And to think fans have been programmed into believing he’s not a good basketball player.
DeMar is currently shooting 37% from three this season. Wouldn't consider that "not a three point threat." I get that he hasn't been for most of his career, but his three point shooting has considerable improved this season.
@@NothingElseMattersJM is the season over? Because it doesn’t seem over. Plus, you conveniently got real quite after those games at the beginning of the year. Don’t pick and choose, so wait till the end of the season like I said.
this next generation of hoopers are so blessed to have so much high quality info at their fingertips. thx for the content and wishing you & everyone a safe holiday season.
@@chiarosuburekeni9325 That is a wild statement, Jokic's passing is insanely exciting! He, like Durant and Curry, has an unstoppable skillset. He is an excellent shooter, has BBIQ that's off the charts and is *easily* the best passing big, ever.
Really miss seeing Deebo's midrange wizardry as a Raptor. Was super hyped for Chi-town to go make some real playoff runs until their injuries started to pile up. ; _ ;
I just always love your videos man. I wish other sports had analysis like this. Also I think it’s interesting Durant gets this much value from the midrange given how in general it is a low efficiency shot attempt. The utility in pick and roll and isolation is still great though, adds a lot of resilience to his scoring. I still feel like you have to be so good at hitting midrange shots to make a living in that range that it’s not a good idea for the vast majority of players.
@@chiggsytube Exactly! Role players and star level players don't have the shot creation ability to flirt making a living at midrange, being consistent at it AND adding more value to that arsenal. Elite shot creators like KD/Kawhi or stars now like DeRozan/CP3/Aldridge who mastered that shot but can score other ways use the midrange as a means to just add more value to their deep bag of shot creation tactics.
Chris Paul, healthy Kawhi Leonard are another good examples of that. Good midrange will always be invaluable tool, especially towards late stages of the careers.
Nothing more beautiful than a perfectly executed middy. Idc how many 3's a player can knock down or how hard someone can drive the paint... float a gorgeous midrange shot after a nice pump fake to get your defender to bite on the contest and I am much more impressed. I went to my gym the other day, I saw absolutely nothing BUT kids practicing catch and shoot 3's. They finally started moving around and I saw a couple finally start to shoot some middys and they bricked them all. It's actually embarrassing how bad this new era is at shooting from midrange. All they practice is the 3 and so the rest of their game completely suffers for it. They are good from behind the arc or at the rim... anywhere else its a toss up. I get that the overuse of the 3 makes every kid in the gym now feel like they can contribute to the team but when that is quite literally ALL you can do you get exposed very quickly. When your 3 isn't hitting you've now trapped yourself in a corner. So kid's... there is MORE TO BASKETBALL than standing in the corner waiting for a catch and shoot 3. Practice your damn midrange!
Great job as always. I think ppl will start to see that curry and lillard are rare and not something you can duplicate. Like you said its better for ok shooters to hit that spot up 3. But its looking like more stars are going back to the midrange and post moves. Paul, durant, and damar are having success and i hope it spreads. Lebron has been feasting in the high post as well
@@tarsheablue2917 what do you mean? Durant had whole arguments on Twitter about sports reporters saying he was taking "bad" midrange shots. Charles n shaq are always mad at joel and AD taking 3s n not getting in the post. Also everyone keeps harping on greak freak to take 3s when he's like 60% from the paint. Its been a common theme, it literally the point of the video. "Hey here's two stars doing that thing nobody does"
Its always been that case though. The most dynamic high volume shot creators had the mid range in their bag besides a way to finish inside and get FTs or they can get hot shooting beyond the arc. The role players/stars who aren't as dynamic with on ball shot creation needed to be more efficient in what they already have. So that is why they don't play with the midrange often.
@@mrblackhouseprez nobody does? CP3, Booker, Kawhi, PG, Lavine, Middleton, Embiid, AD, Jokic, Murray, McCollum, Tatum has most of their scoring from midrange/ paint jumper and there is many more. Don't took the role player for the star player. Stars and superstars always use ALL they have in their bag
Considering Michael Jordan is still acknowledged as the greatest of all time and was a midrange killer, there's no way you'll ever convince me that the midrange isn't needed or vital
The mid range just isn’t needed if you’re a role player, but if you’re kd or demar and you can make them at the rate they do then ofc they should be pulling it
Manufacture at will. That's the true value of the midrange shot. A good midrange shooter can get those looks pretty much on demand in a way a 3pt or rim specialist can' t. Pretty valuable specially in the playoffs. Much less variance too. Also more valuable in the post season
Durant - Proving he's the Best Scorer in the game and arguably the Best Overall Player in the NBA. DeRozan - Finally getting the mid-range respect he deserves. He's been outstanding. Improves year after year.
this is some of the best basketball content to come out... ever. If you could wrap and tight, dramatic narrative into these videos.. maybe making them a little longer.. each of these videos would be a must watch for any basketball appreciator.
