Ira Winderman: Is The Nba Becoming A One-trick Phony With Its 3-point Emphasis?

MIAMI — Is the NBA becoming a one-trick phony? Yes, the 3-point shot for years has changed the game and assuredly will continue to do so. But that also has been amid the move to a preferred shot profile of either at the rim or from the arc. Which is fine, considering the symbiosis of the two, the game at least, in part, similar to what it had been for years, the precepts of ball movement, attacking, rim pressure. Only now, a two-on-one fast break seemingly is just as likely to have one of the two flaring to space at the 3-point line. A point-blank attack on the rim no longer is pursued solely as an attack on the rim, at least not if a teammate is standing open in the corner. And the transition game often stops 23 feet from the rim instead of at the rim. Yes, a three is worth more than a two, and NBA math increasingly has been conducted in triplicate, as the Boston Celtics and Dallas Mavericks showed in last season’s runs to the NBA Finals. But is there also a point of no return, where the league becomes lost in a circus of threes, the NBA’s version of home run derby becoming the actual game. Granted, it only was an exhibition, but Wednesday night’s nationally televised Warriors-Kings disconcertingly could set the tone for what follows. The Warriors shot 28 of 52 on 3s.