In hindsight was the "Steph Effect" a good thing on the game?

[dhsilv2]

Spoiler:

A few things here:

1. People forget how devastatingly important 3-point shooting was for teams like the Penny-Shaq Orlando teams, Olajuwon's championship Rockets teams. Dhsilv2's chart shows a huge jump around the time Houston was winning titles and Orlando was the top team in the East.

The drop-off from there is likely due to 2 things:

- Shaq leaving Orlando, rendering Nick Anderson and Dennis Scott basically useless, and Houston's short window closing.

- Defensive stalwarts, like Jordan's Bulls, Malone/Stockton's Utah, Robinson/Duncan's Spurs, and the Shaq/Kobe Lakers became the dominant teams. You also had Riley's Miami Heat and SVG's Knicks duking it out while struggling to get to 80 points. Later on you got the Duncan/Parker/Ginobili Spurs, Ben Wallace's Pistons, and the KG/Pierce/Allen Boston teams. These were probably the last teams to try to build a contender from a defense-first mentality.

2. While Nash and Phoenix did not win titles they came very close to making a serious run at the title and people -- while remaining critical -- started to believe that such a team could work, especially given how the rules had been changing in the NBA. The rules changed to the point you could no longer afford to have a large group of specialists or players who weren't versatile.

Great post but you actually got me thinking about something else.

Perhaps that era was why we changed the term "role player" from the traditional "specialist" into a completely meaningless term for everyone else? Cause you're right, today we don't see a lot of specialists. A few sure. Curry....the there one, Thybull, Boban....but in general the league is without specialists and is full of "do it alls".

That said, pretty sure the rockets got their first title before the short line with the same idea with the wheel spoke offense. You're right they did use the line and perhaps even lead to other teams once the line shortened to copy?

It's a convergence of things, like the league continuing to grow in popularity; more people playing, more the better the final, reduced pool of player will be.

You also saw massive shifts/overlaps in the skill sets for different positions, which had been traditionally organized by height and assigned specific skills. Point guards started scoring more/having reliable jumpers, shooting guards started handling the ball more, SFs needed to make 3s and be able to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket from the 3-point line, PFs and centers needed a face-up game and/or be capable of hitting an 18-foot jumper. Like in evolution, the weak get eliminated.

The common factor for all of them is that you needed to be able to shoot in order to create optimal spacing for the dominant centers of the era, which benefitted from the way illegal defense was called back then. Since shooting is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice, you've had guys who excelled in other areas transform their roles in the league by becoming lethal shooters (think Bruce Bowen, Brook Lopez, Lonzo Ball, Draymond Green, Shawn Marion...etc). From this you get the birth of stretch centers/4s and 3 & D guys.

As far as the shortened 3-point line, I don't remember when it was implemented, but it was around the time the Rockets were winning. That may also explain that massive rise over a ~3 year period. If nothing else, shortening the 3-point line by almost 2 feet started getting mid-range guys to take a step and take a 3. No questions this had an influence on the amount of 3-point shooting in the league.

You have to add more money and as a result better people making decisions! 30 years ago the league was an old boy's club. Today we have hedge fund guys owning and running teams. The teams now have data assistant coaches, PHD's in math with low level college basketball experience, not a bad combo btw! Anyone who thinks "teams know that in the past" are just out of the loop. Sure teams knew basics but the quality of management at the nba level today is night and day better than 20 years ago!

[The Rebel]

Spoiler:

Great post but you actually got me thinking about something else.

Perhaps that era was why we changed the term "role player" from the traditional "specialist" into a completely meaningless term for everyone else? Cause you're right, today we don't see a lot of specialists. A few sure. Curry....the there one, Thybull, Boban....but in general the league is without specialists and is full of "do it alls".

That said, pretty sure the rockets got their first title before the short line with the same idea with the wheel spoke offense. You're right they did use the line and perhaps even lead to other teams once the line shortened to copy?

It's a convergence of things, like the league continuing to grow in popularity; more people playing, more the better the final, reduced pool of player will be.

You also saw massive shifts/overlaps in the skill sets for different positions, which had been traditionally organized by height and assigned specific skills. Point guards started scoring more/having reliable jumpers, shooting guards started handling the ball more, SFs needed to make 3s and be able to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket from the 3-point line, PFs and centers needed a face-up game and/or be capable of hitting an 18-foot jumper. Like in evolution, the weak get eliminated.

