NBN Roundtable: How Did the Nets do After One Month?

Is Eagerness to Shoot Three’s Beneficial or Detrimental? (cont.)

Tyler Dencker: I like that they’re shooting a lot of threes and I think long-term especially, they’re better off for it. Even though their 32.9 percent from three-point range ranks 23rd in the NBA, the Nets are averaging 105 points per game. This is far better than they were last season, when they averaged 98.6 points per game and were ranked 26th. The three-pointer is becoming more and more valuable, and the Nets are just starting to shoot it — last season, they attempted the fourth-least three’s per game. It takes time to implement this into a gameplay and have it work, so I have no problem with what they’re doing. They’re not going to get better at shooting three’s if they don’t actually do it, so despite the struggles in terms of three-point percentage, I say keep shooting. It’ll help the team in the future. 

Malcolm Ireland: I think the Nets eagerness to shoot three’s in detrimental to the team.  In theory, by putting up more threes in a game, they will make more. That would allow the Nets to score more points in a game. This has worked on some nights for the Nets, but for the season as a whole they should cut down on threes per game. They are shooting around 33 percent from deep on the season. What makes this really bad is the Nets rank second in the league in three pointers attempted behind the Houston Rockets. What makes the Rockets and Warriors so good is that they rank in the top six in both categories. The Nets, on the other hand, are inefficient from deep. What would help them is to take advantage of Brook Lopez‘s post game. He is one of the best post scorers in the league, but this season he has hovered around the three point line a lot. By putting him in the post the Nets would have a higher success rate of scoring the ball.

Manan Modi: The Brooklyn Nets should aim to score points the easiest, most efficient way possible, regardless of whether it’s getting two or three points. However, I do believe that they’re better off shooting more three pointers. The eagerness to shoot three’s has provided better spacing for every player on the Nets, even Brook Lopez, who never consistently shot three’s prior to this season. Shooting more three’s, both during practice and games, will enable each player to improve their ability to hit jump shots in general. All of this is mere speculation as we’re still witnessing the more recent transition of the NBA into a jump-shooting league, and it comes down to Kenny Atkinson and his staff to decide the appropriateness of three point shooting for the Nets.

Max Prinz: I love that the Nets bombing away from deep. It adds another dimension to an offense that features largely unheralded players. Sure, most of them are going to clang out, but Atkinson’s green light is inspiring confidence in the players and forcing opposing defenses to take another step away from the basket. And remember, three points is greater than two points. 

Matt Pisani: For any of you that read any of my recaps or game previews will know the amount of three-pointers Brooklyn has taken this season is despicable. There is no reason to shoot 35-40 three-pointers a night, there is hardly any reason to shoot even 30 in a night. Brooklyn shoots nearly 35 three’s a night on average and make only 11.5 for a 33 percent rate. 33 percent is tied for 24th place in the whole NBA. Shooting the second most three-pointers and making the sixth lowest of all teams, is a terrible ratio. No question that the three-point shooting is a significant hindrance to this team and something really needs to be done about it or Brooklyn will only get that measly and disrespectful 20.5 wins Vegas projected for the Nets.

Next: Nets vs. Nuggets Takeaways & Grades

Darnell Gilet: Eagerness to shoot three’s for the Nets is beneficial because that is how they will win games. As stated previously, the Nets do not have the horses. The Nets greatest hope is to catch fire from deep, and potentially exchange three point shots for two point shots while hustling for those “50- 50” balls.