Offense, the NBA's Latest Bad Word

The "Basketball for Thought" is a commentary by Kris Gardner.

November 2000

Four years ago, I wrote a basketball for thought titled "What has Happened to the Offense?" I tried to answer that question then; but, unfortunately, offense is still lacking in the NBA and no one seems to know why. The NBA instituted new rules last season in order to increase scoring; but, while the rules were a partial success last season, the scoring is once again pathetic this season. The Chicago Bulls are averaging less than 82 points a game and only one team (the Sacramento Kings) is averaging at least 100 points per contest. Therefore, I ask the same question I asked in December of 1996: Where has the offense gone in the NBA?! It's amazing the same problems I mentioned in '96 still exist four years later. See for yourself.

Fans, coaches, and members of the media have many varied opinions on the pitiful offense being played in the league this year. While the reasons may be as numerous as the points per game is low, the problem can be summarized very simply: the players can't shoot!

Field goal percentages are down from previous years. Free throw percentages are down. The number of shots per game has decreased; thereby, reducing the opportunities to score. Coaches coach more now than ever before. Teams don't run many fast breaks anymore. Defense is now stressed much more than ever before.

Why can't teams score?

First, teams take too many 3 point shots. When the NBA moved the 3 point line in to 22 feet. from 23'9" after the '93 - '94 season, the goal was to increase scoring in order to avoid another NBA Finals match-up like the NY Knicks - Houston Rockets where neither team scored 100 points in a game. However, the opposite has occurred. In the '89 - '90 season, teams averaged 2.18 3pt field goals made per game and attempted only 6.60 3s a game. The league scoring average was 107.0 points per game. Since then the number of 3 pointers attempted and made has increased every year. Last season, teams made about 6 3s per game while attempting 16 per game. The scoring average was 99.5 ppg. This season teams are attempting almost 18 3s per game and the league scoring average is only about 94 ppg.

The solution: Eliminate the 3 point shot or, more realistically, move the line back to 23'9". The league did move the line back to 23'9"; but, that move hasn't had the desired effect to lessen attempts from "the land of 3" while increasing mid-range shots.

Other proposals: Current Philadelphia 76ers coach, Larry Brown said in '96 he believes the shot clock should start when the ball crosses midcourt because he feels there isn't enough time to set up a good shot when a fast break isn't available. Brown also would like to see the NBA adopt an "anything goes on defense" philosophy. The 3 point line would discourage teams from playing zone defenses. "Teams would be forced to run and you'd see better ball movement and better basketball. Right now we don't have that, and it's not going to change."

Sad, but true.

A possible result from low scores is low attendance. Obviously, high ticket prices are a direct deterrent to Joe Fan seeing games in person; however, if the game were being played at a higher quality with higher scores, maybe more of the "suits" would attend the games to be seen if nothing else.