The common factor for all of them is that you needed to be able to shoot in order to create optimal spacing for the dominant centers of the era, which benefitted from the way illegal defense was called back then. Since shooting is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice, you've had guys who excelled in other areas transform their roles in the league by becoming lethal shooters (think Bruce Bowen, Brook Lopez, Lonzo Ball, Draymond Green, Shawn Marion...etc). From this you get the birth of stretch centers/4s and 3 & D guys.

As far as the shortened 3-point line, I don't remember when it was implemented, but it was around the time the Rockets were winning. That may also explain that massive rise over a ~3 year period. If nothing else, shortening the 3-point line by almost 2 feet started getting mid-range guys to take a step and take a 3. No questions this had an influence on the amount of 3-point shooting in the league.

You have to add more money and as a result better people making decisions! 30 years ago the league was an old boy's club. Today we have hedge fund guys owning and running teams. The teams now have data assistant coaches, PHD's in math with low level college basketball experience, not a bad combo btw! Anyone who thinks "teams know that in the past" are just out of the loop. Sure teams knew basics but the quality of management at the nba level today is night and day better than 20 years ago!

What? It has nothing to do with the quality of management, and by all indications there is not a huge improvement in that quality of management anyways.

I know young people do not realize it, but teams have had 3 point shooters since as long as there has been a 3 point line, but guys in the 80s did not grow up shooting 3s, as there was no 3 point shot in college or high school until the late 80s. If you took a 3 point shot on my high school team in they early 90s you were getting benched, it was not until the 2000s that most high school coaches even allowed their players to practice 3 point shooting. So most kids never practiced the shots until about 10 years before a lot more 3 point shots started happening in the NBA, do you think that is a coincidence?

The rule changes over the last 20 years have been specifically designed to help perimeter players and scoring, it is easier to score today than ever and the reason that guys are so able to get open on the perimeter. Taking 3 steps without a dribble, being able to run without having your route impeded, no hand checking, moving screens, and defenders having no right to their space have all changed the game to make it considerably easier for a perimeter scorer. If you go back to the rules of the 90s than 3 point shooting would drop immediately because guys would not be able to get open so easily.

Neither of those have to do with tech billionaires and their mathematicians.

[dhsilv2]

It's a convergence of things, like the league continuing to grow in popularity; more people playing, more the better the final, reduced pool of player will be.

You also saw massive shifts/overlaps in the skill sets for different positions, which had been traditionally organized by height and assigned specific skills. Point guards started scoring more/having reliable jumpers, shooting guards started handling the ball more, SFs needed to make 3s and be able to put the ball on the floor and attack the basket from the 3-point line, PFs and centers needed a face-up game and/or be capable of hitting an 18-foot jumper. Like in evolution, the weak get eliminated.

The common factor for all of them is that you needed to be able to shoot in order to create optimal spacing for the dominant centers of the era, which benefitted from the way illegal defense was called back then. Since shooting is a skill that can be learned and improved with practice, you've had guys who excelled in other areas transform their roles in the league by becoming lethal shooters (think Bruce Bowen, Brook Lopez, Lonzo Ball, Draymond Green, Shawn Marion...etc). From this you get the birth of stretch centers/4s and 3 & D guys.

As far as the shortened 3-point line, I don't remember when it was implemented, but it was around the time the Rockets were winning. That may also explain that massive rise over a ~3 year period. If nothing else, shortening the 3-point line by almost 2 feet started getting mid-range guys to take a step and take a 3. No questions this had an influence on the amount of 3-point shooting in the league.

You have to add more money and as a result better people making decisions! 30 years ago the league was an old boy's club. Today we have hedge fund guys owning and running teams. The teams now have data assistant coaches, PHD's in math with low level college basketball experience, not a bad combo btw! Anyone who thinks "teams know that in the past" are just out of the loop. Sure teams knew basics but the quality of management at the nba level today is night and day better than 20 years ago!

What? It has nothing to do with the quality of management, and by all indications there is not a huge improvement in that quality of management anyways.

