Some rule changes in major sports transform the game in a good way. The pitch clock has done precisely what Major League Baseball hoped. It dramatically improved the pace of play and shaved nearly half an hour off the length of games.
Others, like the new NFL kickoff rule, have flopped. The league was hoping the new format would increase the amount of kick returns. Instead, teams would rather let the opponent start at its own 30-yard-line than risk a long return.
The NBA rules haven’t really changed much in recent years, save for a few tweaks here and there. However, the game itself has been impacted dramatically by analytics. Mid-range shots and post-ups have been deemphasized in favor of three-point attempts and driving to the basket for layups and dunks, or least setting up high-percentage shots.
The proliferation of three-point tries has been arguably the biggest change in the game in recent decades. Last season, for example, the champion Celtics attempted a whopping 42.5 3s per game. In contrast, their 2008 championship club averaged 19.1 three-point tries per game.
Coaches around the league rarely say their teams are shooting too many threes; usually they’re hoping to find ways to increase three-point attempts.
Is it time for the league to make the three-pointer less important? The NBA isn’t going to erase the three-point line but it could limit the amount a team takes. Or it could make all baskets two-pointers until a certain time structure, say the last three minutes of each quarter.
That would lead to more strategic moves by the league’s coaches. If there were a limit on threes, coaches might instruct their players to “save” some of the allotment for later in the game.
If three-pointers only counted for a certain time period, coaches would be certain to make sure their best perimeter shooters were on the floor when beyond-the-arc shots count for three points. Mid-range shooting and post-ups would have more of a place in game strategy when all baskets count for two points.
That brings up to today’s topic: Would you like to see the NBA take steps to limit three-point shooting or do you prefer the status quo? If there were limitations, what type of rule or rules would you like to see the league adopt?
Please take to the comments section to weigh on this topic. We look forward to your input.
Just…..WHAT?
Yeah I don’t know it’s just basketball. You drive, you kick, that’s been the game forever.
I was always good at driving and beating my man and then confronted with the big guy, I would kick it out to the shooter.
It’s been part of the game forever. I guess it used to be more mid-range shots before the three came around but now the shooter is standing on the other side of the line so it’s a three. Game is still the same.
Gary, Having been that type of point guard (before the 3 pt shot existed), the kick out often was shorter but to a moving player. I’d love to see less camping at the 3pt line, but that’s a defensive scheme/rules issue, I suspect.
My defensive scheme would require eliminating the defensive 3sec.
No, no, nonono that’s not what you did at all! You were so “righthanded” that defending you was a piece of cake. Many was the time when we’d hear coach say in pregame, “Just overplay his right hand. He can NOT go left.” You’d settle for that clumsy looking mid-range jumper. Clank. I recall one or two seasons where you were required to bring a can of orange paint to games so crews could repaint the rims after games you played in. You’re right about one thing however: “(The) Game is still the same.” Clank.
Meadowlark your absolutely 100% correct. That’s why I kicked it out because my shots banged up the rim so bad I DID have that can of orange paint in my bag LOL
Setting limits on 3s would be the dumbest rule they ever made. The only thing I would accept and still watch as far as 3s go is to move the line out further.
Kind of an out there question “the game quality is the best its been, should we stop it?”
The game is awesome, way better overall quality compared with the 70s, 80s, 90s and 00s. This is 100% because of Steph Curry, who in 2014 was shooting 48% from 40+ feet while the rest of the league shot 7%. So anyone who can shoot can now win games, which is better than when the game was too hands-on, more like a rugby hybrid, than actual basketball. In addition, bigs like Joker and Giannis have succeeded by backing down the D for the high % bucket. The best players can be any size or any style, there’s more ways to become a superstar now, all thanks to Steph Curry.
To the contrary, the NBA should make longer shots score more than 3 points. From the other end of the courts 3 point area is 5 points, the rest of the area between that back half 3 point arc area and the half court line should be 4 points. Would make more late games closer and winnable.
The game is “awesome”? I can’t agree. A player pushes, shoves, bangs his way into and through a defender, and the defender is called for a foul. This leads to an endless stream of free throws, and free throws are killing the game. Beyond that, the use of a personal foul as a way to stop the clock is an abuse that could be stopped by awarding the offended team with the option to take the ball out rather than accept free throws.
