Remove the 3-point line, re-establish the balance. Why not?

[Deivork]

For those who think the game became too mathematic and too perimeter oriented, I see removing the 3-point line as the solution for re-balancing the game.

Shooters won't forget how to shoot from afar and long-distance shots will remain a very valuable weapon to space the floor. Just not as valuable. Interior game would regain its relevance. From my point of view, the game would be more aesthetically pleasing. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow. Always fast gets boring real quick.

In today's game, players take a step behind an artificial line and they get (50%!) more value to their made shot. It's too much. The math did its job. They figured it out. It became too much of a calculated game when physical sports are supposed to be more about the flow of the game. Time for a change. Players and game thinkers will develop new strategies for advantage as it's always happened.

See, this is my opinion. Beyond "it breaks the records" kind of arguments, why not do this and regain the inside-outside balance? It would make for better entertainment.

PS: If possible I'd like for this thread to focus on arguments for or against this, not so much alternatives to it that have been already discussed.

[Deivork]

PS: not native English speaker here, is my use of "make up for" correct in the last sentence?

[Cavsfansince84]

I wouldn't be entirely against the idea of taking it out and seeing how it looks but its never going to happen. Too many guys whose value contract wise is tied to their 3 pt shooting would barely make rosters now. Its one of those ideas that's fun in a hypothetical way but there's no chance in hell that Silver would do it or that owners would go along with it.

[Roscoe Sheed]

If possible, I think they should move the line back by 2 feet or so- the only problem is the corner 3 would be out of bounds. Perhaps eliminate the corner 3 altogether

[Reeko]

PS: not native English speaker here, is my use of "make up for" correct in the last sentence?

No, you mean to say "make for".

[Deivork]

I wouldn't be entirely against the idea of taking it out and seeing how it looks but its never going to happen. Too many guys whose value contract wise is tied to their 3 pt shooting would barely make rosters now. Its one of those ideas that's fun in a hypothetical way but there's no chance in hell that Silver would do it or that owners would go along with it.

Ok, fair point. But see, change often seems impossible until it happens before your eyes. What about a 5-year plan? Announce it in advance. I honestly think at some point they'll realise it's the best solution... I don't believe in making the court bigger, or 4-point line... it only emphasizes the bad aspects of the game today.

They introduced the 3-point line without anticipating an analytical revolution. Guess what? It happened. Rectify, move along.

[Deivork]

PS: not native English speaker here, is my use of "make up for" correct in the last sentence?

No, you mean to say "make for".

Thank you bro

[Deivork]

If possible, I think they should move the line back by 2 feet or so- the only problem is the corner 3 would be out of bounds. Perhaps eliminate the corner 3 altogether

Ok, yeah. I've seen plenty of proposals. Let's try to focus on arguments against my idea in this thread. Otherwise, it's too broad.

[PMONSTER]

I wouldn't get rid of the 3ptline because I feel that long distance shooters should be rewarded for being able to make that shot. It gives extra value to people who are really good at hitting that shot and I believe the 3-point shot has a part in this game

I will counter what you say with proposing half a point added to mid-range jump shots. Make an extra line that is free-throw extended so that it would bring back the mid-range game. That would be fun.

[CIN-C-STAR]

The 3-point line was always a gimmick, but it ain't going nowhere.
Moving the line back and narrowing the lane, or removing 3-second violations altogether, are possible though.
Also, a 3-point shot is worth 50% more than a 2-point field goal, not 67% more.

[bearadonisdna]

Unfortunately OP, the style of the game is predicated by officiating.

This is what ultimately swayed the style of game to mostly perimeter oriented.
Even a GOAT level player like lbj cant get calls inside.
The league essentially went to prison rules on the interior to emphasize wide open perimeter play.

Teams can still dominate inside but you need the talent and gameplan to transcend the officiating.

[birdlives_ma]

Naw, that punishes shooters for spending their lives building that skill. Plus the 3-pointer, at its core, is fun as hell. It's just spammed to death now because a lot of the defensive rules have made easier to create perimeter looks.

Personally, I think the move is to remove the defensive 3 second rule. Do that, and you break the kind of layup-three seesaw that most modern offenses try and live on.

