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In basketball, a three-point field goal, three-pointer, three-point shot, or simply three is a field goal made from beyond the three point line, a designated semi-ellipsoid arc radiating from the basket. A successful attempt is worth three points, in contrast to the two points given for shots made inside the three point line.

A traditional three-point play occurs when a shooter successfully scores a basket while being fouled, and then scores the ensuing single free throw. The phrase and one is commonly used to signify that the shooter's basket was good and that a single free throw will be awarded, indicating a possible three-point play.

History

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The three-point rule was first tested in a 1945 National Collegiate Athletic Association game between Columbia and Fordham but professional basketball would be the first to adopt the rule on a permanent basis. The short-lived American Basketball League did so in 1961, and the Eastern Professional Basketball League followed in its 1963-64 season. The three-point shot later became popularized by the ABA after its introduction in 1968. During the 1970s, the ABA would use the three-point shot, along with the slam dunk, as a marketing tool to compete with the National Basketball Association (NBA). In the 1979–80 season, the NBA officially adopted the three-point shot. On October 12, 1979, Chris Ford scored the NBA's first three-point shot, and Fred Brown led the league in three-point field goal percentage in that first season of adoption. The sport's international governing body, FIBA, introduced the three-point line in 1984.

The NCAA's Southern Conference became the first collegiate conference to use the three-point rule, adopting a 22-foot line in 1980. Over the following five years, NCAA conferences differed in their use of the rule and the distance they required for a three-point shot. The NCAA adopted the 19-foot, 9-inch line nationally in 1986.

During the 1994–95, 1995–96, and 1996-97 seasons, the NBA attempted to address decreased scoring (due to tougher style defenses) by shortening the overall distance of the line to a uniform 22 feet (6.7 m) around the basket. Dennis Scott used this rule change to set a record for most three-pointers in a season: 267 in 1995–96 (this record was surpassed by Ray Allen with 269 in the 2005-06 season). In the same season, the legendary Michael Jordan, who was never known for his three-point shooting, used the closer arc to his advantage as he established a career high with a three-point field goal percentage of almost 43%. From the 1997–98 season, the NBA reverted the line to its original distance. With the legalization of zone defense in 2001, the three-point shot became more important, because of its ability to stretch out a zone.

Three-point field goals taken near the end of a close game, therefore deciding the game's outcome, make for dramatic finishes. Some notable occurrences of this include when:

1. Chicago Bulls' John Paxson scored a three-point field goal to defeat the Phoenix Suns in the deciding game of the 1993 NBA Finals. This was the only three-point shot to win an NBA championship.
2. Indiana Pacers' Reggie Miller scored consecutive three-point shots to beat the New York Knicks in the last seconds of the first game of the 1995 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals. As of 2008, Miller holds the NBA three-point field-goal record (2,560).
3. New York Knicks' Larry Johnson put up a three-pointer and was fouled just after the shot was off by Indiana Pacers forward Antonio Davis in game 3 of the 1999 Eastern Conference Finals. Johnson would go on to make the free throw, converting the shot into a four-point play, and the Knicks beat the Pacers by one point and eventually won the series.
4. Los Angeles Lakers' Robert Horry scored a three-point shot on the buzzer in the fourth game of the 2002 Western Conference Finals to give the Lakers a 100–99 victory over the Sacramento Kings, tying the series at 2–2.
5. Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant hit a game tying three-pointer against the Detroit Pistons in game 2 of the 2004 NBA Finals. The Lakers ended up winning the game in overtime, but could not win the series.
6. Houston Rockets' Tracy McGrady scored thirteen points in 33 seconds against the San Antonio Spurs in the 2004 regular season to lead the Rockets to an 81–80 victory over the Spurs. McGrady scored four three-point shots, one of which involved a shooting foul by Tim Duncan to award McGrady a free throw.

Rule specifications

The three-point line is generally an arc at a set radius from the basket. In international basketball and in the WNBA, the three-point line is 6.25 meters (20 ft 6 in) from the basket. U.S. college basketball specifies a distance of 19 feet, 9 inches (6.02 m) from the basket, also used in U.S. high schools. The distance of the college 3 point line has been under much scrutiny lately - opposers claiming this shot is too short and allows for comebacks to be made too easily. In the NBA, the arc is 23 feet, 9 inches (7.23 m) from the basket, but near the sidelines, three-point line is straight and parallel to the sideline in order to allow room between the three-point line and the sideline. Hence, the distance varies near the sidelines; it is 22 feet (6.71 m) at its closest point in the corner.

