Mid-Range games: LBJ vs Durant vs Harden vs Melo vs Kobe vs T-Mac vs Jordan

[detrimental]

This originally started out with me checking on LBJ/Durant/Melo/Harden (the four most prolific perimeter players). I was particularly curious to see whether LBJ and Harden had improved as much as the general consensus thinks. I ended up deciding to check prime Bryant ('06) and McGrady ('03) for comparison. And threw Jordan ('97, 34yo) in there as well [the earliest Jordan we can check on]. Results have been pretty interesting, at least for me, and dispel some myths.

LeBron's lack of a post-game and a sketchy mid-range game were much of the reason team's could find ways to limit him in crucial moments of the post-season, likewise his development of post and mid-range skillset were absolutely crucial in helping him overcome his playoff failures. Over the years the adoption of the three point game has seen a decline in mid-range proficiency for many big name players, but it's also remained apparent that a solid mid-range game is vital to a perimeter player's ultimate success and can break the back of a beastly defense.

%PTS 2PT-MR: The percentage of points scored by a player that are 2 point mid-range jump shots. MR jumpers are generally jump shots that occur within the 3 point line, but not near the rim.

LeBron James, '13-'14
%PTS 2PT-MR: 12.1%
Mid-Range FG%: 38.9%





Kevin Durant, '13-'14
%PTS 2PT-MR: 18.3%
Mid-Range FG%: 45.7%





Carmelo Anthony, '13-'14
%PTS 2PT-MR: 30.7%
Mid-Range FG%: 43.8%





James Harden, '13-'14
%PTS 2PT-MR: 10.1%
Mid-Range FG%: 39.7%





Tracy McGrady, '02-'03
%PTS 2PT-MR: 27.2%
Mid-Range FG%: 43.2%





Kobe Bryant, '05-'06
%PTS 2PT-MR: 29.3%
Mid-Range FG%: 42.2%





Michael Jordan, '96-'97
%PTS 2PT-MR: 42.9%
Mid-Range FG%: 48.9%




Variables to consider
- Statistical fluctuation. Sometimes players just have a down year, for whatever the reason. Example being that LBJ's numbers were quite a bit better last season.

- 3 point shot. Quite an obvious impact that shouldn't need explaining. % of player's points from 3pt range has been growing consistently for 2 decades.

- Age & athleticism. Roles and games change as players age. Ex. Kobe's been relying on his MR game more and more as he's gotten older. All of the players listed here scored much more from fast break points than MJ did @ 34, for example. They all attack the hole much more frequently, too.

Conclusion: I'm not going to make one. I'll let you guys derive what you will from the numbers, if anything at all. I just found this fun, and figured I'd share with you homos.

Bonus: The most astonishing thing I discovered while doing all of this was that with the Wizards, Jordan hit an unbelievable 142 from 174 (81.6%) fadeaway jumpshots! That absolutely destroys any number from any current player, including KB.

[WestAfrica]

Even with the pictures TL;DR

[detrimental]

Even with the pictures TL;DR

Why bother posting in the thread, *******?

[ChipotleBro]

So Lebron isn't that good in the mid range extended, who knew?

[Rebounds45]

what about the Truth, Paul Pierce?

[4567081110]

where do you find this stuff? and what were LBJ's numbers last year? you said they were better, so i'm curious.

[detrimental]

what about the Truth, Paul Pierce?

Paul Pierce, '05-'06
%PTS 2PT-MR: 21.3%
Mid-Range FG%: 44.1%

where do you find this stuff? and what were LBJ's numbers last year? you said they were better, so i'm curious.

NBA.com's new advanced stat database. I use other websites for advance stats generally but for shot break downs, NBA.com is the best. They've really improved it the last couple seasons.

LeBron James, '12-'13
%PTS 2PT-MR: 17.1%
Mid-Range FG%: 43.2%

Come playoff time he'll be forced to use it more, so hopefully he can find a return to last year's form.

If I were a Rocket fan I'd be worried about Harden. He rarely goes to his mid-range game, and when he does he's not very good. He benefits from Dwight's presence so a MR game isn't as important to him, but come playoff time when defenses zone in, he appears to be the easiest one of the bunch to disrupt.

[gswarrior510]

Kobe shot 45% from mid range in 09-10. If you are going to take Jordan's best season from mid range, take Kobe's best too. (44% in 06-07 aka his best overall season)



also 45% in 08-09 playoffs and 09-10 playoffs

[detrimental]

Kobe shot 45% from mid range in 09-10. If you are going to take Jordan's best season from mid range, take Kobe's best too. (44% in 06-07 aka his best overall season and 41% in 02-03 aka his 2nd best season)

Yep, he kept that 45% from MR during both the '09 and '10 playoff runs as well, which is very impressive.

Your boy Stephen Curry is averaging 48.4% on MR this season, btw. If a crazy 42% of his points didn't come from threes, he'd be at Jordan's numbers.

[gswarrior510]

Yep, he kept that 45% from MR during both the '09 and '10 playoff runs as well, which is very impressive.

Your boy Stephen Curry is averaging 48.4% on MR this season, btw. If a crazy 42% of his points didn't come from threes, he'd be at Jordan's numbers.

hmmm.. Jordan didnt shoot as well in playoffs at all. 40~% in 97 and ~40% in 98

[gswarrior510]

I'm assuming 96-97 was Jordan's peak mid range, which is crazy impressive.. 49%. BUT with that said, handchecking was still around and it was somewhat easier to get a jumper. Basically it's between Jordan and Kobe for GOAT mid range shooters. Durant can sneak in there too, but he doesn't create as much so idk about that. His game is different.