A lot of championship teams always has a mid range finisher lucky for Brooklyn they have another one in kyrie. So that's why Milwaukee was in a bad way last playoffs in the first few games. Ky n KD was killing them from the mid range while Milwaukee was shooting themselves on a hole from the misses from 3
Bulls also got Lavine, he isn’t elite like Derozan or KD at the the midrange but he’s good at it but he can also shoot the 3 really good and has good movement to get around players in the paint and score easy layups
@@ILLUSI_O_N-V1 Lavine doesn't have it that much as covered by Thinking Basketball before. His bread and butter is slashing to the hoop and 3-ball jumpers. And a lil more offball action since he has teammates who can move the ball around. That said he could develop it later in his career if his handles get to that point and he's dynamic enough to get value with it. But for now DeRozan is the midrange guy and I'd argue he's in a better position with his skillset than he was with the Raps then relying on him as a first offensive option.
Wow, you read my mind.. About a week or two ago I actually thought about suggesting a video about whether the midrange shot is coming back. Bulls, Lakers, Clippers along others seem to have included midrange shots a lot more this season. The Rockets (former) / Warriors / Bucks style of shooting only 3's or at the rim spread to the whole league over the last few years, but lately it feels like some teams are going towards finding styles that fit them better. Although efficiency wise we know 3's and lay-ups are the best. Great content as always.
These guys, as well as guys like Middleton and Paul, are keeping the midrange alive in a league that wants to get rid of it. I hope it makes a comeback, it adds another dimension and keeps the game interesting.
KD has his length that helps him rise at higher point of release or create large spaces between him and the defender. DeMar may be smaller but when he gets to his spot he can be really elusive in his moves Whenever he does, it kinda seems like he controls the speed of his spins or other moves making him look like he's in slow-mo and seems to disrupts the defenders rhythm too.
"When you're closer to the basket, it's easier for your shots to go in" - Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and no I'm not joking Steph Curry is an outlier, the supreme emperor shooter of all time. He combines efficiency, volume, and increased point value into one unique package that's entirely based on skill. Not every player can play like him, and not every team can have a player like him either. Teams are starting to realize that chasing that dragon is futile. Midrange scoring gives greater versatility (much more space inside the arc to create an open or open enough shot), as well as easier shots, just like Kareem said. Easier shots mean less variance in scoring output, easier shots mean less cold games, easier shots mean that developing a player takes practice time away from chucking the long ball and puts time towards developing your own unique moves and playstyle while still being able to develop offensive acumen in the midrange. Offensive rhythm and consistency are, in my opinion, the key to winning basketball games. If you score 2 points _every_single_time_ your team gets the ball, congratulations, you're going to win the game. That philosophy has yet to be disproven. That's why rebounding into transition scoring is the first step to building a winning basketball team, because within 10 seconds AT MOST of possession, your team has scored, as opposed to playing in the half court using twice as much game time to score points.
"3 points is more than 2". If you hit 30% of your 3s and 40% of your 2s, you should be shooting threes. The reason that the midrange game died is because your shot probability doesn't go up as fast as the resulting points go up as your step inside the line. These shots only make sense if you're able to make up the 2:3 reward ratio in shooting percentage. When you're shooting over 50%, then yeah it probably makes sense (still maybe not! A 50% midrange shooter is probably not worse than like a 35% 3 point shooter, in which case he's leaving points on the board by taking mid range stuff), but so few people shoot this well from the midrange that it's hard to make it make sense. The value of these mid range shots is just to force the defense to get off the three point line so that you can take more threes.
@@anticarcarclub Lol and yet Steph Curry cant even get 1 fmvp because he always bricking 3s.. midrange is as or more important than 3pt shot in the playoffs.. Noticed that all fmvps with rings in the past 20 or 30 years are all center forward or shooting guard with great midrange or dominant in the paint.
@@ranholic5027 So Andre deserves fmvp over Steph for guarding Lebron on an inefficient almost triple double 36 point average. Funny enough Curry also did more in the other finals when KD won it too. It's even funnier that people really say he's not clutch and yet he has a whole highlight reel of clutch moments including from 3 and in the playoffs. And even then he was on a team that blew out most teams anyways so he got to sit in the 4th
@@TheElectricGhost Yea they deserved tthe award butt it's funny cuz when he won his unanimous mvp back in 2016 he literally choked in the finals when the team needed him the most cuz hes the "first unanimous mvp" right ? 😂😂
Hahahahha kd has a better shooting efficiency than curry .kd is 53percent field goal while curry is just 42 percent...and curry is not the best shooter,why?how can you say,you are the best shooter if you have a too low fieldgoal,and a very low shooting efficiency,..if wer talking about 3points shooting yes you wer right curry is the king o best shooter,but if wer going to talk about shooting in all aspect in basketball then kd is the best shooter..you cant be called the best scorer if you are not the best shooter.. 3pointshooting curry > kd Midrange curry
And it's not common to see that many players excel at that. Most defenses are happy to give up the mid range shot since it's not a strong strength for most NBA players.
