Are we going to ignore that Harden's MidRange TurnAround Jumper is unstoppable?

Such a beautiful shot too. Feigned the drive left, spun back right...SWISH.

 

Y'all remember that step back middy James put on Austin Rivers for the game? It's like tapped a pressure on him and dude collapsed.

 

Yes. No mid range even if 100% unless you are cp3.

 

Well its almost impossible to guard Harden with his drive, 3 point, and pNr. You add mid range to that and they will just break down and cry in a corner.

 

That very shot is what’s going to not only prolong Hardens career but also keep him an elite offensive player when he’s older.

If you looks past the first few games of the season harden has been shooting the ball very well this year.

Almost every game he’s hitting about half his shots which is amazing since he takes 11 threes a game.

His shooting imo had really improved this year.

 

I was preaching this last year. Coach has to do a better job preaching this as well.

 

AWESOME METAPHOR

 

Rookie to 14' Harden had that unstoppable mid-range shot but Morey has killed that move as years moved on.

Honestly, if he didn't jack up so many 3s in last year's game 6 & 7 and took 2s instead, we might've won the series.

 

doesn't matter because it increases his unpredictability thus increasing his layup and 3 percentages which is more than enough to offset not so great percentage on midrange

 

If this were true, Carmelo Anthony would have multiple rings and mvp trophies.

 

Harden's mid range game is not as good as you guys think it is

 

lol melos passing game and driving game is nothing like hardens ...bad comparison...

 

its doesn't have to be.. he just need to mix it up a little to be less predictive so he can indirectly improve his layups and 3s

 

That's not the comparison. You said Harden shooting from mid range would improve his percentages at the rim and from 3.

If shooting mediocrely from mid range improved your rim/3pt percentages, Carmelo Anthony would be racking them up. Jabari Parker would be a deadly scorer. John Wall would be worth his contract. Shaun Livingston would be a starting PG.

The point is, it's obviously not true that hitting mid range shots - even if it were at an elite level - improves your ability to hit 3's or score at the basket. If defenders can predict he is going to drive or 3pa, it doesn't mean they can stop both. Similarly, they can predict 3 options as well, and because the mid range is located right between the 2 spots there would be no extra effort needed for them to bother that shot.

It would be an opponent coaches dream for the Houston Rockets lethal offense to suddenly divert even a portion of its most lethal scoring machine's effort to his least efficient spot on the floor. This is like showing up to a Warriors series and Kerr has asked Curry to take less 3's and drives while replacing them with more mid range jumpers. We would be ecstatic if that happened. We would welcome the nominal unpredictability.

 

Harden should shoot halfcourt shots a few times every game so that his shot selection is less predictable. No defense will expect it and it doesn't matter if he misses them because the point is to be unpredictable.

 

all we are asking Harden to do is not restrict himself to just layups and threes as it can get very predictable...when the stepback three isn’t falling, maybe try utilizing his midrange game instead of continuing to jack it up from deep and missing

I would really like for him to use it more during clutch time

 

Most of us get what you are saying. Being unpredictable is harder to defend than being predictable.

Most of understand that it doesn't take something ridiculous like Harden shooting half court shots or Capela shooting 3s to mix things up a little.

Harden can post up small PG's and there's no reason to handcuff him from doing that.

 

Heres Hardens midrange shooting percentage for each year of his career.

He's been below average every year but don't let that put a damper on all the great reminiscing about how dominant he use to be before the Rockets foolishly killed this great weapon.

09-10 OKC 38.6%

10-11 OKC 40.2%

11-12 OKC 40.0%

12-13 HOU 33.5%

13-14 HOU 40.6%

14-15 HOU 37.3%

15-16 HOU 40.5%

16-17 HOU 41.1%

17-18 HOU 39.1%

18-19 HOU 37.5%

 

Perception vs Reality.