Teams will not abandon the three-point strategy
Inherent risk of continuously launching from long range greatly offset by rewards
The Cleveland Cavaliers had so many things to regret after their narrow Game 1 loss in the NBA Finals that it was hardly noticed they shot the ball poorly from three-point range.
The Cavs were 10-for-37 from distance in the opener, and other than LeBron James (43 per cent) and George Hill (50 per cent), Cleveland’s array of shooters need their bomb sights adjusted.
Kevin Love, Kyle Korver,
Jeff Green and Jordan Clarkson were a combined 3-for-20, an abysmal 15 per cent from threepoint distance — this in a series in which it’s assumed the Cavs have to be lights-out on threes just to have a fighting chance.
Cleveland’s woes continued a curious trend in these playoffs, as teams that have built their offences around three-point shooting suddenly saw the effectiveness of that strategy go poof at the worst possible time.
The Boston Celtics were 7-for-39 from distance — a hideyour-children 17.9 per cent — in their Game 7 loss at home to the Cavaliers in the East finals. The Houston Rockets managed to outdo that with a 7-for-55 (15.9 per cent) mark from three-point range in their Game 7 loss at home in the West finals, highlighted by a historic 0-for-27 streak, which ran from the 6:43 mark of the second quarter to the 6:28 mark of the fourth.
All of that bad shooting has sparked a popular question at the Finals: is the three-point shooting revolution in jeopardy?
The suggestion is, teams that rely so heavily on three-pointers leave themselves somewhat at the mercy of fate, since the three-pointer is, by nature, a high-variance shot.
When they don’t fall for a sustained period, as happened to one team in three straight playoff games, it means the opponent can go on a big run, which also happened in each case.
The short answer on whether the three-point revolution is dying is this: no.
The Rockets won 65 games by becoming the first team to attempt more three-pointers than two-pointers, and they took the defending champions to seven games. Then that cold streak reached out and tripped them. The math is simply too favourable for teams that make the bulk of their shot attempts from either distance or close to the basket.
But we may yet see teams become quicker to try something else when the long shots aren’t falling. In Game 1 of these Finals, the Cavs either attempted threes or let James try to score: He had 16 two-pointers on the night, and his teammates had a combined 18 of them.
If Plan A is to attempt a threepointer, even the best teams in the league should work over the summer on polishing up a better Plan B.
Draymond Green could have a solid second career as a professional wrestler. He is beloved by Warriors fans and others for being loud and emotional on the court, and reviled by pretty much everyone else for the same reason.
Green, who is aware of his reputation, seems to enjoy it. He was making a big show of leading cheers late in Game 1, dancing and imitating a pompom shake. Asked if he was having fun out there, Green said: “That was a result of some people talking — they was talking and I talked back. And I danced back.
Reporter: “Did you watch a replay of your dance moves, though?”
Green: “I did.”
Reporter: “What did you think?”
Green: “I wasn’t really dancing, though.”
Reporter: “What were you doing?”
Green: “I was shaking pompoms.”
It later emerged that Green was shaking his non-existent pompoms in the direction of Kendrick Perkins, the non-active Cavs player who has spent these playoffs on the bench in a suit, where he scowls at opponents and also yells at them. And, of course, cheers.
Green was asked what kind of message he was trying to send with his taunt.
“Just shaking pompoms,” he said, with a grin.
You have to admit, it’s a pretty solid burn.
Considering Cavs coach Tyronn Lue took time off this season to deal with anxiety issues, he is impressively at peace with the play of Jordan Clarkson.
The Cleveland guard, acquired in mid-season when the Cavs turned over the back half of their roster, was 2-for-9 in Game 1, right about on pace for his 2018 post-season, in which he has been a dismal 30 per cent from the field. Lue was asked if there was something mechanically off with his shot, or if he wasn’t feeling comfortable on the court.
“Well, I think he’s comfortable because he keeps shooting,” Lue said, laughing.
“One thing about J.C., he’s confident. He’s not scared,” the coach said. “So he’s got to be able to step up and make his shots.”
He has certainly proven that he will take them.