It’s really not rocket science almost all the greatest players of all time we’re master chefs from the midrange. In the post season it becomes harder to hit 3’s, with the uptick of physicality, especially in the finals. It also becomes harder to just go to the rim. So a player has to be a great player in the midrange if he wants to maintain success in the post season as well as the finals. Having a great midrange game opens up the driving lanes and 3 point opportunities from yourself and teammates. Jordan Bird Kareem Lebron Durant Melo Hakeem I could go on and on All great midrange players That’s why it’s called a 3 level scorer
In your list Melo is absolutly not relevant as there are many more players that were better at mid range than he is and was, like Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, George Gervin, Karl Malone for the oldest ones.
![Felix "Unfair" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/Oswujxm2Ag0/mqdefault.jpg)
I feel spoiled that we are getting this much consistent and high quality content from Ben.
Right ? I almost feel guilty not paying for it. Hitting up his patreon right now
You mean simmons right. He ballin out.
@@kevingalvan5805 A man of honor
@@ahmadumat8235 bruv 💀
Who is ben?
What I like the most about KD is how he learned to play off the ball. He doesn't dribble the ball to death to score. He can give it away,find an opening,pop out,get the ball and then score. Or he can just bring the ball down the court and score on isos. Best scoring forward ever. At the end of the clock,in theory at least you can try to make LeBron a shooter so he doesn't kill you. He can be a great shooter but he's not known as a great shooter. With KD there is nothing to take away. Iso 3 ? Got it. Catch and shoot 3 ? Got it . Any kind of mid range shot,guarded or not ? Easy ? Drive to the basket and lay it over somebody ? Easy. Floater ? Yes. Dunk it on somebody ? Also got it. And he also turned himself into a good passer. Seriously nothing to take away...
ive been struggling to wrap my head around how good he is and its a shame his team is falling apart a second season in a row
@@BenlshTracker I think right now Harden is paying the price for playing that ball-dominat style in Houston. That takes a huge toll. Plus he let himself go last season,then rushed himself into shape. You put all that together and injuries start to pile up.
Kyrie on other hand was always a risk factor and KD had to know that. I understand that they are boys and Kyire is insane level of talent but he also just struggles with injuries even though he does take care of his body. And he's also a very stubborn individual. He demanded a trade from Cavaliers for no clear reason. He didn't want to be in the shade of LeBron ? I'm not sure. Went to Boston and that situation also didn't work out. He didn't like being a leader ? What was the problem ? Goes to Brooklyn and even without covid and injuries he would still just go away for 2 weeks.
You put it all together and is not so strange that Nets are ''falling apart ''. And most people areound them are eather old,older or don't have the expirence...
Imagine 40min+ every game with this burden over his shoulder
@@sendoh7x its a damn shame. mad respect for KD's professionalism
@@full6330name I don't entirely blame harden still trying to adjust. because it was also partially houston's fault for being an absolute shit team and only having one guy on the team who desperately trying to avoid a blowout loss at the very least. because harden in okc was a good playmaker as well. this team also sucks in the pick and roll which harden has done for so long. The 3 or layup mentality from houston is going to be a habit thats going to be hard to fix but i believe he can do it.
and like you said kyrie was always a risk factor.
Might also argue that it helps with durability too. Less attempts against a big in the paint and hits taken, probably increases durability. Might help lower variance in shots as players get tired since they're shooting closer to the hoop.
the explosivity of a pullup can wear the achilles though,
@@aguy6053 probably why kd and kobe had their injuries. But less freak accidents than if you kept ramming into bigs like ja morant.
@@poiszg23 kd and kobe injured themselves by playing 40 minutes plus and kd doing that again he gonna get injured carrying the nets
@@slashbxe2832 I love KD but at this rate his back may break before his achilles. Good thing Kyrie can return for around 20 road games for the remainder of the season. And James please step up you're nowhere to be seen for the vast majority of the previous 20+ games.
Then why is LeBron going strong? Same with Russ
It's like ballet. He has such great rhythm on his shot. Really loved this breakdown
Who
@@mdhcccc lol that was my question too, but im guessing durant, cause.... Durant haha
yeah i love this moment when he is finding this rhythm and shoot many points its so effective, KD the best, DeMar is also fantastic, Kawhi Leonard is good too.
"James Harden, you've been averaging almost 10 assists a game this game. How do you do it?"
"I don't know, I just pass the ball to Kevin Durant."
Can we talk about demar went from being an underperformer in the clutch to arguably being the clutchest? Like I feel like this is something we need to talk about lmao what massive improvement
It's probably because he doesn't need to be the man. Levine takes that pressure off him.
