The Golden State Warriors began training camp this week, and for veterans like David Lee, camp opening equals precious time leading up to the start of a new season.
For some, the time is spent learning a new coach’s offensive system. Others use the month for conditioning and getting back up to the breakneck pace of the NBA. Most players find themselves learning to play with new players, and working on areas in need of improvement as marked on the previous season’s report card.
Ask David Lee and he’ll probably tell you he’s balancing all of the above.
To be fair, this is nothing new for any NBA player. Coaches come and go, guys fall out of game shape during the summer and every single player who has a hope of making a roster in October should be working on some aspect of their game that needs improvement.
Don’t get me wrong about the conditioning part. For Lee, it’s just scheduled maintenance. The guy is a work horse and everyone knows it. When he’s healthy, he would play every minute of every basketball game if it were up to him. Luckily, things look good on that front:
Warriors PF David Lee said he's 100 percent after his "minor core muscle" surgery. He's just upset that he missed Team USA play.
— Rusty Simmons (@JRustySimmons) September 29, 2014
His two All-Star seasons are perfect examples of what he can do with a full season.
In his 2009-10 All-Star campaign with the New York Knicks, Lee started 81 games as an undersized center averaging 20.2 points and 11.7 rebounds over 37.3 minutes per game. Grabbing that many rebounds per game matched up against guys with a height, weight and reach advantage is extremely impressive and it makes him who he is.
His 2012-13 All-Star season with the Golden State Warriors was nearly identical, starting 79 games. His scoring average took a slight dip; as to be expected playing on a better offensive team. One of the most statistically-consistent power forwards in the game, David Lee is an absolute rock.
So what does a seasoned 31-year-old veteran like Lee have to work on during the Golden State Warriors training camp? Learning Steve Kerr’s system is one step. Getting into a rhythm with frontcourt partners Andrew Bogut and Festus Ezeli is another.
But how about an improved midrange jump shot?
Just days into camp, news has surfaced from those in attendance at practices that David Lee is retooling his midrange jumper. Opposing defenses, this is a fair warning.
For Golden State Warriors fans and coaching staff, this is good news. An improved midrange shot from Lee equals more scoring opportunities in Steve Kerr’s hybrid triangle/motion offense. It also takes pressure off guys like Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green as the shooters requiring defensive attention further than 10 feet from the rack.
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Last season, David Lee did the majority of his scoring in close to the hoop, as 46 percent of his shot attempts came from within three feet. What’s even more telling is the 82 percent of his attempts from within 10 feet.
Conversely, 10 percent of his total shots last year were from 16 feet or further. Compare that to 20 percent in 2012-13 and you’ll see his midrange jump shot attempts were cut in half. Lee’s percentage of midrange shots taken last season was his lowest since 2007-08 with the Knicks.
As far as shooting percentage from midrange, he’s been good throughout his career. 2010-11 was his best year, finishing with an efficient 44 percent. Jump ahead to last season and it fell to just above 35 percent. With the added practice and emphasis on this seemingly forgotten skill, Golden State Warrior fans could potentially expect to see David Lee as close to his All-Star form as possible.
To make one thing clear, we’re not expecting this to result in David Lee becoming Kevin Garnett all of a sudden, hitting at nearly 50 percent from anywhere inside the arc. However, his midrange jumper could inch back up to where it was when he first joined the Dubs, hovering between 43 to 46 percent.
With this improved aspect to his already invaluable game, David Lee seems to be quietly reinventing himself, or at least reviving a past version of himself. He’ll also fit better into what Steve Kerr wants to do on offense. If Lee can get back to stretching the floor and hitting a fairly consistent midrange jumper, he’ll make Kerr a very happy coach.
One quick fun fact for the road — for his career, David Lee has recorded one single three-point bucket. He’s 1-for-26 total (three percent). So if anyone is surmising this could mean a new three-point shot, just move on.