It’s early in the season, but, barring some tragic injury or sudden deportation back to Japan, I can already tell that a midrange-ilation for Rui Hachimura is totally happening. For those not versed in the terminology of DownToBuck, a “midrange-ilation” (portmanteau of “midrange” and “compilation”) is a video or series of videos where I document every single one of a player’s midrange jumpers. From just outside the paint all the way to the arc, every jumper they made. No floaters. Never floaters. Floaters are not jumpers, though sometimes the distinction is blurry.
You could tell Hachimura was gearing up for a midrange massacre this season if you watched his Summer League or FIBA performances. He was leaning heavily on that shot to get points, and that trend has continued in the NBA. That’s what makes it even better. This is the NBA, where the midrange jumper is reviled and looked down on, but Hachimura doesn’t care. That’s his shot. It’s the shot he can make, consistently.
Normally you’d want him to take a few steps out to the three-point stripe, but his range doesn’t go that far. It just doesn’t. He can make a few, but it’s a losing proposition compared to having him dominate people with quick midrange pops.