True Hoop: Abandoning Your Post (http://www.truehoop.com/leaguewide-issues-71499-abandoning-your-post.html)

Doc Rivers has a reasonable argument: Motion offenses like Jerry Sloan's flex sets are endangered species. As balletic as a well-oiled the Suns' machine may be, we see plenty of 2-13 nights from beyond the arc around the league [perhaps I've seen more because, well, I watch the Clippers 75 times a year], offenses suffering from rigor mortis due to the fact that everyone is standing around the perimeter because there's intrinsically more value in shooting 33% from beyond the arc than making 48% of shots from inside of 23 feet. Furthermore, what makes PHX so exceptional and fun to watch is not so much their proficiency from beyond, but the drag screen/rolls and penetration that produce those 3FGAs.

I wish Skiles had provided a bit of a rationale for his POV. Seems like a counter argument is that removing the three would compress the amount of court used (why take a long shot with a lower percentage if it isn't worth more?) by the offense, and subsequently make for tigher packed defenses, more fouling, etc.

FYI - averages so far this year...

16.9 threes per team per game
0.353 shooting percentage (0.484 from two)
21% of FGA are from three

16.9 threes per team per game
0.353 shooting percentage (0.484 from two)
21% of FGA are from three

Shoot man. That's all you need to know. Teams are shooting the 3 intelligently. The math just works out. It also probably helps the 2P% by spreading the floor.

FYI - averages so far this year...

16.9 threes per team per game
0.353 shooting percentage (0.484 from two)
21% of FGA are from three

According to these numbers, teams are getting 17.9 points per 16.9 attempts per game. That's slightly better than the 16.46 points you would get from the same amount of shot attempts from two point range.

This is counter to my philosophy, but the numbers can't be denied.

Bombs Away!

I tried to tell you guys this way back when...
http://www.pistonsforum.com/detroit-pistons-general-discussion/550-tre-how-use-fuzzy-math.html

As KGreg said, if you're a Legit bomber [+40% average] then it's devastating ! Otherwise you're the Clippers.

From that article...

Gherardini's point is interesting, and one that smaller schools in Division I of the college game have adopted – that the three-point shot allows them to compete with the powerhouses in March because, while the Cinderellas generally have a size disadvantage, they have shooters like Bryce Drew who can keep them in a game. Moreover, it just makes for more exciting basketball.
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We must be kept excited!!!!