How NBA shooting has evolved | Let's talk about practice!
TLDRThe video script explores the evolution of three-point shooting in the NBA, emphasizing the importance of practice and adaptation to new techniques. It discusses how players like Aaron Baines have dramatically increased their three-point attempts in recent years. The script also delves into the history of the three-point shot, its initial adoption, and how it has become a significant part of the game. It highlights how players have shifted from practicing long twos to focusing on three-pointers, leading to improved accuracy and value in this shot type. The video concludes by suggesting that the improvement in shooting is not due to inherent skill or secret methods but rather the result of targeted practice and the strategic shift to embrace the three-point line.
Takeaways
- 📅 The NBA introduced the three-point line in the 1980s, but the concept debuted in the ABL in 1961 and was adopted by the ABA in 1968.
- 🔍 Louis Dampier was an early adopter of the three-point shot, significantly increasing his attempts and success rate after the first ABA season.
- 🏀 Initially, the three-point shot was not widely embraced in the NBA and was viewed more as a gimmick until the late 1980s.
- 📈 Usage of the three-point shot has steadily increased since the 1990s, with the league's best shooters shifting from long twos to threes around 2010.
- 🎯 The value of the three-point shot has become more apparent as it now makes up over a third of all true shot attempts, compared to just 20% in the mid-2000s.
- 🚀 The improvement in three-point shooting is not necessarily due to better skill or training methods, but rather the focus on practicing this specific shot.
- 🤔 The script questions whether there has been a true improvement in outside shooting skill over the decades, suggesting that the change in practice focus may be the primary factor.
- 📊 Free throw shooting has remained relatively constant over the years, with no significant average change among the best shooters, indicating that practice is key to maintaining skill.
- 📉 The top 10 outside shooters' average shooting percentages have declined since 2008, potentially due to the increased difficulty of longer three-point shots.
- 👥 Players like Brook Lopez and Anthony Davis have transitioned from long two-point shooting to three-point shooting, reflecting a broader trend in the league.
- 🔑 The script concludes that practice is the key factor in the evolution of shooting in basketball, rather than inherent skill improvement or new training techniques.
Q & A
What is the significance of the one-dollar-a-month deal offered by The Athletic for a limited time?
-The one-dollar-a-month deal is a promotional offer to attract new subscribers to The Athletic's platform, which features renowned basketball analysts and comprehensive local coverage for every NBA team.
What was Aaron Baines' three-point attempt rate in his first six seasons compared to his 2019 and 2020 seasons?
-Aaron Baines attempted just 28 three-pointers in his first six seasons. However, in 2019, he took about three every 75 possessions, and in 2020, at the age of 33, he suddenly took over 6.3 threes every 75 possessions, making 35% of them.
What does David Epstein's TED Talk suggest about advancements in athletics?
-David Epstein's TED Talk suggests that advancements in athletics often come from factors outside the actual athlete, such as technology, training techniques, or equipment.
When was the three-point line first introduced in professional basketball, and how did players and coaches initially react to it?
-The three-point line was first introduced in professional basketball in 1961 in the short-lived ABL. The ABA adopted a line similar to the one we know today in its debut season in 1968. Players and coaches, except for one, did not immediately embrace the shot.
Who was the first player to significantly increase their three-point attempts in the ABA, and what was their performance like?
-Louis Dampier of the Kentucky Colonels was the first player to significantly increase his three-point attempts. He took two threes per game in the 1968 season, making 27% of them, and then took seven threes per game in 1969, hitting 36% of them.
How did the NBA's adoption of the three-point shot differ from the ABA's initial adoption?
-When the NBA added the three-point shot, it was almost ignored and viewed more like a gimmick. It took until 1988 for the NBA to match the inaugural volume of the ABA back in 1968.
What changes did the NBA make in the 1990s to encourage more three-point shooting?
-In the 1990s, more players started shooting three-pointers, and in 1995 the league shortened the three-point line to incentivize more threes, which led to league percentages jumping above 35% for the first time.
How has the value of the three-point shot evolved over the years in the NBA?
-The value of the three-point shot has increased significantly over the years. In the mid-2000s, threes comprised 20% of all scoring attempts, and in the last decade, they have made up more than a third of all true shot attempts.
What is the role of practice in the evolution of three-point shooting in the NBA?
-Practice plays a crucial role in the evolution of three-point shooting. Players now practice shooting threes instead of long twos, which has led to an increase in the value and accuracy of the three-point shot.
How have changes in shot selection and practice impacted the accuracy of outside shooting in the NBA?
-Changes in shot selection and practice have led to a steady increase in the volume of three-point attempts without a significant change in overall outside shooting accuracy. Players are now practicing from the specific distance that yields the most points, which is the three-point line.
What is the 'natural experiment' mentioned in the script, and what does it reveal about player development in the NBA?
