https://youtu.be/6fPUE9gJUyE
There’s a reason I made compilation of all of Rui Hachimura’s midrange jumpers last season, and that reason is illuminated in this video. I’m not going to bore you with too many words when the midrange artistry on display speaks for itself, but I do have two words that I think will pique your interest, if your interest remains, somehow, unpiqued:
Kawhi-esque.
Okay, so maybe that’s actually just one word. One compound word. I got confused because of the hyphen and it messed up my counting. I’ve never been a very good counter. Sorry.
And I’m not saying that you should watch Hachimura’s midrange-ilation from last year, because I would never presume to tell you how to live your life, but if this video made you excited in the nether regions, I would definitely check it out. It’s currently sitting at only 5000 views, a criminally low total considering how fun it is to watch. I’d drop the link here, but I wouldn’t be able to avoid the temptation to RickRoll you guys.
“Kawhi-esque” is a strong adjective to use when describing a second-year player, but it for sure applies to Hachimura, at least when it comes to taking and making jumpers from the middle range. Kawhi obviously has it down to a science, using his tight handles, precise footwork, and quick release to baffle defenders on a nightly basis. Whereas Hachimura is still way rawer, but you can see clear similarities in the way he can set up his shot, and the flatness of the shot itself.
This particular performance was a true joy to behold, even as a Bucks fan. He stopped scoring midway through the third quarter, leaving him a single point shy of his career high, which is good news for me, because there’s no way the Bucks would’ve won this one if he had kept scoring. Is there a way to blame Russell Westbrook for this? Probably.