He was never an “underperformer” in the clutch, that’s just narratives. Jimmy high roller has a video which shows that demar’s clutch field goal percentage is higher than Kobe, Jordan, and many other “clutch” players
@@lik7953 thank you lol the disrespect towards demar gotta stop
@@kunle9 well he averaged 27 being the man and it’s gonna be hard to be the only one scoring when you’re on teams like he was on the raptors and spurs for once demar has help
@@jalynjones2517 Toronto was a legit team it was just no one was beating Lebron in the east at those times
The Michael Jordan fadeaway is so pretty, it belongs in a museum. Glad to see the middie is still alive in a league full of 3-point shooters.
the amount of research and footage you must've gone through for a sub-8-minute video is insane. that side by side derozan/mj alone must've taken so long to make. huge kudos to you, thank you as always for the insanely high quality of your content
I used to be a diehard basketball fan and don't really watch games anymore. But I still appreciate these videos. I feel like the kid in class who is nodding along with the teacher but is trying to decipher all the stats and numbers.
Derozan was killing it from the midrange with the Spurs also. he's just getting more recognition because of the bigger Chicago market, and I'm glad he is. He was snubbed of a few All-Star nominations in San Antonio
Facts!! He’ll get them back in Chicago
Would imagine there\s less variance in mid range accuracy from game to game vs 3pt shooting. Which may help your team win more consistently from game to game.
Yeah, that's a great point, and makes perfect sense. Just because a three has a higher expected number of points doesn't mean it is the optimal choice to win more games. Let's say instead of playing a game of basketball, a team can choose to take one shot for a million points. If they miss it, they get 0 points for the game. Let's say they have a shooter that gets it in 1/2 the time. Then the expected number of points by going with this option is 500 000, much higher than just playing a regular game. Yet they can only win half their games against a rec centre team.
Shaq made a similar point about player consistency and how point averages don't capture how "good" a player is at scoring because it doesn't demonstrate consistency. A player scoring 30 in multiple 20 point blowouts isn't as valuable as a player scoring say 22-25 consistently in many close games.
@@timzhang2631 this is why I have durant as a better player than curry. he's more consistently dominant game in and game out. less outliers with him. since curry is a small guard who relies on hitting insane shots its not feasible for him too be as consistently dominant as a 7 foot Demi god.
@@ozzee5094 Alright Kevin
@@ozzee5094 curry creates way more than durant tho, he gets his teammates so many good looks using that offball gravity which kd doesn't have.
Great breakdown as always. Midrange isn't dead when you got special players like KD or DeMar!!
to me the most important shot is still the midrange...when its playoff time, thats what great defenses tend to give up
why?? just a general question
@@doldoldo teams dont wanna give up the three because youll find yourself in a huge defecit with the way teams shoot today. and layups are easy 2s(which you dont wanna give up either). but, you gotta give up something, so teams would gladly give up middies(contested of course). hence why mastering the mid is the most important(if youre hot from there, its not much the defense can do because its hard to double these areas on the court). but mastering the mid isnt easy at all
@@hacimdoowlla2730 Yeah, it is literally the hardest spot to score consistently because the variation of the range. Mad props to the god of middy like Jordan, Kobe, Dirk, and KD
@@proxinsky4981 facts😎
@@proxinsky4981 doent forget cp3 he might not be as tall as them but he deadly as hell rememeber watching him agianst the hawks he kept killing us
Lolol the block at 0:06 where Durant gets zero ball and 100% hand hahah.
In all seriousness great video! Love how much game footage you work into these analyses which makes it so fun
crazy that KD tore his achilles as a 26/6/5 player and came back after as a 30/8/6 a game player and has put the nets first in the conference. people were talking like if KD could come back 80% of what he was, the nets have a chance, but he’s arguably a better player than he’s ever been before
Not better just smarter now
I think he's been at this level ever since 2015. He was just in different situations and wasn't ask to do all this.
You have to remember he played with curry and Klay for three years of his prime. And he was injured one year.
We are lucky Harden became a role player and kyrie didn't play because that means KD need to take more of the weight upon himself. If they were both playing KD would probably play the same way he did in Golden state
When you look at the playoffs and teams have scouted each other, it's the midrange playmaking that makes the difference.
To add it also helps with the spacing too. The threat of the dynamic shot creator who can make those difficult shots closer to the rim can also open up the role players who have mastered the more 'efficient' shots playing off ball. Thankfully if their jumpers aren't going in because they are cold, their mistakes aren't going to be as bad to cover up. So you just give their touches to the better shot creator who can actually buy a tough bucket with their midrange.
DeMar and KD grew up when mid-range was normal. The league is all about 3 point shooting and guarding the 3 point line. This generation isn't used to guarding players with the mid bag
Great analysis. Thank you! Mid range shooting is a powerful weapon by those who are proficient at it. Always has been, always will be.
Sigh. But for the vast majority (keep in mind these guys haven't won ANYTHING lately), theses days, it is not. True point of the video is not emploring players to start shooting sub 40% shot you don't get fouled on, worth a point less than one just a few feet away.
@@IndianaSmallmouth I wouldn't call a low percentage mid range shooter someone who's proficient at it. Would you?
I love love love breakdowns. I grew up with football but you and other RUclipsrs have really helped me see the little stuff. Keep up the phenomenal work.
