Nowadays, more and more three-point shots made by players in the NBA basketball game because Stephen Curry leads the evolution of three-point shots and everyone tries to copy the huge success of Golden State Warriors. There is a point of view that three-point is being overused and that is not right to play on the court like Stephen Curry. At least, that is what many basketball commentators even the public media seem to believe. As it spread widely, it seems that everyone has a negative comment on the status of three-point in today’s game of basketball and the way of Curry’s game. From my perspective, however, three-point is not overused at all. As a matter of fact, it is the mainstream trend of game of basketball. What’s more, it is right for Stephen Curry to use three-point shots to play in the NBA. Since there will be more and more players like Stephen Curry in the future. 

First let us talk about Stephen Curry since he is the man leads this three-point revolution. Why do so many people doubt his game style? Why so many people judge his way of playing basketball? From my perspective, they have just never seen a basketball player that can do so. Yes, he is the brand new level of basketball player that we’ve never seen before. People complain he attempted too much three point in the game because no one seems to be so “crazy” before. What’s more, it is our humanity that we fear the brand new things such as new technique and new situation which is not familiar to us. We are scaring about that. Everyone has its’ own safe zone technically. Everyone don’t want to leave their private safe zone. For instance, when cell phone was created in 1973, no one likes it at all. When the “father of cell phone” Martin Lawrence Cooper used his huge cell phone in New York, everyone who seen this scene thought this guy is crazy. They stayed away from him. In the first six months, cell phone didn’t sell well at all. People still prefer telegram and mail rather to use cell phone. It is strange that holding a huge device and keep talking by yourself in public. People thought it was awkward and shame to do that. Thirty years later, cell phone became an important part of our daily life. There is an old Chinese Saying “Nothing is easy to change at the beginning. The time will give us the answer eventually.” I totally understand the concern and fear about Stephen Curry’s way to playing, but we have to move forward. 

The other main reason that why I thought it is right for him to be himself is , he has that ability that we’ve never seen. With his outstanding shooting skills and unstoppable three-points made in the game, Stephen Curry became the back to back Most Valuable Player in 2015-16 season. Golden State Warriors win 73 games of 82 regular games and break the regular season winning record which hold by Chicago Bulls. Everyone saw the huge success from the Bay area. Other team start to imitate them and try to copy their success. With the increasing 3-point percentage from Stephen Curry, more and more coaches encourage athletics to make more attempts from the three-point line. In 2015-16 regular season of the NBA, he became the score leader per game. He also made 402 three points in the regular season which break the NBA record. In fact, he continues break the single season three-point made record which hold by himself every year. Due to his high percentage of FGA, it’s more effective for him to make 3-points rather than 2-points shot. More importantly, he just like Shaquille Rashaun O'Neal in 2000. He not only scores thirty points every night, but also pushes his opponent to change the strategy to guard him; he dominate the game. If you look back to his intercollegiate game versus Gonzaga in NCAA, you will find out that he was already have that skills to score in that level. Now, he not only can shoot, but also can pass. “As Morris notes, Curry has become much better at three point proficiency and volume at the same time! He has extended his range in an effective manner and has become more proficient in creating high-quality three point opportunities”(Sanders). These skills made him very dangerous to his opponent because he is able to do whatever he wants on the basketball court. Some NBA team head coaches like Rick Carlisle and Doc Rivers thought that Stephen Curry is the man who totally change the game of basketball. He is the only one who lead the revolution of basketball game and become the engine of his team by his unparalleled three-point shots. What is the difference between he and other outstanding three-point shooters? Well, the point is, he made much more three-point attempts and he can use different ways to shot. Let us compare him to his head coach; Steve Kerr, who has 52 percent three point percentage in 1995. He still holds the single season three point percentage record in the NBA. In 1994, he can make one point one three-points on average. However, his best player, Stephen Curry made 4.9 three-point per game with forty-five percent three-point percentage. That is not the only difference between Kerr and Curry. Like most outstanding three-point shooter, Kerr is good at Catch-And-Shot. However, Curry is not only good at Catch-And-Shot, but also good at shooting with dribble. He also can make sopt up and off screen shoot. The unique thing is he can take advantage of his unbelievable shooting skills to be the start of the offence which means he can be the engine of Golden State Warriors. He’s long shoot off dribble is the best in the human’s history. That is the reason why I thought Stephen Curry should be himself. It is absolutely right for him to use his own way to change the game of basketball!

However, some people hold negative attitudes towards Curry’s way of playing. “Outside of the Warriors' basketball utopia, it's a far grimmer state of affairs” (Shoals). Bethlehem also mentioned that the rapidly increasing three-point attempts will hurt the “league overall product”. He used example of Houston Rocket’s game on March third. Houston Rockets’ players tried thirty-four times from the three-point line but they only made three of them. They did eight point eight percent three-point percentage which is the top 5 worst in the NBA history. Although they beat Washington Wizards in the end. “The results may undeniable, but clanking shots and star players reduced to supporting roles are hardly reasons to watch the NBA” (Shoals). 

Other people like Blake Murphy thought three point is not that important. Players like Demar DeRozan is the best example who didn’t make more 3-points to replace the 2-points shot. Players still can be success without making three-point shots. Now, I’m more dialectical and critical about the three points revolution. As the managing editor of Raptors Republic which is the NBA official fans website, Blake Murphy indicated that DeRozan’s two-point shots are so “reliable” (Murphy) that it does not matter he barely hit from the three-point line. Although the example of Demar DeRozan is an extreme situation which not applied to most of NBA players, I’m more dialectical and critical about the three points revolution. 

