The NBA’s 3-point shot has enemies.
Too many 3s, they say. The shot is ruining the game, they say.
And those critics of the 3-point shot found ammunition in the Eastern Conference semifinals of this season’s playoffs when the Boston Celtics attempted 60 3-pointers and missed 45 against the New York Knicks. The guffawing ignored the fact that Boston’s 3-point shooting was instrumental in its 2023-24 championship season and in its 61-21 record this season.
Regardless of your aesthetic view of how basketball should be played and what it should look like, the 3-point shot has turned divisive but remains vital to winning championships.
Of the past 15 champions, 13 were either top 10 in 3s made per game or top 10 in 3-point percentage. Nine were in the top 10 in both categories during the regular season, including last season’s Celtics. They were No. 1 in makes per game and No. 2 in percentage and outscored Dallas 210-144 on 3-pointers in a five-game Finals series.
