Three-point percentage is often thought of as a barometer for spacing, and for good reason: The higher a team’s percentage, the riskier it is for opposing teams to roam away from the shooters. Legitimate shooters pose a threat from a range of distances, splitting focus for defenders and opening opportunities for their teammates. But what […]
It was April Fools’ Day, but the sight of veteran NBA 3-point shooter JJ Redick in a Dallas Mavericks warm-up shirt was no joke. Neither was his proclamation that he was ready to play ball. “I’ve not played a basketball game since March 3, I think, so I’m itching to get back out on the […]
There is no linear path to maximizing All-Star potential, especially without the comfort of a long-term home. In the case of Lonzo Ball, who will be a restricted free agent this offseason, the inability to extend his rookie contract last December looked like it could signal an end to his time in New Orleans. After […]
When the NCAA started using a 3-point line in the 1986-87 season, it was an instant hit. While the NBA had made its line official seven years earlier, the pros hadn’t taken to it yet: They attempted only 5.3 percent of their shots from behind the arc. But at their first chance to trade in […]
Jaylen Brown knows the math. A shot from behind the 3-point line is worth more than one from inside of it. A shot closer to the basket is more likely to go in than one farther away. Free throws are, well, free, making them the easiest shots of them all. “Obviously threes and layups are […]