[valentine]

 Are we ever going to see a time when most teams trot out five 3 point shooters, not just as a "small-ball" alternative look, but as the starting five for a whole season?

I have a hunch that 3 point shooting will eventually surpass shot blocking/rim protection as the most valuable trait for NBA centers, as the pool of highly skilled 7 footers slowly grows.

I can picture the Knicks starting five 3 point shooters in the near future, as Porzingis puts on sufficient weight to start at center every night. Porzingis at 5, Melo at 4, and 3 other shooters.

If Olynyk can emerge as the Celtics starting center, I can see Brad Stevens trotting out five 3 point shooters every night, including a big green light from 3 for either Amir Johnson or Sullinger or Jerebko, or somebody else from one of these coming drafts.

3 point shots from both center and power forward positions means no rim protectors sitting in the paint. The paint is wide open for guys to drive into the lane for much better shots/layups/dunks.

When the Celtics played Olynyk and Jerebko at C and PF last year, the results were off the charts, and IT4 had a layup line going.

Mirotic/Portis could be nasty long term, opening the lane up completely for Rose and Butler to attack.

Long term, Indiana could surprise with Myles Turner at 5 and Paul George at 4.

In Orlando, with great dribble drive guys like Elfrid, Oladipo, Hezonja, Harris, and Aaron Gordon, Channing Frye might even end up getting a hard look as starting center, just spreading the floor out so those guys can get a layup line going.

One drawback to starting five 3 point shooters is that it often means benching the team’s best rebounder(s). One good thing about 3 pointers is the rebounds tend to be longer, allowing good rebounding guards/wings to come away with a decent amount of them.

Starting five 3 pointers might not be a dream lineup given most team’s personell, but I can definitely see some team that knows their not a top contender, trying something different, emboldened by the Warriors success to just put five 3 point shooters out there and let the chips fall where they may.

So what’s your team’s best 3 point shooting lineup? Would they be any good?

Vonleh/Leonard is another pair that could work nicely in Portland, opening the lane for Lillard and McCollum.

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 Amir Johnson seemed to regress a bit last year, but his advanced numbers when he got to play center were much better.

Sometimes an old-fashioned no-range center like Valanciunas or Vucevic get locked into major roles with major minutes, forcing decent centers to play almost entirely at PF. I don’t know enough about Channing Frye to know if he’s any better defensively at center than he is at PF, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Magic as a team actually played better with Frye at center, especially if Elfrid is going to be starting. Payton can’t shoot the 3, but he is very quick driving into the lane, and having Frye stretch out offenses could help the Magic suddenly start winning actual basketball games.

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 Amir Johnson seemed to regress a bit last year, but his advanced numbers when he got to play center were much better.

Sometimes an old-fashioned no-range center like Valanciunas or Vucevic get locked into major roles with major minutes, forcing decent centers to play almost entirely at PF. I don’t know enough about Channing Frye to know if he’s any better defensively at center than he is at PF, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Magic as a team actually played better with Frye at center, especially if Elfrid is going to be starting. Payton can’t shoot the 3, but he is very quick driving into the lane, and having Frye stretch out offenses could help the Magic suddenly start winning actual basketball games.

 

 

 

[elliotmcadooParticipant]

Aaron Brooks

Mike Dunlevy 

Dougie McBuckets 

Nikola Morotic

Pau Gasol 

[elliotmcadooParticipant]

Aaron Brooks

Mike Dunlevy 

Dougie McBuckets 

Nikola Morotic

Pau Gasol 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 You can have shooters all day long, but you still need to protect the paint.  You still need to rebound.

