Anthony Edwards has established himself as one of the league's best players. His rise to superstardom is largely due to his elite scoring and shot creation abilities. However, these playoffs have highlighted one key area of improvement for Edwards: the mid-range game. In the playoffs, Edwards is shooting just 28.6 percent on 2 mid-range attempts per game. Additionally, he shot just 37.6 percent on 2.7 mid-range shots in the regular season.
While some people have tried to minimize the importance of mid-range shooting with modern analytics, it can still be a source of consistent offense for many players. Let's dive into why Edwards needs to improve this area of his game.
Edwards' lack of a mid-range shot has hurt him against the Thunder
Currently, Edwards and the Minnesota Timberwolves are down 3-1 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. This series has been filled with ups and downs for Edwards. Undoubtedly, though, Edwards' lack of a mid-range shot has hurt him. The Thunder have packed the paint, making it diffcult for Edwards to score at the rim. When his 3s aren't falling, Edwards has had nowhere to turn for a source of consistent scoring. Edwards has had two stellar games and two games where he's struggled mightily.
In Games 1 and 4, when Edwards struggled, he was a combined 1-5 on mid-range shots. However, in Games 2 and 3, Edwards shot 6-9 on his mid-range attempts. In these games, Edwards scored 32 and 30 points. Game 3 saw the Timberwolves win by 41 points.
Ultimately, there's a clear correlation between Edwards finding shots in the mid-range and scoring at a higher clip. With Edwards' elite shot-creation ability and recently improved shooting, the mid-range shot should become an important part of his game next season. Developing a consistent mid-range shot would make Ant truly unguardable.
The value of mid-range shooting
To see the value of being an elite mid-range shooter, look no further than Edwards' opponent, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. In the playoffs, Shai has shot 48.3 percent on 5.9 attempts. Shai won MVP while ranking second in total mid-range shots made. SGA's teammate Jalen Williams is another example of why scoring from the mid-range is valuable.
As modern defenses are focused on taking away shots at the rim and 3s, mid-range shots are typically more open. If Edwards can add a consistent mid-range shot, it would take his game to the next level, especially in playoff settings. Throughout his career, Edwards has routinely made offseason improvements. Last offseason, he developed into an elite 3-point shooter; improving his mid-range game feels like the next step.