Why the 3pt shot is better than a long 2

[GIF REACTION]

In the NBA, 3-point shots are much better options than midrange shots for 2 reasons: 1) The decreased FG% is more than compensated by a higher reward in terms of points per attempt, and 2) not only do made 3-point shots obviously result in more points, missed 3-pointers are more likely to result in offensive rebounds than missed midrange jumpshots. Midrange jumpers kill possessions more and result in points less.

;)

[Straight_Ballin]

Yep. Also nothing like getting the ball in-bounded to you, racing down court and firing up a 3 for the easy bucket. Your team expenses far less energy scoring on that possession and you jog back to play defense, expending less energy yourself vs taking it all the way into the rack.

[WayOfWade]

But that doesn't mean we shouldn't take long 2's!

[Foster5k]

There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man. It is a dimension as vast as space and as timeless as infinity. It is the middle ground between light and shadow, between science and superstition, and it lies between the pit of man

[feyki]

Daryl Morey likes.

[ISHGoat]

And this is why we cant take the watered-down 90s era seriously. When the best minds in the game cannot grasp the simple concept that shooting 3pters at 35% > 2pters at 50%, how can we take any of the competition seriously?

The lack of spacing etc is caused by retarded coaches.

[ClipperRevival]

And this is why we cant take the watered-down 90s era seriously. When the best minds in the game cannot grasp the simple concept that shooting 3pters at 35% > 2pters at 50%, how can we take any of the competition seriously?

The lack of spacing etc is caused by retarded coaches.

We could flip that around and say that this era is a joke because there are only a few people who can play with their back to the basket. Or that this era is mostly based on 3s or taking to the basket, and because they ignore everything in between, their skills are limited. We can argue that the fundamentals of today is a joke compared to the past because of the lack of emphasis on the basics of basketball, like the post game (foot work) or the mid-range game (pull up jumpers).

The game evolves. Today, it's the era of spacing, 3s and wide open attacks to the basket.

[Penny37]

Yep. Also nothing like getting the ball in-bounded to you, racing down court and firing up a 3 for the easy bucket. Your team expenses far less energy scoring on that possession and you jog back to play defense, expending less energy yourself vs taking it all the way into the rack.
Couldn't be further from the truth. By jacking up early 3's you're just bailing out the Defense.

Better to make the defense work for 20 seconds by running sets, rather than chucking up 3's and running back.

That being said, yes; obviously shooting 35% on 3's is better than 50% on 2's.

[CeltsGarlic]

OP's own logic and thinking ability is highly suspect if he needs someone to tell him this.

[GIF REACTION]

Al Jefferson swings out of his as the interview comes to a close. But he can’t leave this question hanging. He can’t leave the future uncertain.

“I really believe,” he says, “I might be long gone and retired one day, but I think it’s going to get back to the old-school, back-to-the-basket game. One day — it may be 20 years from now, but one day — it’s going to come back.”

[ClipperRevival]

[QUOTE=GIF REACTION]Al Jefferson swings out of his as the interview comes to a close. But he can

[DavisIsMyUniBro]

And he's right. At some point, the league is going to go way too small and teams are going to start to take advantage with superior size and pound teams down low. And the smaller teams will have to counter that. The game always evolves and adapts, never stays the same.

While I don't disagree

I don't think that we are ever going to get to the point where curry is a center lol.
I, exagerrating, but I feel like the era of low post big men dominance won't return anytime soon. I remember that, statistically, even dominant big men such as shaq weren't actually getting that much points per post up as one would expect.

[GIF REACTION]

And he's right. At some point, the league is going to go way too small and teams are going to start to take advantage with superior size and pound teams down low. And the smaller teams will have to counter that. The game always evolves and adapts, never stays the same.
Yep

There is just a lack of bigs who can take advantage of teams putting an extra shooter on the floor. Hopefully Jahlil will be a sign of things to come.

[DavisIsMyUniBro]

The 3 point shot is better because generally, it is more open,
And 3 points are worth more than 2 points.
The only shot that has more PPP than a 3 point shot is a layup and dunk, and even then, it's close.

