[PaintTouches]Synergy: Vander Blue midrange numbers best in the country

[PaintTouchesSays]

Synergy: Vander Blue midrange numbers best in the country
      

Written by: Mark Strotman
            

The midrange game has been losing its flair for years. The 3-point line and more players learning ball-handling techniques to attack the rim instead of settling for outside looks have made that 12-to-20-foot jump shot a higher-risk, lower-reward option that ... Continue reading →


            

http://painttouches.com/2013/02/21/synergy-vander-blue-midrange-numbers-best-in-the-country/
      

[MarquetteDano]

Very interesting analysis.  Thank you.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

Nicely researched.

It will be interesting to watch if Vander can continue to improve his mid-range game and possibly his long range game next season.

McNeal somehow became a very good 3pt shooter his senior year and was one of the best scorers in the conference. If Blue could get his 3pt % up above 35%, he could easily average an efficient 18+ppg, and would garner a lot of national accolades.

He's very good right now. With improved shooting, he could be great.

[MU82]

I really liked this article. Well done.

Buzz says Blue's biggest improvement is knowing what a good shot is and what a bad shot is. We see that in the feel Blue has developed about when to take the ball all the way to the rim and when to pull up for the short or mid-range jumper.

His first two seasons, Vander tried to take just about everything to the rim and repeatedly committed charging fouls, lost the ball in traffic or took horrendous shots. Now, he calmly stops on a dime and confidently hits the jumper.

It's a pleasure to behold, not just because the points he scores on those jumpers help Marquette win but also because it shows how much a player can improve through hard work and intelligence.

[dgies9156]

Well, when Blue hits from those distances, it makes it more difficult to sag on Davante.

It's pick your poison, man. Sounds like folks are more afraid of Davante than they are Vander. That will change in time!

[MUWarrior11]

About a year or two ago, the title of this thread could have been the title of an article in The Onion.

Remarkable improvement, Vander.

[jsglow]

I enjoyed the article especially when compared to the 3 point article that preceeded it on Paint.  It's interesting to me that Blue is much more effective up top when he can step into his shot typically off a ball screen or by breaking down his opponent whereas in the corners he's actually quite good spotting up behind the 3 pt. line.  Either way, no doubt many hours of hard work last summer is paying dividends.  I'm really looking forward to his leadership and skill during his Senior year.  We really have the chance to be scary good next year.