[detrimental]

How do you figure Bryant a better MR shooter than Jordan? That's not even Jordan's best season, it's just the earliest one available. '98 is there but he had a strained wrist and broken index with torn ligaments that year. Even as a broken down old fart with the Wizards (against zone and handchecking, albeit relaxed handchecking) he managed 43.4%.

Shooting and driving stats rose significantly after handchecking was made illegal in '04-05 btw

[gswarrior510]

Also Kobe shoots a lot more unassisted shots than either. MJ shot about 50/50 assisted/unassisted while Kobe shot 20-35/65-80 and KD about 40-50/50-60

[gswarrior510]

How do you figure Bryant a better MR shooter than Jordan? That's not even Jordan's best season, it's just the earliest one available. '98 is there but he had a strained wrist and broken index with torn ligaments that year. Even as a broken down old fart with the Wizards (against zone and handchecking, albeit relaxed handchecking) he managed 43.4%.

Shooting and driving stats rose significantly after handchecking was made illegal in '04-05 btw

Jordan shot a lot more jumpshots after his first retirement so I'm assuming that's his best FG% numbers. Maybe in some years he'd have higher unassisted mid range jumpers, but that's his peak most likely.

handchecking was mostly against driving as far as I see it.

[Dudeicus]

It's astonishing how few of Harden's attempts come from his mid range game. His FG% isn't exactly great, but it's pretty solid and I'm going to assume that it's still better than his 3 point FG%.

Durant's 46% is very impressive. Where was he at last year OP? I'd argue that he too should take more of those instead of forcing the 3, seeing as how his mid range game is head and shoulders above the rest of the league, and his own 3 game.

[reallyskinny]

It's astonishing how few of Harden's attempts come from his mid range game. His FG% isn't exactly great, but it's pretty solid and I'm going to assume that it's still better than his 3 point FG%.

Durant's 46% is very impressive. Where was he at last year OP? I'd argue that he too should take more of those instead of forcing the 3, seeing as how his mid range game is head and shoulders above the rest of the league, and his own 3 game.

Hardens low mid range attempts is in no way an accident. The rockets offensive philosophy is Dunks, 3's and fast break points. Darryl morrey the GM assembled the team with those traits in mind.

They make a conscious effort as a team to not shoot mid range shots . A main reason Dwight is so important to this team.

[broboma2012]

i think that at least shows jordan had the best fade away off all time.

[HoustonMiscer]

I can't speak for Harden when he was in OKC but ever since he has been in Houston he hasn't been great from midrange. Most of the midrange shots he makes are the crossover step back jumpers.

[Carpig]

i think that at least shows jordan had the best fade away off all time.

He had the best pull-up jumper, not necessarily a fade away.

He was the best at selling the drive, stopping on a dime, and hitting that 15-18 footer.


Best fade away? I'd say its a toss-up between McHale, Hakeem, or Dirk.

[broboma2012]

He had the best pull-up jumper, not necessarily a fade away.

He was the best at selling the drive, stopping on a dime, and hitting that 15-18 footer.


Best fade away? I'd say its a toss-up between McHale, Hakeem, or Dirk.

'with the Wizards, Jordan hit an unbelievable 142 from 174 (81.6%) fadeaway jumpshots!'

pretty amazing. all those guys you mentioned have a case

[Carpig]

'with the Wizards, Jordan hit an unbelievable 142 from 174 (81.6%) fadeaway jumpshots!'

pretty amazing. all those guys you mentioned have a case

That was late in his career when he didn't have that first step anymore. I mean, a great shooter is a great shooter but you are correct, Jordan on the Wizards did post up, turn, and fade quite a bit more.

[k_rock]

'with the Wizards, Jordan hit an unbelievable 142 from 174 (81.6%) fadeaway jumpshots!'

pretty amazing. all those guys you mentioned have a case

wtf! great stat breh

[k_rock]

Demar Derozan's mid-range game has been lethal this year. He just needs to be a bit more efficient.

[broboma2012]

That was late in his career when he didn't have that first step anymore. I mean, a great shooter is a great shooter but you are correct, Jordan on the Wizards did post up, turn, and fade quite a bit more.

and made 81% of them

[broboma2012]

wtf! great stat breh

it's in the op.

[4567081110]

Josh Smith, aka the GOAT.

This guy makes $14.0 million per year.

[jross2021]

guys, lebron is a good shooter!

[neighborr]

so this confirms what we already knew:

MJ > KD > Melo > T-Mac > Kobe > Harden > LBJ

[sdballer5588]

Melo gets no respect.


The real correlation here btw is that LeBron and Harden avoid the midrange game more than anyone else (as seen in attempts) whereas Jordan and Kobe take the majority of their shots from there.

Least attempts are the worst

Most attempts are the best

[jross2021]

Melo gets no respect.


The real correlation here btw is that LeBron and Harden avoid the midrange game more than anyone else (as seen in attempts) whereas Jordan and Kobe take the majority of their shots from there.

Least attempts are the worst

Most attempts are the best

yeah, i'm always impressed when players are conscious enough to know where they're bad from and avoid it. But at the same time, i'm more impressed when players are conscious of where they're bad from and IMPROVE it. That's what separates the greats from the GOATS.