has the heat started to dismiss the 3 point shooting game?

[eddieheatfan]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/miami-heat/sfl-ira-nba-column-s052216-column.html

from ira winderman:


Amid the melancholy that is the season-ending media session at least there was no forced moment of, "we have enough."

Because when it's over, it doesn't matter what you have. By next season, the Miami Heat's mix will be decidedly different. Such is the reality of as many as 11 impending free agents.

But the 2015-16 Heat didn't have enough when it came to 3-point shooting.

Oh, Josh Richardson emerged over the second half of the season and Dwyane Wade stepped up in the playoffs, but in the Eastern Conference semifinals, alone, there was a 4 of 18, a 1 of 15, a 6 of 21, and then, at the moment of truth in Game 7 against the Toronto Raptors, 7 of 25 from beyond the arc.

Say all you want about teams winning with a variety of styles. And they do. But most of those teams are done for the season. And the two most likely to be standing at the end, the Golden State Warriors and Cleveland Cavaliers, have made the 3-point line a point of attack.

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A year ago, at the NBA Draft, the Heat made their priority clear when Justise Winslow was the choice ahead of Devin Booker.

Then, given the opportunity during free agency to add 3-point shooters, the Heat only would go as far as Gerald Green.

During the playoffs, even with Joe Johnson brought aboard at the buyout deadline, the Heat ranked seventh of the 16 teams in 3-point percentage, but just 11th in 3-pointer conversions per game, with the Cavaliers and Warriors ranking at the top.

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During the regular season, the Heat ranked 27th in both 3-point percentage and 3-point conversions.

The playoff showing still was good enough to get within one victory of the Eastern Conference finals. Even with those regular-season numbers, the Heat managed to finish in a tie for third place in the Eastern Conference.

So change coming? From the Heat, it's as if it's still "we have enough" when it comes to the long ball.

"I think people get caught up," coach Erik Spoelstra said, "and we can even see it clearly in the playoffs, there are no absolutes. People try to make absolutes out of the game, that you have to play a certain style, you have to have this.

"Teams are built differently; teams can win in different ways. That seems to be a trendy thing right now and we used to have a team that was very successful doing that. The most important thing is finding the best fits around the players you currently have, and can players bring out the best in each other? That's the more important thing than specific styles of play. We'll see."

A day after Spoelstra offered that comment, Heat President Pat Riley followed up that a system can create 3-point success.

"If you can get a lot of players who are rhythm shooters and can develop the range to consistently make threes, it isn't as much as go out and get three-point shooters," Riley said. "You have to run a very coherent, intelligent offense to be able to make them productive. It just doesn't happen.

"There are some guys that simply -- the Kyle Korvers and J.R. Smiths -- are off the charts when they can get on a roll. Other guys you have to create open, comfort areas for them to make shots. So it has a lot to do with your offense and not whether or not a guy can shoot."

That from the organization that surrounded LeBron James with Mike Miller, Shane Battier, Ray Allen and James Jones.

Riley said what the Heat's improved 3-point success over the second half of the regular season and during certain stretches of the postseason showed was that a quality system can produce quality 3-point results.

"If you take a look at Luol Deng's numbers, you think, 'Well, that guy can't make a three-point shot.' Well, he can," Riley said. "I think this year he proved that in an offense that had some space and some room for Goran [Dragic] and Dwyane [Wade] to find room for him, then it was very comfortable for him to shoot the ball.

"So you can become a great three-point shooting team by creating opportunities that are comfortable for players that our good shooters. Our staff is one of the very best at developing players that might not be that comfortable out there and then all of a sudden they become good and then they become efficient and then maybe become prolific."

That is what happened with Richardson, what the hope is will happen with Winslow. But that also will be predicated on Hassan Whiteside being able to pass out of the post, if he remains with the team.

To some, the 3-pointer is viewed as the easy way out. To the Heat, it is viewed as merely one component of an offensive package. But what the best of times for the Heat -- and the NBA, and the Warriors and the Cavaliers -- have shown is that is has become essential, and you never can have enough.




NUMBER

147. Career playoff games by Heat forward Udonis Haslem, most by an undrafted player in NBA history, ahead of Bruce Bowen (135), Ben Wallace (130), John Starks (96), Moses Malone (94) and Scott Williams (94).

iwinderman@tribune.com. Follow him at twitter.com/iraheatbeat or facebook.com/ira.winderman

what do you guys think?

