Comments on: Layups: Good 3-Point Shooters, Bad Free Throw Shooters http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351 NBA & ABA Basketball Statistics & History Mon, 21 Nov 2011 20:56:04 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=4.6 By: AYC http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351&cpage=1#comment-24132 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 18:56:16 +0000 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351#comment-24132 But how much of this effect is due to the possibility that players attempt more 3's if they start out hitting them? That certainly seems to be the case with a guy like D-Wade; if it's "there" he shoots alot of 3's, if it doesn't seem to be, he doesn't shot them. Maybe players just shoot more threes when they're "feeling it"? Or maybe they attempt more against teams that defend the 3 poorly?

]]> By: Jason J http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351&cpage=1#comment-24127 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:55:11 +0000 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351#comment-24127 True but Michael also shot .376 in 1990 and .350 in 1993.

Every season he averaged more than 2 3point field goal attempts per game, he shot very well. Every season he shot less than 2 3 point field goal attempts per game, he shot poorly.

The shorter line also doesn't follow in the playoffs where from 91-93 he shot 38.7% from 3s in 58 games, while from 95-97 he shot 30.5% in 3s in 47 games.

I always go back to the question of volume when I look at Jordan or Bryant as an outside shooter because it seems to have a profound effect on their ability, which again takes into consideration role. Is being asked to take this sort of shot more often creating a higher comfort level? Is some sort of action being run to make the shot easier? Are they "on" more from range so they are taking more because they feel like they can (hot hand again)?

]]> By: Neil Paine http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351&cpage=1#comment-24123 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 17:30:01 +0000 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351#comment-24123 OK, I actually had to look this up: the line was a uniform 22 ft. in 1994–95, 1995–96, and 1996–97. Jordan's 3P% was always funny to me because it's basically a barometer for where the line was:

94-95 - .500 (albeit on 32 attempts)
95-96 - .427 (111 makes)
96-97 - .374 (111 makes)
---> line extended to 23'9" < --- 97-98 - .238 (30 makes) That 1'9" made a big difference.

]]> By: Jason J http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351&cpage=1#comment-24122 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:53:23 +0000 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351#comment-24122 Did not account for the closer line (didn't that run from '94 through '98?), and it does have a significant impact.

For Jordan if we look just at games prior to '94 where he took 3 or more 3pointers, he shot 36.7% in 130 total games. Not bad. Still better than Bryant, James, or Clyde but shy of what LB, Ray, Reggie, and Steve did.

From '94-'98 when he took 3 or more 3 pointers he shot 40.5% in 126 games (which is way more games per season considering he missed all of '94 and almost all of '95).

I'm sure the shift did similar things for Clyde and Kobe. Probably less so for Steve and Reggie.

]]> By: Neil Paine http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351&cpage=1#comment-24120 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 16:29:06 +0000 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351#comment-24120 Interesting... Btw, did you account for the shorter line from 95-97?

It would be intriguing if there was a positive relationship between 3-point attempts and 3-point %, because it could possibly feed into the hot hand research -- players shoot more 3s because they're open, obviously, but the 3 is also the main shot where players feel "hot".

]]> By: Jason J http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351&cpage=1#comment-24112 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:33:58 +0000 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351#comment-24112 #11 - If that's not clear the columns are "less than 1 3ptFGA", "1 - 3 3ptFGAs" and "more than 3 3ptFGAs"

]]> By: Jason J http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351&cpage=1#comment-24111 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 14:05:50 +0000 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351#comment-24111 Neil, you know I'm not skilled in the arts of mathfu, but I did do some straight forward spot checking into this not too long ago and found a distinct relationship between 3 point attempts and 3 point accuracy.

I ran game by game in 3 sets: 0-1 3FGAs, 1-3 3FGAs, and 3+ 3FGAs.

Player 3PA3
James 0.152 0.199 0.338
Drexler 0.198 0.211 0.345
Bryant 0.218 0.273 0.353
Jordan 0.220 0.260 0.384
Allen N/A 0.433 0.392
Bird 0.368 0.369 0.394
Miller N/A 0.322 0.395
Kerr 0.346 0.464 0.478

It proves nothing but shows that in these cases everyone except for Ray Allen improved with each jump in attempts made.

]]> By: Anon x 2 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351&cpage=1#comment-24086 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 01:19:07 +0000 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351#comment-24086 what's amazing is that FT shooting is pure muscle memory, so someone like Bowen is a crazy anomaly.

]]> By: Matt http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351&cpage=1#comment-24085 Thu, 09 Sep 2010 00:07:42 +0000 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351#comment-24085 Lee Humphrey, 4 years Florida Gators

288/649 on 3s for 44.4% and 46 of 73 on FTs for 63%

The most makes and attempts of those listed for 3s and by far the fewest free throws. He rarely ventured inside the arc, preferring to take 3s in transition a lot.

]]> By: Neil Paine http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351&cpage=1#comment-24072 Wed, 08 Sep 2010 21:30:15 +0000 http://www.basketball-reference.com/blog/?p=7351#comment-24072 I don't have any numbers to back this up right now, but it seems like the "skill curve" effect doesn't apply as much to 3-point attempts/3P% in isolation... I think it may be a lot more about the system and what types of 3s you're taking (like Arvydas mentioned Bowen's penchant for open corner 3s).

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