The Houston Rockets, owners of the best record in the league, loudly detest the mid-range jumpshot.
Daryl Morey, the team’s visionary general manager, has built a team that shoots threes, scores inside the point, and gets to the free throw line. This strict diet stretches defenses and produces mathematically-pleasing shot selections.
The team is incredibly disciplined at avoiding mid-range jumpers. It’s not worth as much as a three-pointer, not as efficient as layup, and is usually well-guarded without much of a chance to get the line. Mid-range jumpers used to be staples of past NBA offenses, but most good teams have recently cut down on them.