I think the ideal template is the 1995 Houston Rockets.  The stud superstar center who can not only score and shoot from mid-range (or further) but also rebound, block shots, and run the floor (Hakeem Olajuwon).  Then you have a 6’10 3 and D Stretch Four like Robert Horry.  A wing scorer/slasher in a guy like Clyde Drexler then additional shooters on the perimeter (Kenny Smith, Mario Ellie, Sam Cassell).  I think the 1995 Rockets were 6 or 7 deep and the 1994 edition (Vernon Maxwell and Otis Thorpe instead of Clyde Drexler) wasn’t any deeper.  A 6’10 shooter in Matt Bullard was on the ’94 team and might have been on the ’95 team too.   Tracy Murray might have been on the ’95 team.  

Preferably a center today protects the rim and rebounds as well as shoots the long ball.  But, other than Porzingas potentially who else can do that?  I think Marc Gasol needs to work on the 3.  

So you at least have to do one or the other.  Otherwise, I can see teams going with a small ball center.  

Chris Bosh is probably the ideal new era center.  Marc Gasol can do a bit of everything, with the build of your classic throwback center.

I can also see teams adding a specialist backup center.  Either a shot blocker off the bench, or a 3 point sniper at the 5.  If a team carries 3 centers then you need at least one shot blocker and at least one guy who can hit a shot outside the paint.

A guy like Kendrick Perkins who plays a ground game and just kinda sorta gets in the way and has no speed or range SHOULD NOT start.  Preferably a guy like that is your 3rd string center.  A glorified enforcer.  But, I think teams STILL NEED an enforcer on the roster.  But probably further down the bench and maybe not in the starting lineup.  A guy like Rick Mahorn who can defend, bully, and board and gives you veteran leadership and championship experience should ALWAYS have a place in the league.  Teams STILL need a guy on the roster who is not afraid to mix things up.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Memphis MadnessParticipant]

 You can have shooters all day long, but you still need to protect the paint.  You still need to rebound.

I think the ideal template is the 1995 Houston Rockets.  The stud superstar center who can not only score and shoot from mid-range (or further) but also rebound, block shots, and run the floor (Hakeem Olajuwon).  Then you have a 6’10 3 and D Stretch Four like Robert Horry.  A wing scorer/slasher in a guy like Clyde Drexler then additional shooters on the perimeter (Kenny Smith, Mario Ellie, Sam Cassell).  I think the 1995 Rockets were 6 or 7 deep and the 1994 edition (Vernon Maxwell and Otis Thorpe instead of Clyde Drexler) wasn’t any deeper.  A 6’10 shooter in Matt Bullard was on the ’94 team and might have been on the ’95 team too.   Tracy Murray might have been on the ’95 team.  

Preferably a center today protects the rim and rebounds as well as shoots the long ball.  But, other than Porzingas potentially who else can do that?  I think Marc Gasol needs to work on the 3.  

So you at least have to do one or the other.  Otherwise, I can see teams going with a small ball center.  

Chris Bosh is probably the ideal new era center.  Marc Gasol can do a bit of everything, with the build of your classic throwback center.

I can also see teams adding a specialist backup center.  Either a shot blocker off the bench, or a 3 point sniper at the 5.  If a team carries 3 centers then you need at least one shot blocker and at least one guy who can hit a shot outside the paint.

A guy like Kendrick Perkins who plays a ground game and just kinda sorta gets in the way and has no speed or range SHOULD NOT start.  Preferably a guy like that is your 3rd string center.  A glorified enforcer.  But, I think teams STILL NEED an enforcer on the roster.  But probably further down the bench and maybe not in the starting lineup.  A guy like Rick Mahorn who can defend, bully, and board and gives you veteran leadership and championship experience should ALWAYS have a place in the league.  Teams STILL need a guy on the roster who is not afraid to mix things up.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 I think Myles Turner and even maybe Bobby Portis might fit the bill as well.

I lost some love for Portis as my favorite choice at pick 16 when I saw how deliberate and awkward his nba 3 point shot was in pre-draft workout videos, but he made them over and over in summer league.

Portis’ rim protection isn’t nearly as good as Myles and Porzingis, but he does contest shots, and he is almost as agile as WCS when it comes to defending in space.

