Do the Lakers regret it? With more than 50% shooting, DeRozan has won 35+ statistics in the seventh consecutive game, and surpassed the historical record held by Chamberlain to become a new historical creator. If the Lakers sign DeRozan in the offseason, will the Lakers still be jokingly called "Lake Three Collapses" by others? Look at the lowest-key strength of the Sun this season. Under Paul's leadership, they have secured the number one in the league with an 82% win rate. As for DeRozan and Paul, it is most apt to describe them as "the older the more demon"!
When DeRozan stood in the United Center to make a free throw, the MVP shouted. This is the second time that Bulls fans have greatly recognized the stars of the house after Jordan and Rose. DeRozan averaged 27.9 points, 5.2 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game this season. The three shooting percentages reached 51.5%, 86.4%, and 34%, respectively, and the shooting performance was very efficient. Two consecutive three-point limit kills have gotten DeRo in favor of Mr. Key for the Bulls. Judging by all the trades in the offseason, DeRozan was undoubtedly the best deal on the free market last year.
How scorching has the sun been this season? The team has only lost twice in a row and is the only team in the league to maintain more than 80% of the record. In the past 10 games, Paul has averaged 20.5 points, 14.2 assists and 5.4 rebounds per game, shooting 49% and 35.2% from the field and three-point range. The organization and scoring of key moments have made Paul the anchor of the sun. Since Paul joined the Suns, the team has undergone a qualitative change. Now 36-year-old Chris Paul is still the league's top point guard.
DeRozan and Paul were able to shine a second spring in the new season because of their rock-solid mid-range shooting. DeRozan has Kobe Bryant's shadow on him and can complete a variety of difficult one-on-one singles within the three-point line. DeRozan can score on a dry jumper between the lines or create a mid-range shot with a back-punch. The adjusted back-up jumper with the ball is almost the same as Kobe Bryant and Jordan. DeRozan was the top scorer in the final quarter of the season, and he scored 19 points on 8-of-9 shooting in the fourth quarter against the Spurs. DeRozan's mid-range has become an important weapon for the Bulls to harvest the game at key moments.
Paul once said, "A mid-range shot is my layup." This is not an empty phrase. According to statistics, of all the players who have made no less than 200 shots from mid-range this season, Paul is at the top of the league with a 50.4% mid-range shooting percentage. Some people may say that just over 50% is just like that, right? But don't forget, Paul is already a 36-year-old veteran with a height of only 1.83m. In the small-ball era when three-pointers prevailed, Paul still maintained his role as a master of mid-range.
Affected by his height, Paul's mid-range is mostly combined with breakthrough shots. He shakes the opponent's defensive center of gravity by disguised and fake movements, and then jumps up and hits the ball in. Most of Paul's shots need to be done on the knees, because this allows him to jump higher so that his head basket is as undisturbed as possible. In the Suns' fourth series of games to eliminate the Nuggets last year, Paul scored 12 points on 6-of-6 shooting in the third quarter, and all six of his shots came from mid-range. That's enough to prove how good Paul's mid-range shot is. This season, the Suns can always achieve a rebound in the fourth quarter, which also has a lot to do with Paul's mid-range shooting.
Inadvertent changes may lead the trend of the times. After the Splash Brothers won the championship because of the accuracy of the outside shooting, the teams competed to emulate the Warriors' way of playing and pursue the maximization of the court space, so as to get more outside shooting opportunities. As a result, centers who can't shoot three-pointers are gradually becoming unpopular in the market, and the low-single mid-range technique of determining the game is gradually marginalized. More players are focusing on improving their outside shooting percentage. But the real masters understand that when the game hits a critical moment, the middle distance is the most effective means of scoring to determine the outcome of the game.
The farther the shot, the more visually impactful it is. But the closer you get to the basket, the easier it is to score. And once the game is stuck in a state of glue, it is often more stable than whose scoring ability is. Everyone knows that it's easy to score under the basket, so you can't hit the basket to score at the critical moment. Shoot three points from the outside, and it's not so guaranteed. Therefore, the classic moment of the mid-range jump shot is constantly staged on the screen of NBA history. Jordan's last dance to kill the Jazz won the sixth crown, Kobe Bryant doubled the Suns in the playoffs in 2006, Leonard killed the 76ers at the limit in 19 years...
And now the superstars who are alone in the alliance have also put the investment into their own pockets. Durant is known as the "Grim Reaper" because his shooting can cover the entire area near the three-point line. And his mid-range shots on the move are almost insoluble. That's the main reason why Kerr gave the key ball to Durant that year.
Leonard has been polishing his mid-range shooting since he stepped on James to win the championship. Leonard's quick stop mid-range shot, a back-to-back singles turn-over jumper, and a back-to-back ramming turn jump shot. As long as it can not be affected, his middle shot is as stable as a machine control, which also earns him the reputation of "contemporary Jordan". He has made it into the league's top five, and if the last two years are not affected by injuries, the Clippers will still be the strongest contender for the championship.
As the most influential star after Jordan and Kobe, James's achievements have been beyond the reach of the younger generations. But the reason why James can maintain his dominance for a long time has a lot to do with the mid-range shooting he developed later. Since James pulled the Heat back from the brink of elimination with a steady mid-range on the Shores of Boston in 12 years, no team has ever really limited James. Now the 37-year-old James's turn-back jumper is even more perfect and has become an important weapon in his arsenal.
As the first person in the future alliance, Alphabet Brother is improving at a speed visible to the naked eye every year. The most rare thing is that The alphabet brother still did not stop improving his self-inadequacy after winning the championship. His mid-range shooting and three-point shooting are steadily improving. In particular, Brother Alphabet's turnaround back jumper allowed him to successfully evolve into a real Greek monster. If Alphabet Brother can maintain a stable mid-range shooting percentage in the playoffs, the Bucks' chances of defending the title this season have greatly increased.
Every era has the classics of each era, and each era also has the offensive method of each era. But look at the superstars who really ruled the era at that time, all of them trained the middle throw to be magical. "The one who wins the middle of the pitch wins the world", which seems to have become an eternal truth in the basketball world!