Miles Prower wrote:I remember watching a game a few years ago between the Heat and Rockets, and I was absolutely dumbfounded by how the entire Houston offense operated from beyond the 3 point arc. This "positionless" era of basketball was really put on display when you had a 7'0 center shooting from beyond the arc lol. I doubt many of these young players coming up even know how to pass and generate offense in the paint. It's all iso ball and jacking up 3's now. The games are just so predictable. If it's not my favorite team, the Heat, playing then I can't even be bothered to watch. It's so boring. Another thing that bothers me is all these star players taking games off for rest and minor injuries. I get that they have so much money invested in these young players but give me a break. Guy stubs his toe and can't play for two games. Playing a full 82 game season now is some sort of huge achievement.
I think this is a great post. Star players should try their best to play 80+ games. It's about being an entertaining product and they should know that. Having said that, there's no entertaining product. My favorite team, the 1986 Celtics, Larry Bird played every game that year. He understood that fans wanted him. He also understood how to play basketball.
The 3 point line should only be used as a significant part of a team's strategy if they have a bunch of players who are incredible shooters and can create off balanced 3 pointers any time. The closest that's happened is with some of the Steph Curry and Klay Thompson Warriors teams. Having said that, they were beatable if anyone knew how to play basketball and would've had 0 championships. I think 2 guys who are incredible 3 point shooters isn't enough. I think you need 3-4, with a big man who can knock it down from time to time. So the only way 3 pointers should be the focus of an offense is if you have 3-4 J.J. Redick type shooters. My favorite players Jokic and Sabonis use the 3 pointer when needed and would've been a great 5 for that type of game.
Since there aren't 3-4 players in the league who can shoot like that, then of course no team should chuck them up like we see. Every time I watch a game I see guys quick catch and shoot 3's and miss them badly. If they're missing them badly, well it's obvious what they shouldn't be doing. Another HUGE problem is that NBA and college don't call carrying at all anymore. And of course they stopped calling traveling years ago. Those need to be very strictly enforced. Basically there's no team that plays real basketball.
An example is Denver, the team with the best record in the West. Jokic is obviously amazing and is probably the best player in the world. But the rest of that team isn't even that good. That's what's been shocking "checking in" on the NBA for the first time in over 10 years. Each of the other starters has at least 1 significant flaw in their game and they also take too many 3's. And this is one of the best teams in the league. It's absolutely dreadful watching Sabonis with the horrendous Sacramento team he's on. It really upsets me bc both players are 27 and in their absolute prime, with too many selfish teammates to count.