OT: The 3-Point Line?

[BadgerPete]

Watching the Huskers vs Michigan game on Monday was painful. Shooting percentage from both teams was abysmal.

Now, I am watching the Maryland vs Michigan State game at it is even worse.

At halftime, its 23 to 21. Both teams are under 29% from the field and 1/15 from the 3-point.

When the 3-point came out back in the 80's, John Wooden said "You can't tell me a shot from the top of the key is worth more than a beautiful pick and roll in the paint."

Teams are giving up easy layups and forceful drives to the basket to pull up for a 3-pointer. You have fast breaks that stop at the free throw line for a kick out to the 3-point line.

Not only horrible basketball, but it is boring. Just saying.

 

[BadgerPete]

Now, 14:44 left in the game and it is 1 for 18 in three point shooting. Grade schoolers shoot way better than this.

 

[huskercabby]

Watching the Huskers vs Michigan game on Monday was painful. Shooting percentage from both teams was abysmal.

Now, I am watching the Maryland vs Michigan State game at it is even worse.

At halftime, its 23 to 21. Both teams are under 29% from the field and 1/15 from the 3-point.

When the 3-point came out back in the 80's, John Wooden said "You can't tell me a shot from the top of the key is worth more than a beautiful pick and roll in the paint."

Teams are giving up easy layups and forceful drives to the basket to pull up for a 3-pointer. You have fast breaks that stop at the free throw line for a kick out to the 3-point line.

Not only horrible basketball, but it is boring. Just saying.

I’m trying to figure out why Fred is not having players like Worster shoot more 2s instead of casting up 3s. He seems to have some confidence with shooting from 15 feet and absolutely none from three. Tell me they don’t see that.

 

[c3o]

The Celtics just went 11-16 from 3.

In the second Q alone. That’s insane

 

[major.tom.foolery]

Kill it or move the line back 6 ft. That **** is ruining basketball; it's become a boring sport.

 

[Big bo fan]

The Celtics just went 11-16 from 3.

In the second Q alone. That’s insane

First you are comparing NBA to college kids . Then you throw in NBA D compared to College. Pour another whatever you are drinking.

 

[schuele]

I’m trying to figure out why Fred is not having players like Worster shoot more 2s instead of casting up 3s. He seems to have some confidence with shooting from 15 feet and absolutely none from three. Tell me they don’t see that.

Worster doesn’t really shoot many 3s unless it’s late in the shot clock and the ball has to go up. Doesn’t change the fact that Worster is awful from the arc, but shooting 3s is usually his last resort.

 

[Redscarlet]

Worster doesn’t really shoot many 3s unless it’s late in the shot clock and the ball has to go up. Doesn’t change the fact that Worster is awful from the arc, but shooting 3s is usually his last resort.

Worster is all we got.. we don’t have a real point guard which is why we are what we R.

 

[c3o]

First you are comparing NBA to college kids . Then you throw in NBA D compared to College. Pour another whatever you are drinking.

I don’t drink. And I wasn’t comparing anything. Merely agreeing with the premise that the 3 point line makes a game boring

 

[RBigredMax]

I was hoping some “innovator” would come through and play an old school scheme and start pulling teams back to a more traditional style of play. If it doesn’t happen soon so many people will stop watching, just not a good product.

 

[huskercabby]

Worster is all we got.. we don’t have a real point guard which is why we are what we R.

Rollie has never been a three point threat. I remember someone saying Hoiberg would help him with his shot. Very seldom does a player improver his shot this late in their career. I just thought they would use Rollie’s strength more.

 

[king_kong_]

I was hoping some “innovator” would come through and play an old school scheme and start pulling teams back to a more traditional style of play. If it doesn’t happen soon so many people will stop watching, just not a good product.

Watch St John’s

What’s old can be new again

They’re deadly from the midrange and on the offensive glass

 

[Dean Pope]

When the 3-point came out back in the 80's, John Wooden said "You can't tell me a shot from the top of the key is worth more than a beautiful pick and roll in the paint."

Teams are giving up easy layups and forceful drives to the basket to pull up for a 3-pointer. You have fast breaks that stop at the free throw line for a kick out to the 3-point line.

Not only horrible basketball, but it is boring. Just saying.

I would like to see basketball get rid of the 3 point shot entirely. The addition of the 3 point shot and 45 second shot clock worked well initially. But now there are entire elements of the game that are almost gone from the game. I'm sure the basketball media and others would blast the idea, but the game would become more fun to watch.

Take the big man for instance. Instead of having "air craft carriers" (Al McGuire), high post wizards and back to the basket centers, now most big men are just on the ball screeners who stand around the three point line waiting for the ball. Other big guys are just rim runners- block shots, dunk, take the ball out of bounds. Not a wide variety of skills required in either of those areas.

