Silly superstars, 3-pointers are for role players!

[Doctor MJ]

My article on the increasingly role player centered 3-point strategy we see in the NBA, and in particular as it pertains to the evolution of the Dallas Mavericks.

http://asubstituteforwar.com/2011/06/17 ... e-players/

A snippet:

It’s fascinating then to see how unimportant 3-pointers have become to Dirk’s current game as they’ve become more important to the Mav team as a whole. Dude’s been averaging about 2 3-pointers per game the past few years. How low is that? Well obviously it’s a heck of a lower than the amount that guys like Kobe, Durant, and Rose shoot, despite the fact none of them is the level of shooter than Dirk is (though admittedly Durant is getting close). Even superstars criticized for their lack of outside shooting like LeBron and Wade shoot 3s more than Dirk.

Here’s the thing that really puts it in perspective though:

Dirk was 13th on the Mavs by 3-pointers taken per minute played.

The Mavs hit their all-time high in 3PA’s this year 1768 because most of the roster has become more likely to take a 3 than Dirk. Even funnier? One of the few guys he shoots more 3′s than is Shawn Marion who in Phoenix was himself a guy who jacked up 4+ 3-pointers per game.

The general conclusion:

1) It ain’t hard to find guys who can hit an open 3

2) It’s much easier to get role players open than stars

3) Therefore, it makes sense to build your offense with role players 3′s as a focal point more so than star 3′s

[wiLQ]

My article on[...]
A snippet:

Speaking of which I have a question... what's the forum's policy on creating threads which are basically advertisement of your blog posts?

The general conclusion:
1) It ain’t hard to find guys who can hit an open 3

IMHO you have missed the main problem here: http://bkref.com/tiny/47wwc
Many users on this forum can shoot open threes well... but they will suck in the NBA so badly in other areas that this weapon wouldn't be worth it so it's not all about "guys who can hit an open 3" - they also need size/speed and some other skills which is where list of potential candidates shortens significantly.

[Doctor MJ]

My article on[...]
A snippet:

Speaking of which I have a question... what's the forum's policy on creating threads which are basically advertisement of your blog posts?

Ah, a quite understandable question, and it's something on my mind whenever I do this. The general rule is that you're not supposed to do it, but it's up to the mods to enforce it and how glaring your self-promotion as well as the quality & relevance of what you're bringing up matter.

I'm a long time poster who posts on RealGM far more than he writes on his blog, and makes thread promoting his blog even less so no one's really taken issue with me picking my spots - they know if I didn't have my blog that they'd still see the same stuff posted on here. In this case, no discussion on the Stat board for over half a week to me begs for something to talk about.

I'm going to talk more with other mods about the best approach here, but regardless what I'd say to you is that being involved in the community as a poster first and foremost is important.

The general conclusion:
1) It ain’t hard to find guys who can hit an open 3

IMHO you have missed the main problem here: http://bkref.com/tiny/47wwc
Many users on this forum can shoot open threes well... but they will suck in the NBA so badly in other areas that this weapon wouldn't be worth it so it's not all about "guys who can hit an open 3" - they also need size/speed and some other skills which is where list of potential candidates shortens significantly.

I'm saying that even guys who no one would confuse for being special shooters by NBA standards, and who are in the league for other reasons, are often able to hit the open 3.

[wiLQ]

In this case, no discussion on the Stat board for over half a week to me begs for something to talk about.

But that's pretty much always true there, no? BTW, I'm not accusing you or anything, I'm just curious about this topic and that was simply too perfect opportunity not to ask...

I'm going to talk more with other mods about the best approach here, but regardless what I'd say to you is that being involved in the community as a poster first and foremost is important.

OK, but what's the difference between:
a) writing a blog post and then copying all of it to inactive part of forum without noting it can be found somewhere else,
b) writing a blog post and then copying only part of it to inactive part of forum with a link to more,
c) writing a blog post and then putting a link to it with a short description?
Aren't all of those options pretty much the same in terms of generating discussions here?
IMHO every blog post could be also a post here... but sometimes with data involved it simply looks better somewhere else.

I'm saying that even guys who no one would confuse for being special shooters by NBA standards, and who are in the league for other reasons, are often able to hit the open 3.

Have you based this conclusion on... data about open jumpers?

[NO-KG-AI]

I've been preaching this for a while, when topics like "ZOMG, what if LeBron/MJ had Ray Allen's 3 point shooting!"

[wiLQ]

I've been preaching this for a while, when topics like "ZOMG, what if LeBron/MJ had Ray Allen's 3 point shooting!"

Um, have you ate the end of this sentence or I don't quite get it?

[Doctor MJ]

wiLQ,

I've brought the blog linking issue to the mods of the board. I'm going to stay out of more public conversation about it. PM me if you want to talk more.

I'm saying that even guys who no one would confuse for being special shooters by NBA standards, and who are in the league for other reasons, are often able to hit the open 3.

Have you based this conclusion on... data about open jumpers?

Not in the sense I'm guessing you're talking about. You're clearly savvier with data mining than I am, I'd welcome information about this you'd like to share.

In general though, I guess I'm surprised if my point is really controversial. There aren't 12 Mavs shooting 3's at a higher frequency than Dirk because the team brought in 12 guys who made the NBA because of their 3-point skills being better than Dirk's, and the Mavs typically aren't passing the ball to those role players to shoot instead of Dirk unless they have a clearer shot.

[NO-KG-AI]

I've been preaching this for a while, when topics like "ZOMG, what if LeBron/MJ had Ray Allen's 3 point shooting!"

Um, have you ate the end of this sentence or I don't quite get it?

I'm saying whenever topics like what I quoted comes up, I speak very loudly about how overrated the 3 ball is for your star player.

[Rockmaninoff]

I think the foundation of a good team is to have at least one player that can hit 2pt shots at a high percentage, under high usage. That can be low post ups, driving from a face up to the cup, or even mid range shooting. That player also needs to be able to recognize and correctly respond to double team defense. Doesn't matter if the player is big or small. Team success comes easiest when that player can do the above things in isolation.

Everything else is secondary.

[penbeast0]

Right, I think it's about drawing double teams then passing to the open 3 point shooter. No one in their right mind leaves Dirk open to double up on Jason Terry (though Miami did just that a couple of times and rightly got burned). But, Dirk is a guy who draws doubles so the other guys can have open looks.

As for Marion's 3 point shot disappearing, maybe he's lost confidence in it as his jumping ability has lessened or maybe with Dirk playing outside the coach is keeping him close to the basket more. I was wondering this during the finals. Good question.

[tclg]

It just makes a lot of sense that you want your super star creating open looks. Having the ability to shoot the three does space the floor more

[giordunk]

I think the key to a good team is to have a unit where at least 3 guys on the court can knock down the 3 at any given time. We're not looking for the Ray Allens of the league but your star needs to be able to make around 30% of his 3s. Sometimes when you're not looking for the 3, you just end up with a great look from 3 point land, and if you have Andre Miller wide open on the wing, he can always swing it to the corner or wherever the next open look is. But if you're trying to find the next pass and it happens to be DeMar DeRozan... well then good for you.