It's not just a Morey strategy. As people have said the Spurs ran through the playoffs with this strategy. Recently Indys coach was asked about analytics on a podcast he specifically said that they work for the most efficient shots on offense and that they try to limit mid range shots. Although he did say you can't completely ignore the midrange, but you need to get really good looks because it's just not an efficient shot.
Yup. The storyline I really enjoyed watching was the reaction after Games 1 and 2 against Portland that said that Aldridge was proving "Morey-ball" wrong and that midrange was more valuable in the playoffs because it was a more achievable shot.. Then San Antonio guarded him the exact same way and bombed away from 3 and in the paint while he regressed into a much more average version of himself. I do agree about not completely ignoring it. But it needs to be a changeup or late shot-clock thing. If it's a staple in your offense you're asking for trouble.
dont know if rockets has enough to extend their mid range game, offensive flow needs to be structured to do that, is mchale up to the challange?
I concur with posters above me. POTY candidate right here. I actually laughed out loud at that one. It simply amazes me that there are people who think that Morey doesn't account for the fact that his players are going to take open mid-range shots during the course of a game. Of course he prefers open 3s and layups when we can get them. The proof of how effective these are is statistically significant. Hell, it even passes the eye test. Look at the Spurs the past 2 years and tell me what a large part of their offense is... Granted the way in which they generate those shots is superior to anyone else in the league. I'm pretty sure an MIT and Northwestern graduate is plenty fine with open mid-range shots if that's the best available shot.
Interesting note from this series. The Rockets and Blazers took the same number of 3's in the series.
A player has to shoot the mid range shot at a high percentage to compete with the 3 point. All anyone has to do is look at that awesome 2&3 point graph to see why. We also know that many teams are going the way of Moreyball. The Vipers last year decided to go almost exclusively with high percentage shots and downplay the mid range and to real good effect. I doubt that Morey is going to move away from his 'vision' and be less competitive.