I know young people do not realize it, but teams have had 3 point shooters since as long as there has been a 3 point line, but guys in the 80s did not grow up shooting 3s, as there was no 3 point shot in college or high school until the late 80s. If you took a 3 point shot on my high school team in they early 90s you were getting benched, it was not until the 2000s that most high school coaches even allowed their players to practice 3 point shooting. So most kids never practiced the shots until about 10 years before a lot more 3 point shots started happening in the NBA, do you think that is a coincidence?

The rule changes over the last 20 years have been specifically designed to help perimeter players and scoring, it is easier to score today than ever and the reason that guys are so able to get open on the perimeter. Taking 3 steps without a dribble, being able to run without having your route impeded, no hand checking, moving screens, and defenders having no right to their space have all changed the game to make it considerably easier for a perimeter scorer. If you go back to the rules of the 90s than 3 point shooting would drop immediately because guys would not be able to get open so easily.

Neither of those have to do with tech billionaires and their mathematicians.

All of this comes from having better management. Hell, a lot of players come into the league without a 3 point shot and learn it in a few years now. Leonard is the most famous example, but there are countless other examples. The gap in the talent level with management and back off, not to mention just the sheer size of NBA back offices today dwarf the past. To ignore this is absolute insanity. More money leads to improvements in all field. Including the NBA.

[WarriorGM]

As already noted on the previous page, the large uptick begin in 2010-11, not 2015, after a brief leveling off of historically increasing 3 point usage.

You are using raw attempts which is distorted by the large pace increase that started in 2015.

We might as well create another bull narrative:

"The Steph Effect: Everyone plays much faster now!"

Steph Curry set a record in 3 points made in 2013 and it's gone up ever since. It was the same year Mark Jackson claimed Steph and Klay were the greatest shooting backcourt in NBA history.

The Warriors were the catalyst for the sea change not the Rockets. Even Morey did not go all in on 3 point shooting until the Warriors paved the way and D'Antoni was hired for the 2017 season. Morey obsessed over the Warriors.

Rockets were taking way more 3's in 2013 than the warriors. Gap narrowed a bit in 2014 but the gap widened in 2015 (3PAr .392 vs .311). Warriors closed the gap in 2016 but the rockets still had a higher 3 point attempt rate.

Then yes the rockets jumped but the rockets have always been the leaders in the 3 point revolution, not the warriors. At least not in terms of a team approach.

There has always been a team that took the most three pointers in the NBA in a given season. It would be factually correct to say those teams led the league in three point attempts. It would be stupid to say they led a 3-point revolution. The Knicks in 2013 took more three point attempts than the Rockets and took the second most attempts the previous year. Might as well say the Knicks led the 3-point revolution.

Stephen Curry the individual brought more attention and focus on the three-pointer than entire teams.

[dhsilv2]

Steph Curry set a record in 3 points made in 2013 and it's gone up ever since. It was the same year Mark Jackson claimed Steph and Klay were the greatest shooting backcourt in NBA history.

The Warriors were the catalyst for the sea change not the Rockets. Even Morey did not go all in on 3 point shooting until the Warriors paved the way and D'Antoni was hired for the 2017 season. Morey obsessed over the Warriors.

Rockets were taking way more 3's in 2013 than the warriors. Gap narrowed a bit in 2014 but the gap widened in 2015 (3PAr .392 vs .311). Warriors closed the gap in 2016 but the rockets still had a higher 3 point attempt rate.

Then yes the rockets jumped but the rockets have always been the leaders in the 3 point revolution, not the warriors. At least not in terms of a team approach.

There has always been a team that took the most three pointers in the NBA in a given season. It would be factually correct to say those teams led the league in three point attempts. It would be stupid to say they led a 3-point revolution. The Knicks in 2013 took more three point attempts than the Rockets and took the second most attempts the previous year. Might as well say the Knicks led the 3-point revolution.

Stephen Curry the individual brought more attention and focus on the three-pointer than entire teams.

Perhaps from media and fans. None the less the rockets lead the league in 3 point rate from 2014-2020 and were second in 2013 just behind the knicks who were an outlier in that season.

The rockets have been leading the way both in their actions and other analytics groups seeing their work.

[michaelm]

You have to add more money and as a result better people making decisions! 30 years ago the league was an old boy's club. Today we have hedge fund guys owning and running teams. The teams now have data assistant coaches, PHD's in math with low level college basketball experience, not a bad combo btw! Anyone who thinks "teams know that in the past" are just out of the loop. Sure teams knew basics but the quality of management at the nba level today is night and day better than 20 years ago!

