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| Some Warriors Are Happy to Pass Up a 3-Pointer. Really. | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| OAKLAND, Calif. — Amid their record-breaking march, the Golden State Warriors have made more 3-pointers this season than any other team in N.B.A. history. The ability to launch shots from intergalactic ZIP codes seems like a requirement for employment. Stephen Curry has gotten so good at it that he has somehow made the halfcourt heave look passé. | OAKLAND, Calif. — Amid their record-breaking march, the Golden State Warriors have made more 3-pointers this season than any other team in N.B.A. history. The ability to launch shots from intergalactic ZIP codes seems like a requirement for employment. Stephen Curry has gotten so good at it that he has somehow made the halfcourt heave look passé. |
| But on a team cluttered with long-distance technicians, Festus Ezeli counts himself as a member of a smaller, less renowned group — a group that has largely resisted the seductive pull of the 3-point line. These guys are like Bolshoi dancers who cannot stand on their tippy toes or veterinarians who are allergic to cats. | But on a team cluttered with long-distance technicians, Festus Ezeli counts himself as a member of a smaller, less renowned group — a group that has largely resisted the seductive pull of the 3-point line. These guys are like Bolshoi dancers who cannot stand on their tippy toes or veterinarians who are allergic to cats. |
| Meet the Warriors’ curiously subdued 2-point crew. | Meet the Warriors’ curiously subdued 2-point crew. |
| “I know my role,” said Ezeli, a reserve center and layup specialist who has not so much as sniffed the 3-point line in three N.B.A. seasons, “and that is not it. I love certainty. I love dunking.” | “I know my role,” said Ezeli, a reserve center and layup specialist who has not so much as sniffed the 3-point line in three N.B.A. seasons, “and that is not it. I love certainty. I love dunking.” |
| Not so long ago, the slam dunk dominated sports highlight shows. But as the Warriors (72-9) prepare for their regular-season finale Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies — and for an opportunity to eclipse the record they now share with the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls for the most victories in a single season — they continue to push the 3-point shot into the spotlight. | Not so long ago, the slam dunk dominated sports highlight shows. But as the Warriors (72-9) prepare for their regular-season finale Wednesday against the Memphis Grizzlies — and for an opportunity to eclipse the record they now share with the 1995-96 Chicago Bulls for the most victories in a single season — they continue to push the 3-point shot into the spotlight. |
| Led by Curry, who weeks ago broke his own record for 3-pointers made in a season, the Warriors make an average of 13 3-pointers a game while connecting on 41.5 percent of their attempts, leading the league in both categories. Curry and Klay Thompson have combined to take 1,507 3-point attempts this season. | Led by Curry, who weeks ago broke his own record for 3-pointers made in a season, the Warriors make an average of 13 3-pointers a game while connecting on 41.5 percent of their attempts, leading the league in both categories. Curry and Klay Thompson have combined to take 1,507 3-point attempts this season. |
| And then there are players like Andrew Bogut and Shaun Livingston, who have combined to take 13. | And then there are players like Andrew Bogut and Shaun Livingston, who have combined to take 13. |
| Last month, during an otherwise nondescript victory against the New Orleans Pelicans, Bogut, the team’s starting center, did something that he had not done in 1,102 days: He took a 3-point attempt. More surprising, he made it, prompting his teammates to celebrate as if they had just clinched another championship. | Last month, during an otherwise nondescript victory against the New Orleans Pelicans, Bogut, the team’s starting center, did something that he had not done in 1,102 days: He took a 3-point attempt. More surprising, he made it, prompting his teammates to celebrate as if they had just clinched another championship. |
| “Look,” Bogut said, “I’m not a knockdown 3-point shooter. Let’s not get too excited about it.” | “Look,” Bogut said, “I’m not a knockdown 3-point shooter. Let’s not get too excited about it.” |
| Livingston, a point guard with a steady game who shoots 53.6 percent from the field, is just 2 of 12 from 3-point range this season. He understands his limitations and has the good sense to defer to teammates who are experts at the craft. | |
| “I guess I could take more,” Livingston said. “I don’t think I would get in trouble.” | “I guess I could take more,” Livingston said. “I don’t think I would get in trouble.” |
| For those who are not members of the team’s 3-point parade, life inside the line tends to be more muted. Video clips of their layups and midrange jumpers do not go viral — not that they necessarily care, not with the Warriors continuing to make history. | For those who are not members of the team’s 3-point parade, life inside the line tends to be more muted. Video clips of their layups and midrange jumpers do not go viral — not that they necessarily care, not with the Warriors continuing to make history. |
