How's my Historical Team? (Awesome right!)

[Roy H.]

Absolutely 100% disagree about the 'legitimacy' of Rice's mark. You might argue that his shooting might drop slightly on the new role, just like you might argue that Johnson's shooting would suffer because he doesn't have a comparable playmaker giving him looks. .

I agree with both of you.

The fact that Rice shot 47% from three is cheapened a bit by the shorter line.  He was hitting easier shots, so naturally he shot a higher percentage.

However, it's not cheapened *that* much.  Take the same player, playing at the same level, and he only averages slightly fewer points and a slightly lesser percentage in today's game.  I mean, the following year (with the current, longer three point line) he scored at almost the same rate and shot 43% from three.

[Who]

I am going to go with Peja and Ray as the two best three point shooters in this Historical League.

Emm, Ray Allen I think as #1. Peja was too easy to be taken out of the game by high level defenders. Hence, Ray was more consistent (reliable).

[Who]

Absolutely 100% disagree about the 'legitimacy' of Rice's mark. You might argue that his shooting might drop slightly on the new role, just like you might argue that Johnson's shooting would suffer because he doesn't have a comparable playmaker giving him looks. .

I agree with both of you.

The fact that Rice shot 47% from three is cheapened a bit by the shorter line.  He was hitting easier shots, so naturally he shot a higher percentage.

However, it's not cheapened *that* much.  Take the same player, playing at the same level, and he only averages slightly fewer points and a slightly lesser percentage in today's game.  I mean, the following year (with the current, longer three point line) he scored at almost the same rate and shot 43% from three.

His attempts were way down the next year. Almost a third less. Major difference.

440 attempts to 300 attempts
 
207 makes to 130 makes

In the years without the shortened line, he never shot over that 40% on a comparable number of attempts. When he did take close to 400 three point attempts (386, 396), his 3P% dropped under 40%. His next largest number of makes in a single season was 155. Way down from 207.

I think it's pretty clear Rice benefited quite a lot from that shortened three point line.

I also think it's pretty clear Joe Johnson benefited from that SSOL offense + Steve Nash's playmaking + being the third/fourth option instead of the primary option in his 47% shooting season.

[Roy H.]

Absolutely 100% disagree about the 'legitimacy' of Rice's mark. You might argue that his shooting might drop slightly on the new role, just like you might argue that Johnson's shooting would suffer because he doesn't have a comparable playmaker giving him looks. .

I agree with both of you.

The fact that Rice shot 47% from three is cheapened a bit by the shorter line.  He was hitting easier shots, so naturally he shot a higher percentage.

However, it's not cheapened *that* much.  Take the same player, playing at the same level, and he only averages slightly fewer points and a slightly lesser percentage in today's game.  I mean, the following year (with the current, longer three point line) he scored at almost the same rate and shot 43% from three.

His attempts were way down the next year. Almost a third less. Major difference.

440 attempts to 300 attempts
 
207 makes to 130 makes

In the years without the shortened line, he never shot over that 40% on a comparable number of attempts. When he did take close to 400 three point attempts (386, 396), his 3P% dropped under 40%. His next largest number of makes in a single season was 155. Way down from 207.

I think it's pretty clear Rice benefited quite a lot from that shortened three point line.

Of course he benefited, but look at his seasons in '92, '99 and '03.  He actually hit as many or more threes per minute than in '97, and shot at least 39% in each of those seasons.

The guy was an amazing shooter, and we have no idea how amazing he would have been in '97 if he was playing with today's line.

I would agree that I'd lean toward Ray and Peja over Rice, but that shouldn't discount Rice as one of the league's all-time great shooters.

[StartOrien]

I don't think it's quite as open and shut, particularly Peja.

The talent surrounding the two players, and the focus on each in their primes was completely different. That Hornets team was actually pretty good, and a good fit. But still, it wasn't anywhere near the offense that benefited Peja.

Rice shot at a higher volume, with more focus, and often better percentage.

[StartOrien]

Question for IP, and a question I'll admit I'm not sure of -

Could Scottie play the 2?

[indeedproceed]

Question for IP, and a question I'll admit I'm not sure of -

Could Scottie play the 2?

Scottie Pippen could defend the 2. I'm sure he could manage in the role.

If you're talking about playing Rice/Pippen, Rice would play the 2-guard role on offense in that scenario, Pippen the 3, the more ball-dominant of the two.

[Moranis]

Question for IP, and a question I'll admit I'm not sure of -

Could Scottie play the 2?

Scottie Pippen could defend the 2. I'm sure he could manage in the role.

If you're talking about playing Rice/Pippen, Rice would play the 2-guard role on offense in that scenario, Pippen the 3, the more ball-dominant of the two.

I think that lineup would be ok against most teams, but if there are two dominant scorers on the wings, Rice would get brutalized in that scenario, especially if he was forced to guard a quick 2 guard.  Against a lot of teams that pairing would be fine.

[indeedproceed]

Question for IP, and a question I'll admit I'm not sure of -

Could Scottie play the 2?

Scottie Pippen could defend the 2. I'm sure he could manage in the role.

If you're talking about playing Rice/Pippen, Rice would play the 2-guard role on offense in that scenario, Pippen the 3, the more ball-dominant of the two.

I think that lineup would be ok against most teams, but if there are two dominant scorers on the wings, Rice would get brutalized in that scenario, especially if he was forced to guard a quick 2 guard.  Against a lot of teams that pairing would be fine.

Yeah in that scenario Rice would need to always guard the 3. On the bright side there is a very decent chance that Pippen will be able to man-handle whoever is trying to guard him.