-The 'natural experiment' refers to the shift of big men like Baines, who used to launch from the top of the key, now toeing up behind the three-point line for the additional point. This reveals that players are adapting their shooting range in response to changes in the game's strategy and value of different types of shots.
How has the percentage of shots coming from behind the three-point line changed over the last 20 years?
-Twenty years ago, 40% of outside shots came from behind the three-point line. In 2020, 80% of shots outside 15 feet were three-pointers, indicating a significant shift in shot selection towards the more valuable three-point shot.
What trends have been observed in free throw shooting accuracy among NBA players over the last 50 years?
-Free throw shooting accuracy has remained relatively constant among NBA players over the last 50 years, with big men consistently shooting around 68-72% and guards and wings in the high 70s. However, there has been an increase in the number of players shooting 90% or higher at the line in the last 30 years.
How does the script suggest that future changes in the game, such as a potential four-point line, might affect player practice and development?
-The script suggests that if a four-point line were to be introduced in the future, players would adapt their practice to focus on that shot, just as they have with the three-point line. This implies that player development and shot selection are heavily influenced by the strategic value of different types of shots.
Outlines
🏀 The Evolution of Three-Point Shooting in the NBA
This paragraph discusses the transformation of three-point shooting in the NBA, highlighting the career of Aaron Baines as a case study. Initially, Baines attempted very few three-pointers, but at 33 years old, he dramatically increased his attempts and success rate. The script references a TED Talk by David Epstein, who attributes advancements in sports to external factors like technology and training techniques. However, the speaker suggests that the improvement in three-point shooting is due to the practice of these specific shots. The history of the three-point line is traced back to the ABL in 1961 and its adoption by the ABA and later the NBA. The paragraph also notes the gradual increase in three-point attempts and success rates over the decades, attributing this to the shift in practice focus from long two-point shots to three-pointers.
📊 The Impact of the Three-Point Line on Shooting Strategies
This section delves into the statistical changes in shooting as a result of the three-point line. It explains how the value of long two-point shots has decreased with the introduction of the three-point line, leading to a shift in practice and game strategy. The paragraph provides historical data on shooting percentages and attempts, showing a decline in long two-point shots and a rise in three-pointers. It also discusses how players like Baines and Brook Lopez adapted their shooting ranges to include more three-pointers later in their careers. The summary points out that while shooting accuracy from outside has not significantly changed over the years, the value of the shots has increased due to the extra point awarded for three-pointers.
🎯 The Role of Practice in the Development of Shooting Skills
The final paragraph emphasizes the importance of practice in the development of shooting skills in basketball. It suggests that the perceived improvement in shooting ability is not due to inherent skill or new training methods, but rather the result of practicing specific types of shots, such as three-pointers. The paragraph also touches on the potential future introduction of a four-point line and how it would similarly change practice habits. It concludes by acknowledging the impressive skill of current shooters while also appreciating the shooting achievements of past decades, framing the discussion within the broader context of practice and adaptation in the sport.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Three-point shooting
💡Practice
💡Free throw shooting
💡Aaron Baines
💡Evolution of shooting
💡Three-point line
💡Long twos
💡Shooting percentages
💡Technological advancements
💡NBA history
Highlights
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Aaron Baines' three-point attempts increased dramatically from his first six seasons to 2019-2020, raising questions about the factors behind such changes.
David Epstein's TED Talk suggests advancements in sports are often due to external factors rather than the athletes themselves.
The NBA three-point line was introduced in the 1980s, but the concept of the three-pointer dates back to 1961 in the ABL and later the ABA.
Louis Dampier was an early adopter of the three-point shot, significantly increasing his attempts and success rate from 1968 to 1969.
The adoption of the three-point shot in the NBA was slow, with it taking until 1987 for a team to average seven attempts per game.
The three-point shot was initially viewed as a gimmick, and its usage waned in the mid-70s despite early adoption by some players.
The 1990s saw an increase in three-point attempts and the league shortened the line in 1995 to encourage more three-point shooting.
Three-point shooting has become increasingly valuable, making up over a third of all true shot attempts in recent years.
The shift to three-point shooting is attributed to practice, with players now focusing on this range rather than long twos.
Long two-point shots were once common but have been largely replaced by three-pointers as their value is recognized.
Players like Baines and Lopez have transitioned from long twos to threes, demonstrating the impact of practice on shot selection.
The increase in three-point attempts has not led to a significant change in outside shooting accuracy, suggesting other factors are at play.
Free throw shooting has seen little change over the years, indicating that practice alone does not account for all improvements in shooting.
The video concludes that while shooting skills have improved, much of the change in three-point shooting is due to strategic shifts and practice.
Additional research and a breakdown of the greatest free throw shooters in NBA history are available to Patreon subscribers.
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Transcripts
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