Gregg Popovich, head coach of the San Antonio Spurs, is every bit as wise as advertised.
Asked if the NBA should consider moving back the three-point line, Pop gave the most Popovichian answer possible per Michael Wright of ESPN.com (h/t Bleacher Report):
San Antonio Spurs coach Gregg Popovich was asked if the NBA should move back the three-point line, and he had an interesting answer.
“If we’re gonna have a three-point line, let’s have a five-point line,” Popovich said. “The only problem is Steph [Curry] would probably kill it. So it’s like cutting your nose off to spite your face, you know?”
Coach Pop isn’t wrong. Not even close.
Adding a four- or five-point line only helps Curry drum up his and the Golden State Warriors’ point totals. He is shooting 50 percent (11-of-22) from 30 or more away from the basket, according to NBA.com.
What if each of those shots was worth four or five points instead of just three? As it stands, that clip is the equivalent of shooting 77.3 percent on two-pointers. If those attempts were worth four points, it would be the same as shooting 100 percent from inside the arc. And if they’re worth five? Forget about it. You wouldn’t be able to duplicate that shooting from two-point range.
The NBA may eventually implement a four-point line. The rest of the league better hope it’s just long after Curry has retired.