[QUIZ]

How have we dismissed it? As Pat said what's important is getting the shooters that you do have good shots that they can take in rythm rather than searching high and low for '3pt shooters'.

In 2013 we were the 2nd best 3pt shooting team in the league and other than Ray Allen no one else on the squad (other than Mike Miller who barely played) was a prolific shooter.

Our big 3 though manged to draw a lot of attention that opened guys up which allowed players like Battier to shoot 46% from 3

[twix2500]

Ira just filling up space. Yes the top two teams can shoot. And yes there there lotto teams that can shoot. A lot of people over emphasis shooting.

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[contract]

There's no overemphasizing shooting. It's not just a matter of Wade and Dragic creating good shots for shooters, it's also about shooters spreading the floor for Wade and Dragic to attack the rim. That doesn't happen with subpar shooters. Defenses simply ignore those guys. They double off those guys or collapse down and crowd the paint, and that leaves you with low percentage shots.

[eddieheatfan]

There's no overemphasizing shooting. It's not just a matter of Wade and Dragic creating good shots for shooters, it's also about shooters spreading the floor for Wade and Dragic to attack the rim. That doesn't happen with subpar shooters. Defenses simply ignore those guys. They double off those guys or collapse down and crowd the paint, and that leaves you with low percentage shots.

this is what i was thinking about when i posted this article.we currently have mediocre shooters that dont demand any attention for coverage thus freeing dwade or dragic to do their thing.i think 3 point shooting is an essential tool that you can have your arsenal and it can complement your offense if you do it wisely....see golden state for example or tonights raptor's game in which both teams had a mini barrage of 3 point shooting of their own.

[Bishop45]

How have we dismissed it? As Pat said what's important is getting the shooters that you do have good shots that they can take in rythm rather than searching high and low for '3pt shooters'.

In 2013 we were the 2nd best 3pt shooting team in the league and other than Ray Allen no one else on the squad (other than Mike Miller who barely played) was a prolific shooter.

Our big 3 though manged to draw a lot of attention that opened guys up which allowed players like Battier to shoot 46% from 3

Ira just filling up space. Yes the top two teams can shoot. And yes there there lotto teams that can shoot. A lot of people over emphasis shooting.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Grief, y'all sound like me. Don't even have a reason to chit post here anymore other than to point out eddie's utter lack of Cap Lock usage

[eddieheatfan]

How have we dismissed it? As Pat said what's important is getting the shooters that you do have good shots that they can take in rythm rather than searching high and low for '3pt shooters'.

In 2013 we were the 2nd best 3pt shooting team in the league and other than Ray Allen no one else on the squad (other than Mike Miller who barely played) was a prolific shooter.

Our big 3 though manged to draw a lot of attention that opened guys up which allowed players like Battier to shoot 46% from 3

Ira just filling up space. Yes the top two teams can shoot. And yes there there lotto teams that can shoot. A lot of people over emphasis shooting.

Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk

Grief, y'all sound like me. Don't even have a reason to chit post here anymore other than to point out eddie's utter lack of Cap Lock usage

but but if i use caps i would be screaming at you

[HIF]

Ira is a dick.

[RexBoyWonder]

A) 3 point Shooting is more important then ever, the game always changes. You can't play offense it like it's the 90's.

B) It's true that being a great 3 point shooting is MORE then just "bringing in shooters", but having better shooters helps a lot. That's just basic logic.

C) When looking at our roster - we need the triple approach :

1. Work on creating a better flow and passing game to find the shooters, whoever they are, (more movement, more confident shooters, less ISO)

2. Make our current player shot better, and with more confidence, rhythm and consistency (that requires off season work + Coaching + scheme)

3. Add the best shooters we can, but make sure they're well rounded enough to actually get minutes. We don't need James Jones, we need guys that can hold their on defense, that can bring some passing/rebounding/whatever extra skill WHILE being naturally gifted 3 point shooters.

If you follow the draft thread, that's some of the players we're trying to find. When I'm looking at some one like a Jarrod Uthoff, that's exactly what I'm hoping he can become - a gifted shooter that also can bring size, IQ, aggressiveness and adequate defense.
You might not like him personally, but that's the type of player we need to find considering the rest of our current roster - one that lacks naturally gifted 3 point shooters.

[Hallstar]

lol, missing dosesn't mean we dismissed it

They missed wide open shots all year, I'm not buying that system stuff Pat is selling... get us legit damn snipers...J Rich is currently the only one showing that potential. Take and make even under a closeout.

