If the three point rule is removed, who is the NBA's best team?

[KG Living Legend]

 The three pointer has ruined the game. Been thinking that for a long time.

 I say we try and remove all three's except with 5 minutes to go in the fourth quarter. 

[hwangjini_1]

In a league without three pointers, the best teams are the ones that can generate the most looks at the rim + free throw attempts, while defending against the same.


Actually New Orleans would be pretty awesome, I think.  They are top 10 in points in the paint per game and free throws attempted per offensive play, and also top 10 in defending those categories.

Brooklyn also rates really well by those categories.


Actually I think the answer is Brooklyn, because they can get to the rim a lot while also having elite mid-range shooters to punish the opponent for packing the paint.



Speaking generally, I'm glad the three pointer exists.  I don't think the game would be more fun to watch if teams were jamming into the paint every night and we saw smaller guards and wings phased out in favor of big lumbering centers.

That said, I do think things have become too skewed toward outside shooting.  I think it's a big problem that outside shots are worth 50% more than inside shots.  That ratio made sense when the league average on threes was around 30%.  If the average shooter is 40%+ on threes, with stars hitting close to 45-50% consistently, it becomes a three point league.  That's where we are headed, if we aren't there already.

The solution that will never happen is to change the scoring to 3 points inside and 4 points outside. 

The solution that may eventually happen is to move the three point line further back and eliminate corner threes.

My buddy and I discussed the 3 points/4 points idea. I like it but I am guessing traditionalists wouldn't.

i did not know you were friends with antoine. 

[Somebody]

I had an interesting conversation with my friend recently about the three point line and how it changed how basketball is now played. It is definitely a much different game than decades ago. The importance of having the best distance shooters now overrides the importance of big men that can operate and score in a crowded paint area. The most important position is now that of a 2 way wing rather than a dominant center.

So it got me thinking, if the 3 point line and rule were removed just before the season started, who would be this year's best team. Obviously, a three point juggernaut of a team like Utah, would be most affected, but they would be playing teams that also would be affected, so that would mitigate the situation some.

Teams would need to adjust their entire playing philosophy. A +40% three point shooter suddenly has their efficacy completely changed.

Would teams with the best bigs now rule or do teams still rely most on shooting but not from 23 plus feet anymore? Would it precipitate teams to move more towards a fast break play like the early 80's Celtics and Lakers or move more to the clutch and grab style of the 90's like the Heat and Knicks? Or something different.

Personally, I think the 76ers become the league's best team and, sadly, I think the Celtics would be a fairly below average team, in the lottery. Who would be your best team under these circumstances?

Not really, the Jazz defence will explode with Gobert stifling the only high-value shot in basketball after the abolition of the three point line.