All these guys might be a bit light for center, but so was Hakeem, and Chris Bosh was part of a big 3 that won back to back championships.

 

[T Rex]

 I think Myles Turner and even maybe Bobby Portis might fit the bill as well.

I lost some love for Portis as my favorite choice at pick 16 when I saw how deliberate and awkward his nba 3 point shot was in pre-draft workout videos, but he made them over and over in summer league.

Portis’ rim protection isn’t nearly as good as Myles and Porzingis, but he does contest shots, and he is almost as agile as WCS when it comes to defending in space.

All these guys might be a bit light for center, but so was Hakeem, and Chris Bosh was part of a big 3 that won back to back championships.

 

[SubZeroParticipant]

DeMarcus Cousins fits that description

[SubZeroParticipant]

DeMarcus Cousins fits that description

[ZachAttackParticipant]

but I don’t see anyone doing it, except for the Pacers. And the more I think about it, the more I could see them thriving with this kind of playstyle.

If their starting lineup was 

PG: George Hill/Joe Young (I think Young is better and I hope he starts)

SG: Monta Ellis

SF: Paul George

PF: Jordan Hill (Not a 3 point shooter, but he has both post moves and a bit of an outside shot)

C: Myles Turner

If all 5 of those guys get outside the 3 point line. You give the ball to Ellis, one of the quickest SG’s in the league, and he drives to the center, he’ll draw the double team and he can kick it out to one of his three point shooting teammates.

This works on the defensive end because of Myles Turner’s shot blocking ability. They’ll have great rim protection and there other guys are decent defenders, besides the 1. But you’ve got Turner to help with that if the 1 goes in the paint.

So, yeah, I think this system would be perfect for the Pacers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ZachAttackParticipant]

but I don’t see anyone doing it, except for the Pacers. And the more I think about it, the more I could see them thriving with this kind of playstyle.

If their starting lineup was 

PG: George Hill/Joe Young (I think Young is better and I hope he starts)

SG: Monta Ellis

SF: Paul George

PF: Jordan Hill (Not a 3 point shooter, but he has both post moves and a bit of an outside shot)

C: Myles Turner

If all 5 of those guys get outside the 3 point line. You give the ball to Ellis, one of the quickest SG’s in the league, and he drives to the center, he’ll draw the double team and he can kick it out to one of his three point shooting teammates.

This works on the defensive end because of Myles Turner’s shot blocking ability. They’ll have great rim protection and there other guys are decent defenders, besides the 1. But you’ve got Turner to help with that if the 1 goes in the paint.

So, yeah, I think this system would be perfect for the Pacers.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[festar35Participant]

 The best 3-pt line-up for Indiana would be –

PG. George Hill

SG. Rodney Stuckey or CJ Miles (Stuckey shot near 40% last season, can he do it again is the question, Miles hits some of the toughest 3’s and when he is hot is hard to stop)

SF. Paul George

PF. Chase Budinger (Played well at PF in Minny, I expect to play some stretch four in Indy as well)

C. Myles Turner

 

 

 

 

 

[festar35Participant]

 The best 3-pt line-up for Indiana would be –

PG. George Hill

SG. Rodney Stuckey or CJ Miles (Stuckey shot near 40% last season, can he do it again is the question, Miles hits some of the toughest 3’s and when he is hot is hard to stop)

SF. Paul George

PF. Chase Budinger (Played well at PF in Minny, I expect to play some stretch four in Indy as well)

C. Myles Turner

 

 

 

 

 

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 I understand that. What I was saying is that’d be imo Indy’s smartest lineup based on what could happen.

[ZachAttackParticipant]

 I understand that. What I was saying is that’d be imo Indy’s smartest lineup based on what could happen.

