Chris Paul has bucked the Morey Zones

When Chris Paul was shipped southward from Los Angeles to the Houston Rockets, it meant he would have to forego some of his patented, deadly midrange jumpers and embrace the Morey Zones of shots at the rim and from beyond the arc.

Long heralded as one of the league’s top midrange mavens, Paul adhered to Rockets General Manager Daryl Morey’s philosophy and launched a career-high 379 three-pointers this season, despite playing in just 58 games.

That increase in long-range bombs was accompanied by a dramatic decrease in midrange jumpers. Paul hoisted up just 3.1 midrangers per game this season, which was a career low, and the first time he’s averaged less than 4.6 per game since the 2006-07 season. Furthermore, midrange shots composed just 22.6 percent of his total looks, only the second time in his career that mark has slipped below 30 percent (29.9 percent in 2004-05, his rookie year).

While Morey and Co. are correct in their assertion that midrange jumpers are the least efficient shot in basketball, open looks, especially from areas where a player has previously excelled, are the sport’s crown jewels.

In last season’s Western Conference Quarterfinals, the Spurs manipulated the Rockets’ offense to their advantage, sagging bigs deep into the paint. James Harden, a devout follower of Moreyball, was flummoxed and often bypassed open jumpers outside the paint for tough layups at the rim.

With the Utah Jazz also employing drop coverage in the pick and roll, open shots from the midrange area have once again been readily available for the Rockets after they navigate around screens. Utah’s guards fight over the top of screens to defend against pull-up jumpers while big men sink into the paint, inviting downhill blitzes to the rim, only to dash any dreams of an easy finish:During the regular season, that scheme was incredibly effective, largely a product of Gobert’s Defensive Player of the Year campaign. In pick-and-roll roll man sets, the Jazz ranked third in points allowed per possession (1.01) and in pick-and-roll ball-handler sets, they ranked fifth (0.80).

Led by future Hall-of-Famers Harden and Paul, and a springy rim runner in Clint Capela, Houston, meanwhile, crafted a three-pronged pick-and-roll attack, ranking third in ball-handler sets (0.93 PPP) and eighth in roll man sets (1.12 PPP).

Generally, good offense prevails against good defense and that’s where Paul’s presence has shined brightest against the Jazz, ensuring the Rockets don’t experience another second-round collapse. His affinity for the midrange has counteracted Utah’s defensive scheme as he’s comfortable rising up around the free-throw line and canning open jumpers.

In four second-round contests, Paul has netted 12 of 22 midrange jumpers (5.5 per game, up from 3.1 in the regular season), while firing up a slew of other shots inside the paint that are classified as non-restricted area looks — though they certainly fall well within Paul’s comfort zone (and outside the Morey Zones). Against the Timberwolves in the first round, Paul was just 5-of-10 on midrange shots, averaging two attempts per game.