 

[Dean Pope]

I don’t drink. And I wasn’t comparing anything. Merely agreeing with the premise that the 3 point line makes a game boring

Agreed. Two types of NBA games are boring to me. One is when a team is red hot from 3 and the other is when teams don't shoot well from the 3. Bottom line- a ton of long range shooting is not entertaining. I just would like to see... wait! You don't drink???

 

[TOMHP]

Our problem is that we are so unathletic as a team. We are slow and don't pass the ball particularly well. We certainly play decent defense and that keeps us in games. Fred needs to find a true point guard and some players who can RUN and JUMP for next year.

I would have thrived with a 3 point line 60-70 years ago.

 

[rgrachek]

Watching the Huskers vs Michigan game on Monday was painful. Shooting percentage from both teams was abysmal.

Now, I am watching the Maryland vs Michigan State game at it is even worse.

At halftime, its 23 to 21. Both teams are under 29% from the field and 1/15 from the 3-point.

When the 3-point came out back in the 80's, John Wooden said "You can't tell me a shot from the top of the key is worth more than a beautiful pick and roll in the paint."

Teams are giving up easy layups and forceful drives to the basket to pull up for a 3-pointer. You have fast breaks that stop at the free throw line for a kick out to the 3-point line.

Not only horrible basketball, but it is boring. Just saying.

What if we gave 3 points for a dunk? That's a lot harder than hitting a open 21-ft. jumper or set shot. I could never dunk a basketball (the best I could do in my prime was dunk a tennis ball). But I'm 64 years old and went to the gym the other day and hit 8 of 20 shots from over 21 feet away.

There's a lot of things that we could do to make basketball better. 4th quarter with a preset final score and no clock (other than a shot clock). Make the winning final score 25 points more than the lead team has at the end of the 3rd quarter. No more overtime, no more Hail Mary shots, no more fouling to get the ball back. Another thing they could do is after an individual player is fouled for the 4th time, anyone on the floor can shoot the free throws. The new clock rule would resolve this anyway.

 

[c3o]

Agreed. Two types of NBA games are boring to me. One is when a team is red hot from 3 and the other is when teams don't shoot well from the 3. Bottom line- a ton of long range shooting is not entertaining. I just would like to see... wait! You don't drink???

I drink enough for 4 lifetimes from 16 years old to 40 years old. Since stopping my life has never really been better. Better husband and father and I have a great life. I never fully understood how selfish I was drinking, hiding from myself in a bottle of wine or bourbon, until I stopped and overcame a lifetime of being a binge drinking alcoholic. Best decision I’ve ever made for my health and happiness outside of my relationship with God.

 

[RBigredMax]

I drink enough for 4 lifetimes from 16 years old to 40 years old. Since stopping my life has never really been better. Better husband and father and I have a great life. I never fully understood how selfish I was drinking, hiding from myself in a bottle of wine or bourbon, until I stopped and overcame a lifetime of being a binge drinking alcoholic. Best decision I’ve ever made for my health and happiness outside of my relationship with God.

Good game c3o - my dad made a similar decision and I always admired his ability to overcome and stay sober. I’m sure your kids share the same pride in you.

 

[c3o]

Good game c3o - my dad made a similar decision and I always admired his ability to overcome and stay sober. I’m sure your kids share the same pride in you.

My kids are young and thankfully won’t remember dad with purple teeth and loud AF. Two years sober this May

I’m happy your father made the choice, too. It’s a narrow path full of great reward

 

[Lincoln100]

My kids are young and thankfully won’t remember dad with purple teeth and loud AF. Two years sober this May

I’m happy your father made the choice, too. It’s a narrow path full of great reward

Kick *** and well done. Alcohol is such a *****. It is so enticing but can slowly and subtly ruin every good thing.

 

[TruHusker]

A little off topic but... I attended a local 5A girls and boys BB games a week ago. I confess I have not been to many games since I retired as a principal.

Granted, this team is barely over .500 and do not seem to be well coached but the game has changed dramatically. They do have a shot clock so I get that but they just do not set screens and pick and roll off of it. I was told by those who coach, that they call fouls too often on the screens like in college so that has trickled down to the HS. If a team has a dominate inside player, they try to get the ball into them but most it is spread the floor and dribble drive, kick out or mostly throw the ball away. The few teams that move the ball have such an advantage but that doesn't seem to be the norm, at least from the games I saw.

Another interesting thing I was told is that this same group of girls, for the most part, have played together since 4th and 5h grade and then through Middle School and only lost a handful of games during that entire time. That's neither here nor there but when you hear how good these kids are/were and you finally see them, I expect more.

