IN THE GAME

Whenever I watch an ACB game, I am under the impression that players are allowed to let it fly quicker and more frequently from the perimeter than in other European leagues. There are a whole lot of three point specialists that have made a name for themselves in the league over the years, from combo- and shooting guards such as Brad Oleson, Carl English, Thomas Kelati, Taquan Dean, Carlos Quinteros and most recently Jaycee Carroll, to sharp-shooting power forwards such as Mirza Teletovic, Ersan Ilyasova and Jan-Hendrik Jagla. It appeared to me that the three point shot was an important factor in ACB, more than elsewhere in Europe.

Numbers support this perception. I took a look at some European leagues [the bigger ones except Russia and Turkey], and ACB is #1 in three point field goal attempt per field goal attempt ratio at 39.3 percent, which means that out of ten field goal attempts in ACB close to four are three point attempts. At the same time, players are making 35.2 percent of their three point shot attempts, which is, considering the high number of shots they take, a very good ratio. Italian Lega A is having similar numbers, slightly lower 3FGA/FGA ratio, and a little better shot percentage. At the bottom, we have three of the smaller leagues in Baltic Basketball League, Israel’s BSL, and German BBL, but also Greek A1 with 35.3 percent [3FGA/FGA] and 35.9 percent [3FG%]. Euroleague is at #4 with 37.5% and 35.3% shooting. The least healthy combination is in ProA at the moment, with a low shooting percentage [33.8%] on a mid-level 3FGA/FGA-ratio [35.8%].

NBA three point percentage is slightly lower than in the top level European leagues, at a significantly lower 3FGA/FGA-ratio. However, many factors play a role here, such as the longer three point shot, more slashing talent but also more slasher-friendly environment due to the often allowed extra step before releasing the ball from your hand at the start of a dribble, the defensive three second rule, and more calls by the referees for the offensive players. Only two NBA teams range in the thirties ratio-wise: 34.9 percent of all shot attempts by the Orlando Magic are fired from beyond the arc, 33.1 percent on the Knicks. Orlando is hitting those shots on a 36.7 percent clip.

From a club perspective, three Spanish teams in the top five [again, excluding Russian and Turkish teams, as well as those from the smaller European leagues] come as no surprise, but Manresa’s unhealthy combination of 45.7 percent 3FGA/FGA and 29.0 percent three point percentage catches the eye. There are good and bad teams in the Top20, so many ways to have success or have no success. Topping the list is a young Cibona team. Three teams in the Top20 are shooting over 40 percent from three point range. As for the Euroleague title contenders: Real Madrid 39.7 [3FGA/FGA] and 38.2 [3FG%], Panathinaikos 36.8 and 40.0, Barcelona 35.8 and 44.6, and Olympiacos a very low 26.8, yet a very high shooting percentage, 46.8 percent.

Numbers are from the running 09/10 season.