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Three Improvements Tobias Harris Can Make to become ‘More Melo’

By Brett David Roberts

Feb 21, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) is guarded by Orlando Magic small forward Tobias Harris (12) in the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2014; Orlando, FL, USA; New York Knicks small forward Carmelo Anthony (7) is guarded by Orlando Magic small forward Tobias Harris (12) in the first quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: David Manning-USA TODAY Sports /
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Screen Shot 2015-07-22 at 4.09.32 PM
Screen Shot 2015-07-22 at 4.09.32 PM /

1) Mid-range Shooting

While Harris and Melo may be very similar players, there are some pretty big disparities in key stats. Start with the fact Anthony takes 32.5 percent of his shots in the mid-range while Harris attempts just 14.6 percent.

That is illustrative of a huge difference in their games.

Anthony also hits the mid-range. He shot 41 percent from 3-16 feet last year, while hitting 58.4 percent in the restricted area. Comparatively, Harris was good for just 37 percent from the mid-range.

Both the lack of his volume from that distance and the poor shooting are accounting for part of the disparity between Anthony’s 24-points-per-game scoring average and Harris’ 17 per. Harris is going to get looks in the mid-range as a result of Elfrid Payton penetrating so often. It is up to him to both take those shots and hit them (The same applies to Victor Oladipo, but that is another time for another day).

Too often Harris puts the ball on the floor and passes on a mid-range shot to take a much tougher look at the rim.

NBA basketball is often all about threes and dunks, and not much in between, but the most effective scorers are able to capitalize on what a defense gives them. And often defenses live with the mid-range shot, the least of all evils as far as what a defense can concede.

Harris has to shoot better than 40 percent from mid-range, because there is really no reason his three-point percentage should be about the same as it.

Shooters make their own sweet spots, and too often we see Harris just taking it at the rim if he is unable to get the look he wants.

Improvement one starts with better mid-range shooting. Anthony is pretty solid, while Harris shies away.

The result is Harris attempts 46 percent of his looks in the paint, and that can be viewed as a positive, but it has to be considered that many of those attempts are heavily contested. Offensive efficiency begins with taking what the defense gives you.

Next: Improvement Two: Hit the boards!