It might actually be time to get rid of the three point line

[MartyConlonJr]

I think in the past, it seemed like it might be unfair to players in terms of all time statistics, to lop off a shot that inflates your ppg, but if you now look at how inflated game scores are becoming, getting rid of the three point line altogether would only make final scores lower to a point that is not that dissimilar to late 90's or early 00's or so.

The lowest scoring team this year is Orlando, they score 105.6 and make 11.4 threes, so in theory would score 95.2 ppg as a team. Charlotte score 105.8 but make 14.3 threes, and would be 91.5 ppg without threes. Basically teams would be scoring somewhere between 91.5 ppg and 105 ppg which is not way less than teams were scoring a 10-15 years ago, and that is assuming they just played exactly the same way they do now, instead of taking higher percentage mid range shots or focusing on a more spread out offense, that would likely offset some of it.

In fact by doing it now, with the age of analytics and spike in scoring really just happening in the last few years, rather than doing it 10 years from now, would stop players from having career long stat inflation that is harder to roll back from.

[Lakers In 5]

In 1984 the average team scored 111 points, with about three 3s taken as a team. You think people were going to the town square or have their local crier yell in protest because of stats? That thing became the rather slow and sluggish 90s in about 10 years.

Leagues evolve. Counter strategies are developed and eventually everyone will start running that and it turns into a new product. That’s how it’ll go, that’s how it’ll always be. It’s already silently happening right now in Memphis, who are, contrary to the other 29 teams, running no pick and rolls at all.

[Black Jack]

I personally would just bring back hand checking. That would make things way more even between defender and shooters.

But getting rid of the three point line is a decent idea. I do wonder if it would swing things back over to big men a bit too much though, not sure I want to go back to watching unskilled bigs post up all the time.

[FrodoBaggins]

The game would be way more balanced. Some might think the style of play would revert to the 1960s and '70s but that wouldn't happen. So many other things aside from the three-point line have changed: the dribbling, carrying, traveling interpretations, illegal screens, three in the key, five seconds back to the basket, etc.

The post-up would be utilized more for sure. You'd still have plenty of ball screens on and off the ball. The pick-and-roll game and hand-off sets would still be heavily used. Perimeter shooting would be used and extend far enough out to open up the paint, just like it has always been in NBA history.

What we have to understand is that, yes, shots closer to the basket are higher percentage and lead to more second chance opportunities. But they're more contested and generate more turnovers. Comparatively, perimeter shots further from the basket are lower percentage but they're less contested, result in fewer turnovers, and space the floor.

A lot of the best team offenses and offensive players in NBA history were perimeter-based, even before the introduction of the three-point line. Boston in the '50s with Cousy, Sharman, and Macauley. Kansas City in the '60s with Oscar Robertson running the pick-and-roll. Golden State in the '70s with Rick Barry.

Guys like Curry and Klay would still be supremely valuable.

[doogie_hauser]

Lol it's funny how it's only fans of purely trash/bottom feeding teams want the 3 pointers to be eliminated.

It's not going to happen. Teams and coaches have to evolve with the changing offensive flux of the game or be left behind 9

[UcanUwill]

I do not think thats the good argument for why we would need to get rid of 3 point line. Scoring averages always differed between eras, for example 80s scored far more than 90s and 00s, so what? Why do we need to measure to the 90s in particular?

I think the best argument against 3 point line that I have heard here, and maybe its not an argument, rather just poking a hole in overly pro spacing talk, was - if teams care about spacing so much, ok, they can space with shooters even without 3 point line if they want, but why does a shot from certain area should give you more points? Pace the court without the 3 point line, if spacing is the reason why Basketball offenses are so good.

I am not saying they should get rid of 3 point line, but that was the best thing I heard regarding the topic. And not even an argument in itself, more of the counterpoint to those who pretend its not because of more points of why people shoot 3s, but because of the ''spacing'' in creates.

[jezzerinho]

I do not think thats the good argument for why we would need to get rid of 3 point line. Scoring averages always differed between eras, for example 80s scored far more than 90s and 00s, so what? Why do we need to measure to the 90s in particular?

I think the best argument against 3 point line that I have heard here, and maybe its not an argument, rather just poking a hole in overly pro spacing talk, was - if teams care about spacing so much, ok, they can space with shooters even without 3 point line if they want, but why does a shot from certain area should give you more points? Pace the court without the 3 point line, if spacing is the reason why Basketball offenses are so good.

I am not saying they should get rid of 3 point line, but that was the best thing I heard regarding the topic. And not even an argument in itself, more of the counterpoint to those who pretend its not because of more points of why people shoot 3s, but because of the ''spacing'' in creates.

This. The rationale for a 50% higher score for a 3pter is that it's at least 50% harder. Once it's becomes such a widespread skill at a near 40% clip, what's the point in awarding it 50% extra value? You're just penalising other shot types.

But that doesn't mean that teams won't shoot the outside shot. In the same way teams still score inside.

