RealGM

First and formost forgive me for this thread, It's my Friday and I've had a few drinks (only day I drink now, sometimes a couple on Thursday).

I didn't want to post this In the general forum section as It's too much trafic and felt this was the best place for this topic.
I grew up In the 90's started watching B-ball late 80's Ish can't remember exactly when at this exact moment - end of bird/magic time I think.

Floor spacing was never an Issue back in the day but seems to be a major topic In today's game - It's like floor spacing or die In towards today's game. If you can't shoot 3's and spread the floor It's game over for the other team?

But why? It's not like players/teams can find ways to score In the paint, long two's and still win games etc

I would rather have 5 players out on the 3 point line and let them shoot all day long then rather gettin easy buckets In the paint/long twos, fast breaks, 2nd chance points etc all day long, not like there s a complete team out there that's gonna just beat you just on 3's alone (I mean sure there's been some games here and there) but all season long/playoffs etc? - I think not.

Back In the day, most were scoring In the paint, long two's fast breaks, having miss matches etc and yet offensive team still found ways to score no matter the defense, 3-1-3, 2-3, 3-2, 1v1 iso, defense zone defense, etc etc - just naming off the top off my head.

I understand that shooting 3's and floor spacing Is valuable but like I said above, I don't think any team out there can rely just on doing that alone and become Insta playoff/chips worthy In it's self?

Just a little vent needed to get off my chest.

Peace Out Slim.

Obviously it's fine for you to vent

Just a little vent needed to get off my chest.

and post without ... serious thinking ...

I've had a few drinks

.

I don't think any team out there can rely just on doing that alone

Indeed no team does. Conceptually it would be hard to rely on doing one thing alone given how predictable that is (though as far that range of strategies goes the 3 does have the merit of requiring defending a greater space).

But 3 is greater than 2. Rules change over time. The three isn't substantially tougher than the long two. So teams traded long twos for 3s. The game is broadly being optimized for its present rules. That doesn't mean you have to be an amazing 3 point shooter (check the last 3 people to be MVP: two have it as an option, are good for their size but it's not what makes them dominant). Teams haven't ceased trying to get easy baskets at the rim ...

In short:
-todays game isn't just 3s
-elite players are still driving their eliteness in non-3pt ways
-spacing is valuable, moreso if out to the 3pt line where you get the extra point and more space for drivers to operate
-people can have aesthetic preferences
-people can want rules to change so that a preferred game style is played or different shot diet balance is achieved ... but it's hard to argue that Al Jefferson on the block or Ron Mercer throwing 20 footers would be more effective. The stuff people are doing now they are doing for the most part because it works (not saying it's perfect)

There Is absouletly nothing wrong with venting and drinking at the same time, at least I admit I'm doing It ... I'll wait for more replies If there Is any, If not happy to have thread blocked - I'm easy as and no hard feelings.

Stars are stars. Giannis and LeBron aren't great 3 point shooters for example. The difference is that it seems that to be a role player (except possibly for a defensive rim runner at the 5), you have to be able to just stand around the perimeter waiting for a pass for an open three. Some move well without the ball and get greater opportunities but there is less variety in both types of offenses and player skill sets today than in the late 20th century in the NBA it seems.

Watch some games from the mid to late 00s. I cringe watching players at the three point line take a step forward for a "better shot" closer to the basket. They would give up wide open threes and take long twos, the worst shot in the game, as a deliberate strategy. The value of the three wasn't yet fully or even moderately appreciated yet.

I'm not a fan of the game being about whoever is hottest from three on a given night, but deliberately playing in a very suboptimal way like teams used to do isn't any better.