Shooting

[thedoper]

I just think the don't take enough of them to develop any consistency. It probably isn't emphasised in practice either.

[MikkeMan]

As for Ricky, I find the argument that you and Mgor make about him not being able to find shooters odd. He constantly finds KAT open for 20-footers. He found Love and Martin open for tons of 3's a couple years ago.

Whoever the Wolves hire as POBO, needs to crack the code on this issue and ensure that developing players into better outside shooters is a key focus for this franchise. Some will be a lost cause (Ricky for example), but surely, guys like LaVine and Wiggins should not be going backwards.

I think that Ricky is at least partially the reason for lack of three pointers in Wolves offense. I compared Wolves offense to some other teams that feature scoring point guard. I selected Washington and Charlotte since they have teams that have quite close to average offense and either team won't contain otherwise such a special players that would make comparison unfair.

Wolves made 3-pointers:
Transition 18
Isolation 9
Ball handler 16
Pick and pop 16
Spot-up 83
Hand-off 10
Off screen 18
Other 2

Washington made 3-pointers:
Transition 54
Isolation 13
Ball handler 17
Pick and pop 12
Spot-up 145
Hand-off 12
Off screen 21
Other 3

You can see quickly that transition and spot-up three pointers explain almost totally the difference between made three pointers between these teams. Difference in transition threes comes mainly from different offensive philosophy and difference between players in these two teams. Washington runs more and their wings Dudley, Neal, Beal and Temple are better at shooting compared to taking it at the rim. I prefer that Wiggins, LaVine and Muhammad will continue to drive to the basket in their transition opportunities. But the difference in made spot-up treys is at least partially because of Ricky. When Ricky drives to basket either from isolation or after pick, opponent rarely needs to help by leaving one of the wings free at corner since Ricky is so bad at finishing at rim. Another reason for low amount of spot-up three pointers might be that Ricky plays quite many minutes with KG and Prince and neither of them are not three point shooters even though Tay has had some success there at past with very limited amount of attempts.

Charlotte made 3-pointers:
Transition 24
Isolation 14
Ball handler 34
Pick and pop 24
Spot-up 171
Hand-off 25
Off screen 36
Other 1

Charlotte has currently made 158 more three pointers than Wolves have. About two thirds of the difference comes from pick and roll ball handler and spot up plays. Since Kemba and Lin are taking more capable at shooting three pointers off the dribble than Ricky, Charlotte ball handlers in pick and roll plays have made 18 more three pointers. Majority of difference still comes from spot-up plays. There Kemba and Lin are better finishers at rim and thus they draw more help defense that opens spot-up shooting opportunities for Charlotte shooters.

Still some blame for lack of three pointers goes still to Wolves coaching staff. It is absolutely true that those pick and pop and off screen plays should target more often three pointers instead of long two pointers. Especially since Wolves have some capable pick and pop 3-point options in Towns, Bjelica and Payne. Replacing Prince and Garnett with forwards with three point range will also increase three point shooting in future but I'm pretty sure that as long as Ricky is starting point guard, Wolves will still shoot below average amount of three pointers since Ricky won't draw as much help defense in his drives than many other point guards draw.

[Brooklyn_Wolves [enjin:14608167]]

Making suggestions that Rubio is at fault for lack of 3s on the team? Really?
It starts and ends with a coach and his offensive philosophy.

Adelman 2013-2014 : 600 made, 1757 attempted
Saunders 2014-2015: 406 made, 1223 attempted
Mitchaell 2015-2016 so far : 172 and 521 so pretty much same as Flip.

opponets:
2013-2014 663 and 1820
2014-2015 697 and 1897
2015-2016 301 and 859 so far

[Monster]

Q it's a small sample so far but Rudez is another possible exception. He is shooting a higher percentage than his rookie year (his 2nd half he was on fire though) and shooting 3's at a slightly higher rate than his time with the Pacers. His higher shooting percentage might even be a little bit impressive since he isn't getting regular playing time. Both Bjelica and Payne should be getting more minutes over him but sometimes I just want to see him out there as a real 3 point threat and he is sort of solid as a player despite his sad rebound rate especially since this year he is playing mostly as a PF.