Not only has he shot 53% from midrange but he's done it on 281 attempts in only 27 games. That would put him on pace for 853 midrange shots in a season which is way more than anyone else on the list at 0:59
"No reliable stat ever said the mid-range was inefficient they just said the mid-range was inefficient for weak shooter."
That's what the anti-analytics always ignored about mid range data and it's pissing me off.
Perfect example for that is Andrew Wiggins his time in Minny his known as an inefficient chucker and Minny fans dreaded when takes long twos.
And as his time in GSW goes on he has become one of the premier 3&D players.
exactly, shaun livingston absolutely refused to take threes and pretty much only ever took midrange jumpers and i never had any issues with that. why? cuz he was good at it. on the other hand, i wouldve been livid if he had chucked up threes instead of taking those turnaround middies. just cuz sth is technically speaking the "least efficient" way to score dsnt mean its actually a bad shot. it all depends on what ur actually good at and this is also what the league has been missing by trying to copy what the warriors did. yes more spacing is good but ur personnel actually fucking matters
@@diablejambe3460 It's also really underrated h Shaun's play disrupted the hell out of defenses. Run like mad chasing Steph Curry for 8 minutes and then suddenly you got this talk ass stick figure bringing the pace to a near halt, abusing your PG on the block threw it for possessions straight. Shaun checks back out and it's off to the races again.
Players like that can destroy the other teams defensive rhythm without disrupting his own team's offensive rhythm. He was like the yin to Nick Van Excel's yang.
@@mitchellholcomb1561 exactly dude. by just sticking to what hes good at, he not only upped his own efficiency, but made things much more difficult for opposing teams to defend cuz they dont care about the midrange game now unless ur a superstar player.
this is also why it bugs me when he is left out of that warriors group alongside steph, klay, dray and iggy. dude was super instrumental to what they did with his basketball iq, defensive ability and general calmness and being able to always make the right play without forcing anything. god i miss watching him. that backing defender down the baseline turnaround midrange j was such a beauty.
Basketball is not just a game numbers .. It’s emotion based game
@@diablejambe3460 couldn't agree more. My younger brother was saying the other day that Shaun Livingston couldn't shoot (forgive him he's a 2k player) and I had to pull him up for it. Shaun was as masterful a roleplayer as there has ever been with his post play and mid level jumper.
Watching Ben's content is such a treat. You either learn a lot or just get fckin mesmerized by the amazing content done by him.
u been posting consistently bro. keep it up 🐐
Demar having a Jordanesque midrange game is so true. Also, the midrange game is often beautiful. Glad it’s getting some love.
Great stuff as always, and loved your appearance on The Void with KOC this week.
I hope you get further exposure for future appearances on podcasts!
Can you share the link please
@@kb24rd ruclips.net/video/wu2deohRjJA/видео.html
Derozan has been phenomenal for Chicago
Excellent vid😁the mid range game can be such poetry in motion and also be very nasty and gritty at the same time, love it
I appreciate you putting up so much content lately, Ben! Your channel has been so educational. I'm just an nba fan who doesn't fully understand/play basketball, and I learn a ton from you. Thanks so much
CP3 ‘s another great mid range shooter. I’m surprised anytime those 3 players misses the shot.
KD’s off the dribble shot is pure art tbh
When bulls fans werent happy with getting demar I was confused. This man is so fun to watch. Poetry in motion.
This is how I've always played video games. Try for the layup/dunk, kick for the open 3, and when that's covered, get an open pull up midrange J. Glad to see there is analytical support.
I love this channel, just excellent content!!
I'm always having a great day when I get to hear Ben Taylor's voice in a new video.
After Derozan's game tonight this video is significantly more relevant.
DeRozan is the shinning example of how advanced stats have somewhat ruined basketball. While everyone else in the league is worried about trying to recreate The Warriors Dynasty, DeRozan has just been over here for a decade being like “ya’ll need someone to make a shot or what?”
The most valuable shot in basketball, particularly late in games, is the shot that goes in.
Preach they tried to change his shot profile in Toronto but he stuck to his game. And to think fans have been programmed into believing he’s not a good basketball player.
Thank you Ben for providing an objective and unbiased breakdown on the midrange.
DeMar is currently shooting 37% from three this season. Wouldn't consider that "not a three point threat." I get that he hasn't been for most of his career, but his three point shooting has considerable improved this season.
Since his volume isn’t high, it can fluctuate quickly from 33% to 30% to 36% but yea this is undoubtedly his best 3 point shooting season 30 games in.
@@NothingElseMattersJM Come back to this comment then at the end of the season and see. He’s consistently been in the higher 30s this year.
@@DABEARS1185 Was I wrong ?
@@NothingElseMattersJM is the season over? Because it doesn’t seem over. Plus, you conveniently got real quite after those games at the beginning of the year. Don’t pick and choose, so wait till the end of the season like I said.
this next generation of hoopers are so blessed to have so much high quality info at their fingertips. thx for the content and wishing you & everyone a safe holiday season.
Something about these videos is so entrancing. Keep up the great work man. Have a great day.
