Valley of the Suns
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Alex Len: Improvements For Year Three

By Scott Chasen

Mar 19, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) dunks the ball against the Orlando Magic during the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2014; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) dunks the ball against the Orlando Magic during the first half at US Airways Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 25, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) shoots the ball over Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Suns won 110-96. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2015; Denver, CO, USA; Phoenix Suns center Alex Len (21) shoots the ball over Denver Nuggets center Jusuf Nurkic (23) during the second half at Pepsi Center. The Suns won 110-96. Mandatory Credit: Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports /

Shooting Potential

While he did struggle at times, Alex Len’s ability to shoot the ball was on display on a couple of occasions. Len attempted 62 shots outside of 14-feet, which was actually a meaningful number considering that (1) he only averaged 22 minutes per game and (2) he only played 25 or more minutes in a game 24 times.

Len averaged right around 2.5 attempted midrange jumpers per 40 minutes, and while he shot just 43 percent on those, according to NBA.com, he appears to have been working on his shot a lot over the summer.

In fact, according to Suns coach Jeff Hornacek, he’s worked on it so much that he may even extend that range to the three-point line in the upcoming season.

Now three-point stuff aside, there is some precedence to a big man improving his midrange game during his third season. In fact, there’s some precedence on the Suns.

In Markieff Morris’ third season, his midrange numbers shot up. Morris shot 42.9 percent from the field on shots ranging from 16-24 feet, and he shot 44.3 percent on midrange jumpers, according to NBA.com. He also shot 45.9 percent and 46.8 percent on jumpers in the 15-to-19 and 10-to-14 feet range from the hoop, respectively.

All of those numbers were higher than the percentages he put up the year before. In fact, his midrange shooting percentage went up by almost 10 percent, while his shooting percentage on 10-14 feet jumpers went up by over 15 percent.

But what about a more player-specific example?

One of the most common comparisons to Len coming out of college was Roy Hibbert, a player who also saw an increase in his midrange percentages after getting a feel for play at the NBA level.

Now, Hibbert’s shooting didn’t exactly mirror that of Morris. Hibbert’s midrange numbers didn’t get up into the 40 percent range until his fifth year, but the important thing to note is that he kept working on his midrange game, and finally it paid off.

And going back to three-point range, Alex Len is already ahead of Hibbert’s pace. After all, he did knock down a three-point shot last year (against Houston). Hibbert’s first three-point make came 90 games into his career; it *only* took Len 63.

I kid, I kid.

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