Too many threes in today’s NBA
Has the NBA become too reliant on the three-point shot? Is it time to limit three-point attempts in the game? The league could do something like allowing the first five three-point attempts in each quarter to be worth three points and all subsequent attempts would be worth two points. What are your thoughts? Richard F.
Limiting the attempts per quarter is unworkable at many levels, I’d say, but I agree the overreliance on three-point shots is an issue. But, to me, it’s incumbent on leagues to tweak the rules somehow and on teams to devise better defensive schemes. I’m not sure exactly what that looks like but I know teams and leagues are working at it.
Doug what do you think of the work ethic of professional athletes? Players who are making millions to play a sport take personal days off, and not just one day. They let their teammates down as well as their fans, many whom have paid high prices for their tickets. What do their teammates think and do they get paid for the days off?
Nick H., Mississauga
You’re kidding, right? Or maybe you sent this before you learned of the deaths in families or off-thecourt issues that took people away from their jobs for a while? Or do you work for an unfeeling boss who will eventually drive away any valuable employee on the staff?
Well, March has been a long year for the Raptors. Is there anything we, the couch-watchers, should be paying attention to in terms of plays, player combinations, skills development, coach commentary, etc? Or is it time to give in to emotional exhaustion and surf Oklahoma City games online? Are there any games or matchups that you, the professional, are looking forward to in the play-ins/playoffs?
Christine
I can’t in all good conscience tell anyone to pay rapt attention to these final nine games. Sorry. But I do know some of them will be entertaining and that’s something, right? Seeing Kyle Lowry on Sunday and the Lakers here Tuesday and Pascal Siakam the next week might be interesting.
As for the Raptors? I’ll be watching to see how Gradey Dick progresses. I think Ochai Agbaji is a player and it’ll be interesting to see if he can find his three-point shot. And I suspect RJ Barrett and Immanuel Quickley will play at least a couple of times and it’ll be nice to hear the fans welcome them back.
As for the rest of the league, I’m interested to see if Houston can catch Golden State for the final play-in spot, and seeing how OKC does in big post-season games will be fun. I do think the entire Western Conference post-season could be spectacular but, honestly, the East bores me because I don’t find any of the teams intriguing.
Three quick questions. (1) Does Gradey Dick play Summer League? (2) Can the Houston Rockets take another leap next year? (3) Any thoughts on Dave Smart getting an NCAA head coaching job?
Paul M.
Gradey will be in Vegas but I suspect he’ll mostly work out with the team and, at most, play in one, maybe two games.
It’s hard to go from, say, 25 wins to 35 wins; it’s exponentially harder to go from 35 to 45. So, I’d say the Rockets plateau for a season or so.
I’m very glad Dave Smart got to the point in his life where he could chase that coaching dream and I am dead certain he’ll do a good job at Pacific and win.