The game is at a turning point. Should the rules be changed?
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The NBA introduced the 3-point line in 1979, and not much changed right away. Players weren’t used to shooting from far out, so for the first few years, they mostly didn’t. It wasn’t until the 1986-1987 season that the league as a whole scored over 100 3s in one season.
The arc of the line was shortened for a few years in the ’90s, but besides that, it hasn’t changed much — and that’s given players and coaches an opportunity to strategize around it. In 2014, statistic-obsessed sports executive Daryl Morey led what many people call the 3-point revolution. He used the D-League Rio Grande Valley Vipers as a testing ground to see if volume shooting from the 3-point line netted better results than shooting 2s — and it worked.
The math states that scoring one-third of your shots from behind the 3-point line is as good as scoring half your shots from inside the line. In other words: Shooting as many 3s as possible will likely lead to a higher score.
The league took notice, and teams and players followed suit. 3s have become so prevalent in recent years that fans are criticizing the league for being oversaturated with them. Critics worry that the game is on the verge of becoming boring because everyone is trying to do the same thing. And that’s led some to wonder if the NBA should move the 3-point line back.
Additional reading:
Zak Geis compiled data of all the NBA shots since 1999 by scraping the NBA API. His work greatly informed our reporting, and you can find his original data here: https://data.world/sportsvizsunday/june-2020-nba-shots-1997-2019
We were able to turn data into graph-able charts using this tutorial: https://datavizardry.com/2020/02/03/nba-shot-charts-part-2/
James Dator is a senior staff writer at SB Nation where he covers the 3-point line, plus lots of other sports — like baseball, soccer, and the NFL. For more of James’s reporting, check out his author page: https://www.sbnation.com/authors/james-dator/
And here’s his article on the 3-point line: https://www.sbnation.com/nba/2021/3/10/22323023/nba-three-point-shooting-breaking-point
Grantland: The Amazing Pace (about how Daryl Morey transformed the Vipers) https://grantland.com/features/nba-dleague-rgv-vipers-houston-rockets-future-of-basketball/
Grantland: Is it time to move the NBA 3-point line back? https://grantland.com/the-triangle/is-it-time-to-move-the-nba-3-point-line-back/
Basketball Reference’s detailed stats: https://www.basketball-reference.com/leagues/NBA_stats_per_game.html
FiveThirtyEight: Did Moving The Arc Bring The 3-Pointer To A Breaking Point? https://fivethirtyeight.com/features/did-moving-the-arc-bring-the-3-pointer-to-a-breaking-point/
CBS Sports: What the shortened NBA 3-point line of the mid-1990s says about the future of long-range shooting https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/nba-top-100-player-rankings-for-2021-22-kevin-durant-edges-lebron-james-for-no-1-any-rookies-make-the-cut/
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41 Comments
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Maybe instead of throwing the ball on the rim they can throw the ball at each other's face
Correct me if I’m wrong, but the best way to score is either a fast break with the easy dunk/layup or taking time to set up for the 3
I stopped watching the game when everyone decided that defense was about hard contact instead of moving your feet and reading your opponent's next step. I'm not planning on coming back to the game, but I don't think I would've ever left if the emphasis on 3s had happened in, say 1986.
When they are hitting the three it’s great when they are not hitting its unwatchable. I find todays game often boring. Then again I am old.
What about reducing the advantage by changing the default score from 2 to 3points, then changing the 3-point line to a 4-point line ?
Make 2 points 2.5. Simple. Try if it works
Completely disagree with this title
How are they seriously comparing players of the past with current ones based on points when they were still figuring out how many points per basket. This is what happens when you have a sport with no core principles.
smart people realized that long twos and threes go in at essentially the same rate, making a long two a bad shot. less long twos taken, more threes…nothing is broken.
it's just boring to watch. which is why i dont watch anymore
just stop playing basketball
The fix could be that there is no 3 point shot. Every shot is worth 2. Just like soccer, doesn't matter how far out you shoot from, the only thing that counts is that it goes in.
I love this show and I'm going to subscribe right now
It's ruined the game, period.
The best answer to fix that problem is eliminate the 3 thats it, every shoot you take (except freethrow) give you 2 point no matter how far you shoot it which in my opinion will make far range shoot be less to adopt because it will make it 'risk with no reward'. The problem right now is that 1 point reward that make every one did 3, so just eliminate it
Keep those wild suggestions to yourself buddy 😂cause ain’t no way they finna just say we finna make a fifth quarter just so yal can hoist up 3’s
But moving the line back even farther would probably be the best idea cause everyone won’t be comfortable from a greater distance just like how only dame n steph can shoot half court , it would probably only be a few that can hit a shot farther with no problem
Whos here bcs of school
The 3 Point line has been there for years since the 80s it only took years for people to realize they can utilize it the way teams do today, something that has been apart of the game for so long shouldn't be changed
But make nba boring
It's the same story.. in the past, they are doing more 2s and dunks, teams are doing the same thing, now, majority of the team are aiming to shoot more threes, the same pattern as doing more 2s and dunks, so whats the point of your argument?
The game is just evolving, stop complaining about it and evolve defensively to stop it
I say we just line up each team and have each player shoot threes and the first team to hit 50 wins. That's what it's come to for me. We are missing out on so many aspects of the game with teams shooting half the shots from three point land. Yes it helps spread things out, but for me it's gotten to be way to much. Don't have the answer, just don't believe I'm watching the great game I grew up playing and watching.
3 pointers ruined the sport
your 3point data is a big wrong.
To make the risk factor a harder choice , they can make it a 2.5 pointer . Or make a 2 pointer a 3 pointer and a 3 pointer a 4 pointer … .. so that difference is smaller than 33%
the only way to stopping the game to be a three point contest is by allowing the defence to be more physical to stop the shooters
Either make 2's worth 3, and 3's worth 4. Or make 3's worth 2.5. That fixes everything, no need to change the rules.
Take away 3pt liners and let the half court shots be 4pt.
Here’s an idea to stop the 3 point the 4 point box
3:42 They became his ginea pig, his scientific experiment.
Unbelievable that you thought it was ok to make this video without mentioning Curry.
Remember when slam dunks used to me impressive? Neither do I, and I'm 40. NBA players are too big and too good today. The basket needs to be raised a foot higher. The 3 point line needs to be pushed back, and reduced to 2.5 points. Players need to be allowed to play actual defense again like they did in the 80s and 90s.
all these oldheads are just mad that the 2017 warriors would destroy any team from the 90s or 80s with 3pt shooting 😭😭😭😭
4 point line!
Eliminate the "step back" and that solves 50% of the shots taken beyond 3
Since the rise of the 3 ive been severely uninterested in the NBA. This year is the only year since the heat won their last chip that Ive actually watched basketball
Have two three point lines. Limit the 3's per half with the original line until there's so many minutes left in the half. If a team shoots over 12-13 three's per half then they have to shoot behind the penalty line. The penalty line will be moved back and cut off the corner three's. A team can shoot behind the penalty line and not be penalized. Say there's 4 minutes left (just an estimation doesnt have to be 4 mins) in the half then the first line is no longer restricted. Obviously at the end of games you want there to be a chance for a team to tie or win with a three.
A team shooting 40 – 50 threes at 30% and below is bad for basketball which happens all the time. Mid ranges will become a descent shot again. Teams will have to regelate to certain players they'd like to shoot three's so it won't become a wasted attempt. Traditional centers will become more important again.
Change 3 point line for 1 point line, the further You are the less You score
It already broke the game it's a different game now where 4 guys stand behind the line