| “Shooting 3-pointers is not going to feed me or help this team win a championship,” said Ezeli, a 6-foot-11 center. | “Shooting 3-pointers is not going to feed me or help this team win a championship,” said Ezeli, a 6-foot-11 center. |
| Yet there are rare occasions when they get a feel for how the other half of the locker room lives — and genuinely savor the experience. Two days after Bogut made his first and only 3-pointer of the season, James Michael McAdoo sank his first career 3-point attempt in a game against the Knicks. McAdoo, a 23-year-old power forward, described it as a life achievement. | Yet there are rare occasions when they get a feel for how the other half of the locker room lives — and genuinely savor the experience. Two days after Bogut made his first and only 3-pointer of the season, James Michael McAdoo sank his first career 3-point attempt in a game against the Knicks. McAdoo, a 23-year-old power forward, described it as a life achievement. |
| “Coach always says that if you have an open shot, take it,” McAdoo said. | “Coach always says that if you have an open shot, take it,” McAdoo said. |
| While that might be an overly liberal interpretation of Coach Steve Kerr’s offensive philosophy, it is true that Kerr encourages his players to work on their touch. Become proficient enough at 3-point shooting in practice, and Kerr will flash the green light in games. | While that might be an overly liberal interpretation of Coach Steve Kerr’s offensive philosophy, it is true that Kerr encourages his players to work on their touch. Become proficient enough at 3-point shooting in practice, and Kerr will flash the green light in games. |
| Consider the dramatic improvement of Marreese Speights, a power forward who made 19 3-pointers in his first seven N.B.A. seasons combined. With the Warriors this season, he has made 24. Players cite a trickle-down effect with Curry atop the team’s 3-point pyramid. The Warriors refine their 3-point shooting by osmosis. | Consider the dramatic improvement of Marreese Speights, a power forward who made 19 3-pointers in his first seven N.B.A. seasons combined. With the Warriors this season, he has made 24. Players cite a trickle-down effect with Curry atop the team’s 3-point pyramid. The Warriors refine their 3-point shooting by osmosis. |
| “Watching Steph and Klay shoot makes me want to practice more,” said Leandro Barbosa, a reserve guard. “Maybe I won’t be that good, but maybe I can be close.” | “Watching Steph and Klay shoot makes me want to practice more,” said Leandro Barbosa, a reserve guard. “Maybe I won’t be that good, but maybe I can be close.” |
| Others remain more comfortable dabbling with the 3-point shot behind closed doors, hidden from public view. Ezeli, for example, launches the occasional 3-pointer at practice, but only because he feels that it helps his overall mechanics. Ron Adams, an assistant coach, reminds the team’s players that their form from the 3-point line should be nearly the same as it is two feet from the basket. The only difference should be in how much they use their legs. | Others remain more comfortable dabbling with the 3-point shot behind closed doors, hidden from public view. Ezeli, for example, launches the occasional 3-pointer at practice, but only because he feels that it helps his overall mechanics. Ron Adams, an assistant coach, reminds the team’s players that their form from the 3-point line should be nearly the same as it is two feet from the basket. The only difference should be in how much they use their legs. |
| After Bogut and McAdoo made their 3-pointers last month, they urged Ezeli to join the club once he returned from a knee injury. Others expressed support for Ezeli’s continued restraint. | After Bogut and McAdoo made their 3-pointers last month, they urged Ezeli to join the club once he returned from a knee injury. Others expressed support for Ezeli’s continued restraint. |
| “I don’t know about Festus, you know?” said Barbosa, a 13-year veteran from Brazil. “He try, and he practice the 3-pointer. Believe it or not, he practice. It doesn’t go in, but he practice.” | “I don’t know about Festus, you know?” said Barbosa, a 13-year veteran from Brazil. “He try, and he practice the 3-pointer. Believe it or not, he practice. It doesn’t go in, but he practice.” |
| On the other hand, Barbosa said he could envision Anderson Varejao lining one up at some point, albeit under exigent circumstances, perhaps with the clock set to expire. Nobody familiar with basketball would describe Varejao’s technique as artistic — observe the chicken-wing elbow — but he has been known to shoot from deep in international competition. | On the other hand, Barbosa said he could envision Anderson Varejao lining one up at some point, albeit under exigent circumstances, perhaps with the clock set to expire. Nobody familiar with basketball would describe Varejao’s technique as artistic — observe the chicken-wing elbow — but he has been known to shoot from deep in international competition. |
| The only problem is that Varejao, a reserve center, is 1 of 42 from 3-point range in his N.B.A. career. It is conceivable that the Warriors would cut him if he tried to shoot another. | The only problem is that Varejao, a reserve center, is 1 of 42 from 3-point range in his N.B.A. career. It is conceivable that the Warriors would cut him if he tried to shoot another. |