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

Sorry pacers fans your team Won’t be making the playoffs in 2015-16.. But theY will be in the Running for Diamond Stone the guy that’s goin to be drafted first!!! Mark my words !!!!!     I’m the basketball mine since dr Naismith 

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

Sorry pacers fans your team Won’t be making the playoffs in 2015-16.. But theY will be in the Running for Diamond Stone the guy that’s goin to be drafted first!!! Mark my words !!!!!     I’m the basketball mine since dr Naismith 

[raybeasParticipant]

when you are the biggest troll in a thread started by rex. Can we get a ban for this guy, too?

[raybeasParticipant]

when you are the biggest troll in a thread started by rex. Can we get a ban for this guy, too?

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

Raybeas u must be a pacers fan!!!!!!!

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

Raybeas u must be a pacers fan!!!!!!!

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

Dear Raybeas, I just noticed that U been on Here Since 2009 !! wow son 6 years son! This is my first time noticing u!! Because u contribute nothing!! So your lack of input on this site Is 0 !! Nobody will miss u or ever knew u gone if u gets Banned!!

[raybeasParticipant]

I thought this was one of the dumbest insults I’ve ever received, and still do, but after thinking about it, it is almost a universal truth. A lack of anything is zero.

If you had said “Your input on this site is 0”, that would have been mildly insulting. If you had said “Your lack of input is *(some clever simile or metaphor)”, that would have mildly insulting, too. You chose, however, to unintentionally state a truth that could apply to anything at any time. I say unintentionally, because I know you just aren’t smart enough to do it on purpose.

You are an exception to this rule, however. A lack of input from you would be a net positive to the basketball community. Feel free to type out all the feeble tripe your little mind can come up with, just don’t hit the save button.

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

 Dear Raybeas, nobody knows who u r man!! And u been here for years!! 

[BlueLacesParticipant]

And you’ve been on here all but three weeks and already have more negs than you do posts….

[BlueLacesParticipant]

And you’ve been on here all but three weeks and already have more negs than you do posts….

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

 Dear Raybeas, nobody knows who u r man!! And u been here for years!! 

[raybeasParticipant]

I thought this was one of the dumbest insults I’ve ever received, and still do, but after thinking about it, it is almost a universal truth. A lack of anything is zero.

If you had said “Your input on this site is 0”, that would have been mildly insulting. If you had said “Your lack of input is *(some clever simile or metaphor)”, that would have mildly insulting, too. You chose, however, to unintentionally state a truth that could apply to anything at any time. I say unintentionally, because I know you just aren’t smart enough to do it on purpose.

You are an exception to this rule, however. A lack of input from you would be a net positive to the basketball community. Feel free to type out all the feeble tripe your little mind can come up with, just don’t hit the save button.

[DrivingDownTheStreetinmy64]

Dear Raybeas, I just noticed that U been on Here Since 2009 !! wow son 6 years son! This is my first time noticing u!! Because u contribute nothing!! So your lack of input on this site Is 0 !! Nobody will miss u or ever knew u gone if u gets Banned!!

[T Rex]

 I hope Young starts as well.

 

 

[T Rex]

 I hope Young starts as well.

 

 

[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 D Green, H Barnes, A Iguodala, K Thompson, S Curry.  Last year they combined for around 10 3pointers per game.  

Other teams can copy them, often teams copy what made other teams win.

Rockets can do it when Howard rests, or is hidden on the bench so he isn’t fouled.  DoMo or T Jones at center, Ariza and Harden at forward, two of Lawson and Beverley and Terry at guard.  Rockets also have Marcus Thornton and probably Sam Dekker for more shooting.

Spurs have always been able to put five shooters out there, and they still can with Diaw, Bonner, Green, Ginobili and Mills.  

Here is one for the upcoming season, NO.  If A Davis is going to hit lots of 3pointers, and he says he has been practicing and now has long range ability, then Davis, R Anderson, L Babbitt, E Gordon and J Holiday will be effective at spacing the floor.

T-Wolves might have been the worst team for total 3pointers, but maybe they can now have five outside shooters.  K-A Towns, N Bjelica, A Wiggins, K Martin, Z LaVine.  Not anything great but all can shoot from outside, and if the center and power forward are waiting in the corners and can hit outside shots then Wiggins can certainly attack the basket.  Payne was supposed to be a power forward with long rnage ability, and T Prince can play both forward spots and hit 3s too.

