http://www.nba.com/2015/news/powerra...=iref:nbahpt6f
San Antonio (4-2)
Pace: 99.1 (19) OffRtg: 101.9 (9) DefRtg: 93.8 (4) NetRtg: +8.0 (4)
The jumpers were falling against Charlotte on Saturday, but the Spurs have taken 50.1 percent of their shots from between the restricted area and the 3-point line, the third highest mark in the league and the team's highest mark since 2003-04. And that's not just about LaMarcus Aldridge.Kawhi Leonard ranks third in the league in mid-range attempts, and won't continue shooting 50 percent from there.
This week: @ SAC, @ POR, vs. PHI
I don't care about where the Spurs are placed or power rankings in general. I know we all expected to have more 2 pt jumpers flying this year, but I still found the stats he pointed out interesting. Something tells me the writer isn't a huge Spurs fan though.
Interesting stat. Not sure if KL will end up at 50% but I don't know why he would have a significant drop off. His mechanics look great and he can get that shot up over almost anyone. And there is a big variance between the shortest and longest distances in the area in question.
Kawhi needs to drive to the basket more really.
Agree with you. I don't think there should be a huge drop off. He just has to be smart when its not falling and do other stuff. If its falling, by all means.
Right, as Kawhi continues to improve he'll shoot better than 50% from that range.
With this core it was easy to anticipate how the spurs gonna play
Pistons will cool, imo. But that's an interesting perspective.
Yeah pretty much. I've been saying it for years, his in between games is so smooth. Anybody that is surprised at how deadly he is from midrange simply hasn't been paying attention.
The league shot 58% last year on layups and 38% last year on jumpers. Adjusting out three pointers, it's closer to 39%.
What that doesn't take into account is contested vs. uncontested shots. I'd rather take an open 10 footer than take a contested shot at the rim.
Like someone posted earlier, their just gonna have to be smart about it. If KL's jumpshot is not going, he needs to try to drive more or try to get someone else an easy look.
I don't mind him shooting a lot of jumpers because he's been hitting them, especially in rhythm. But if their not going in, please don't go Kobe on us and try to shoot you way out of it.
This was my initial reaction too. Maybe I am being over sensitive about the way he wrote it, but it feels like his intent was Kawhi's two point shooting will be a detriment to the Spurs over time. Sometimes I get uncomfortable with Kawhi's fade away because it's a difficult shot, but he's hitting it. In general, Kawhi has been taking good shots. I don't feel like Spurs force a lot of shots, other than maybe Tony at the rim sometimes to draw fouls.
Kawhi shot 50% in 2013-14 season. That was when I noticed his mid-range game was killer. He didn't shoot as well last season(44.3%, not terrible), but he played with the hurt hand and Pink Eye of Death so I wasn't sure what to make of the shooting that year. The volume and difficultly of his shots are higher than ever, but he's still hitting them. If he does shoot 50% from the mid-range would it even be a problem if he shoots a lot of them? He could get the defense to bite on all his fakes and open up driving lanes from the triple threat. Even if he doesn't shoot 50%, it going to be a big part of his game.
Also, when I was looking at his stats, I noticed something about his 3pt shooting; almost all(15 of 19) his 3 pointers this year have been "above the break" meaning NOT corner 3s. Last year he shot 28.4% from there. He is shooting 20% from there this season. That explains his bad 3pt%. On the flip side, he shot 44.8% from the corners last year. I don't need to state the obvious but I will anyway; for Kawhi to improve his 3pt% he must shoot more from the corners. Less obvious is how that's gonna happen...
I thought I should put my links. Stats under "Shot Area" section: http://stats.nba.com/player/#!/20269...gular%20Season
http://stats.nba.com/player/#!/202695/stats/shooting/
Last edited by All Mighty Janitor; 11-09-2015 at 04:49 PM. Reason: added links
With Danny's bricks right now there is no spacing. We will probably see more drives when Danny starts shooting his usual percentages (and when they acclimate LMA to the offense).
IKR, Chris Paul/Re shot above 50% last season
The Spurs are third in RPM power rankings behind GSW and Utah. Pretty good for a 40% new team...
It's possible to succeed with a mid-range game. The writer makes it seem like it's not what Kawhi does best.
It's not like every 2 pointer he's shooting is just inside the arc. Dirk shot close to 50% for his career from 2 point range. Much of that taking difficult fade aways. Not that KL is Dirk but no reason think he can't hit those jumpers at a high rate over a career.
Hmm, I wonder who the last NBA Champion was that won primarily hitting mid range jumpers.
Can't be mad at Kawhi taking mid range shots when he has two long, 7 footers under the rim for offensive rebounds. I'm actually surprised we're such a bad offensive rebounding team considering we have one of the best rebounding front courts with Kawhi/Duncan/Aldridge
Kiwi led offense = inefficient, tbh
Parker, Kawhi, Leonard, Duncan. All mid-range shooters.
I assume you mean Aldridge instead of Leonard (or Kawhi)?
It would be pretty cool if Pop wins with yet another style of play, though, tbh..it would probably cement him as the GOAT of coaches IMO, pretty rare for an older coach to be so adaptable and willing to change..
true..coaches born in 1940s early/1950s looks out it in this league..whether its health or old school stubborness, they have been getting phased out at fast rate in the last few years..Amazing that if Pop lasts until 2020..
It's pretty amazing that organizations still hire coaches like Sam Mitc , Byron Scott and Lionel Hollins, tbh
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