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Sombody needs to do a 30 For 30 about blown 20+ point leads in the NBA. It boggles my mind every time it happens because it takes so long to happen that you'd think the team in the lead would have plenty of time to re-compose themselves. Not to mention, you'd think they'd have PTSD from it happening before, or seeing it happen before.

I know it happens more often in this 3 point spamming era, but it happend plenty of times before the last 10 or 15 years, so the more frequent use of the 3 point shot is only a small part of the issue. So saying that's the cause is a lazy answer.

I really wanna know the psychology behind it. I've never played competitive sports, so I don't have that perspective.

three pointers

Yea it’s very interesting and part of the evolution of modern NBA. Once upon a time a 20-point lead was insurmountable mostly. Now it’s not much more than a 10-point or so (in the past) lead. Not surprising at all if erased.

Because the team who have the lead, fall asleep.

Dumb ass modern players and stubborn coaches. It’s not just threes. Most teams are missing smart veteran point guards to calm the team down on the court and go back to running the offense instead of panic isoing or panic chucking. It’s maddening to watch as a basketball fan

Similarly, why does home court not mean anything anymore? The 5 lowest league wide home winning % in league history have all occurred since 2020. Road teams in this postseason are damn near .500 (34-38).

Obviously the increase in threes plays a hand in both.

This isn't rocket science. There's a significant proliferation in 3pt shooting proficiency, so the impact of a 20-point lead isn't quite the same as it was in years past.

A lot of teams do not have a bread and butter play to run when the offense is breaking down. It's just drive and kick and hope the 3 goes in

3 point variance. Teams in the lead stupidly keep taking them and missing and teams behind keep making them. A good coach would not allow his team to take 3s with a lead of 15 or more, even these “wide open, corner, sure thing, regression to mean” 3s that teams brick shot after shot after shot

Because Jalen loves to break hearts on the road

An alternate theory: There are no super teams today. Teams full of role players are more prone to variance in their scoring.

I forgot to ask: What would be a good title for the 30 For 30? The 20 Point Problem? I know somebody can do better than that.

Marvin Martian wrote:A lot of teams do not have a bread and butter play to run when the offense is breaking down. It's just drive and kick and hope the 3 goes in

This isn't really it. They have lots of different sets to run, but the sets are geared to get them kick-out threes or shots at the rim. And if you wall off the rim and let them shoot from 3, eventually there is variance.

20 point is what 10 or 12 point lead used to be years ago

Edrees wrote:three pointers

Both ways too. The team trailing gets hot, and the team leading cools off, and continues to shoot quick 3s instead of burning clock and making the defense work.

All the allowed physicality allows the refs to adjust calls.

Suddenly, it’s a moving screen.
Suddenly, it’s a handcheck foul.

And in the bigger scheme of things, close games is good for entertainment.

Lack of leadership on the floor and coaching, you'll see teams up 20 give up 8 straight points and try to fight through it rather than call a TO and talk it through.

Third options gon third option

The team leading by 20 doesn't adjust their game and go for high % shots that earn fouls. Maybe because they lack those options. Instead they chuck 3s.

K N U C K L E S wrote:I forgot to ask: What would be a good title for the 30 For 30? The 20 Point Problem? I know somebody can do better than that.

I got 20 point leaders but a win it ain’t one.