Head coach Steve Kerr made his NBA career by being a strong three-point shooter, but he believes the time may be now to remove the shot. The Golden State Warriors head coach did an interview with the New Yorker regarding his contract ending, among other topics around the league. Kerr was asked if he thinks the league should consider adopting a four-point shot since shooters are more advanced than ever before.
However, Kerr made it clear he thinks removing the three-pointer would be better than adding another point to outside shooting:
“I would never do a four-point play. In fact, I would even consider getting rid of the three-point line. I just think that the game, as it was designed, is really to create the best shots possible.
The analytics revolution has created a weird situation where we all know exactly where the highest efficiency shots are: layups and corner threes because the corner three is twenty-two feet and not 23.9, like the up above the break.
You have this whole no man’s land between those areas. I just wonder—and I don’t know if this would work or not—if we got rid of the three-point line, if it would diversify the way everybody would play and create a lot of different creative solutions to basketball.”
Kerr argues that diversifying the game would help get past the current dilemma of everyone going for layups or three-point shots as the game plan. Today’s players are coached to ignore the mid-range since longer two-pointers make less on the analytics side of thinking.
Why Steve Kerr Is Getting Criticism
Most NBA fans don’t want to lose the three-point line as is, but the point coming from Kerr raised some questions. One could argue Kerr has benefited the most from the importance of three-point shooting than anyone else in NBA history.
The Chicago Bulls made Kerr a rotation player for the late 1990s three-peat due to his three-point shooting giving them a weapon off the bench. Kerr’s coaching career also made him a legendary figure due to his team dominating from outside.
Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson proved that a franchise could win an NBA Championship with shooting as the main strength. Golden State became a dominant force thanks to their stars dominating from outside more than any other team could. Kerr would lose both playing and coaching success if the three-pointer didn’t exist.
NBA Will Likely Never Remove Three-Pointer
The excitement of a player getting hot from three-point range is a major part of the game now. Players setting new records and averaging incredible stats would drastically go down to hurt the viewing experience of today’s fan base.
Kerr’s point was made in good faith since the game clearly has gone a bit too far into everyone trying to replicate the same offense. However, playoff basketball has shown that teams are often forced to change things up.
Superstars like Nikola Jokic, Cade Cunningham, and Donovan Mitchell have struggled in the first round compared to the regular season. Defenses are more advanced too and can make it hard for teams to score. Teams playing harder defense during the regular season would likely flatten the three-point shot taking over the game.
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