What? It has nothing to do with the quality of management, and by all indications there is not a huge improvement in that quality of management anyways.

I know young people do not realize it, but teams have had 3 point shooters since as long as there has been a 3 point line, but guys in the 80s did not grow up shooting 3s, as there was no 3 point shot in college or high school until the late 80s. If you took a 3 point shot on my high school team in they early 90s you were getting benched, it was not until the 2000s that most high school coaches even allowed their players to practice 3 point shooting. So most kids never practiced the shots until about 10 years before a lot more 3 point shots started happening in the NBA, do you think that is a coincidence?

The rule changes over the last 20 years have been specifically designed to help perimeter players and scoring, it is easier to score today than ever and the reason that guys are so able to get open on the perimeter. Taking 3 steps without a dribble, being able to run without having your route impeded, no hand checking, moving screens, and defenders having no right to their space have all changed the game to make it considerably easier for a perimeter scorer. If you go back to the rules of the 90s than 3 point shooting would drop immediately because guys would not be able to get open so easily.

Neither of those have to do with tech billionaires and their mathematicians.

All of this comes from having better management. Hell, a lot of players come into the league without a 3 point shot and learn it in a few years now. Leonard is the most famous example, but there are countless other examples. The gap in the talent level with management and back off, not to mention just the sheer size of NBA back offices today dwarf the past. To ignore this is absolute insanity. More money leads to improvements in all field. Including the NBA.

More than a few teams still make bad decisions however.

[Creativetran]

It is, but the rule changes that have dramatically limited the ability to play defense is not.

Bring back the ability for players to be able to use their strength as defenders on the court and you'd see it go back to the way it should be with a balanced act.

Steph will still dominate because he's a GOAT shooter and one of a kind, but all these quarter ass shooters wouldn't play like him if they were actually allowed to be defended.

I would hate this, I love the game being open like it is now. Definitely don't want to go back to 90's smash mouth bball, that was boring as hell to watch IMO

[michaelm]

You have to add more money and as a result better people making decisions! 30 years ago the league was an old boy's club. Today we have hedge fund guys owning and running teams. The teams now have data assistant coaches, PHD's in math with low level college basketball experience, not a bad combo btw! Anyone who thinks "teams know that in the past" are just out of the loop. Sure teams knew basics but the quality of management at the nba level today is night and day better than 20 years ago!

What? It has nothing to do with the quality of management, and by all indications there is not a huge improvement in that quality of management anyways.

I know young people do not realize it, but teams have had 3 point shooters since as long as there has been a 3 point line, but guys in the 80s did not grow up shooting 3s, as there was no 3 point shot in college or high school until the late 80s. If you took a 3 point shot on my high school team in they early 90s you were getting benched, it was not until the 2000s that most high school coaches even allowed their players to practice 3 point shooting. So most kids never practiced the shots until about 10 years before a lot more 3 point shots started happening in the NBA, do you think that is a coincidence?

The rule changes over the last 20 years have been specifically designed to help perimeter players and scoring, it is easier to score today than ever and the reason that guys are so able to get open on the perimeter. Taking 3 steps without a dribble, being able to run without having your route impeded, no hand checking, moving screens, and defenders having no right to their space have all changed the game to make it considerably easier for a perimeter scorer. If you go back to the rules of the 90s than 3 point shooting would drop immediately because guys would not be able to get open so easily.

Neither of those have to do with tech billionaires and their mathematicians.

All of this comes from having better management. Hell, a lot of players come into the league without a 3 point shot and learn it in a few years now. Leonard is the most famous example, but there are countless other examples. The gap in the talent level with management and back off, not to mention just the sheer size of NBA back offices today dwarf the past. To ignore this is absolute insanity. More money leads to improvements in all field. Including the NBA.

More than a few teams still make bad decisions however.

[Johnny Bball]

It is, but the rule changes that have dramatically limited the ability to play defense is not.

Bring back the ability for players to be able to use their strength as defenders on the court and you'd see it go back to the way it should be with a balanced act.

Steph will still dominate because he's a GOAT shooter and one of a kind, but all these quarter ass shooters wouldn't play like him if they were actually allowed to be defended.