[Marchesk]

https://youtu.be/kuXIpxoMYtc?t=4s

Reporter: "Would you have been a good three point shooter if it had been emphasized in your day?".

Iceman: "Nooooo. Three point shot is the worst shot in basketball. When you talk about fundamentals, you talk about the two point shot."

[GIF REACTION]

A lot of these modern, conservative defenses that deny middle and push baseline run under the mantra of give them the long two.. Run them off the 3 and protect the paint

[StephHamann]

OP just discovered that

3>2

https://cdn1.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/pdWeV_2tw92jgJKnv6vG8opGOds=/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/4182482/post-28553-Steve-Jobs-mind-blown-gif-HD-T-pVbd.0.gif

[nathanjizzle]

its a valid point for sure.

[GIF REACTION]

Gervin is wrong there but I can understand what he might be trying to say

The 2 is a better shot when the scenario demands just to score, ala tied score game winners etc.... Now he didn't say that, but if you need to make 1 basket, a higher % bucket of any nature is best... Although going all the way to the hoop will probably be no-called in the last seconds of a game.

[Marchesk]

Move the 3pt line back until the percentages equal out so that a long two and a three give you the same value. That would balance the game out.

Would make for a better product, much as a I love seeing Curry jack up crazy threes all game long.

[Marchesk]

Gervin is wrong there but I can understand what he might be trying to say

It was just funny because he was a tad salty Klay broke his scoring record, thanks in no small part to the three point line.

Old timers are the best. Salty and bitter as f**k, but with interesting observations and a great perspective on the game.

[DavisIsMyUniBro]

Move the 3pt line back until the percentages equal out so that a long two and a three give you the same value. That would balance the game out.

Would make for a better product, much as a I love seeing Curry jack up crazy threes all game long.

How would that work though?

That would make people not shoot threes altogether. A 3 point shot is balanced out because, for obvious reasons, it's harder to get a 3 point shot than an open midrange. It's like putting barriers so that layups only score around 44%

[ClipperRevival]

Gervin is wrong there but I can understand what he might be trying to say

The 2 is a better shot when the scenario demands just to score, ala tied score game winners etc.... Now he didn't say that, but if you need to make 1 basket, a higher % bucket of any nature is best... Although going all the way to the hoop will probably be no-called in the last seconds of a game.

The game is being dummied down though. It's all about the 3 now or taking it to the rack and everything in between isn't being emphasized enough. The 3 doesn't emphasize basic fundamentals, like proper footwork. Guys are only trying to be specialized as a "3 & D guy" or "stretch 4". It's all about just shooting a set shot. The game is so much more than just standing still and waiting for someone to get you the ball. You should be able to do more. But there is such a huge emphasis on the 3 today, you can be nothing but a great spot up shooter (Korver) and he considered a HUGE asset.

[GIF REACTION]

The game is being dummied down though. It's all about the 3 now or taking it to the rack and everything in between isn't being emphasized enough. The 3 doesn't emphasize basic fundamentals, like proper footwork. Guys are only trying to be specialized as a "3 & D guy" or "stretch 4". It's all about just shooting a set shot. The game is so much more than just standing still and waiting for someone to get you the ball. You should be able to do more. But there is such a huge emphasis on the 3 today, you can be nothing but a great spot up shooter (Korver) and he considered a HUGE asset.
Because not all 5 players can have the ball at once

The closest you will get to your old school style hard-on are the Spurs

[Straight_Ballin]

Couldn't be further from the truth. By jacking up early 3's you're just bailing out the Defense.

Better to make the defense work for 20 seconds by running sets, rather than chucking up 3's and running back.

That being said, yes; obviously shooting 35% on 3's is better than 50% on 2's.

No, it is correct. If the guy shooting the ball is racing down court to launch the shot right after the inbound pass, his team is all behind him (less running, less energy expended for his team, and less energy for the shooter who stops at the 3 point line instead of driving it all the way in) meanwhile while the opposition has all ran back into their defensive set. After the bucket is scored, the opposition now has to run all the way back and play offense against a fresh team's defense because they expended less energy the play before, and the cycle repeats itself. The opposition now on offense expends more energy setting screens, back cutting, running around on offense, coming off of picks, getting boxed out, etc etc etc. I've actually been on a team that used this strategy because our bench was short handed. When you have multiple shooters that are fast, you can do this. Not for the entire stretch of the game, but in short bursts.