 

 

 

 

 

[ExumInfernoParticipant]

 D Green, H Barnes, A Iguodala, K Thompson, S Curry.  Last year they combined for around 10 3pointers per game.  

Other teams can copy them, often teams copy what made other teams win.

Rockets can do it when Howard rests, or is hidden on the bench so he isn’t fouled.  DoMo or T Jones at center, Ariza and Harden at forward, two of Lawson and Beverley and Terry at guard.  Rockets also have Marcus Thornton and probably Sam Dekker for more shooting.

Spurs have always been able to put five shooters out there, and they still can with Diaw, Bonner, Green, Ginobili and Mills.  

Here is one for the upcoming season, NO.  If A Davis is going to hit lots of 3pointers, and he says he has been practicing and now has long range ability, then Davis, R Anderson, L Babbitt, E Gordon and J Holiday will be effective at spacing the floor.

T-Wolves might have been the worst team for total 3pointers, but maybe they can now have five outside shooters.  K-A Towns, N Bjelica, A Wiggins, K Martin, Z LaVine.  Not anything great but all can shoot from outside, and if the center and power forward are waiting in the corners and can hit outside shots then Wiggins can certainly attack the basket.  Payne was supposed to be a power forward with long rnage ability, and T Prince can play both forward spots and hit 3s too.

 

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 Celtics

Olynyk (35% last year)

Jerebko (39% last year)

James Young (44% in D-League)

RJ Hunter 

Isaiah Thomas (37% last year)

 

That’s about as good as it gets. Just give it time, like the Splash Brothers needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 Celtics

Olynyk (35% last year)

Jerebko (39% last year)

James Young (44% in D-League)

RJ Hunter 

Isaiah Thomas (37% last year)

 

That’s about as good as it gets. Just give it time, like the Splash Brothers needed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[SubZeroParticipant]

DJ Augustin
Anthony Morrow
Kevin Durant
Serge Ibaka
Enes Kanter

[SubZeroParticipant]

DJ Augustin
Anthony Morrow
Kevin Durant
Serge Ibaka
Enes Kanter

[T Rex]

 Denver

Jokic, Gallinari, Chandler, Foye, Jameer Nelson

Jokic is no Jok

 

 

 

 

[T Rex]

 Denver

Jokic, Gallinari, Chandler, Foye, Jameer Nelson

Jokic is no Jok

 

 

 

 

[TRC1991Participant]

Atlanta:

PG – Jeff Teague

SG – Tim Hardaway Jr.

SF – Kyle Korver

PF – Paul Millsap or Mike Scott 

C – Mike Muscala

 

 

 

 

 

[TRC1991Participant]

Atlanta:

PG – Jeff Teague

SG – Tim Hardaway Jr.

SF – Kyle Korver

PF – Paul Millsap or Mike Scott 

C – Mike Muscala

 

 

 

 

 

[BallerScriptParticipant]

 OKC | Bench

PG- Waiters | Augustin

SG- Morrow | Westbrook

SF- Novak | Singler

PF- KD| Kanter

C- Ibaka | McGary/Collison

 

 

 

 

 

[BallerScriptParticipant]

 OKC | Bench

PG- Waiters | Augustin

SG- Morrow | Westbrook

SF- Novak | Singler

PF- KD| Kanter

C- Ibaka | McGary/Collison

 

 

 

 

 

[kazamParticipant]

 Raps:

Lowry, Ross Carroll Patterson, Scola

 

 

 

 

[kazamParticipant]

 Raps:

Lowry, Ross Carroll Patterson, Scola

 

 

 

 

[kazamParticipant]

 Raps:

Lowry, Ross Carroll Patterson, Scola

 

 

 

 

[kazamParticipant]

 Raps:

Lowry, Ross Carroll Patterson, Scola

 

 

 

 

[BubbaChuckParticipant]

Sixers:
* Isaiah Canaan (%41.9 in college)
* Nik Stauskas (%44.1 in college)
* H. Thompson (%40.1 last year)
* Covington (%42.2 in college)
* Rich Holmes (%41.9 last season of college)

Sorry my examples are of college. It’s just that the Sixers are a VERY young team and the college stats are the biggest sample size.