I would hate this, I love the game being open like it is now. Definitely don't want to go back to 90's smash mouth bball, that was boring as hell to watch IMO

Are you even old enough to have watched the 90's? Because almost nobody old enough to thinks its perfect now without any defence allowed.

And none of this is because of Curry, its a result of rule changes.

[michaelm]

It is, but the rule changes that have dramatically limited the ability to play defense is not.

Bring back the ability for players to be able to use their strength as defenders on the court and you'd see it go back to the way it should be with a balanced act.

Steph will still dominate because he's a GOAT shooter and one of a kind, but all these quarter ass shooters wouldn't play like him if they were actually allowed to be defended.

I would hate this, I love the game being open like it is now. Definitely don't want to go back to 90's smash mouth bball, that was boring as hell to watch IMO

Are you even old enough to have watched the 90's? Because almost nobody old enough to thinks its perfect now without any defence allowed.

And none of this is because of Curry, its a result of rule changes.

So Curry’s teams making 6 of the last 8 Finals and winning 4 of them has nothing to do with Curry ?. Those teams have also mostly been elite defensively, particularly the ones that won titles.

[Johnny Bball]

I would hate this, I love the game being open like it is now. Definitely don't want to go back to 90's smash mouth bball, that was boring as hell to watch IMO

Are you even old enough to have watched the 90's? Because almost nobody old enough to thinks its perfect now without any defence allowed.

And none of this is because of Curry, its a result of rule changes.

So Curry’s teams making 6 of the last 8 Finals and winning 4 of them has nothing to do with Curry ?. Those teams have also mostly been elite defensively, particularly the ones that won titles.

What?!!! Read what I wrote

Curry taking threes and the league moving to better spacing has nothing to do with Curry and everything to do with rule changes and time. If you want to give the GSW credit for something more revolutionary, its playing a smallball centre before anyone else. Which you seemingly know the effects and not the cause.

And the recent increase league wide in 3 point shooting during the GSW run to titles was mostly to do with changing how PF and Centres play and not guards. Guards and wings have increased 3 point shooting at the same rate the entire time and well before Curry. PF and Cs drastically.

3 pint makes have stayed the same-ish league average, the number of players shooting more than 50 3s increased. Different skills being focused on for the draft and player improvement.

This whole idea that it was curry is BS.

https://www.thehoopsgeek.com/history-three-pointer/

[Ein Sof]

yes because he didn't hop from team to team and joined a losing organization before he arrived.

Curry is the most disgusting teamhopper I've ever seen in this sport.

[michaelm]

Are you even old enough to have watched the 90's? Because almost nobody old enough to thinks its perfect now without any defence allowed.

And none of this is because of Curry, its a result of rule changes.

So Curry’s teams making 6 of the last 8 Finals and winning 4 of them has nothing to do with Curry ?. Those teams have also mostly been elite defensively, particularly the ones that won titles.

What?!!! Read what I wrote

Curry taking threes and the league moving to better spacing has nothing to do with Curry and everything to do with rule changes. If you want to give the GSW credit for something more revolutionary, its playing a smallball centre before anyone else. Which you seemingly know the effects and not the cause.

I am not much given to absolute statements, that would be you. I have neither claimed that GSW/Curry invented 3 point shooting, nor that Curry has been uninfluential.

[Johnny Bball]

So Curry’s teams making 6 of the last 8 Finals and winning 4 of them has nothing to do with Curry ?. Those teams have also mostly been elite defensively, particularly the ones that won titles.

What?!!! Read what I wrote

Curry taking threes and the league moving to better spacing has nothing to do with Curry and everything to do with rule changes. If you want to give the GSW credit for something more revolutionary, its playing a smallball centre before anyone else. Which you seemingly know the effects and not the cause.

And the recent increase league wide in 3 point shooting during the GSW run to titles was mostly to do with changing how PF and Centres play and not guards. Guards and wings have increased 3 point shooting at the same rate the entire time and well before Curry. PF and Cs drastically.

3 pint makes have stayed the same-ish league average, the number of players shooting more than 50 3s increased. Different skills being focused on for the draft and player improvement.

This whole idea that it was curry is BS.

https://www.thehoopsgeek.com/history-three-pointer/

I am not much given to absolute statements, that would be you. I have neither claimed that GSW/Curry invented 3 point shooting, nor that Curry has been uninfluential.