 

[mgbreeze]

I agree that it usually feels like the team that is hotter from 3 wins. It kinda sucks to watch.

 

[goldencohusker]

What if we gave 3 points for a dunk? That's a lot harder than hitting a open 21-ft. jumper or set shot. I could never dunk a basketball (the best I could do in my prime was dunk a tennis ball). But I'm 64 years old and went to the gym the other day and hit 8 of 20 shots from over 21 feet away.

There's a lot of things that we could do to make basketball better. 4th quarter with a preset final score and no clock (other than a shot clock). Make the winning final score 25 points more than the lead team has at the end of the 3rd quarter. No more overtime, no more Hail Mary shots, no more fouling to get the ball back. Another thing they could do is after an individual player is fouled for the 4th time, anyone on the floor can shoot the free throws. The new clock rule would resolve this anyway.

How about 3 points for a free throw? That would reducing the hacking going on and speed up the end of games. Apparently, free throws are much harder than dunks, since basically all D1 and pro basketball players can dunk, but there are seemingly a ton that can't shoot above 50% from the charity line. It also might finally convince some of the crappy free throw shooters to do what Rick Barry has advocated for a long time - shoot them granny style.

 

[CheeseRunza_rivals]

How about 3 points for a free throw? That would reducing the hacking going on and speed up the end of games. Apparently, free throws are much harder than dunks, since basically all D1 and pro basketball players can dunk, but there are seemingly a ton that can't shoot above 50% from the charity line. It also might finally convince some of the crappy free throw shooters to do what Rick Barry has advocated for a long time - shoot them granny style.

I feel like teams should be able to decline the free throw attempts, if they want, and take the ball instead, similar to declining a penalty in football.

 

[goldencohusker]

I feel like teams should be able to decline the free throw attempts, if they want, and take the ball instead, similar to declining a penalty in football.

Dean Smith would like that. Just get rid of the shot clock and you could take a run his old 4 corner offense the entire second half and never half to shoot.

 

[BTF69]

Watching the Huskers vs Michigan game on Monday was painful. Shooting percentage from both teams was abysmal.

Now, I am watching the Maryland vs Michigan State game at it is even worse.

At halftime, its 23 to 21. Both teams are under 29% from the field and 1/15 from the 3-point.

When the 3-point came out back in the 80's, John Wooden said "You can't tell me a shot from the top of the key is worth more than a beautiful pick and roll in the paint."

Teams are giving up easy layups and forceful drives to the basket to pull up for a 3-pointer. You have fast breaks that stop at the free throw line for a kick out to the 3-point line.

Not only horrible basketball, but it is boring. Just saying.

Maybe Wooden should have said "You can't tell me I can't buy players, I am totally going to buy them"

With that said...it is all analytics. 4/10 from three = 12 points. You would have to shoot 60% from 2 to equal that.

 

[rgrachek]

How about 3 points for a free throw? That would reducing the hacking going on and speed up the end of games. Apparently, free throws are much harder than dunks, since basically all D1 and pro basketball players can dunk, but there are seemingly a ton that can't shoot above 50% from the charity line. It also might finally convince some of the crappy free throw shooters to do what Rick Barry has advocated for a long time - shoot them granny style.

No, a dunk is harder because it's contested. A free throw is not. Sure, if you had uncontested dunks, then it would be easier. 3 point dunks would force more man-to man defense too. I'd also legalize goal tending after the ball hits the rim like the international rules.

 

[goldencohusker]

No, a dunk is harder because it's contested. A free throw is not. Sure, if you had uncontested dunks, then it would be easier. 3 point dunks would force more man-to man defense too. I'd also legalize goal tending after the ball hits the rim like the international rules.

The sarcasm was heavy in my post relative to the difficulty of free throws. That said, dunking in its basic form is more about athletic ability than basketball skill. You could hand a basketball to many non-basketball playing college athletes and alot probably can dunk it, but they aren't going to be able to step out to from 21 feet and hit 50% like you did at age 64 - that takes skill developed over time. While I don't care for the 3 point fest that basketball has become, at least the rules are rewarding a true basketball skill. I don't think the game would be more enjoyable if it turned into Phi Slamma Jamma night in and night out instead of a 3 point fest. Overall, it might be time to eliminate the 3 point line and let the game move back to its traditional roots.

 

[rgrachek]

The sarcasm was heavy in my post relative to the difficulty of free throws. That said, dunking in its basic form is more about athletic ability than basketball skill. You could hand a basketball to many non-basketball playing college athletes and alot probably can dunk it, but they aren't going to be able to step out to from 21 feet and hit 50% like you did at age 64 - that takes skill developed over time. While I don't care for the 3 point fest that basketball has become, at least the rules are rewarding a true basketball skill. I don't think the game would be more enjoyable if it turned into Phi Slamma Jamma night in and night out instead of a 3 point fest. Overall, it might be time to eliminate the 3 point line and let the game move back to its traditional roots.