[Deivork]

Also, a 3-point shot is worth 50% more than a 2-point field goal, not 67% more.

Yep, lapse there. thanks

[Winsome Gerbil]

Frankly I have never known the game without a three point line, but the game for me peaked a decade ago or more at a time when the 3pt line was still a specialty flavor. Still a big play. The balance has been destroyed, and if you pressed me to either have destroyed balance with the artificial "you get 50% more for scoring from here" line chintzing up the entire game, or going super old school where there isn't even a three point line at all...I would go for the radical no three point line at all.

Nonetheless, I still prefer that the idiotic league do SOMETHING to counteract the line's ridiculous overwhelming presence today, rather than have to kill it entirely. Make the arc legit and run it into the sideline rather than artificially creating corner threes. Simply bump the line out further. Or make the line only worth three points in the final 3 minutes of a half or game, so as to increase drama and comeback potential. Halve or make it 1/3 its value by making a little three point tally light. You hit a shot from beyond the arc, it just adds one to the tally. You only get an extra point when you have filled the tally board, every 2nd three, or 3rd three, 4th three, whatever it takes to make it a nice little bonus but not a complete tactic. Just do SOMETHING and I'll take it over getting rid of the line entirely. But leave me no other choices than three point spamming joke of a league,. or old school retro rules, I'll go all the way back if that's the only answer.

[Deivork]

I wouldn't get rid of the 3ptline because I feel that long distance shooters should be rewarded for being able to make that shot. It gives extra value to people who are really good at hitting that shot and I believe the 3-point shot has a part in this game

I will counter what you say with proposing half a point added to mid-range jump shots. Make an extra line that is free-throw extended so that it would bring back the mid-range game. That would be fun.

I see your point. But hasn't that reward become too much of a game changer? It was supposed to be an incentive, not the main tool. They'd remain rewarded still, since the outside shots would be less guarded, hence rewarded in easiness to convert.

Half points could be a step, but it seems a bit messy to me visually.

[Deivork]

Naw, that punishes shooters for spending their lives building that skill. Plus the 3-pointer, at its core, is fun as hell. It's just spammed to death now because a lot of the defensive rules have made easier to create perimeter looks.

Well, **** happens, I'm sorry. There were other players that invested their lives in playing at the post and now they're marginalised. Same story. I'm talking about balance and beauty of the game.

And I agree, 3s are hella fun, or used to be... but too much is too much, don't you agree?

[mademan]

Without rule changes, teams wouldnt score more than in the mid-80's.

[Deivork]

Unfortunately OP, the style of the game is predicated by officiating.

This is what ultimately swayed the style of game to mostly perimeter oriented.
Even a GOAT level player like lbj cant get calls inside.
The league essentially went to prison rules on the interior to emphasize wide open perimeter play.

Teams can still dominate inside but you need the talent and gameplan to transcend the officiating.

For sure it plays a big role, but let's not diminish here Moneyball, Nelson, Morey, D'Antoni, Kerr, Curry and Harden.

Of course the game is set by the rules, including officiating. I'm talking about a rule change. Officiating can move along gradually.

[D.Brasco]

I wouldn't get rid of the 3ptline because I feel that long distance shooters should be rewarded for being able to make that shot. It gives extra value to people who are really good at hitting that shot and I believe the 3-point shot has a part in this game

I will counter what you say with proposing half a point added to mid-range jump shots. Make an extra line that is free-throw extended so that it would bring back the mid-range game. That would be fun.

You can make the argument that people that get to the bucket to make the highest percentage shot should be rewarded?

I don't believe the 3-pointer should be removed but it's always been worth more because it was assumed to be a tough shot. It's not really that tough a shot anymore for players who grew up their whole lives with it.

I would like to see some studies on the impact of moving it back a bit, at least remove the side corner shots as well.

[Sofia]

I think removing the line altogether is far too drastic. It’s like warming cool hands by putting them elbow deep in the fireplace.

It is quite a complex fix though; removing corner 3s is the easiest way, but defences will be much narrower below the free throw line and will be able to rotate and clog up the paint too much, making for some ugly inside game.