Goal 2. Take (and Make) More Threes
The Wizards were 21st and 23rd in the NBA last season in threes made and threes attempted, respectively. They have many capable shooters on the roster, and it begs the question: why not take more outside shots?
Bradley Beal and Otto Porter are two players who would benefit immediately from a change in philosophy. Last season, Beal shot 37.5% from beyond the arc, and Porter shot 44.1%. Porter’s percentage was third in the league, behind only Darren Collison of the Pacers and Reggie Bullock of the Pistons. Despite his proficiency as a shooter, Porter only took 4.1 threes a game. Giving him the green light more often could lead to some big numbers and an uptick in both his and the team’s production.
Three-point shooting is becoming increasingly important in the philosophy of most of the league’s elite teams, and it’s time for the Wizards to adopt the strategy. The Rockets led the league with 42.3 three-point attempts per game last season. They also finished as the top seed in the Western Conference, and one game away from playing in the Finals. The Wizards themselves were third in the league in three-point percentage, behind only the Warriors and Celtics.
There’s no reason the Wizards should continue to shy away from the long-range shots in 2018-19.
Next Up: Goal 1
