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The Houston Rockets are jacking up three-point shots at a historic rate, and there are zero signs that they will slow down anytime soon. In fact, Houston has more games with 50 three-point attempts in the last two seasons than all teams in NBA history combined. Since last season, the Rockets have 19 games under their belt in which they attempted a minimum of 50 three-point field goals.
After their Wednesday game against the Dallas Mavericks, ESPN Stats & Info had an interesting factoid on the Rockets’ 51 attempts from three-point range.
The Rockets attempted 51 3-pointers tonight, made 21 of them and beat the Mavericks by 7.
They have more games with 50 3-point attempts in the last 2 seasons than the rest of the NBA has combined. In all of NBA history. pic.twitter.com/Jv2LGlJoHh
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 25, 2018
According to the statistic, in league history, only the Boston Celtics (twice) and the New York Knicks (once) have ever attempted 50 three-pointers in a game and they have only done it three times combined.
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It’s no secret that the Rockets’ primary offensive weapon is the three-pointer. But looking at the numbers, it is baffling how a team can attempt so many from downtown and get away with a win.
The team is shooting at a 36.5 percent clip from three this season, good for 11th in the league. James Harden and the Rockets are also making 15.8 of their league-leading 43.3 three-point attempts, which accounts for their 47.4 points per game.
But can the Rockets continue to win games by taking three-point shots with reckless abandon? Given that the Rockets are number two in point differential to the Golden State Warriors with +7.8 and they are also second in the league record-wise at 34-12, I’d say it works for them.
It remains to be seen, however, whether this kind of tactic would result in an NBA Championship parade in downtown Houston.
