Skip navigation
Favorites
Sign up to follow your favorites on all your devices.
Sign up

Derrick Rose, knocking down threes but missing in the midrange

Derrick Rose, Charlie Villanueva

Chicago Bulls’ Derrick Rose (1) goes to the basket past Detroit Pistons’ Charlie Villanueva, right, in the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, Dec. 26, 2010, in Auburn Hills, Mich. (AP Photo/Duane Burleson)

AP

You know what Derrick Rose was doing this summer? Well, besides eating a lot of Skittles?

Working on his jump shot and three point shooting. He would tell anyone and everyone around Team USA about the new form and how it was going to help.

And it has helped. When he uses it.

Rose is much more dangerous from three — he has gone from shooting 26.7 percent last season to 38.1 percent this season.

So why is his overall field goal percentage down from 48.9 percent last season to 45.6 percent this season?

He’s not trusting his improved jump shot in the midrange and because of it is missing. A lot. As Sebastian Pruiti
breaks down at Basketball Prospectus.

His shooting from 16 to 23 feet has dropped from 44 percent last year to 41 percent last year. From 10 to 15 feet, it is even worse. Rose’s shooting percentage from that area on the court has gone from 50 percent last year to 27.5 percent this year.

This drop-off goes hand in hand with the fact that Rose is taking more shots off of the dribble from both midrange distances…When watching Rose’s shots off of the dribble, the problem isn’t his form. The real problem is Rose rarely gets set and take pull up jumpers in the midrange, opting for various floaters and runners instead. Now, Rose is very good at these floaters at the rim, but the farther away he is, the more he struggles with them.

Use the jumper, Derrick. Let go, Derrick. Trust me. Trust your feelings. Remember, a point guard can feel the jump shot running through him.