The Shooting issues...

[liam]

The NBA chose profits over play once again.


https://www.nbcsports.com/boston/celtics/brian-scalabrine-investigation-new-vs-old-nba-ball#:~:text=The%20NBA%20switched%20its%20official,are%20down%20approximately%20two%20percent.

[Roy H.]

I think it's a bunch of whining over nothing.

The Wilson ball is used in the NCAA (since 2002), Europe and Australia.  It's very similar to the Spalding ball.  Players just need to practice more.

2022: 34.9% 3PT%, .526 eFG%
2021: .36.7% 3pt%, .538 eFG%
2020: 35.8% 3pt%, .529 eFG%
2019:  35.5% 3pt%, .524 eFG%
2018:  36.2% 3pt%, .521 eFG%
2017: 35.8% 3pt%, .514 eFG%
2016:  35.4% 3pt%, .502 eFG%
2015: 35.0% 3pt%, .496  eFG%
...
2012: 34.9% 3PT%, .487 eFG%

So, 3PT% is the lowest its been in 10 seasons, but overall efficiency seems in line with norms.  It looks like last year may have been a particularly good shooting year.  Could this be due to tired defenses after the short turnaround, giving better looks?  From 2020 to 2022, overall 3PT% dropped only by 0.9 points.  That's fairly similar to the dropoff from 2018 to 2019.