| As for the only one that Varejao made, back when he was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers — well, it was glorious. The Cavaliers were hosting the Atlanta Hawks during the 2009-10 season, and the ball found Varejao with the shot clock winding down late in the fourth quarter. Stationed 25 feet from the basket, Varejao sensed that his options were limited. | As for the only one that Varejao made, back when he was playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers — well, it was glorious. The Cavaliers were hosting the Atlanta Hawks during the 2009-10 season, and the ball found Varejao with the shot clock winding down late in the fourth quarter. Stationed 25 feet from the basket, Varejao sensed that his options were limited. |
| “I had to shoot it,” he said, “and I made it.” | “I had to shoot it,” he said, “and I made it.” |
| The bucket broke open a tie game, and the Cavaliers held on to win. The victory was significant to Varejao. | The bucket broke open a tie game, and the Cavaliers held on to win. The victory was significant to Varejao. |
| “It was the first time LeBron won a game on his birthday,” said Varejao, referring to LeBron James, his former teammate, “so I can’t forget that.” | “It was the first time LeBron won a game on his birthday,” said Varejao, referring to LeBron James, his former teammate, “so I can’t forget that.” |
| Like Varejao, Bogut exercises great discretion when it comes to shooting from the perimeter — a byproduct, perhaps, of going 1 of 22 from 3-point range through his first seven seasons in the league. In his defense, Bogut said that some of those misses came on court-length bombs at the buzzer. | Like Varejao, Bogut exercises great discretion when it comes to shooting from the perimeter — a byproduct, perhaps, of going 1 of 22 from 3-point range through his first seven seasons in the league. In his defense, Bogut said that some of those misses came on court-length bombs at the buzzer. |
| “So it should have an asterisk next to it,” Bogut said. | “So it should have an asterisk next to it,” Bogut said. |
| McAdoo, who remains 1 of 1 from 3-point range for his career, was not known for his outside shooting ability when he joined the Warriors last season. But at 6 feet 9 inches, he has good length and agility, and Adams anticipates that McAdoo will develop a reliable outside shot that will help lure defenders away from the basket. | McAdoo, who remains 1 of 1 from 3-point range for his career, was not known for his outside shooting ability when he joined the Warriors last season. But at 6 feet 9 inches, he has good length and agility, and Adams anticipates that McAdoo will develop a reliable outside shot that will help lure defenders away from the basket. |
| “At this point in my career, it’s not something that I need to be doing,” McAdoo said. | “At this point in my career, it’s not something that I need to be doing,” McAdoo said. |
| Last month, when he was still 3-point free, McAdoo crashed a shooting competition among several of the team’s guards. McAdoo wound up winning, although the finish was controversial. Ian Clark, a reserve guard, said that Barbosa had concocted “his own rule at the end,” which meant that McAdoo and Barbosa wound up sharing the day’s honors. | Last month, when he was still 3-point free, McAdoo crashed a shooting competition among several of the team’s guards. McAdoo wound up winning, although the finish was controversial. Ian Clark, a reserve guard, said that Barbosa had concocted “his own rule at the end,” which meant that McAdoo and Barbosa wound up sharing the day’s honors. |
| “They tried to cheat me out of it,” McAdoo said. | “They tried to cheat me out of it,” McAdoo said. |
| In any case, it was a confidence builder before the Warriors faced the Knicks the following day. Before the game, McAdoo tried to make small talk with Bogut, who was still glowing from his lone 3-pointer of the season — and apparently drunk with power. | In any case, it was a confidence builder before the Warriors faced the Knicks the following day. Before the game, McAdoo tried to make small talk with Bogut, who was still glowing from his lone 3-pointer of the season — and apparently drunk with power. |
| “He said something like: ‘Oh, you haven’t hit a 3 yet? Don’t talk to me,’ ” McAdoo said. | |
| In the fourth quarter of a blowout win, McAdoo passed up a couple of opportunities from the 3-point line before Barbosa offered some friendly advice. | In the fourth quarter of a blowout win, McAdoo passed up a couple of opportunities from the 3-point line before Barbosa offered some friendly advice. |
| “Yo,” Barbosa told him, “shoot it.” | “Yo,” Barbosa told him, “shoot it.” |
| Emboldened, McAdoo spotted up from the 3-point arc and let it fly. It was something he had seen his teammates do thousands of times. But for McAdoo, it was brand new. | Emboldened, McAdoo spotted up from the 3-point arc and let it fly. It was something he had seen his teammates do thousands of times. But for McAdoo, it was brand new. |
| “Took it off my bucket list,” he said. | “Took it off my bucket list,” he said. |