Success of the 3pt shot for Demarcus

[Im Still Ballin]

It has become a great addition to his game.

He is shooting 37% on 3.2 attempts on the year. For contrast, he'd have to shoot 55.5% from midrange to equal the same efficiency mark.

Note; This is about how he has stretched some of his standard long two's, to the 3 point arc. He also happens to be getting career high numbers in free throws, and his free throw rate is just as high as it was the last two seasons.

His rebounding is down on both sides of the court, some of that can be contributed to playing with legit bigs this season (WCS/Koufos). This can also be explained by his reluctance and jumper happy start to the season.

As far as his shot chart spread, .361% of his FGs are coming from 0-3. This is down slightly from his career mark of .375. He's taking .322% from 16ft+, which is about .050% more than usual when you factor this seasons decline of 10-16ft field goals.

Essentially, he has settled for too many jumpers. This is a separate issue from this topic, as this is only dealing with the efficiency of his necessary jump shot to his game. Some of this can be contributed to early season ups and downs figuring how to play with a new gameplan/players etc... Also that injury period around December... Outside of late November/December, Cousins has been shooting even better than 37%.

Since deciding to not shoot so many jumpers and play inside in January, his rebound numbers have gone up and his 3pt % has increased.

As I have said all season, you want Cousins' jump shots to facilitate and supplement his inside game. We have been seeing that for the last 7 weeks or so.

TLDR explanation: He is taking 6 jump shots (16ft+) a game, of which half are from 3. Those 3 three pointers are much more efficient than the other 3 long two's. In this sense, the addition of a 3pt shot has been a success to his game. Although overall his shots in the paint is slightly down. He's taken too many jump shots. BUT over the last 7-8 weeks this has changed and we are seeing harmony in his scoring game, between the inside scoring, rebounding, and 3pt shot.

 

[kingsboi]

with the game evolving to a perimeter style league, so have a lot of NBA bigs. Hell, the only big men who aren't shooting three's right now that I can think of are Drummond, Jordan and Okafor.

 

[Im Still Ballin]

Also;

I forgot the mention that Cousins turnover rate is down despite his usage rate increasing. Probably contribute this to Rondo and the fact that Cuz has taken slightly more jumpers this season AND he has been assisted on field goal attempts considerably more this season (Rondo).

 

[KingsCitizen]

This one I'll give credit to Karl.
Malone would never let DMC shoot even 10 3s in a year, IMO.

If only we got better SG options.

 

[Im Still Ballin]

I think it's good to keep reference that a supplement of a jump shot is a necessity to his game because a large portion of his offense comes from the pick and roll, drive or pop, high screen and roll. The jump shot brings a dynamic to that guard-big action, and especially with a limited shooter like Rondo, it is evidently more important.

But the focus must always be, the jump shot to supplement and facilitate his inside game, which is his bread and butter money maker. The minimum threat of the outside shot to get the defense to respect it. It's hard to baseline it because games are up and down and unique to eachother, but I think 4-5 jump shots of which a decent spread between the long two and the 3, out of 20 field goals a game would be ideal. Over the last 7 or so weeks, I think this is what the stats would reflect.

 

[IfAt1st]

He's taking too many jump-shots?

Well, at least when he takes them, he doesn't turn the ball over, or commit an offensive foul, or fall down and not get back (leading to a wide-open 3 by the other team).
He's also less likely to get injured taking a handful of jumpers a game.

So, various criteria should be considered before saying such a blanket statement as "Demarcus is taking too many jumpers", methinks.

 

[Im Still Ballin]

He's taking too many jump-shots?

Well, at least when he takes them, he doesn't turn the ball over, or commit an offensive foul, or fall down and not get back (leading to a wide-open 3 by the other team).
He's also less likely to get injured taking a handful of jumpers a game.

So, various criteria should be considered before saying such a blanket statement as "Demarcus is taking too many jumpers", methinks.

On a seasonal average basis, yes he has.

However, as I have already stated, that has been changing over the last 8 weeks

His paint/3-10 % of FGA is down

His 16ft+ % of FGA is up

I already stated his turnover rate has been down. I've been saying this in relation to his 3pt shots and jump shooting all season

He was taking 5 three pointers a game alone in November

Please read carefully

We mustn't lose focus on the fact that Cousins bread and butter is in the paint. The facts show his jump shooting has increased, and his paint % of FGA is down. I understand there is context to this, I have already explained such. Please read carefully.

 

[Im Still Ballin]

If we could somehow find the scoring efficiency of plays and spots of the floor for Demarcus, I'd think you'd find his best and most efficient means of scoring is as either the roll man or driving to the hoop off the dribble. The post would be up there too, definitely both before the long two jump shot.

This is the main point: Demarcus CAN hit the outside shot. But he's no Dirk Nowitzki. That said, a sentiment of an outside shot is necessary, GIVEN the obvious nature of his scoring means, AKA he accrues a lot of points via screen and rolls, which is a natural guard-big dynamic which demands an as stated, "Pick and pop" or "Pick and roll". This is all based on reading the defense and how they defend the action. The function of DMC's jumper should be to make the defense defend a certain way, and respect the shot, so that it facilitates his inside, roll man/driving to the basket game.

 

[Im Still Ballin]

And while the 3 has been very efficient (1.11 PPP).. We must also factor in aspects like offensive rebounding and free throw rates. This is why we cannot have Cousins just bombing jumpers from 3 all game. The three fits into his game through the same way the long two jumper does. By means of the pick and roll guard-big action. Merely an extension to 23ft on some of those shots that used to be long twos. As stated in the OP, by far a more efficient shot (37% on 3 would require 55.5% from midrange to equal the efficiency... And nobody even comes close to that mark in the league... Well maybe only Dirk?)

 

[biltalent]

Thanks for your post. I appreciate it.
Your are right that he should spend the most time under the basket. But trailing threes and a pick and pop for a 3 are a nice way to mix it up as he seems to clearly prefer the top of the arc and avoid the corners.
I would like to see a set where Cuz and Willie set a screen for the ball handler, Cuz pops out to the 3 and Willie quickly dives to the rim for an alley oop. I would bet that most of the time one of them is open.

 

[Im Still Ballin]

2/5 40% tonight. Quality shooting.