That rarely happens, the pace of the game is better than ever, the skill level is astonishingly high.
Can we stop using hyperbole “killing the game”, no the game is not “being killed” or “dying”. Silence. Stop talking. You are exaggerating to try and win a point, which is not a good one to begin with. Stay wrong. Argue with a wall.
Honest Q – How much basketball did you watch from those eras ?
These suggestions feel very gimmicky and seemingly require a level of game management that lives outside of basketball.
I’d rather enable defenders to be more aggressive at the line than artificially limit the shooters. Let the game shift inside naturally.
Not to mention I can’t see the players union agreeing to changes that effectively make 3 pt role players extinct overnight.
I’m sure its out of the question in Adam Silver’s NBA, but a better alternative to limiting the 3 pt shot could be to allow it to be defended according to the actual rule book. If Silver hasn’t burnt it.
It’s not 3 pt shooting that’s eviserating the league’s skill level, it’s the effortless open 3 pt shot opportunities. Developing premium basketball skills that used to separate NBA players from the rest of the world is hard; developing quasi-set shots from distance is relatively easy. Nobody does anything hard when something easy is rewarded more.
Let me be clear: under no circumstances is shooting from distance “easy”. It’s the hardest skill to develop and maintain. Your post is entirely incorrect from thesis to conclusion.
LOL. Dude, your posts demonstrate a basketball acumen that approximates that of the average house pet. I believe it’s a good thing that you enjoy following the sport, but you can’t expect anyone to take your opinions about it seriously.
Lol pretty sure Davey is quite young, I hope so. Best era ever. 4 point and 5 point shots etc. Either that, or DJ is actually Adam Silver.
DXC – you think shooting NBA 3’s is “easy” yet you think Im stupid for calling your idiotic claim out? You havent been watching ball for more than 5 years, have you? I been obsessed with the league and the Warriors since 1997, I know what Im talking about from watching Curry change the game. You don’t know ball.
Davey, go watch the kids play today. They can all shoot now. Every kid’s got three point range it seems like.
Gary, because people can shoot better in practice now, does that mean its “easy” in the NB-freaking-A? No. Shooting 3’s is incredibly hard. Players miss wide open 3’s every single game. The original point made by DXC is very wrong.
“Developing premium basketball skills that used to separate NBA players from the rest of the world is hard.” that’s shooting from 3 in an NBA game. The game was skill-less in the 1980s when it was basically as physical as rugby – but basketball is a skill game, not a contact sport, 80s ball was turning the game into something different and the 10s-20s ball we have now is much closer to pure basketball than any other era.
Let’s leave as is. Don’t take away something that is good…defenders need to adjust and guard the 3 differently
Take a look at how MLB has bastardized the game past few seasons with all their idiotic rule changes.
MLB is 100000x more watchable now. I havent watched in years but started to this year and the games are faster paced and have less boring stretches. You hate fun.
The only suggestion I see here anywhere that makes sense is eliminate the defensive 3 second rule (maybe the dumbest rule in all of sports). Let teams develop defenses that shake things up a little. Supposedly teams can play zone in the NBA, but the defensive 3 second eliminates the real zone defense. The idea that 3 point shooting is a difficult skill is ludicrous. I’m 77 and can still make open 3 pointers.
I think the issue with these changes is that it would seriously disrupt the flow of the game.
You’d essentially be playing 2 different games if restricting when 3-pointers can be taken, while either scenario (limiting when or how many attempts can be made) would force players to consciously think before taking a 3, rather than simply shooting because they’re open or the defense is playing too close to the rim.
Others will think differently, obviously, but I’ve always been in favor of less restriction and more freedom. I have similar doubts about MLB proposals to force starters to go a requisite number of innings/pitches
With the MLB proposal, it’s only going to cause injury, not improve the quality of the game, too. At least this one doesn’t seem to be abjectly stupid, just misplaced and nonfunctional.
Honestly, just call fewer defensive fouls. And treat FT-merchant stuff the same way as a blatant flop, because that’s basically what it is. That’s a bigger issue, imo. The less contact offensive players can sell, the less likely they are to try and bait defenders, and then defenders can actually do their job on that end.
I agree with everything you said
NBA should add 4pt line. That is the real game changer.