‘The Evolution of the 3point line and Super Teams’

The NBA is changing, as it is adapting a new system, new offences, the 3point line system. And I know that this statement has been stated a thousand of times with the evolution of the three point line, the Splash Brothers and the Warriors, James Harden and the Houston Rockets, and other teams who have to change now their way of attacking and add the 3point shot to their arsenal. However, it is not only the point guards, and the shooting guards who have adapted to this new way of playing basketball and becoming successful, it is also the big men, the centres of this league. Kristaps Porzingis, Demarcus Cousins, Karl Anthony-Towns and even Pau Gasol late in his career has started adapting to this new system of basketball. The numbers don't just speak for themselves, they scream, that no matter your position on the court, point guard or centre, having a 3point shot is a direct advantage, while not having one is considered a significant disadvantage. Records are breaking each and every season, each and every game right in front of our eyes. NBA records from this season include the 3point field goal attempts and 3point field goals made, but also most of the teams don't even take that many mid-range shots, as they shoot threes, or they drive inside the paint. The Houston Rockets made an NBA record 14.4 threes per game. Moreover, they shot more from the three point line, than from inside. These stats are mind blowing and argue how the NBA has changed and has become more spectacular to watch and enjoy. Not having a 3point shot in your arsenal as a player, nowadays is considered a disadvantage. Imagine Giannis Antetokounmpo with a 3point shot. Instantly becomes a player on another level. This shows how basketball over the course of the last five years, has changed.

To a large extent, Stephen Curry has affected the game to the degree that Michael Jordan enhanced and changed the game back in the 80s. Earlier this year we saw him breaking Kobe Bryant’s record of 12 threes in a single game. Another interesting fact is that when Kobe Bryant scored 12 three-point field goals in a single game, people, NBA analysts, and broadcasters did not even believe that something like that could happen again. It was something rare, unusual, and unreal. The record-breaking machine, named Steph Curry has affected all 30 NBA teams, in the way they viewed their respective defence, as well as how they shape their offensive strategy. But the most interesting stat is that children and basketball players all over the world are changing their strategy of how to score, as well. The game is changing, the evolution of the 3point line is huge, and I will not be surprised if in the next 10 years commissioner Adam Silver adds another line, and make it a 4point line or a 5point line. 

On another note, ‘super teams’ has also become an NBA topic that has been discussed a lot of times during this regular season. Since, Kevin Durant decided to join the team that beat him in the Conference Finals, while being down 3-1, ‘super teams’ have become a storyline throughout the NBA regular season. Starting with the Miami Heat in 2011, when LeBron James decided to take his talents to the South Beach, joined by Chris Bosh to team up with Dwayne Wade made a ‘big 3’ who eventually ended bringing two NBA titles to Miami. Something that originally started the talk of the 'super teams' and continuing with today’s ‘super teams’ the Cleveland Cavaliers (2016 champions), and the Golden State Warriors (2015 champions), the NBA has changed in that regard as well. In this case these two teams have already met twice in the NBA finals, and is possible that they can meet a third time this year, it can be argued that they do not destroy the NBA season but make it more spectacular. With the Washington Wizards emerging, with the Cleveland Cavaliers struggling, with the explosion of Kawhi Leonard and the exceptional coaching of the San Antonio Spurs, the two ‘super teams’ have not destroyed the NBA season, but have made the NBA season spectacular, and a joy to watch. 

GSW 2016-2017

To conclude, rivalries is something that has been missing in the NBA the last decade as well. From the Boston Celtics and their ‘big three’, and the Los Angeles Lakers of Kobe Bryant, to these  two ‘super teams’, the Golden State Warrios and the Cleveland Cavaliers. An NBA rivalry that started in 2015 and is on the merge of becoming an old time rivalry in the history of the game. Finally, also with some young NBA stars emerging into superstars, and young teams as well, the NBA will find back this passion that has been missing, and these rivalries and will become as amazing, and spectacular as it has ever been over the course of the next five years.