Ignoring the Three Point Line

Why you should never shoot a three pointer in basketball.

Would you shoot the ball from the free throw line on the other side of the court? You can, but your odds of hitting are slim. Now compare that to a layup. Obviously, you have a much higher chance of hitting a layup than a full court shot. The closer you are to the basket, the easier it is to hit the shot.

On defense, the further out you force the other team to shoot, the greater the odds they will miss.

What happens on offense all the time, is the three point line is a stop line. Everybody stops at it. When taking a step or two in, or cutting to the basket could increase the odds of hitting the shot dramatically. Plus your odds of rebounding a miss increase if your closer to the basket.

The best thing to do is pretend the three point line doesn't exist. Try to get as close to the basket as you can without getting blocked. You will put a ton more pressure on the defense. Drive every chance you get.

On defense, bait the other team into picking up their dribble and shooting threes. Put your hands up to make the shot as hard as you can. Rebound the miss. Really clog the lane and from the free throw line and in, or from the three point line and in. Do not play team defense from the half court line. Let them run around out there and start your defense when they get close. Imagine, their point guard drives by his man. You can recover much faster if that happens when you are at the free throw line, than the half court line.

It will also put defenders in much better rebounding position if they are closer to the basket. Fouls can also be cut down. Keep your hands up, let them score, fouls are more important than baskets. If the ball is closer to the basket then you, you are out of position. Remember, you want them to shoot further out.

Over the course of a game, little statistical advantages add up. It does not matter how good or bad a player you are the closer you shoot and the further they shoot, the better.

Have Fun!