Anyone else worried about the Celtics love for the three point shot this year?

[nickagneta]

I know it's early, just five games. I know the Celtics are shooting very well, 50% FG%, 43.7% 3PTFG%. I know the C's are rolling. But I can help but think this team is falling in love with the three point shot and what that type of mentality can have long term on the offense.

In 2007-08 the Celtics for the season shot 76.7 field goals per game with 19.1 being three point attempts. That's a very healthy 24.9% of their shots being three point attempts and with a very potent ball movement offense, often those three's were very good looks. It all worked to the tune of a championship.

In 2008-09 with the loss of James Posey and with no real replacement and only Eddie House coming off the bench that could shoot threes, the celtics three point shot selection fell to 21.4%. 77.2 FGA/game with just 16.5 of those shots being three point attempts. Given that Pose shot over 3 3PTFGAs per game in 2007-08 it's easy to see why the decrease in three attempts.

But this year the C's have not only made up for Posey's three point shooting off the bench but have blown right by the 2007-08 numbers. The Celtics so far this year have attempted 74.5 FGA/game with a high 21.8 3PTFGA/game. That means that 29.2% of the shots the Celtics are taking are 3 point attempts.

Is this a bad thing? I think it could be? Too often teams that shoot three excessively become reliant upon the shot to the exclusion of other aspects of their offense and to the point where they won't exploit mismatches in talent or at certain positions. I don't want this team to become so enamored with the bomb that they forget Perk's going offensive repertoire, KG's mid range jumper, Daniels' penetration moves or their excellent ball movement or breakaway lay-ins to try to put down a dagger three.

[KCattheStripe]

Not really, because  so few of the shots are taken with a defender in their face, let alone on a pull up. I think Doc said that he likes the three if it comes from the offense, ala Rondo drive and kick. I think, especially with the shooters we have, if its wide open you have to kick it out.

I have been encouraged by how Eddie and Ray have been looking for the mid-range pull up more, I think sometimes over the past two years they've been limited to only 3-point attempts and that has reduced their effectiveness.

This team has the D to make up for a night when the wide open ones don't go in, and the shooters to blow out a team when they do.

[xmuscularghandix]

No, this team takes the best available shots and we're a very good 3 point shooting team. Theres no way we shouldn't be taking wide open three's.

[wdleehi]

If they were just running up to the line and shooting, I would be worried.


But they are working the ball in and out creating open shots for shooters.

[RAcker]

I agree with wdleehi and ghandi.  If it was a matter of shots being forced early in the shot clock with no other options, yeah we'd have reason for concern.  However, these are WIDE OPEN looks in transition with potential rebounders in the area and WIDE OPEN looks coming within the flow of the offense (like the in/out game we've seen with big men kicking back out to an open shooter).

We have great 3 point shooters first off and we also have the best defensive team in the league, so in no way are we depending on the 3 to win games.

In other words, this ain't Obie's offensive philosophy.

[KCattheStripe]

I agree with wdleehi and ghandi. 

I feel slighted. But what else can I expect from a 'Bama fan.

[RAcker]

I agree with wdleehi and ghandi. 

I feel slighted. But what else can I expect from a 'Bama fan.

Ooops.  I didn't read far enough back in the thread I guess.

A TP and a Roll Tide should ease your pain. 

[RAcker]

I have been encouraged by how Eddie and Ray have been looking for the mid-range pull up more, I think sometimes over the past two years they've been limited to only 3-point attempts and that has reduced their effectiveness.

I'm really sorry that I missed this point, because it's a very good one.  Ray has at times really gone to that mid-range in the past, but for Eddie to be looking for it is a newer thing for me.  I love it because it discourages that blind running at the 3 pt. shot by the defender. 

Wish I could 2nd TP that.

[Chris]

Not in the least.  The vast majority of the 3's the C's have taken this year have been within the flow of the offense, and more importantly, open.  If they start forcing up a lot of contested 3's, early in the shot clock, then we might have a problem, but for now, they are looking good.

[celticinorlando]

nope...most have looked to be good shots and these guys are quite capable of making them

[Tai]

If the shot's open, why not? People asked the same thing about Rasheed Wallace specifically. For all I know, the amount of 3s he's attempted is the main reason the Celtics as a team has increased their 3-point attempts from previous years.

The thing is, he's been wide open, as have many other shooters for us. And most importantly, they've went in. As long as our shooters are always wide open in the flow of the offense, why shouldn't they take those 3's?

[Fafnir]

Only with Rasheed, I'd prefer if he took a few more inside shots.

But honestly with so many strong three point shooters we should be taking a lot of them. We were an amazing 3-point shooting team last year by percentage, we should play to that strength.

[BballTim]

  I thought KG did a great job taking it inside vs NO.

[fairweatherfan]

Only with Rasheed, I'd prefer if he took a few more inside shots.

But honestly with so many strong three point shooters we should be taking a lot of them. We were an amazing 3-point shooting team last year by percentage, we should play to that strength.

Seconding this in its entirety.  We have some great 3 point shooters, and we're making them, so it's not a concern right now.  It will be a concern if we start going cold and don't adjust though - this is especially true for Pierce, who historically is less likely to keep up this pace than guys like Ray and Eddie.  But I trust the Captain to be smart enough to do this if he hits a lull.

Sheed I was a little concerned about after a couple games, but I think he did a great job of looking for the midrange shot against New Orleans.  I don't really care if Sheed posts up a whole lot but looking for midrange opportunities and the occasional post shot will help keep us from becoming predictable.

[screwedupmaniac]

With the team we have in place, I'm not the least bit concerned about how many 3's we take. As long as they are all open 3's like what we've been getting thus far, we'll keep making half of them.

Now if we have a lineup of Rondo, TA, Quis, Sheldon, and Perk in there heaving shots, I'll have a major problem haha. But letting House, Ray, Pierce, Sheed, and KG shoot long 2's and 3's when they're open isn't a problem for me at all.