RealGM

Player development and shooting coaches often refer to the ability to maintain proper fundamentals while under the duress of an NBA game as “shot readiness.” Khris Middleton of the Milwaukee Bucks is one of the game’s masters at achieving this amid defense, fatigue and all the other factors that make shooting in a game so different from shooting in an empty gym.

His proficiency as an outside shooter is reflected in a wide array of statistics. The 1.16 points per possession that he generates on his jump shot is the best mark in the league for a player with his shot volume. More remarkably, a significant portion of these shots are off of the game’s most difficult attempts — drifting in either direction, pulling up off of the dribble, with a hand in his face — and sometimes all of the above.

Synergy Sports tracks jumpers as “guarded” vs. “unguarded,” and Middleton is the best player in the NBA in the former category. He registers 1.48 points per possession on “guarded” attempts, a staggering figure that’s on par with a player making 49.3 percent of his 3-pointers.

Yet “guarded” is a bit inaccurate when describing many of these shots because of how Middleton expertly identifies moments of defensive weakness and exploits them. He may technically be considered as “guarded” because of the proximity of the nearest defender, but functionally speaking, he is often open even when there is a defender right next to him. That is because he achieves shot readiness as well as anyone his size in the NBA, regardless of the action that precedes the shot attempt. Kawhi Leonard and Kevin Durant are the only players who can rival him in this respect.

Shaffty wrote:Bump.

The man looks a half step quicker and its made all the difference.

7-10 free throws a game makes him a 26-28 ppg guy.

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Bucksfan28 wrote:If Khris makes the 50/40/90 club I think he'll definitely get an all-NBA nod.

KidA24 wrote:

Bucksfan28 wrote:If Khris makes the 50/40/90 club I think he'll definitely get an all-NBA nod.

Voting is already done on that.

machu46 wrote:

KidA24 wrote:

Bucksfan28 wrote:If Khris makes the 50/40/90 club I think he'll definitely get an all-NBA nod.

Voting is already done on that.

That post was from February

theFireBlanket wrote:Conditioned Middleton is a beast.

chonestown wrote:

Shaffty wrote:Bump.

The man looks a half step quicker and its made all the difference.

7-10 free throws a game makes him a 26-28 ppg guy.

Sent from my SM-N960U using RealGM mobile app

The handles are tighter, too, and his footwork is immaculate. His game should age well.

coolhandluke121 wrote:I don't think it was ever about contracts with Khris. If it was, he would have been in shape last year to maximize his free agent earnings. I think it's two things:

1. Playing all summer helped him stay in shape.
2. I think he's the type of guy who needed a taste of success to be more motivated. Let's face it; they weren't looking like a future contender any time soon in Kidd's/Prunty's last year, despite Giannis being a mega-star. Some people are motivated by failure or money, but some are motivated by having success and realizing how good it feels.

giannis and 1 wrote:I became a Bucks fan in the summer of 2016 and I have heard a lot about how great Middleton was before his injury but unfortunately have never seen that player.

How does he compare now to then? What is he better at now? Just more consistent? And are there still any areas that he isn't as good at as he once was like athleticism, defence, etc.