Is it me or does it seem like there has been many 3s WAY behind the 3pt line by the Rockets this season. Harden's the most noticeable, but Garcia and Brooks I believe also took many of them. It will be interesting to keep track of this as the season goes on. I used to think a super long 3 is not a good shot by anyone not named Stephen Curry, but perhaps not?
When it goes in its a great shot, not so much when it clanks off the front of the rim tho. Sometimes you just feel like everything you throw up is going to go in.
AB was the master of that shot back in 09/10. Really didn't seem like his percentage would be any lower from a step or two back. I guess if they can hit them just as frequently because of their strength in their shot then I wouldn't see a huge problem if it gets you more open, and creates more space.
Seems pretty advantageous if a player could extend his shot to 3-4 feet behind the 3 point line, so I wouldn't be surprised if a lot of players have been practicing shooting from way behind the 3 point line. If you can hit them at a high clip, defenders would have to commit way more near the perimeter, which for a guy like Harden is basically inviting him to the basket and/or free throw line.
That's what I was thinking when I started the thread. That perhaps the Rockets are telling their players(ones who could hit them of course) to practice them and allow them to shoot them. Which would be a new wrinkle in our already 3-heavy offense. Harden especially has always seemed to have ridiculous range. I remembered the guy flinging from 3/4 of the court and hitting rim. It will do wonders for his stamina to shoot several of those 3s in a game.
Harden doesn't even step into those super long 3's; It's like a set shot for him. He is jab stepping at the H and just shoots with ease from so far out. It really is remarkable to me.. Curry looks like he is launching it, but Harden, it looks like a regular 15 foot shot.
It is quite remarkable, but the advantage is the defender isn't guarding him as closely as if he was shooting right at the line (no hand in the face). Or perhaps it's just his best range, like some players shoot FTs from further back.
I remember someone posting a long time ago how ridiculous Harden's percentage was beyond the arc in catch-and-shoot and off the ball. The man can flat out shoot.
Great if we make them. But if you miss it leads to long rebounds. And if you don't secure your miss its a fast break the other way.
If you keep making them, then keep taking them. and Harden has proven he can make them. Now if Lin was doing that, I'd have a problem with his shot selection.
The advantage of a super long 3 is spacing. You basically extend the perimeter defense, giving more room inside. The trade off, of course, is the lower percentage. I wonder if anybody is separating the percentage of SL3 from normal 3.
It's not unusual for Harden to get them i heard he practices those long distant and half court threes a lot after his workout.
