I actually think that mid-range will become more important because of analytics. Not more used but more important. Good defenses will get better and better at taking away the shots that offenses want to take, namely shots at the rims and catch and shoot 3's. Having players that have the ability to create and make shots in the midrange will have value because that area will have the least defensive focus.
Part of what former players are bemoaning in my opinion is the loss of the iso scorer. Jordan and Kobe famously rebelled against the triangle offense, Jordan less so because he played in an egalitarian system at UNC. Bryant, Jordan and Anthony, while great players were all ball stoppers. The best offenses of today have far more ball movement and are more enjoyable to watch than the offenses of the 90's and much of the 2000's.
"As defenses work harder to take away the three-point shot, the midrange may increase in value because midrange shots move further from the defense. This, in a sense, is one of Taylor’s arguments (as well as arguing that Derozan’s midrange game has gravity that opens up better three-point shots for teammates)."
I agree. I also think former players just dislike new, novel, different and better. They're longing for their glory days. Personally, I never enjoyed watching Kobe or Melo, and generally rooted against Jordan too.
I actually think that mid-range will become more important because of analytics. Not more used but more important. Good defenses will get better and better at taking away the shots that offenses want to take, namely shots at the rims and catch and shoot 3's. Having players that have the ability to create and make shots in the midrange will have value because that area will have the least defensive focus.
Part of what former players are bemoaning in my opinion is the loss of the iso scorer. Jordan and Kobe famously rebelled against the triangle offense, Jordan less so because he played in an egalitarian system at UNC. Bryant, Jordan and Anthony, while great players were all ball stoppers. The best offenses of today have far more ball movement and are more enjoyable to watch than the offenses of the 90's and much of the 2000's.
I kind of said the same at the end of this old article: https://180shooter.com/the-fascination-with-the-midrange:
"As defenses work harder to take away the three-point shot, the midrange may increase in value because midrange shots move further from the defense. This, in a sense, is one of Taylor’s arguments (as well as arguing that Derozan’s midrange game has gravity that opens up better three-point shots for teammates)."
I agree. I also think former players just dislike new, novel, different and better. They're longing for their glory days. Personally, I never enjoyed watching Kobe or Melo, and generally rooted against Jordan too.