Now with that being said, they’re secretly a very good 3pt shooting team. (I didn’t even list Scottie Wilbekin, Kendall Marshall & Pierre Jackson who are all more than capable.

[BubbaChuckParticipant]

Sixers:
* Isaiah Canaan (%41.9 in college)
* Nik Stauskas (%44.1 in college)
* H. Thompson (%40.1 last year)
* Covington (%42.2 in college)
* Rich Holmes (%41.9 last season of college)

Sorry my examples are of college. It’s just that the Sixers are a VERY young team and the college stats are the biggest sample size.

Now with that being said, they’re secretly a very good 3pt shooting team. (I didn’t even list Scottie Wilbekin, Kendall Marshall & Pierre Jackson who are all more than capable.

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

Portland

Lillard (34% on 7.0 attempts per game)
McCollum (40% on 2.2 attempts per game)
Crabbe (35% on 1.7 attempts per game)
Vonleh (39% on 0.8 attempts per game)
Leonard (42% on 2 attempts per game)

This is a legitimate line-up, also on defense. In addition, all players except Vonleh shot the ball a lot more and better in last year’s postseason as well

[Mr. HookShotParticipant]

Portland

Lillard (34% on 7.0 attempts per game)
McCollum (40% on 2.2 attempts per game)
Crabbe (35% on 1.7 attempts per game)
Vonleh (39% on 0.8 attempts per game)
Leonard (42% on 2 attempts per game)

This is a legitimate line-up, also on defense. In addition, all players except Vonleh shot the ball a lot more and better in last year’s postseason as well

[barbabodomParticipant]

 "What is 3 point shooting lineup?" – Memphis Grizzlies

 

[barbabodomParticipant]

 "What is 3 point shooting lineup?" – Memphis Grizzlies

 

[Bridge83Participant]

 Indiana Pacers

PG: George Hill

SG: C.J. Miles

SF: Chase Budinger

PF: Paul George

C: Miles Turner

I don’t know if this lineup would be an good or not.  Probably not this year as it’s a bit much to expect a 19-year-old center to be ready to play NBA-caliber defense.  Also, rebounding and shot creation could be issues.  Although, with all that spacing, I think George Hill, and Paul George would be able to get into the lane well enough.  Honestly, Miles has shown some ability at least after swinging the ball and catching against a scrambling D.  Having Ellis in there instead of Budinger of Miles would sacrifice some shooting and defense, but he would still have plenty of room to get to the rim at will.  Could be interesting in a couple of years.

 ETA: Sorry, didn’t read the whole thread before posting.  This is my first post and I’m still geting used to this site.

 

 

 

 

 

[Bridge83Participant]

 Indiana Pacers

PG: George Hill

SG: C.J. Miles

SF: Chase Budinger

PF: Paul George

C: Miles Turner

I don’t know if this lineup would be an good or not.  Probably not this year as it’s a bit much to expect a 19-year-old center to be ready to play NBA-caliber defense.  Also, rebounding and shot creation could be issues.  Although, with all that spacing, I think George Hill, and Paul George would be able to get into the lane well enough.  Honestly, Miles has shown some ability at least after swinging the ball and catching against a scrambling D.  Having Ellis in there instead of Budinger of Miles would sacrifice some shooting and defense, but he would still have plenty of room to get to the rim at will.  Could be interesting in a couple of years.

 ETA: Sorry, didn’t read the whole thread before posting.  This is my first post and I’m still geting used to this site.

 

 

 

 

 

[Author]

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