Uh... it's what the thread and my post is about. And he hasn't been in this regard.

It's been real. Let's not do this again soon.

[rtiff68]

Are you even old enough to have watched the 90's? Because almost nobody old enough to thinks its perfect now without any defence allowed.

And none of this is because of Curry, its a result of rule changes.

So Curry’s teams making 6 of the last 8 Finals and winning 4 of them has nothing to do with Curry ?. Those teams have also mostly been elite defensively, particularly the ones that won titles.

What?!!! Read what I wrote

Curry taking threes and the league moving to better spacing has nothing to do with Curry and everything to do with rule changes and time. If you want to give the GSW credit for something more revolutionary, its playing a smallball centre before anyone else. Which you seemingly know the effects and not the cause.

And the recent increase league wide in 3 point shooting during the GSW run to titles was mostly to do with changing how PF and Centres play and not guards. Guards and wings have increased 3 point shooting at the same rate the entire time and well before Curry. PF and Cs drastically.

3 pint makes have stayed the same-ish league average, the number of players shooting more than 50 3s increased. Different skills being focused on for the draft and player improvement.

This whole idea that it was curry is BS.

https://www.thehoopsgeek.com/history-three-pointer/

The greatest 3pt shooter of all time peaking in ability and popularity had "nothing to do" with the league shifting dramatically towards more 3PTA volume?

Was it all Curry? Of course not-- it was a confluence of circumstances, some of which you laid out (timing, rule changes) along with the analytics departments within organizations popping up everywhere.

To say Curry had "nothing to do with it" is pretty silly, man. I suppose MJ had "nothing to do" with popularizing the dunk contest, right? It was all timing (TV), etc.

[lambchop]

Are you even old enough to have watched the 90's? Because almost nobody old enough to thinks its perfect now without any defence allowed.

And none of this is because of Curry, its a result of rule changes.

So Curry’s teams making 6 of the last 8 Finals and winning 4 of them has nothing to do with Curry ?. Those teams have also mostly been elite defensively, particularly the ones that won titles.

What?!!! Read what I wrote

Curry taking threes and the league moving to better spacing has nothing to do with Curry and everything to do with rule changes and time. If you want to give the GSW credit for something more revolutionary, its playing a smallball centre before anyone else. Which you seemingly know the effects and not the cause.

And the recent increase league wide in 3 point shooting during the GSW run to titles was mostly to do with changing how PF and Centres play and not guards. Guards and wings have increased 3 point shooting at the same rate the entire time and well before Curry. PF and Cs drastically.

3 pint makes have stayed the same-ish league average, the number of players shooting more than 50 3s increased. Different skills being focused on for the draft and player improvement.

This whole idea that it was curry is BS.

https://www.thehoopsgeek.com/history-three-pointer/

To be fair, I feel as though curry definitely legitimized high volume three point shooting and shooting from way beyond the arc. But he was certainly accompanied by guys like Lillard, Klay, JR Smith and even Bron.

A shift towards more threes would have happened either way though.

[jlokine]

the steph effect only work when you have 2 All time greatest shooters shooting at the clip that they did. it was easy to see steph without klay, he gets double teamed hard. klay without steph loses a ball handler. draymond without klay or steph doesnt have any space to operate. it was a system that worked and steph also has become very proficient shooting from the logo/35+ feet.. we can see harden and lillard on their own just doesnt get them very far.

[Johnny Bball]

So Curry’s teams making 6 of the last 8 Finals and winning 4 of them has nothing to do with Curry ?. Those teams have also mostly been elite defensively, particularly the ones that won titles.

What?!!! Read what I wrote

Curry taking threes and the league moving to better spacing has nothing to do with Curry and everything to do with rule changes and time. If you want to give the GSW credit for something more revolutionary, its playing a smallball centre before anyone else. Which you seemingly know the effects and not the cause.

And the recent increase league wide in 3 point shooting during the GSW run to titles was mostly to do with changing how PF and Centres play and not guards. Guards and wings have increased 3 point shooting at the same rate the entire time and well before Curry. PF and Cs drastically.

3 pint makes have stayed the same-ish league average, the number of players shooting more than 50 3s increased. Different skills being focused on for the draft and player improvement.