In order to attempt a three-pointer, a player's feet must be outside the three-point line. At the time of the shot or jump, the player may not be on the line or inside the line, or the basket is considered a two-point attempt; however, the player is allowed to jump from outside the line and land inside the line, as long as the ball is released in mid-air.

A referee raises his arm to signal the shot attempt. If the attempt is successful, he raises his other arm and holds up three fingers in both hands to indicate the points scored. The referee must recognize it for it to count as three points. This has often been an issue of contention, as many games have been decided by a last-second three-pointer. In these extreme circumstances, referees have often conferred before deciding on how to rule the shot. Video replay has sometimes been used, depending on league rules.

If a shooter is fouled while attempting a three-pointer and subsequently misses the shot, the shooter is awarded three free-throw attempts. If a player completes a three-pointer while being fouled, the player is awarded one free-throw for a possible 4-point-play.

Form

Proper form in shooting a three pointer is essentially the same as shooting a regular jump shot. Generally, due to the long range, the shooter must be able to get enough separation to make a full jump and extension, and will not be able to pump fake, delay the shot's release, or otherwise attempt to confuse the defender. Players with excellent form on their three-pointer include the Boston Celtics' Larry Bird and Seattle SuperSonics' Ray Allen. Reggie Miller has been cited as not having a good form on his three-pointer but he possessed an excellent touch.

Coaching attitudes

The association of three point shooting with an offensive-oriented style of play is not universal, however. Mike Krzyzewski, coach of the Duke Blue Devils, is known as a defensive coach, yet runs many plays for three-point shots. In the mid-1990s, several NBA teams employed a "slow-down" style of play that emphasized taking three pointers late in the shot clock and shutting down the opposing fast break. This style was typified by the Cleveland Cavaliers coached by Mike Fratello.

Many coaches are known for disliking, even shirking, the three-pointer. Some of these coaches are known for their defensive "toughness" and affinity for grinding out low scoring games. Their reasoning in avoiding the three-pointer usually stems from its typically lower shooting percentage, the likelihood of a quick defensive rebound and fast break, and the missed opportunity of drawing shooting fouls (fouls on three-point shot attempts do occur but are uncommon, as are all fouls on outside jump shots). Most notable from these line of coaches is perhaps Larry Brown.

Since the three-point line is closer in college and international play, it is generally much more widely used. For example, in the 2005 NCAA Final Four championship game, the losing team, Illinois, hoisted up over 40 three-point attempts. In the NBA, the three-pointer is a favored weapon of the Phoenix Suns and the Seattle SuperSonics, along with the Toronto Raptors, to name a few. The 1995 Houston Rockets won the NBA title utilizing a three-point centered, "inside-out" strategy, where any double team of Hakeem Olajuwon would result in a three point attempt.

Utilization of the three-pointer in gameplay

More often than not, coaches and point guards will run specific plays to open up a good three-point shooter for a shot. Common plays to open up a player for a three often include multiple screens or a drive and dish, where one player will drive to draw the defense away from a shooter before passing to him. Creating one's own three-pointer off the dribble is a difficult skill that few possess since it requires a blend of strength, quickness and accuracy. The three-pointer is also often used only as a threat, to dare defenders to leave them open while letting teammates break down the defense.

Often during close games when time is running out, the losing team will begin hoisting up threes in an attempt to quickly score points. Whether this tactic is effective is controversial, as some say it is the best chance to even up the score or to pull ahead. Others will say that the losing team will just be digging itself into a deeper hole due to the lower shooting percentage under pressure. Sports commentators will often argue about whether a team needs a three at a certain point in the ballgame.

Due to its higher point value, the three is often the final shot by the losing team down by two or three points in an attempt to either win or force overtime. Field goals that are made when time expires are known as buzzer beaters (due to the sound of the horn to conclude a quarter) and buzzer-beating threes at the end of games make for dramatic finishes.

Superlatives

In the college game, three programs have made at least one three-point goal in each game since the rule was adopted universally for the 1986-87 season (entering 2006-07):

• UNLV (631 games)
• Vanderbilt (630 games)
• Princeton (549 games)

UNLV currently holds the NCAA record for most consecutive games with a made three-pointer. Additionally, due to experimentation in the Big West Conference from 1982 through 1986 the Runnin' Rebels have made at least one three-point field goal in 684 of 695 games in which the rule was used. The last time UNLV failed to make a three-pointer was January 25, 1986 against Long Beach State.

External links

• NBA.com's Top 10 three-pointers from past 25 years
• Article on Columbia's experimentation with the three-point field goal decades before its official introduction
• "Long Live the Three" by Steve Shutt, Basketball Hall of Fame

• Articles lacking sources from January 2007
• Basketball terminology