Each week in The Hoop Doctors “Skool for Ballers” we will bring you tips, analysis, or drills on various aspects of the game to help guide your training to be the best damn baller you can be! Don’t forget, being a GREAT baller takes as much work off the court as it does on!
Three Point shooting is an essential part of a basketball battle these days, but have we gotten a little carried away with living beyond the arch? Would it be more effective to take a shot 10 feet from the basket or closer? I have detailed what I believe is good, and bad about 3 point shooting. Knowing how and when the 3 point shot is most effective is crucial to your basketball success.
Let’s first look at what 3’s can do, and why they are effective.
Pros
- For starters- you get an extra point.
- When you make a 3, it helps build momentum, the crowd gets excited, your teammates get excited.
- It’s a great way to get back into a game fast if your in a hole.
- It keeps defenders honest, if your a good 3 point shooter, your defender will be very reluctant to leave you to double team some one else or be a help defender.
- It’s a confidence builder, as I stated in the 2nd benefit, it helps get the crowd involved but also builds the confidence of the player that made the 3.
Those are all great benefits that come from making 3’s, and there are probably a lot more. But here’s what most coaches and basketball players don’t understand:
Cons
- 3 point shoots obviously have a lower made percentage
- There are very few players that could really be considered great or good 3 point shooter’s.
- It takes away from other areas that players are much better at- example- Dwayne Wade settling for a 3 pointer instead of driving to the basket, I don’t know about you, but if I’m the head coach of the Miami Heat I would much rather see Wade drive to the hole then shoot a 3
- Shooting 3’s completely change the pace and time of a game.
- When you shoot 3?s there are less fouls called.
- Less fouls called leads to less time to rest.
- Less time to rest means greater and faster fatigue.
- Faster fatigue means MORE mental and physical mistakes.
- More mental and physical mistakes means more chances and easy opportunities your opponents have to score and capitalize on your mistakes.
- When you shoot three’s, it increases the other team’s fast break opportunities- long rebounds, which gives them more chances to score when you and your team is not prepared or in position.
- It also helps your opponents fast break opportunities because most of the time the player that is guarding the shooter that shot the three will leak out in front and very often you see that player that was guarding the shooter get a wide open lay up on a fast break due to not getting back quick enough.
- In most cases, when 3’s are being shot, weak side help and rotation is average at best, meaning here are less chances of offensive rebounding.
When you drive to the basket, the defense rotates, in most cases, leaving a small player trying to box out a forward or a center, if there is any rotation at all. So by driving the ball instead of shooting a 3, you also dramatically improve the chances of offensive rebounds for your team. The Sixers use to live off the offensive boards anytime Allen Iverson drove to the basket. Shooting 3’s, and more importantly, making 3’s are very effective and beneficial, just as long as you use it to your advantage and understand the pros and cons of both shots.
If you have great shooters it can be one of your biggest assets and could help win a lot of games (think of the Phoenix Suns), but it could very well be one of the major sources of your teams weak fast break defense and offensive rebounding (again think Phoenix Suns).
If you’re a good shooter, your open and feel confident enough to not just take the shot, but make it, then by all means: SHOOT THE BALL AND MAKE IT.
But if your strongest aspect of the game is driving to the basket or shooting 15 footers, then by all means, take it to the whole with confidence and purpose, make the other team guard you. Don’t worry about that measly extra point, because by the end of the game your percentages will be up and you will have earned many more extra points from playing the game from inside the arc!
Inside the arc your opponents will fatigue faster, you will build game winning momentum and dictate the pace of the game, you will draw more fouls and create more opportunities for your teammates while giving your team a great chance of winning. Still not sure if you are supposed to shoot the 3 or not? Here is something to think about:
When you shoot the ball, do you expect to shoot it, or do you expect to make it? Most players just expect to shoot it, the great ones expect to make it, and will settle for
nothing less.
To check out The Hoop Doctors other ‘Skool for Ballers’ posts click here. For more great basketball tips and drills information visit 43drills.com today!
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