Solid vid. Time for an analysis on Jokic's complete offensive dominance this season and much improved defence I'd say.
Jokic is boring. This guy actually wants views on his videos lol
@@chiarosuburekeni9325 That is a wild statement, Jokic's passing is insanely exciting! He, like Durant and Curry, has an unstoppable skillset. He is an excellent shooter, has BBIQ that's off the charts and is *easily* the best passing big, ever.
@@chiarosuburekeni9325 ruclips.net/video/iuO1iGP5L7I/видео.html
@@chiarosuburekeni9325 ruclips.net/video/okIwFBdbEOc/видео.html 2nd vid:
ruclips.net/video/wu2deohRjJA/видео.html 3rd vid:
I hope you have great success my dude. Your basketball content is top-notch.
So what I’ve gathered is that when going into the 4th of close games, I should try to side bet on the Bulls with my friend.
How perfectly time this video is, where 2 days later Demar scores 38 including a game winner without taking a single 3!
Really miss seeing Deebo's midrange wizardry as a Raptor. Was super hyped for Chi-town to go make some real playoff runs until their injuries started to pile up. ; _ ;
I just always love your videos man. I wish other sports had analysis like this. Also I think it’s interesting Durant gets this much value from the midrange given how in general it is a low efficiency shot attempt. The utility in pick and roll and isolation is still great though, adds a lot of resilience to his scoring. I still feel like you have to be so good at hitting midrange shots to make a living in that range that it’s not a good idea for the vast majority of players.
@@chiggsytube Exactly! Role players and star level players don't have the shot creation ability to flirt making a living at midrange, being consistent at it AND adding more value to that arsenal. Elite shot creators like KD/Kawhi or stars now like DeRozan/CP3/Aldridge who mastered that shot but can score other ways use the midrange as a means to just add more value to their deep bag of shot creation tactics.
Chris Paul, healthy Kawhi Leonard are another good examples of that. Good midrange will always be invaluable tool, especially towards late stages of the careers.
Nothing more beautiful than a perfectly executed middy. Idc how many 3's a player can knock down or how hard someone can drive the paint... float a gorgeous midrange shot after a nice pump fake to get your defender to bite on the contest and I am much more impressed. I went to my gym the other day, I saw absolutely nothing BUT kids practicing catch and shoot 3's. They finally started moving around and I saw a couple finally start to shoot some middys and they bricked them all. It's actually embarrassing how bad this new era is at shooting from midrange. All they practice is the 3 and so the rest of their game completely suffers for it. They are good from behind the arc or at the rim... anywhere else its a toss up. I get that the overuse of the 3 makes every kid in the gym now feel like they can contribute to the team but when that is quite literally ALL you can do you get exposed very quickly. When your 3 isn't hitting you've now trapped yourself in a corner. So kid's... there is MORE TO BASKETBALL than standing in the corner waiting for a catch and shoot 3. Practice your damn midrange!
I remember how much I missed this type of content in the couple months you werent posting. Thank you for blessing us with your videos!
This is so much better than those pointless fake debates on ESPN .... Great work . Grats bro
Beautiful Illustration. Dignified and captures their best attributes.
Good to see the mid range ain’t dead
Love this! Basketball needs the midrange. Analytics has made the game stagnant because the 3 is overvalued. Not everyone is Steph.
Gun be exciting. Would've wished for the Jokic rant to come as soon as possible, but I'm sure as hell happy about this .
Go watch his peice on the void with Kevin o Connor for his jokic rant
Great job as always. I think ppl will start to see that curry and lillard are rare and not something you can duplicate. Like you said its better for ok shooters to hit that spot up 3. But its looking like more stars are going back to the midrange and post moves. Paul, durant, and damar are having success and i hope it spreads. Lebron has been feasting in the high post as well
Analytics was never about stars not shooting middies lol
@@tarsheablue2917 what do you mean? Durant had whole arguments on Twitter about sports reporters saying he was taking "bad" midrange shots. Charles n shaq are always mad at joel and AD taking 3s n not getting in the post. Also everyone keeps harping on greak freak to take 3s when he's like 60% from the paint. Its been a common theme, it literally the point of the video. "Hey here's two stars doing that thing nobody does"
@@mrblackhouseprez no analyst will tell Durant to stop taking mid range shot lmao
Its always been that case though. The most dynamic high volume shot creators had the mid range in their bag besides a way to finish inside and get FTs or they can get hot shooting beyond the arc. The role players/stars who aren't as dynamic with on ball shot creation needed to be more efficient in what they already have. So that is why they don't play with the midrange often.
@@mrblackhouseprez nobody does? CP3, Booker, Kawhi, PG, Lavine, Middleton, Embiid, AD, Jokic, Murray, McCollum, Tatum has most of their scoring from midrange/ paint jumper and there is many more. Don't took the role player for the star player. Stars and superstars always use ALL they have in their bag
Considering Michael Jordan is still acknowledged as the greatest of all time and was a midrange killer, there's no way you'll ever convince me that the midrange isn't needed or vital
Midrange is even deadlier shot in a finals than 3points shot....