The non-basketball playing athletes aren't dunking much against a defender.

 

[Dean Pope]

Another interesting thing I was told is that this same group of girls, for the most part, have played together since 4th and 5h grade and then through Middle School and only lost a handful of games during that entire time. That's neither here nor there but when you hear how good these kids are/were and you finally see them, I expect more.

That's everyone. "We've played together for years" is no advantage unless that group has a standout facilitator who sees the floor well and gets people the ball at the right time. Then teammates learn that they will be rewarded if they accept coaching and move well without the ball. Very few teams have that.

And that fouls called on screens comment is B.S. Setting up screens is a lost art. Players are supposed to be deceptive-- V-cut away from a screen first, change speeds, and for the love of God wait for the screener to get set. AAU/club coaches either (A) don't know the game well enough or (B) a few of them know the game but there's no time to practice such things! "I mean, come on! Moving without the ball? What the hell is that?!! We've got scrimmaging to do and tournaments to travel to!"

Next time you see a moving screen call (probably an on the ball screen) watch the person getting the screen lazily just run toward the screener and see if the screener is able to come to a stop with space between him/her and the defender.

 

[T...Chafes]

Granted, this team is barely over .500 and do not seem to be well coached but the game has changed dramatically. They do have a shot clock so I get that but they just do not set screens and pick and roll off of it. I was told by those who coach, that they call fouls too often on the screens like in college so that has trickled down to the HS. If a team has a dominate inside player, they try to get the ball into them but most it is spread the floor and dribble drive, kick out or mostly throw the ball away. The few teams that move the ball have such an advantage but that doesn't seem to be the norm, at least from the games I saw.

The big youth hoops academies all teach the 5 out offense now to young players, spacing all players around the 3 point line. So young players are taught and encouraged to go "iso ball" and either shoot the 3, drive and kick, or attack the rim.

So parents of the bigs will ***** to coaches "please don't put my kid down on the block". The bigs want to shoot 3s (or their parents do) because they see other bigs shooting them at a decent percentage (think Durant, Kalkbrenner, etc).

The whole game revolves around 3 point shot now unfortunately....

 

[Mrs.Jeans15]

Yes

It's destroyed basketball. It's boring ASF.

 

[PvilleHuskerTim]

Yes

It's destroyed basketball. It's boring ASF.

Watched a Big East BB game on FS1 earlier this week. In about 5 minutes of game clock during 1 stretch in the first half, every shot taken was a 3 pointer. Not even sure there was an attempt at a shot in the paint or a mid-range jumper. Shooting percentage was probably <20% in that time. I turned the channel.

I also have seen many HS games over the years. Literally every game, I tell whoever I am sitting next to that no one has any understanding of how to set a pick, set up a pick, do a pick and roll, and rarely see any type of motion offense where there are options to cut to the basket or get any type of layup. I don't often see a 3-on-2 or 3-on-1 fast break where the wings cut to the basket for a layup. They generally flare out to the baseline.

 

[Baxter48_rivals204143]

Watching the Huskers vs Michigan game on Monday was painful. Shooting percentage from both teams was abysmal.

Now, I am watching the Maryland vs Michigan State game at it is even worse.

At halftime, its 23 to 21. Both teams are under 29% from the field and 1/15 from the 3-point.

When the 3-point came out back in the 80's, John Wooden said "You can't tell me a shot from the top of the key is worth more than a beautiful pick and roll in the paint."

Teams are giving up easy layups and forceful drives to the basket to pull up for a 3-pointer. You have fast breaks that stop at the free throw line for a kick out to the 3-point line.

Not only horrible basketball, but it is boring. Just saying.

The line should be moved back in halfway between the free throw line and mid court

 

[BTF69]

Watched a Big East BB game on FS1 earlier this week. In about 5 minutes of game clock during 1 stretch in the first half, every shot taken was a 3 pointer. Not even sure there was an attempt at a shot in the paint or a mid-range jumper. Shooting percentage was probably <20% in that time. I turned the channel.

I also have seen many HS games over the years. Literally every game, I tell whoever I am sitting next to that no one has any understanding of how to set a pick, set up a pick, do a pick and roll, and rarely see any type of motion offense where there are options to cut to the basket or get any type of layup. I don't often see a 3-on-2 or 3-on-1 fast break where the wings cut to the basket for a layup. They generally flare out to the baseline.

We do this with music too! The music I grew up with is way better!

Of course, that is actually true

 

[Redscarlet]

The line should be moved back in halfway between the free throw line and mid court

That’s not right.