[ClipperRevival]

Because not all 5 players can have the ball at once

The closest you will get to your old school style hard-on are the Spurs

My point is, with the emphasis on the 3 that it is today, a strictly spot up shooter like Korver is more valuable than ever before, because the league shoots and emphasizes the 3 more than ever before. He doesn't even need to be able to do anything else. You always had spot up shooters but their value wasn't as great. And that's what a lot of guys coming out of college strive to become once they figure out they won't be a star. They try to find their niche and most of the time, it has to do with shooting the 3. Whether for a SG (spot up shooter), SF (3 & D) or PF/C (stretch 4/5). With such an emphasis on just one aspect of the game, the league is being dummied down.

And the Spurs are the team that first emphasized the 3 so there is nothing old school about them. The only thing "old school" about them is they always stressed team ball, which is the way you should play.

[Showtime80']

That is definitely true for today's mid range and post up game deprived soft pathetic league!

Seriously, if you took the 3 point line out of the NBA tomorrow, would ANY teams other than the Spurs, Clippers, Thunder or Warriors break 90 points per game while the rest of the league would hover around the 80 point mark! Last year 16 teams failed to crack 100 points and only 2 reached 105 or better. If the "3 is better than 2" were really real then the league as a WHOLE would have not problems breaking 100 on a consistent basis.

Teams today rely on the 3 pointer because THEY HAVE NO OTHER CHOICES! When you have no TRUE DOMINANT LOW POST CENTERS combined with scoring first ball dominant PG's and wings that pound the air out of the ball for 20+ seconds trying to break down defenses 24 feet away from the basket how the hell do you expected teams to manufacture decent shots from 18 feet and under while only consuming 10 to 14 seconds on the clock?!? For that you need true pass first fast break capable PG's and true dominant centers, something the NBA ALWAYS HAD IN SPADES until this era.

[GIF REACTION]

There are significantly less possessions in a game today

[GIF REACTION]

in 1975 you had roughly around 125 possessions a game

It is around 105 today (somebody check this)

[Showtime80']

There have been teams that have done what you suggested Straight Ballin mainly the 91 Nuggets and the mid 2000's Suns. The problem they had was that the NBA in those years had PLENTY of teams that could make them pay for that style because the percentages are going to catch up with you sooner or later. The majority of those missed threes result in long rebounds for the other team and when the league had capable pass first PG's they made sure to get a lay up or dunk at the other end and not shoot a silly 3 pointer!

The modern day Warriors have basically carte blanche over the entire league because almost EVERYBODY is trying to play the same way thus it doesn't matter how many bad or quick 3 pointers they take, they know that more often than not they other team is going to bail them out with a stupid 3 pointer the other way!

Try that sh!t against inside and fast break powerhouse teams like the 80's Lakers, Celtics or Sixers and you're going to get ran out of the building by halftime!

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http://wagesofwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/turnovers_per_48.png
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http://wagesofwins.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/08/three_point_percentage.png

[Showtime80']

And why are there less possessions?!? Because thanks to the death of the pass first PG looking to run the ball the other team's throat on every possession and the extension of the true dominant low post players the modern teams have lost the ability to produce quick hitting offenses! Nothing more, nothing less. Coaches have taken more control over the attacks thanks to these two developments

Take a look of this video of the 1986 Celtics (greatest team ever) dismantling the Showtime Lakers in a regular season game at the garden. Watch the beauty and simplicity of their offensive schemes, 3 to 4 low post options at all times, pass first ball handlers looking to run and finding the open man on the fast break and when that open shot came, the players actually TOOK IT!!! without wasting time looking for a friggin 3 pointer. Enjoy this offensive symphony at its best and shed a tear for there will probably never another:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEbAQaLHT1E

[Showtime80']

LOL! That version of Bill Walton would be the BEST CENTER in today's NBA. Unbelievable!