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In recent decades, the NBA has evolved from hard physical play to modern basketball with an emphasis on three-point shots. We asked the experts at aspirebasketballacademy.com about the key stages of this change and got an explanation of the reasons for the changes and current trends in the league. 

A Brief History of the Changes

In the past, the offence was largely built around playing in the paint: heavy collisions, fighting for position and slow tempo. Defenders actively used contact to thwart shots close to the basket. Many legends like Shaquille O'Neal or Hakeem Olajuon dominated in such conditions thanks to their physicality. The advent of television broadcasting and global interest forced the league to look for ways to make the game more dynamic and safer. Gradual rule changes and the infiltration of analytics laid the foundation for the transformation of the style of play.

Early Period: The Predominance of Physical Combat

In the 1970s and 1990s, defence allowed a high level of contact: handchecking, hard shots at the backboard and scrambling for rebounds were the norm. Legends of the era, such as Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, showed their mettle on the power play. The pace of attack remained low, the number of possessions per game was low, and the efficiency was well below today's numbers. The league gradually tightened the rules: they banned the excessive use of hands when guarding and introduced penalties for violating the attacker's "freedom of movement", which began to open up space and speed up the game.

The Emergence of the Three-Point Line and the First Steps of the Three-Point Line

The three-point line appeared in the NBA in the 1979/1980 season. At first, coaches were sceptical: the shooting percentage was low, around 28-30%, and the tactics were not adapted. In the first few seasons, the average number of attempts was about 2-3 per game. However, players like Larry Bird, Reggie Miller and later Donnie Walton showed that long shots could seriously influence the outcome of meetings. Gradually, tactics changed as clubs began to focus on shot development and incorporated three-pointers into training, although the key role was still played in the paint.

Stages in the Development of the Style of Play

If we structure the process of change in the tactics of the game, we get this periodisation: 

• Introduction of the three-point line (1979-1980): cautious start, limited number of attempts, emphasis on proven combinations in the paint; 
• 1990s: slow increase in three-pointers; physical play remains paramount; coaches gradually notice the benefit of long-range shots, but change is gradual;
• Early 2000s: analytics actively enters clubs. Moneyball-inspired experts convince management and coaches to evaluate shots for value in points. The concept of "effective shooting percentage" (eFG%) emerges, encouraging the search for favourable distances and the redesign of training;
• Mid-2000s: development of perimeter training; mobile bigs learn to shoot from distance and defend at the basket; the role of versatile defenders able to switch between guarding and attacking grows; 
• 2010s: the era of pace-and-space - fast-paced, stretch defence to make room behind the three-point line. Teams like the Golden State Warriors show championship success due to their focus on three-pointers. Positionless players emerge, able to cover multiple positions and threaten from inside and on the perimeter; 
• Modern stage: average number of three-point attempts per game exceeds 30-35; top shooters (Stephen Curry et al.) regularly hit over 40% of their shots from distance. The league is implementing advanced tracking and analytics systems, and clubs are selecting players based on their long-range shooting skills.

Analytics and Accelerated Pace

As technology advances, clubs are hiring analysts, looking at data on accuracy, shot timing and efficiency in various zones. Daryl Morey and other managers have popularised graphs showing the advantage of three-pointers over mid-range shots. Teams favoured shots from behind the arc and near the basket, avoiding the less favourable mid-range positions. Attacks have become shorter: teams tend to finish the attack within 7-10 seconds of launching a quick counterattack or gaining an advantage in the formation. The defence has to actively change guardianship, close the perimeter and simultaneously keep an eye on players inside the paint. This has increased the endurance, speed and shot accuracy requirements of a wide range of players.

Transformation Factors

Let's try to summarise the reasons for the change: 

• Rules and officiating: strict contact control in defence has expanded the shooting zone and protected players from injury; 
• Analysts: statistical models confirmed the value of three-pointers and quick attacks; 
• Coaching approaches: pick-and-roll schemes, moving without the ball and filling empty zones became the foundation of the offence, helping to create free throws at the right time; 
• Versatile players: "hybrids" capable of operating both on the perimeter and in the paint have accelerated the adoption of the new style; 
• Technology: Video tracking, biomechanics and advanced programmes improve the quality of training, reduce the risk of injury and improve shooting technique; 
• Successful examples: Golden State Warriors with Stephen Curry and the Houston Rockets of the Dariel Morey era have shown how a focus on three-pointers gets results, encouraging other clubs to adopt their methods.
  
  

The Modern Debate

Today, the average number of three-point attempts in NBA games is at record levels. Supporters point out that basketball has become faster and more entertaining, with dynamic counterattacks, battles for space and dueling shooters drawing the crowd. Critics point to a decrease in the variety of tactics: fewer mid-range shots and working in the low post can make the game more predictable. Some coaches, such as Gregg Popovich, express concern about balancing styles and maintaining the diversity of the game. Possible rule adjustments or incentivising different types of attacks are being discussed, but the league is maintaining the current norms for now in an effort not to disrupt the momentum that has been achieved.

Conclusion

The NBA has evolved from a rigid physical battle in the paint to the modern "three-point era" through a combination of rule changes, advances in analytics, new coaching ideas, and the emergence of versatile players. The game has become faster, more open and more colourful, but the debate about the future continues: it's important to maintain a balance between spectacle and competitiveness.