What has Happened to the Offense?

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

December 1996

Where has the offense gone in the NBA?! 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 22ft. 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".

Other proposals: Indiana coach, Larry Brown 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.