We should have seen it coming. A retrospective on a great team from two decades ago was bound to bring the odes to the Lost Art of Midrange out of the woodwork. But Michael Jordan scoring 63 in a playoff game without attempting a 3-pointer doesnt mean its time to return to shot distribution of the time.

Like just about everyone else, I was riveted by the first two episodes of The Last Dance. The off court salaciousness of the end of the Bulls dynasty will surely be entertaining. But equally it is and will continue to be a reminder of the athletic mastery of Jordan and to a somewhat lesser extent Scottie Pippen. While cross era comparisons are always tough, those two would not look out of place if they were dropped into todays game as is.

Jordans rim-and-midrange barrage was a product of both the times he played in and his own greatness. If he were around today, the mastery of the hanging pullup J he demonstrated so...

Read the rest here:

Seth Partnow Analysis: On Michael Jordan, Modernity and the Midrange - The Athletic