FanPost

Blazers and Stotts: 3-Point Masters

The NBA game has changed from the Charles Barkley you can't win with jump shooting era. It's now a 3-point shot league, both offensively and defensively.

League-wide, every 3-point shot attempted is likely to yield 12% more points than a 2-point shot. Calculated from a 3P% of 35.8% Effective Field Goal % [EFG%] of 53.7%) and 2P% of 48.0%.

Stotts is a visionary in understanding the importance of the three, and has the Blazers focused on maximizing the 3-pointer on offense and minimizing it on defense.

On offense, the Blazers are hitting 41.2% of their 3P, and 45.9% of their 2P. This means that every 3-pointer is likely to yield 35% more points than is a 2-pointer! Compare this to the league-wide average of 12% more. The Blazers 3-pointer EFG% Gain (EFG% of 3P divided by EFG% of 2P) is three times as great as the league average. They are 5th in the league in 3P attempts, 2nd in 3p%, and 2nd in the league in 3P made.

On defense, the Blazers are limiting their opponents to 33.8% on 3P and 47.7% on 2P. This means that for their opponents, each 3P is likely to yield only 6% more points than a 2P. Compare this to the league-wide average of 12%. The Blazers opponents 3-pointer EFG% Gain is one-half the league average. They are first in the league in minimizing their opponents 3P attempts, 6th in the league in opponents 3P%, and 2nd in the league in opponents 3P made.

The league is now a 3-point shot league, and the Blazers are excelling because they are at or near the top in 3-point offense and defense. For the Blazers, the 3-pointer EFG% Gain is three times the league average, while their opponents 3-pointer EFG% Gain is one half of the league average.

Go Blazers!!! (3! for the 3-pointer)