How much of a difference maker is a 3pt. Specialist?

[britblazerdude]

In your opinion, how vital is it to have a role playing, 3pt shooter off the bench. A guy that hits threes at a good percentage and can bring a huge life to your team. If I were to build a team I think I'd love to have one of these guys out there sporting my team's jersey.

In the playoffs right now, the specialist sharp shooters coming off the bench remaining on each teams are:

LAL: None

UTA: Kyle Korver

PHO: Jared Dudley, Channing Frye, Goran Dragic (Could the performance of these three players create a possible championship run?)

SAS: None

CLE: Daneil Gibson (Seldom used in this run...yet was the starter on that eastern championship team)

BOS: Michael Finley (37% on his career. Only taken 7 thusfar these playoffs)

ORL: JJ Reddick, Pietrus, Anderson (Could the performance of these three players create a possible championship run?)

ATL: Crawford, Evans (decent 3pt. shooters)

Only 2 teams have exceptional three point shooting benches here. Phoenix and Orlando. How much will this help their chances to win the title? Do you use the phrase, "live by the three, die by the three?"

How much can just 1 player (Korver) help the Jazz? Does it hurt the Lakers not having a 3 point shooter?

Let's look at past champions' benches:

2009: Lakers, no one I would consider a 3pt. specialist
2008: Celtics, Eddie House. 39.3% James Posey, 38%.
2007: Spurs, Brent Barry, 44.6% Manu Ginobili, 39.6%
2006: Heat, James Posey, 40.3% Can't believe Antoine Walker started for that team...
2005: Spurs, Brent Barry, 35.7% Robert Horry, 37%
2004: Pistons, Mike James 36.4%. Mehmet Okur, 37.5%
2003: Spurs, Kerr 39.5% Ginobili, 38.3% (In the playoffs. 34% in regular season)
2002: Lakers, Devean George, 41.1%
2001: Lakers...Robert Horry shot sub 35.% Ron Harper barely played
2000: Lakers...Robert Horry, Rick Fox, Derek Fisher all shot sub 35%. Ron Harper started.

[Tim_Hardawayy]

As evidenced, except in rare circumstances, nearly every great team has one of these guys that steps up for them.

Also I'd count Ariza for the Lakers last year because in the playoffs he shot 48% from 3. Glen Rice shot 41% from 3 for LA in the 2000 playoffs. 2001 was a pretty big exception because Kobe was great and Shaq was his most dominant ever.

So basically, its extremely important, although in many of these cases the guy wasn't necessarily known as a 3-point specialist before he played for that team. In a lot of ways, great teams create 3-point specialists, because they are given the space necessary to sit back and make those shots.

I can't really say what's more important, getting the 3-point specialist when you have a good team, or a good team turning a guy into a 3-point specialist. Kind of a chicken and egg scenario.

[ahonui06]

Having someone that can knock down a perimeter jumper or 3 is definitely vital. Just look at what happened to Charlotte and Dallas in the first round.

[MaxRider]

look at Steve Kerr
they guy got 5 rings

[loserX]

Not sure you could really call Ginobili "a 3-point specialist". If you're talking in general terms, 3-point shooters are pretty critical. Being a specialist just means you can't (or don't) really do much else.

But teams always need floor spacing, and sometimes you need to climb out of a deficit more quickly than 2-point shots will allow. So having 3-point shooting is always a good thing, although you still need other weapons if (when) those guys go cold.

[SpursDynasty4]

If we're counting people shooting under 39% in the Spurs championship runsas 3pt specialists, Matt Bonner is a 3 pt specialist too. Same with George Hill who shoots it at 40%. Ginobili is shooting at 38%.

[KOBE_PAUER]

You forgot Sasha "the machine" Vujacic. GOAT 3pt specialist.

Pd: James Posey and Eddie House were the biggest factors in the NBA finals 2008 IMO. Obviously after referring and wheelchair.

[britblazerdude]

If we're counting people shooting under 39% in the Spurs championship runsas 3pt specialists, Matt Bonner is a 3 pt specialist too. Same with George Hill who shoots it at 40%. Ginobili is shooting at 38%.

Bonner barely played in the '07 run. Hill is a starter.

[IceNcream27]

On the Lakers.


Dont forget about DFISH. He's not as accurate as before but he's a threat and comes through when it counts. Just having him out there not scared to take a shot is a threat enough. Also with Vujacic

[Jwade]

Celtics have a HOFer 3 point specialist in the starting 5. We don't need a specialist off the bench.

[desertlakerfan]

On the Lakers.


Dont forget about DFISH. He's not as accurate as before but he's a threat and comes through when it counts. Just having him out there not scared to take a shot is a threat enough. Also with Vujacic

Fisher is currently shooting 44% from 3 this playoffs. He's definitely the closest we have to a "specialist" currently on the active roster. Sasha might be back for the next round, who knows how effective he'll be coming off a injury however.

[realfung]

I think it opens up space for inside players and also 3-pt is the way to pull it away or make it closer. Every team should have one.

[BubbaTee]

As evidenced, except in rare circumstances, nearly every great team has one of these guys that steps up for them.

Also I'd count Ariza for the Lakers last year because in the playoffs he shot 48% from 3. Glen Rice shot 41% from 3 for LA in the 2000 playoffs. 2001 was a pretty big exception because Kobe was great and Shaq was his most dominant ever.

In 2001 Fisher shot 51.5% (35/68) on 3s.

And from what I remember watching on TV, I'm surprised it was that low.

[Dupp]

imagine if ron was knocking down the open looks he gets at a good rate. lakers are dominant enough already

[thesneakysneak]

Having someone that can knock down a perimeter jumper or 3 is definitely vital. Just look at what happened to Charlotte and Dallas in the first round.

spot on

[desertlakerfan]

imagine if ron was knocking down the open looks he gets at a good rate. lakers are dominant enough already

Never know could happen in these playoffs. He's been playing with a jacked up shooting hand for a long time now which is obviously screwing up his shot. If that ever heals while these lengthy playoffs continue you could see him back to his 34% career 3 pt shooting numbers or the 35% he held during the regular season with LA. Right now he's shooting an abysmal 17% from 3 in the playoffs.

[ahonui06]

imagine if ron was knocking down the open looks he gets at a good rate. lakers are dominant enough already

Just imagine if Ron Artest could should period.

[ponder276]

In the playoffs right now, the specialist sharp shooters coming off the bench remaining on each teams are:

LAL: None

ATL: Crawford, Evans (decent 3pt. shooters)

Farmar shot 38% from 3 during the regular season (35% so far during the playoffs, but small sample size), and is a career 36% shooter from 3. Both this season, and for his career, nearly half of his FGAs come from 3 range. Why does he not count, but someone like Maurice Evans does? Maurice Evans shot 34% from 3 this year, and is a career 37% from 3. He plays less minutes than Farmar, and a lower percentage of his FGAs come from 3s.

[panthermark]

Very...
Which is why the Bulls neeed Bosh...AND Morrow if we want to be a legit contender.

[J-Ville Smoke]

2PT jumpers will be obsolete in a couple years, thanks to advanced statistics.