43Drills

Three Point Shooting Is Essential in this days Basketball Battle, but have we gotten a little
carried away with living behind 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.

I don’t know how you feel about 3 point shooting but I think it stinks.

And here’s why-

Let’s first look at what 3’s can do, and why they are effective.

How can they benefit you and your team.

1. For starters- you get an extra point.

2. When you make a 3, it helps build momentum, the crowd gets excited, your teammates
get excited.

3. It’s a great way to get back into a game fast if your in a hole.

4. It helps spread the court, there are more driving lanes, driving angles, and it allows for
more room to operate in the paint.

5.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.

6.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.

1. 3 point shoots obviously have a lower made percentage

2. There are very few players that could really be considered great or good 3 point shooter’s.

3. It takes away from other areas that players are much better at- example- Dwane 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 much rather see wade drive to the hole then shoot a 3

4. 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 lead to less time to rest.

Less time to rest means 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.

And, 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 you also dramatically improve the chances of offensive rebounds
for your team.

The Sixers use to live of 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 them.

It can be one of your biggest assets and could help win a lot of games- Phoenix Suns-
but it could very well be one of the major roles played in your team’s destruction and
source of underachievement.

If your a good shooter, and 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.

They 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 the ball game.

One thing 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.

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