@@poncearnel2950 that’s why both jordan and kobe are clutch with the midrange
The mid range just isn’t needed if you’re a role player, but if you’re kd or demar and you can make them at the rate they do then ofc they should be pulling it
Manufacture at will. That's the true value of the midrange shot. A good midrange shooter can get those looks pretty much on demand in a way a 3pt or rim specialist can' t. Pretty valuable specially in the playoffs. Much less variance too. Also more valuable in the post season
Durant - Proving he's the Best Scorer in the game and arguably the Best Overall Player in the NBA.
DeRozan - Finally getting the mid-range respect he deserves. He's been outstanding. Improves year after year.
he's not on both acounts
Demar has been great though
@@jebise011 who do you think is a better scorer? And who's the best player in the game?
@@mq830 judging by his name he's gonna say jokic
@@starllama2149 isn't it Jokic? (Best overall player today)
"Winning with the Midrange" could be the subtitle for Larry Bird's career.
Was listening to KOC’s podcast and thought that smooth silky voice sounds familiar! Love your work! Best content in basketball.
Rip Hamilton would be so pleased by this video. When it comes to midrange, he's one of the best too.
You make me enjoy watching basketball more than I already did! Love your content and passion for basketball.
Bro you’re the best basketball page on here
this is some of the best basketball content to come out... ever. If you could wrap and tight, dramatic narrative into these videos.. maybe making them a little longer.. each of these videos would be a must watch for any basketball appreciator.
D Book and CP3 put on a mid-range clinic in last year's playoffs as well. Wouldn't want to forget them too
A lot of championship teams always has a mid range finisher lucky for Brooklyn they have another one in kyrie. So that's why Milwaukee was in a bad way last playoffs in the first few games. Ky n KD was killing them from the mid range while Milwaukee was shooting themselves on a hole from the misses from 3
Bulls also got Lavine, he isn’t elite like Derozan or KD at the the midrange but he’s good at it but he can also shoot the 3 really good and has good movement to get around players in the paint and score easy layups
@@ILLUSI_O_N-V1 Lavine doesn't have it that much as covered by Thinking Basketball before. His bread and butter is slashing to the hoop and 3-ball jumpers. And a lil more offball action since he has teammates who can move the ball around. That said he could develop it later in his career if his handles get to that point and he's dynamic enough to get value with it. But for now DeRozan is the midrange guy and I'd argue he's in a better position with his skillset than he was with the Raps then relying on him as a first offensive option.
@@ILLUSI_O_N-V1 I agree. Zach movement is fluid. Very nimble
D BOOK mid-range Babayyy
🌝 Top two scorer of all time ! Most versatile scorer ever ! 🌝
Wow, you read my mind..
About a week or two ago I actually thought about suggesting a video about whether the midrange shot is coming back.
Bulls, Lakers, Clippers along others seem to have included midrange shots a lot more this season. The Rockets (former) / Warriors / Bucks style of shooting only 3's or at the rim spread to the whole league over the last few years, but lately it feels like some teams are going towards finding styles that fit them better. Although efficiency wise we know 3's and lay-ups are the best.
Great content as always.
B. Ingram & CP3 nasty in the mid range too. Honorable mention to DeAngelo Russell.
And cp and book. It's amazing to watch them all . I got a new found respect for demar this yr as a bulls fan
Very cool. I was hoping you would do this exact video on these exact two playerz. Wow!!!
Midrange is particularly useful come playoff time. Bulls might end up in the Conference Finals against Brooklyn, I wouldn't be surprised.
Nice to finally see you over on @The Ringer!
A video of two of my favorite players in da league?? Had to watch!
Who’s here after Derozan’s back to back game winning buzzer beaters
Damn right 🥂 for last night and tonight‼️🐂's 🏀
These guys, as well as guys like Middleton and Paul, are keeping the midrange alive in a league that wants to get rid of it. I hope it makes a comeback, it adds another dimension and keeps the game interesting.
KD has his length that helps him rise at higher point of release or create large spaces between him and the defender. DeMar may be smaller but when he gets to his spot he can be really elusive in his moves Whenever he does, it kinda seems like he controls the speed of his spins or other moves making him look like he's in slow-mo and seems to disrupts the defenders rhythm too.
@00:20 video game level? They make players miss in those games. This man is above video game levels
"When you're closer to the basket, it's easier for your shots to go in"
- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, and no I'm not joking
Steph Curry is an outlier, the supreme emperor shooter of all time. He combines efficiency, volume, and increased point value into one unique package that's entirely based on skill.
Not every player can play like him, and not every team can have a player like him either. Teams are starting to realize that chasing that dragon is futile. Midrange scoring gives greater versatility (much more space inside the arc to create an open or open enough shot), as well as easier shots, just like Kareem said. Easier shots mean less variance in scoring output, easier shots mean less cold games, easier shots mean that developing a player takes practice time away from chucking the long ball and puts time towards developing your own unique moves and playstyle while still being able to develop offensive acumen in the midrange.
