The NBA'S 35 year war over the 3 pointer.

Excellent article about the feelings toward the 3 point shot by several top notch nba coaches. Quite lengthy, but does an excellent job of critiquing the evolution and importance of the shot. Those of you who miss the low post game of the first 40 years of the NBA, will enjoy the opinions of those older coaches who also favor the low post style of play.

http://www.espn.com/nba/playoffs/2015/story/_/id/12993098/nba-35-year-war-3-pointer

swish

The three point shot emphasis is very much different from what I grew up with, but it has clearly made the NBA a much better game for the new and average fan to watch.

It's impressive that there are so many players that can shoot from the outside as opposed to utilizing their athleticism to merely dunk.

With that said, you live by the 3, you die by the 3. Sometimes the ball just isn't falling through and it's time to switch up what you're doing. Reliance on the 3-point shot is easily attributed to laziness. It takes less effort to jack up a 3 as opposed to dribble penetration to break down the defense.


KJ

kj,

I think Charles Barkley said it best..."You die by the 3." Golden State finally found that out in the Finals.

db

It's popularity is due to the fact that it's a winner. Below numbers are for this past season.
  Facts:
    The average 2 point fg% was .491 which results in 98.2 points for 100 shots.
    The average 3 point fg% was .354 which results in 106.2 points for 100 shots
    Even shooting as low as .330 will yield 99 points per 100 shots
     The Celtics were at.335 and 100.5 points per 100 shots
      The Warriors .416 and 124.8 points per 100 shots
      The Cavs .364 and 109.2 points per 100 shots

      In the playoffs
     Warriors .393 and 117.9 points per game.
     Cavs  .406 and 121.8 points per game

   swish

Correction on 9/21/16 - The Cavs numbers should read .362 and 108.6 points per 100 shots.

swish

Live and die by the 3 has a nice ring to it - but just how accurate is it?

swish

swish wrote:It's popularity is due to the fact that it's a winner. Below numbers are for this past season.
  Facts:
    The average 2 point fg% was .491 which results in 98.2 points for 100 shots.
    The average 3 point fg% was .354 which results in 106.2 points for 100 shots
    Even shooting as low as .330 will yield 99 points per 100 shots
     The Celtics were at.335 and 100.5 points per 100 shots
      The Warriors .416 and 124.8 points per 100 shots
      The Cavs .364 and 109.2 points per 100 shots

      In the playoffs
     Warriors .393 and 117.9 points per game.
     Cavs  .406 and 121.8 points per game

   swish

Exactly. Whether or not you like the aesthetics of the three point game, the numbers support this strategy. Personally, I think those Jim Obrien teams from the early 2000s should be more recognized for starting the whole 3 pt revolution.

2 point shooting %

   Celts .483 and 96.6 points per 100 shots
   Warriors .528 and 105.6 points per 100 shots
   Cavs .514 and 102.8 points per 100 shots
                 3's or 2's - it didn't matter - The Warriors and Cavs excelled at both.

       swish