Possibly TJ too from his time pre injury

[HIF]

JJ was a miserable failure in the PO. Even him hitting his average would have seen us progress easily.

[twix2500]

There's no overemphasizing shooting. It's not just a matter of Wade and Dragic creating good shots for shooters, it's also about shooters spreading the floor for Wade and Dragic to attack the rim. That doesn't happen with subpar shooters. Defenses simply ignore those guys. They double off those guys or collapse down and crowd the paint, and that leaves you with low percentage shots.

Your perspective of the need for shooting is okay. But there are people who over emphasize it. Stating that the championship team will be able to shoot as if that is the sole reason they are in the finals is an statement that misleading. Those teams are great because they can do everything along with shooting. Miami is not ignoring shooting. There are other aspects of the game and shooting is just one of many. What Miami has done is not ignore the other aspects of the game for the sake of shooting.

[twix2500]

JJ was a miserable failure in the PO. Even him hitting his average would have seen us progress easily.

JJ wasn't a miserable failure, there were plenty of times he carried the scoring load when we struggle. He contributed a lot in other areas that was needed. And with him just on the court was still a threat to space the floor. If he was hitting his threes, he would of been a 20 plus scorer in the playoffs. If that's what you were expecting well dam.

[HIF]

JJ was a miserable failure in the PO. Even him hitting his average would have seen us progress easily.

JJ wasn't a miserable failure, there were plenty of times he carried the scoring load when we struggle. He contributed a lot in other areas that was needed. And with him just on the court was still a threat to space the floor. If he was hitting his threes, he would of been a 20 plus scorer in the playoffs. If that's what you were expecting well dam.

He was a miserable failure for 3 point shooting in the playoffs. That was a major reason why we picked him up. If he'd hit his 3's like he did when he first arrived we'd have swept those 2 rounds as it was he stunk the place up from outside. .283 even worse than his .293 with Brooklyn in the pos last year. If that isn't a failure well dam!

[HIF]

averaging 12pts in 35 minutes for a Shooter is not that hot either especially when your defense is woeful.

[twix2500]

I didn't say he was Hot but he wasnt a woeful failure. Shooting was the number one reason we picked him up, but that wasn't the lone reason. He still was a very good passer, and still helped with the scoring load dispite his struggle at the 3pt line. He found ways to contribute dispite the struggles in other areas. Could we use an upgrade sure, but I doubt the Heat will find anything better. And we should expect him to play better and I think he fully capable of doing so at least for another year.

[KingDavid]

I think joe should come off the bench. Not start.

[eddieheatfan]

A) 3 point Shooting is more important then ever, the game always changes. You can't play offense it like it's the 90's.

B) It's true that being a great 3 point shooting is MORE then just "bringing in shooters", but having better shooters helps a lot. That's just basic logic.

C) When looking at our roster - we need the triple approach :

1. Work on creating a better flow and passing game to find the shooters, whoever they are, (more movement, more confident shooters, less ISO)

2. Make our current player shot better, and with more confidence, rhythm and consistency (that requires off season work + Coaching + scheme)

3. Add the best shooters we can, but make sure they're well rounded enough to actually get minutes. We don't need James Jones, we need guys that can hold their on defense, that can bring some passing/rebounding/whatever extra skill WHILE being naturally gifted 3 point shooters.

If you follow the draft thread, that's some of the players we're trying to find. When I'm looking at some one like a Jarrod Uthoff, that's exactly what I'm hoping he can become - a gifted shooter that also can bring size, IQ, aggressiveness and adequate defense.
You might not like him personally, but that's the type of player we need to find considering the rest of our current roster - one that lacks naturally gifted 3 point shooters.

[contract]

How have we dismissed it? As Pat said what's important is getting the shooters that you do have good shots that they can take in rythm rather than searching high and low for '3pt shooters'.

In 2013 we were the 2nd best 3pt shooting team in the league and other than Ray Allen no one else on the squad (other than Mike Miller who barely played) was a prolific shooter.

Our big 3 though manged to draw a lot of attention that opened guys up which allowed players like Battier to shoot 46% from 3

Battier was a .384 career 3pt shooter. That's better than Bosh shoots now, and he's pretty much our best shooter. Also, Chalmers hadn't forgotten how to shoot yet. We had more plus shooters that had to be respected.

Besides, there's no replicating the panic that Lebron and a younger Wade caused.

[contract]

I think joe should come off the bench. Not start.

I think Joe needs to lose 10+ pounds.