[Phenom]

If Ricky can find the open shooter for a long deuce, then he will find them beyond the arc. What's really troubling to me is the amount of times that our players start behind the line and take a step or 2 in to shoot the 2. And this from a very young group of players. I was led to believe that the younger generation only shoots 3s.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Making suggestions that Rubio is at fault for lack of 3s on the team? Really?
It starts and ends with a coach and his offensive philosophy.

Adelman 2013-2014 : 600 made, 1757 attempted
Saunders 2014-2015: 406 made, 1223 attempted
Mitchaell 2015-2016 for far : 172 and 521 so pretty much same as Flip.

opponets:
2013-2014 663 and 1820
2014-2015 697 and 1897
2015-2016 301 and 859 so far

Indeed, we were 17th in 3-point makes just two years ago thanks largely to Ricky Adelman's offense and having a healthy Kevin Love and Kevin Martin. Guess who was feeding them a bunch of those shots? Ricky.

Ricky's primary disadvantage is that he himself is not a prolific 3-point shooter while many of his PG contemporaries are. But that doesn't mean he can't get others good looks from beyond the arc.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

Q it's a small sample so far but Rudez is another possible exception. He is shooting a higher percentage than his rookie year (his 2nd half he was on fire though) and shooting 3's at a slightly higher rate than his time with the Pacers. His higher shooting percentage might even be a little bit impressive since he isn't getting regular playing time. Both Bjelica and Payne should be getting more minutes over him but sometimes I just want to see him out there as a real 3 point threat and he is sort of solid as a player despite his sad rebound rate especially since this year he is playing mostly as a PF.

The problem with Rudez is that he is so limited otherwise. The concept of "3-point specialist" is dated, as it's almost becoming table stakes for perimeter players to have this shot in their tool bag. We know by the math that even if you shoot the thing at around 33%, it's not a horrible shot, so you don't need to be a sharpshooter to utilize it.

My concern is what I perceive to be a culture and organization that does not value the shot appropriately and therefore doesn't put the proper emphasis on developing and nurturing it with ALL players except for the ones that can obviously never become 3-point shooters (e.g. Pek).

[AbeVigodaLive]

Q it's a small sample so far but Rudez is another possible exception. He is shooting a higher percentage than his rookie year (his 2nd half he was on fire though) and shooting 3's at a slightly higher rate than his time with the Pacers. His higher shooting percentage might even be a little bit impressive since he isn't getting regular playing time. Both Bjelica and Payne should be getting more minutes over him but sometimes I just want to see him out there as a real 3 point threat and he is sort of solid as a player despite his sad rebound rate especially since this year he is playing mostly as a PF.

The problem with Rudez is that he is so limited otherwise. The concept of "3-point specialist" is dated, as it's almost becoming table stakes for perimeter players to have this shot in their tool bag. We know by the math that even if you shoot the thing at around 33%, it's not a horrible shot, so you don't need to be a sharpshooter to utilize it.

My concern is what I perceive to be a culture and organization that does not value the shot appropriately and therefore doesn't put the proper emphasis on developing and nurturing it with ALL players except for the ones that can obviously never become 3-point shooters (e.g. Pek).

All the Wolves need is more effort dammit.

That's the key to coaching NBA basketball in 2016.

[Monster]

Q it's a small sample so far but Rudez is another possible exception. He is shooting a higher percentage than his rookie year (his 2nd half he was on fire though) and shooting 3's at a slightly higher rate than his time with the Pacers. His higher shooting percentage might even be a little bit impressive since he isn't getting regular playing time. Both Bjelica and Payne should be getting more minutes over him but sometimes I just want to see him out there as a real 3 point threat and he is sort of solid as a player despite his sad rebound rate especially since this year he is playing mostly as a PF.

The problem with Rudez is that he is so limited otherwise. The concept of "3-point specialist" is dated, as it's almost becoming table stakes for perimeter players to have this shot in their tool bag. We know by the math that even if you shoot the thing at around 33%, it's not a horrible shot, so you don't need to be a sharpshooter to utilize it.

My concern is what I perceive to be a culture and organization that does not value the shot appropriately and therefore doesn't put the proper emphasis on developing and nurturing it with ALL players except for the ones that can obviously never become 3-point shooters (e.g. Pek).

Well Pop says he hates the 3 so I guess we are on the right track right? Joking of course.

[bleedspeed]

What is shocking is that we started this trend and seem to be the last team buying into it.