Over the last decade, analytics-driven coaches across the NBA, EuroLeague and even college basketball have urged their players to abandon mid-range shots. 'Why take low-percentage middies when you can shoot threes or get to the rim?' was the philosophy drilled down to players, several of whom were impressionable enough to heed the advice and restrict themselves to two-level scorers.
However, with each passing year, players and coaches are starting to realize the flaws in the philosophy (Thanks, Daryl Morey). Who could forget when Mike D'Antoni's Rockets missed 27 straight threes against the Warriors in 2017? The Rockets were so hardwired to their game plan that they refused to make an adjustment, leading to their eventual downfall.
The ongoing playoffs are the perfect example of the return of a lost art. After Jamal Murray made two buzzer-beaters from the mid-range against the Lakers, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander continues to torch the Mavericks from the previously abandoned area on the court.
During Monday's Game 4 win, SGA made 12 of his 14 field goals from the mid-range area while attempting only one three.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander hit 12 shots between 10-20 feet tonight.
— StatMamba (@StatMamba) May 14, 2024
The only players with more midrange FGM in a single playoff game in the pbp era are Michael Jordan (17) and LaMarcus Aldridge (14). pic.twitter.com/c1r2qQzQVB
That SGA scored 34 points without making a single three-pointer is refreshing in the modern NBA, where players quickly launch from deep just to give their teams additional possessions. Gilgeous-Alexander is a throwback star who surveys defenses and goes to work in half-court sets.
The Canadian star similarly disregarded the deep shot during the regular season, averaging 30.1 points while making only 1.3 threes from 3.6 attempts per game. In comparison, the likes of Luka Doncic (10.6 attempts), Donovan Mitchell (9.0 attempts) and Jayson Tatum (8.2 attempts) let it fly a lot more.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made 10 mid-range jumpers, four non-restricted area 2s and six free throws in Game 4. That’s 34 points without a single make from 3 or at the rim.
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) May 14, 2024
Included a jumper from behind the backboard: “That one was ill-advised.” pic.twitter.com/BfrKjuFkxV
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