NBA Must Improve Shooting

Good luck with all that.
I don't know what Stern(or who ever) was thinking when he decided zone would be a good thing for the NBA when only 1% of the players can actually hit a jumper.

One thing that should be done is matching the college three-point line back with the NBA's

 

How about making the rim bigger?

 

Must. Have. Minor. Leagues.

 

Not a true minor league.

A young stud(Let's say...Bosh, for example) would slap any owner that suggested that he take his game down to the CBA/developmental league for a little while. It's not like in baseball where all young players start out in a league where they can hone their skills without too much pressure from the team. It would definitely be seen as an insult to most players for their team to bump them down for a little while.

 

IMO, the three pointer is what has killed basketball. Teams had no problem scoring points before the three point line was instituted in 1979. During the 80's, when scoring was still high, three point shots were reserved for those few pure shooters that could make them on a consistent basis. Antoin Freakin' Walker led the league in three point attempts, so that should tell you something. Go look at the past numbers and I'll bet that you'll find a DIRECT correlation between the increase in three point attempts over the past fifteen years or so and the decrease in shooting percentages

The three point line is 23'9" out, so you figure that a player is most likely at least 24 feet when attempting a three pointer. I don't know if anybody has ever stood 24 feet from a basketball hoop, but that is a LONG way. Players have to exert so much energy simply releasing the ball with enough momentum to get the ball to the hoop that their shot control is sacrificed. The baselines are only 22 feet, but your frame of reference is distorted because there is no backboard to focus on.

Shooting percentages would go up if the three point shot were eliminated, but there is no way the NBA would do that

 

you're back ........................................woooooooo hoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

 

very indirect but if they policed the travelling rule exactly to the letter, as in international ball, i think it may well make players practice there shooting a lot more as they won't be able to drive imediately and illegally past the defender as easily.

 

Dude, it's called the NBDL. As in where Collier and Terence Morris are now.

 

Dude, I know.

What are you trying to say? Collier and Morris weren't sent down to the NBDL by the Rockets. They signed with NBDL teams because no other teams signed them. They aren't waiting to be "called up" specifically by the Rockets, as a baseball player in the minor leagues would do. Like I said, the NBA does not have a true minor league. The NBDL is simply the league for guys who currently can not cut it in the NBA.

 

Have to disagree A-Train.
The average NBA player is above 6' 0", can palm a ball, and is fit enough to launch a basketball 24 feet without sacrificing shot control.
But shot control is the problem......they can't shoot.
If there are middle school students that can shoot from 15 - 19 feet out, grown men should be able to shoot from 24 feet out.

The 3-point line is a great addition to basketball, just adds another aspect of the game for an individual to seperate himself from the rest of the 'pack'. Problem is, too many people think they can shoot from out there, same as too many think they can beat someone off the dribble, or take someone 1-on-1 in the post.
These 'players' don't know their role.
Just imagine the Rocket championships without the 3s, or the effectiveness of a great playoff performer like Reggie Miller without the 3-point line.

 

Damn No Edit


Stern,
C-O-N-T-R-A-C-T-I-O-N

 

Yeah, they'd all be taking 18-20 jumpers and shooting a higher percentage. Without the three point line there, they'd be standing 24 feet from the basket and thinking, "Wow, this is a really long way from the basket, maybe I should move closer in order to get a better shot!"

 

Or they could just crowd around a great post player like Hakeem and scoring would be even less.
As much as I think the NBA is Sh|tty in it's current condition, the players on average are more athletic than ever.

Besides, you speak as if current players are even hitting the mid-range shot.........but they aren't.
Go ahead and take away the three-point line, are these scrubs all of a sudden going to start hitting 16-footers?
Hellz no.

Again, there are players that have proven to be consistent with the three-point shot and have made careers mainly because of it.
When used in combination with post play(championship Rockets) and decent shooters, it becomes just as effective as the pick-and-roll.
It's these damn scrubs that are making the game ugly.
Don't blame the 3-point line because some dumb@ss doesn't realize he can't hit anything outside of the paint.

 

The main reason why scoring is way down is the sophiscated zone defenses teams are deploying to stop players from driving to the basket. The days of consistently going by 1 man for a layup/dunk are over. Now one must beat 2 or 3 defenders to the basket and 99% of players can't do that effectively. Just ask T-Mac, AI, and VC what they think of our 'zone' defense.

 

Also I think it's the style Baseketball has typified as we moved away from the high scoring frenzies of days past. It's not just the D. You only have to shoot 33% from the 3 point arc to be as effective as shooting 50% from within. So if someone can't bring themselves to become a 33% 3 point shooter, what option does he have? The highlight reels don't favor a solid open look and a 15 foot J, it's full of dunks and acrobatic aerieal moves through the lane. I mean how do you draw a foul when ur freaking wide open?

Another thing is that athleticism and physicality of the league is greater than before, so it favors defenses. I mean if you want high scores just build every team like the Kings. No opponent walks away without topping 100 against them win or lose. Then you get ppl who complain there isn't enough defense because there isn't enough pushing and shoving to knock the scores to the sub80s. Of course 80-70 games are more fit for college or WNBA, but the rules certainly don't shy away from contact to allow you the 120-110 games that seem to entertain but is never something you think a good playoff team should strive for. Hey D wins championships right?

 

Don't you think high school and college coaches are addressing this already? I know the guys playing varsity on my high school can all hit jumpers with pretty good accuracy. It was Michael Jordan that did this to the NBA, he re-invented the dunk, and so the next 5-8 years was spent looking for the next MJ, so here we are today. Just wait it out folks, this too shall pass...