This whole idea that it was curry is BS.

https://www.thehoopsgeek.com/history-three-pointer/

The greatest 3pt shooter of all time peaking in ability and popularity had "nothing to do" with the league shifting dramatically towards more 3PTA volume?

Was it all Curry? Of course not-- it was a confluence of circumstances, some of which you laid out (timing, rule changes) along with the analytics departments within organizations popping up everywhere.

To say Curry had "nothing to do with it" is pretty silly, man. I suppose MJ had "nothing to do" with popularizing the dunk contest, right? It was all timing (TV), etc.

Did you even read the attached link to view the shift since 1990? Did you even see where the difference was after 2015?

Of course you didn't.

It was well under way before Curry and after the rules changes of 2003-2010. And the large majority of 3 pointers added after 2015 were Cs and PFs. Cs and PFs are not emulating Steph Curry.

[rtiff68]

What?!!! Read what I wrote

Curry taking threes and the league moving to better spacing has nothing to do with Curry and everything to do with rule changes and time. If you want to give the GSW credit for something more revolutionary, its playing a smallball centre before anyone else. Which you seemingly know the effects and not the cause.

And the recent increase league wide in 3 point shooting during the GSW run to titles was mostly to do with changing how PF and Centres play and not guards. Guards and wings have increased 3 point shooting at the same rate the entire time and well before Curry. PF and Cs drastically.

3 pint makes have stayed the same-ish league average, the number of players shooting more than 50 3s increased. Different skills being focused on for the draft and player improvement.

This whole idea that it was curry is BS.

https://www.thehoopsgeek.com/history-three-pointer/

The greatest 3pt shooter of all time peaking in ability and popularity had "nothing to do" with the league shifting dramatically towards more 3PTA volume?

Was it all Curry? Of course not-- it was a confluence of circumstances, some of which you laid out (timing, rule changes) along with the analytics departments within organizations popping up everywhere.

To say Curry had "nothing to do with it" is pretty silly, man. I suppose MJ had "nothing to do" with popularizing the dunk contest, right? It was all timing (TV), etc.

Did you even read the attached link to view the shift since 1990? Did you even see where the difference was after 2015?

Of course you didn't.

It was well under way before Curry and after the rules changes of 2003-2010. And the large majority of 3 pointers added after 2015 were Cs and PFs. Cs and PFs are not emulating Steph Curry.

Yes, I did. Did you read my post?

You’re claiming that he had NOTHING to do with the seismic shift towards 3PTA. As in, zero.

I didn’t argue he was the primary reason, and I also didn’t argue that the league wouldn’t have trended that way eventually regardless.

I’m simply mentioning that the timing isn't merely a coincidence. Arguing otherwise is beyond obtuse.

[dhsilv2]

What? It has nothing to do with the quality of management, and by all indications there is not a huge improvement in that quality of management anyways.

I know young people do not realize it, but teams have had 3 point shooters since as long as there has been a 3 point line, but guys in the 80s did not grow up shooting 3s, as there was no 3 point shot in college or high school until the late 80s. If you took a 3 point shot on my high school team in they early 90s you were getting benched, it was not until the 2000s that most high school coaches even allowed their players to practice 3 point shooting. So most kids never practiced the shots until about 10 years before a lot more 3 point shots started happening in the NBA, do you think that is a coincidence?

The rule changes over the last 20 years have been specifically designed to help perimeter players and scoring, it is easier to score today than ever and the reason that guys are so able to get open on the perimeter. Taking 3 steps without a dribble, being able to run without having your route impeded, no hand checking, moving screens, and defenders having no right to their space have all changed the game to make it considerably easier for a perimeter scorer. If you go back to the rules of the 90s than 3 point shooting would drop immediately because guys would not be able to get open so easily.

Neither of those have to do with tech billionaires and their mathematicians.

All of this comes from having better management. Hell, a lot of players come into the league without a 3 point shot and learn it in a few years now. Leonard is the most famous example, but there are countless other examples. The gap in the talent level with management and back off, not to mention just the sheer size of NBA back offices today dwarf the past. To ignore this is absolute insanity. More money leads to improvements in all field. Including the NBA.

More than a few teams still make bad decisions however.

Well that's going to be any field. The question is if their back office provided them with the data and detail to make these decisions. Also I think a lot of bad decisions come down to fans under understanding team goals (winning a title is rarely the driver of most decisions).