Deebo is still a midrange maestro.
The NBA has produced several deadly scorers over the years. Some players, like Shaquille O’Neal, have made their livelihood outside of the arc, but others, like Stephen Curry, have done the majority of their damage inside it. The midrange game is one area of the court that is frequently disregarded, though.
It’s simple to forget those flawless jump shots from within the arc in the modern NBA, where three-point shooting is the norm. It’s a crucial component of DeMar DeRozan’s offensive toolkit. Over his career, DeRozan has averaged more than 21 points per game and has been a reliable scorer.
And although though he might not be as well-known as some of his teammates for his spectacular dunks or three-point shooting, DeRozan has made a name for himself as one of the league’s top midrange scorers. In that regard, veteran Bulls analyst Sam Smith rates Deebo among the NBA’s best five midrange scorers.
Top five
In his day, Smith witnessed a great deal of Bulls action. Smith has seen some of the best midrange scorers in the history of the game, including Derrick Rose, Jimmy Butler, and Michael Jordan, whom he regards as the greatest of all time. DeRozan is highly praised if he places him in the top five.
“DeMar needs to be among the top five players of all time because not only does he make his shots, but everyone knows he’s going to fake and keeps fouling him. In a recent mailbag session, Smith observed, “What a pleasure it’s been to watch him, especially now that he’s back lately after a bit of a drought to making the big closing plays.”
elite business
Smith also listed Kevin Durant of the Phoenix Suns as another guy who can scorch opponents from the midrange. Durant is practically unstoppable from midrange, standing seven feet tall with a wingspan of almost seven feet. He can also manufacture his shot and shoot over opponents.
“Even though Kevin Durant can shoot three points, he is definitely more of a midrange player and is just as dangerous in the midrange as DeRozan for a different reason. Nobody is tall enough to stop Durant, but DeMar has more moves, shakes, and feints,” Smith revealed.
If we go back a few years, Dirk would need to be mentioned. intermediate assassin. However, there had been snipers in earlier times like as Jerry West—who was essentially Mr. Clutch—and George Gervin, the league’s icon, Alex English, who was always underappreciated, and some would even add Kobe and Bird, Smith went on.