Amazing game. I even like that he plays a little point, brings the ball up, looks patient yet aggressive, rebounds, plays some D too. Looks like he is the running mate for LeBron to keep out of the young core. Fits well and has good chemistry too. Also he doesn't need pampers like Zo and Ingram in crunch time.
Really nice handful of games from Kuz after a horrid start. Quickly becoming our second best player and developing that chemistry with Lebron. Lebron needs a running mate out there and it looks lime it’ll be Kuz.
If kuz plays like this all the time, he becomes an all Star, especially with the improving defense and passing. I think BI should still start, but bi needs to watch film on kuz and play like him. Also even Ingram admitted that he needs to take less mid range shots and more 3s
nothing wrong with mid range, bi just not very good with it, if he has rip Hamilton like mid range gm he'd be killer
^I think analytics have shown that midrange game simply isn't as effective as layups and 3s and thus, made it obsolete. You'll never hit the percentage required to build/justify your game around it analytically. You'd have to shoot 60+% or something on midrange shots which isn't realistic. The midrange game is best suited for surprise moments and iso plays. But it's simply not as effective as layups and 3s in the long run. Ingram can be money from midrange and I would take it. It's a lost art in the NBA. But the game has moved on from it. There aren't many Rip Hamilton or KG type of players. Guys like Melo have become dinasours in the NBA.
I don't believes analytics take into account the way the midrange game impacts spacing and ball movement. Pau Gasol's ability to hit the mid-range J allowed him to play the at the high-post in the triangle offense. The high post or elbow area is a perfect spot for a big or guard to find cutters, whether it's baseline cuts, cuts from the top of the key, or curls off a screen. You can't have that flexibility taking 3 point shots in the corner or or the top of the arc. If the passer at the high post can't hit the mid-range shot, the defense will back off and stop the cutter. I believe the mid-range J still has value if properly used in a system offense, but few teams run a system offense anymore.
It's about having options. You need to be effective at the midrange in order to have a complete offensive game. It forces defenders to play you differently if you are a threat to pull up. The best offensive players today still have a good midrange game - Curry, Durant, etc. But it is not all they have. Yes you should take the 3 if it is open. But if the other team plays you tight and has a good rim protector or help behind you, then you need the midrange in your arsenal. As an offensive player, you never want to limit your options.
A good mid range gm could even make zo a better offensive player, he's either shooting 3 or taking into a packed paint but no floater gm either
Get rid of the zone and see old basketball come back to the NBA. It will also start the big man need again.
Just move the three point line out to where pps is similar to midrange (probably like, 2 ft). And I agree that nobody needs the midrange...until you come up against a good, disciplined defense. It's why Kobe and dirk were popovich kryptonite, imo. Also just (awesomely) learned that autocorrect for popovich is poop I had.
Yeah the midrange shot isn't dead. When the defense clamps down, the midrange shot is the most reliable.
Not to mention every team including GSW thru Durant goes back to old school post-up iso midrange play when the offense isn't generally working. Sent from my E6533 using Tapatalk
I'm itching to post "I told you so" to regarding Kuz being that #2 this year. I know Ingram has all the tools, but Kuz has that mental aspect along with the work ethic that will make him a star. 31 pts and 7 reb tonight. Pretty soon this will just be another nice night for Kuz and we'll just expect it.
