Leandro Developing a Mid Range Game

[George O'Brien]

http://www.azcentral.com/sports/suns/articles/0823sunsnb0823.html

Griffin said Leandro Barbosa has shown the development of his mid-range game during FIBA World Championship play for Brazil, improving his runners and pull-up and step-back jumpers instead of relying on his long-distance shooting and driving. "He's really starting to evolve as a scorer because he can do it in more than two ways," Griffin said.

Last season Leadnro averaged 13.1 ppg in 27.9 minutes or .485 ppm, despite having a minimal mid range game. If he adds a mid range game, the MLE type contract he just signed could look like a bargain.

Last year Leandro was horribly predictable. Leave him alone and he'll shoot a three. Come up on him and he'll drive the basket. The fact that he could get to the basket before most help defenders could made him a threat, but it was not that hard to stop if you didn't spread too widely. Someone else like Marion might be left open, but Leandro was not a treat to take over the game.

Adding a mid range game changes that. If you ask why Joe Johnson get a $70 million deal, it was in no small part due to his mid range game. Everyone knew JJ's three point shooting success was driven by playing with Nash and Amare (JJ shot only 35.8% for three this past season) and JJ is not a great finisher at the basket. What made JJ so dangerous was a mid range game that was all but unstoppable due to his three point shooting threat.

Defenders can simply lay off guys who aren't major three point threats and close on them once they move into range. However, a fake and drive is much easier if the defender is forced to either play tight or run at the shooter. Faking the shot and moving into mid range creates a completely open shot.

Adding a mid range game to Leandro's skill set could turn him into a major offensive threat. On a team with only Nash as the only outside guy who can "make his own shot", this could be huge.

 

[haverford]

Seems to me this is where lack of height and heft could be a problem when the NBA season starts. JJ was long and strong and could pull up over someone, muscle past them for a floater, etc. I have trouble seeing LB doing the same.

 

[SunsTzu]

I don't think he'll have any problems getting mid-range shots off. With his ability to hit 3s and his driving ability the only way to defend a pull-up shot from him would be with double teams or zones and other teams are not going to have the luxury of keying in on him defensivley.

 

[Gaddabout]

You could say Leandro becoming more confident with his ball moves in the playoffs. He had a series of sick moves from the baseline against Dallas -- the kind that make other NBA players gasp as they watch. I think he missed the shots on all three, but you could see him gaining confidence regardless.

 

[Divide Et Impera]

You don't have to be big and powerful to have a successful mid-range game. Look at Danny Ainge and Kevin Johnson....

 

[Errntknght]

You could say Leandro becoming more confident with his ball moves in the playoffs. He had a series of sick moves from the baseline against Dallas -- the kind that make other NBA players gasp as they watch. I think he missed the shots on all three, but you could see him gaining confidence regardless.

He started going for mid-range shots about the last fifth of the season but only about one per game. The reason he showed some baseline moves against Dallas was that they were forcing him baseline. I thought he looked uncomfortable taking those shots - not too surprising since they were from unfamiliar angles for him. He looked confident after he started fighting against the pressure toward the baseline and went for midrange shots from out front.

 

[CaptainInsano]

I remember barbs also doing a couple tony parker type teardrops later in the season, those are a lot more effective then releasing the ball right under the hoop and either getting bumped and botching the layup or having it blocked.

If he can get 5-10 feet from the basket and either pull up a good shot or bust different types of layup/teardrop moves he will be pretty damn hard to defend.

 

[playstation]

its obviously good news, but i hope this includes a newfound ability to keep his head up while driving to the hoop.

this would help him decide on if he needs to pull up, and also make him realize the destruction he's doing to the defense leaves ALL SORTS of open options.

 

[George O'Brien]

its obviously good news, but i hope this includes a newfound ability to keep his head up while driving to the hoop.

this would help him decide on if he needs to pull up, and also make him realize the destruction he's doing to the defense leaves ALL SORTS of open options.

I agree that improving his court awareness is significant. For most of his career, it was simply a foot race to the basket and he was totally focused on the help defender. In a few rare situations he spotted the open man, but nothing like he should. This becomes even more important if defenders come out to defense him in the mid range because it would open up the back door.