Offensive rhythm and consistency are, in my opinion, the key to winning basketball games. If you score 2 points _every_single_time_ your team gets the ball, congratulations, you're going to win the game. That philosophy has yet to be disproven. That's why rebounding into transition scoring is the first step to building a winning basketball team, because within 10 seconds AT MOST of possession, your team has scored, as opposed to playing in the half court using twice as much game time to score points.
"3 points is more than 2".
If you hit 30% of your 3s and 40% of your 2s, you should be shooting threes. The reason that the midrange game died is because your shot probability doesn't go up as fast as the resulting points go up as your step inside the line. These shots only make sense if you're able to make up the 2:3 reward ratio in shooting percentage. When you're shooting over 50%, then yeah it probably makes sense (still maybe not! A 50% midrange shooter is probably not worse than like a 35% 3 point shooter, in which case he's leaving points on the board by taking mid range stuff), but so few people shoot this well from the midrange that it's hard to make it make sense.
The value of these mid range shots is just to force the defense to get off the three point line so that you can take more threes.
@@anticarcarclub Lol and yet Steph Curry cant even get 1 fmvp because he always bricking 3s.. midrange is as or more important than 3pt shot in the playoffs.. Noticed that all fmvps with rings in the past 20 or 30 years are all center forward or shooting guard with great midrange or dominant in the paint.
@@ranholic5027 So Andre deserves fmvp over Steph for guarding Lebron on an inefficient almost triple double 36 point average. Funny enough Curry also did more in the other finals when KD won it too. It's even funnier that people really say he's not clutch and yet he has a whole highlight reel of clutch moments including from 3 and in the playoffs. And even then he was on a team that blew out most teams anyways so he got to sit in the 4th
@@TheElectricGhost Yea they deserved tthe award butt it's funny cuz when he won his unanimous mvp back in 2016 he literally choked in the finals when the team needed him the most cuz hes the "first unanimous mvp" right ? 😂😂
Hahahahha kd has a better shooting efficiency than curry .kd is 53percent field goal while curry is just 42 percent...and curry is not the best shooter,why?how can you say,you are the best shooter if you have a too low fieldgoal,and a very low shooting efficiency,..if wer talking about 3points shooting yes you wer right curry is the king o best shooter,but if wer going to talk about shooting in all aspect in basketball then kd is the best shooter..you cant be called the best scorer if you are not the best shooter..
3pointshooting curry > kd
Midrange curry
Great video on the lost art of mid range shooting.
Best channel on RUclips
6:39 one of the most skilled things i've ever seen
I love their game! It's like seeing MJ's and Kobe's game.
Great Analysis!!!
Love your breakdowns and that mj and demar was crazy but scary accurate
Love these videos
The midrange is far from dead, you love to see it
Ben was sick having to give KD credit lmao
A sleeper this season who’s mid range has been deadly is Seth Curry.
Yes he is really good but his package is still basic. He is a face up mid shooter, he don’t have those two footwork
Goat bball channel 🐐 🐐
Amazing breakdown. Long live the mid range
And it's not common to see that many players excel at that. Most defenses are happy to give up the mid range shot since it's not a strong strength for most NBA players.
DeRozan is an ALL-STAR par excellente'. What he does, including the slam dunk, he does it with grace and ease!
I love the mid range I never cared for 3’s I can move around without exhausting myself at the middy
Kd is currently at 55% from mid range this season. Derozan at 47%.. love the beauty in their game’s
4:06 glad to see Vitaly Potapenko getting his respect
The next evolution of the game is utilizing all 3 levels as the norms of offensive scheme. (3s/mid/paint)
So the early 2000's. lol
@@markthompson8246 the 3 was last option then. (or for specialist)
Now it's 2s and 3s.
Ideally all 3 levels should be viable/balance.
Finally what i was looking for
Thanks for the vid
fun fact my player in 2K is shooting most of the time from midrange as well and KD is my favorite player
Can you please tell me your build? I've tried to create a mid range player but I'm not good at 2K, do a bit of help would be great
It’s really not rocket science almost all the greatest players of all time we’re master chefs from the midrange.
In the post season it becomes harder to hit 3’s, with the uptick of physicality, especially in the finals. It also becomes harder to just go to the rim. So a player has to be a great player in the midrange if he wants to maintain success in the post season as well as the finals.
Having a great midrange game opens up the driving lanes and 3 point opportunities from yourself and teammates.
Jordan
Bird
Kareem
Lebron
Durant
Melo
Hakeem
I could go on and on
All great midrange players
That’s why it’s called a 3 level scorer
Well said
One of those things is not like the other
@@lenzlea2400 lol I was about to say "why is melo in there if you're talking about deep playoff runs?"
@@mrbucky226 He could have easily swapped him for Dirk or Garnett lol
In your list Melo is absolutly not relevant as there are many more players that were better at mid range than he is and was, like Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, George Gervin, Karl Malone for the oldest ones.