After arguing about the “controversial player” Curry, it is time for us to focus on the three-point shots itself. the According to Morton, the three-point shot has developed over the past 30 years: “The shooting craze is getting outrageous. It seems like the three-pointer becomes an even bigger part of the NBA every year” (Morton). Is this technique be overused in today’s game? I hold positive attitude towards three-point shot.

The history of three-point shot is only less than 40 years. In 1979-80, NBA brought in the three point rules to the basketball game. At the beginning, ont only the coaches cannot accept this technique, but also many players reject it. They hold the believe that three-point shot is not a good shot at all. It depends on your luck so it’s unreliable. They also thought three point came from the street ball, it was wrong to bring it into the official basketball game. Pat Riley, who is the president of Miami Heat said: “The only reason that you made three-point attempts is you were losing and the time was running out.” He explained that if the three-point is your only chance to win the game, then it is time for players to try three points. At that time, both players and coaches did not like three points. Thus, this technique is underestimate. The status of three points was low. Not a lot of players trained three points at that time. Nevertheless, three-point shots are able to maximum the benefits to the team from the statistics view. Some people confused why players made more and more three-point attempts in the game, it is about the percentage to win. There is a simple probability arithmetic: if a player has fifty percent field goal percentage and thirty three point three three-point shot percentage, then it will be equal to score with two-point shot or three-point shots. Because every three times, this player could score three points with these two different ways. In fact, for a NBA player, the average field goal percentage is lower than fifty percent. However, the average three-point shot percentage is higher than thirty-three point three. Thus, it is more efficient to attempt three point shot instead of two point shot in the basketball game. Tom Haberstroh explained that how the NBA league is “doubling down”( Haberstroh ) its’ love of three-point shooters. He presented specific data on the attempts on average. At the end of his article, he mentioned that “the question isn't whether we'll see more 3-pointers in the NBA this season; it's how many thousands more” (Haberstroh ). As a matter of fact, the amount of three-point attempts is still increasing rapidly. The truth is ruthless. When more and more people face that truth, the destiny of three-point shots reversed. In 1990s, more and more players were good at three points. The word “Three-point Shooters” came out. It described the players who made a living on his excellent three point shooting skills. For example, Ray Allen, Vince Carter And Chris Mullin. 

When Mike D'Antoni became the head coach of Phoenix Suns, he encouraged his players to made more and more three-point attempts in the game. First of all, big data and statistics show that three-point shot is the most efficient way to score. Time is changing. Three-point shots became the prior weapon for Phoenix Suns. He valued three points as the most useful weapon to win. The status of three-point shots increasing rapidly. His “crazy” methods not only helped Phoenix win the championship of 2004-05 regular season, but also let Stevie Nash became the MVP in 2005. The storm of “ small ball” shocked the entire league. This was the first time people realized that maybe tremendous three-point shots are the future of the game of basketball. 

Secondly, it helps players to take advantages of every single space on the court. As it known to all, if you use post up and keep attacking the ring, your opponent will keep focus on the paint. It will be difficult to attack the ring. Three-point shots are the key to utilize the space on the court. If you one have three-point shooters on the court, at least his defender will keep tracking him rather than stay in the paint. If you put three or four players who can shoot from the three point lines, the defense will not be unbreakable. They cannot stay in the paint to prevent your players to attract the ring. This “crazy” method lead the trend of three-point shots. Nowadays, even the big guy who used to be in the paint been pushed to learn how to make three points. Almost every team trying to imitate golden state warriors’ way and copy their success. They put one big guy stay in the paint and grab rebound. Four other players stand outside the three-point line. 

Third, the rules and environment contribute the boost of three-point shots. This is a jump shooting league now whoever doesn’t like it will have to deal with it. Lots of old-school coaches lost their job. More and more young coach walk into the league. They encourage players to take advantage of this underestimate technique. One of the greatest coach in the NBA, Gregg Popovich, said he hate three points, but he admitted that it is an essential weapon for his team to win the game. It is ironic when the greatest coach said that. Some open-minded coach such as Steve Kerr, the head coach of Golden State Warriors, developed this weapon and built the new standard for his team. Jake Fischer indicated that “if they’re popping and they’re open, they have the freedom to shoot it. But I think it’s part of basketball today, it’s part of the NBA. We embrace it” (Fischer). He explained that big guys are expecting to get better performance from the three-point line. 

Last but not least, Stephen Curry, as the leader to the three-point shots revolution, will be chased by millions of people. This will continue to spread the three point methods and expand the trend of this technique. As a mentioned before, even the big guy who used to be in the paint has been pushed to learn how to make three points. The new generation who watch Curry’s game will influenced by him because that ‘s the way they thought the game of basketball should be! We should never underestimate the influence by some outstanding players like Stephen Curry. With the develop of training skills, more and more players will improve their ability to make three points. 

In conclusion, three-point is not overused at all. As a matter of fact, it is the mainstream trend of game of basketball. What’s more, it is right for Stephen Curry to use his way to play in the NBA. I believe there will be more and more players like Stephen Curry in the future.