[JayMKE]

I agree OP and have said it myself here tons of times, the NBA cannot survive as 3 point chucking league. There needs be diversity in the game for it to thrive long term or it will be as unwatchable as baseball. People want a physical sport where guys play defense and wrestle inside, not guys afraid to touch a defender who jumps into them and draws a foul.

[jasonxxx102]

It’s time to ban making this exact same thread. It’s tired, it’s boring. Nothing new is being discussed for the 100th time

[pipfan]

I think you start calling carrying, travelling and moving screens (this has improved) and the # of 3's would drop

[tsherkin]

This is nonsense, top to bottom.

[toooskies]

I’d rather eliminate zone defense again to make help defense harder or introduce a 2.5 point shot at the free throw line than eliminate 3s.

[UcanUwill]

I’d rather eliminate zone defense again to make help defense harder or introduce a 2.5 point shot at the free throw line than eliminate 3s.

If you fine with idea of shot being worth something that isn't real number, would you rather just make 3 point shot, a 2.5 shot? 3 point shot is arguably too easy to be worth 50% more, but what about 25% more?

[JujitsuFlip]

No they don't lol

Why do we want to go back to an era of some of the ugliest basketball imaginable?

Baseball wants more home runs, football wants more pass attempts, and basketball wants more 3s.

It is a lot about entertainment for the casuals and children.

If you want to watch unskilled big men get killed by Shaq in the post and watch Melo take contested fade away long 2 pointers go watch YouTube. No one is salivating at the idea of Anderson Varejao struggling to hit a 17 foot set shot at the elbow. Who wants Novak or Kerr, 2 god awful defenders to be the only guys allowed to shoot from 23.9? If you prefer the old style of play, pop in a VHS.

Players are more skilled, top to bottom now days, just kick back and enjoy it.

[hauntedcomputer]

Best idea I heard was some reddit genius who said the home team should be able to lay out its own three-point line the way baseball stadiums have certain unique dimensions that they often build their teams to. Make the line wiggly or saw-edged and never a consistent distance.

It'd be a lot more fun seeing guys have to look down at their feet. You'd probably have to widen the court to do that but the corner three is a travesty shot anyway.

[hauntedcomputer]

Players are more skilled, top to bottom now days, just kick back and enjoy it.

Not across the board. More skilled at shooting but none of them can dribble without double dribbling or traveling or palming. The rules have morphed so that some skills don't matter anymore.

[JujitsuFlip]

Players are more skilled, top to bottom now days, just kick back and enjoy it.

Not across the board. More skilled at shooting but none of them can dribble without double dribbling or traveling or palming. The rules have morphed so that some skills don't matter anymore.

You'd have to find me a year in the "golden era" of basketball that had this many bigs, with this many APG.

Joker 9.7
Sabonis 6.1
Giannis 5.9
Dray 5.6
Jalen Johnson 5.3
Sengun 5.0
Bam 4.7
Randle 4.5
Wemby 3.8

===========================

A couple names you may argue if i added to that list.

LeBron 8.9
Ben Simmons 6.9
Hart 5.7
Tatum 5.6
JDub 5.1

[WarriorGM]

Gambling is going to be a bigger problem than the increase in 3s. If there is something to get rid of start with that.

[Bergmaniac]

I think in the past, it seemed like it might be unfair to players in terms of all time statistics, to lop off a shot that inflates your ppg, but if you now look at how inflated game scores are becoming, getting rid of the three point line altogether would only make final scores lower to a point that is not that dissimilar to late 90's or early 00's or so.

Why would you want to make scores similar to those in the most boring period of modern NBA history?

[cornchip]

I do not think thats the good argument for why we would need to get rid of 3 point line. Scoring averages always differed between eras, for example 80s scored far more than 90s and 00s, so what? Why do we need to measure to the 90s in particular?

I think the best argument against 3 point line that I have heard here, and maybe its not an argument, rather just poking a hole in overly pro spacing talk, was - if teams care about spacing so much, ok, they can space with shooters even without 3 point line if they want, but why does a shot from certain area should give you more points? Pace the court without the 3 point line, if spacing is the reason why Basketball offenses are so good.

I am not saying they should get rid of 3 point line, but that was the best thing I heard regarding the topic. And not even an argument in itself, more of the counterpoint to those who pretend its not because of more points of why people shoot 3s, but because of the ''spacing'' in creates.

This. The rationale for a 50% higher score for a 3pter is that it's at least 50% harder. Once it's becomes such a widespread skill at a near 40% clip, what's the point in awarding it 50% extra value? You're just penalising other shot types.

But that doesn't mean that teams won't shoot the outside shot. In the same way teams still score inside.

I think making the 3pt line an even 24 feet all the way around and eliminating the corner 3 is the best and easiest solution by far.

There's really no good reason why the corner 3 still exists from a competitive standpoint. Just it's existence massively favors the offense. It's like a first down being 8 yards outside the hashes in the NFL.