The main reason why offense is easier for today's player

[3ball]

.
It's common knowledge that spacing is the most important factor on offense, but players in previous eras didn't have teammates spreading the floor for them.

For example, teams only attempted 5 threes per game when Jordan won his first ring in 1991, compared to 25 attempts per game for today's teams.

So today's player benefits from teammates that space the floor and cause defenders to cover more ground - three-point shooters benefit the most from scrambling defenders, which is why 80% of today's 3-pointers (including Curry's) are "open" or "very open", as described on NBA.com's stats page (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12360926&postcount=37).

Otoh, players like Jordan achieved their stats WITHOUT teammates spreading the floor.. In today's spaced-out game, his stats would explode because he has the same (better) athleticism as Lebron/Westbrook, but they can't shoot (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12338297&postcount=47), and Jordan could - he had goat midrange efficiency, much better than Curry's (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11713011&postcount=43), which puts him in Curry's category as a goat shooter, and gives him a similarly massive advantage over non-shooters Lebron and Westbrook.

[ShawkFactory]

Yes, you've stated this several times.

[ClipperRevival]

You only stated this like 100 times there 2 ball.

[Bankaii]

There's better offense because players shoot better?
Holy shit give this genius an award.

[TemporaMutantur]

That's a ****ing stupid argument.

Most players would pass up "contested" shots in order to have "open shots" because it's in the best interest of the team.

Ball movement and much wider spacing in general plays a huge role in why shots are more open.

[TheMarkMadsen]

which puts him in Curry's category as a goat shooter,


Jordan made 581 three's in his career

Curry this year made 402

GOAT shooter doe :oldlol: :oldlol:

[JohnMax]

http://kidfromthe6ix.files.wordpress.com/2014/08/1065485_o.gif

[oarabbus]

I take so much pleasure in watching these playoffs, because they've been nothing short of amazing for a Warriors fan.

I get additional enjoyment out of knowing that 3ball is shitting himself in anger as he watches the playoffs this year :oldlol:

[SouBeachTalents]

Curry > Jordan

[clipps]

great analysis, 0Balls.

[Uncle Drew]

Jordan made 581 three's in his career

Curry this year made 402

GOAT shooter doe :oldlol: :oldlol:
Shooting =/= 3's. :facepalm :facepalm

[AirBonner]

Players as a whole now are a lot better than 90's players. MJ's competition was watered down. Austin Rivers in the 90's would be a star :oldlol:

[toprange]

Players as a whole now are a lot better than 90's players. MJ's competition was watered down. Austin Rivers in the 90's would be a star :oldlol:
Lebron's fg% is over 40% only within 3 ft of the rim :lol :roll:

[AirBonner]

Lebron's fg is over 40% only within 3 ft of the rim :lol :roll:
and yet despite his biggest deficiency he is still 6% more efficient than kobe :cheers:

[toprange]

and yet despite his biggest deficiency he is still 6% more efficient than kobe :cheers:
if you ever played basketball you would understand how shameful of a stat that is for lebron:lol

[AirBonner]

if you ever played basketball you would understand how shameful of a stat that is for lebron:lol
You have to be Great to begin with to be held up to such standards :rockon:

[3ball]

You only stated this like 100 times there 2 ball.
Obviously, you didn't read the OP prometheus

I've schooled you a half dozen different times on here - I still have your old posts where you were proven wrong in conspicuous fashion.

For example, remember when you didn't think Lebron dominated the ball and I showed you stats proving that he did??... It was ridiculous because anyone with two eyes can see that he's a ball-dominant player, so my proof was overkill - it was like telling a 5 year old "2 + 2 = 4"

[3ball]

There's better offense because players shoot better?
Holy shit give this genius an award.
The OP doesn't say that - the OP says that offense was more DIFFICULT for players in previous eras because they didn't have teammates spreading the floor for them.

For example, teams only attempted 5 threes per game when Jordan won his first ring in 1991, compared to 25 attempts per game for today's teams.

So today's player benefits from teammates that space the floor and cause defenders to cover more ground - three-point shooters benefit the most from scrambling defenders, which is why 80% of today's 3-pointers (including Curry's) are "open" or "very open", as described on NBA.com's stats page (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12360926&postcount=37).

Otoh, players like Jordan achieved their stats WITHOUT teammates spreading the floor.. In today's spaced-out game, his stats would explode because he has the same (better) athleticism as Lebron/Westbrook, but they can't shoot (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12338297&postcount=47), and Jordan could - he had goat midrange efficiency, much better than Curry's (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11713011&postcount=43), which puts him in Curry's category as a goat shooter, and gives him a similarly massive advantage over non-shooters Lebron and Westbrook.

[3ball]

Jordan made 581 three's in his career

Curry this year made 402



Jordan was a FAR better shooter than Curry inside 20 feet:




.....................MJ 1997 (http://stats.nba.com/player/#!/893/stats/shooting/?Season=1996-97&SeasonType=Regular%20Season)...................Cur ry 2015 (http://stats.nba.com/player/#!/201939/stats/shooting/?Season=2014-15&SeasonType=Regular%20Season)............ Curry 2016 (http://stats.nba.com/player/#!/201939/stats/shooting/) <--- link to nba.com data

5-9 ft.......... 49.2%, 126 fga........... 40.3%, 72 fga.......... 48.6%, 72 fga

10-14 ft....... 51.5%, 466 fga........... 52.9%, 85 fga.......... 50.9%, 57 fga

15-19 ft....... 49.5%, 594 fga........... 43.9%, 132 fga........ 37.3%, 102 fga



Overall midrange % (all shots inside the 3-point line but outside the paint)

JORDAN 1997:. 49.3%, 1202 fga
CURRY.. 2015:. 41.1%, 285 fga
CURRY.. 2016:. 42.5%, 200 fga



Curry is the goat 3-point shooter and Jordan was goat at midrange shooting - but their good shooting isn't even NEEDED to be a top scorer in today's game..

The reality is that Lebron, Westbrook, Wade, Derozan and Butler all have poor 3-point AND midrange (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=12338297&postcount=47) efficiency for most of their careers, yet they're still the top wing scorers because today's wide open spacing and hands-off defense allows athletic players easier access to the rim than ever before.

Today's spacing and hands-off defense would benefit MJ's athleticism the same way, except he had documented (http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showpost.php?p=11713011&postcount=43) goat midrange efficiency, which would put him in Curry's category as a goat shooter, and gave him a similarly massive advantage over non-shooters Lebron, Westbrook and company.